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Nursing students in lab instruction.

AACC’s nursing department enjoys an outstanding reputation. The nursing department’s vision is to enhance the health and well-being of the Anne Arundel County community by advancing the profession of nursing through education, scholarship and service.  As a community, the nursing faculty and students strive to promote excellence in the nursing profession.

The AACC nursing faculty consists of full- and part-time, caring and student-focused members. Our students practice simulated nursing skills in a college lab with state-of-the-art equipment and have continually exceeded national and state pass-rate averages.

Majors and Offerings

AACC offers nursing degrees and certificates for those pursuing a practical or registered nursing license.  

Learn more about our majors in Nursing and Practical Nursing.

Faculty and Staff

Program Director

Kristine Holden, director of Nursing
410-777-7221
kholden2@daikuan918.com
HLSB 268B

Department Chair

Denise Lyons, associate professor
410-777-7237
dmlyons@daikuan918.com
HLSB 268C

Full-time Faculty

Ellen Asbury, associate professor
410-777-7384
emasbury@daikuan918.com
HLSB 260B

Lyndele Bernard, professor
410-777-7083
lbbernard@daikuan918.com
HLSB 268F 

Lisa Chamberlain, assistant professor
410-777-7090
lmchamberlain@daikuan918.com
HLSB 268D

Myra Dennis, professor
410-777-7250
mgdennis@daikuan918.com
HLSB 268E

Vincent Gattud, assistant professor
410-777-7374
vgattud@daikuan918.com
HLSB268G 

Alice "Carrie" Jackson, associate professor
410-777-7235
ajackson30@daikuan918.com
HLSB 268F

Christina Junker, assistant professor
410-777-7022
cjunker@daikuan918.com
HLSB 264B

Melissa King, assistant professor
410-777-7262
making9@daikuan918.com
HLSB 264A 

Rachel Loukota, assistant professor
410-777-2428
raloukota@daikuan918.com 
HLSB 268G

Denise Lyons, associate professor
410-777-7237
dmlyons@daikuan918.com
HLSB 268C

Tanesha Meade, assistant professor
410-777-7074
tmeade@daikuan918.com
HLSB 264F

Haley Mushrush, assistant professor
410-777-2336
hhmushrush@daikuan918.com
HLSB 264B

Brittany Nicholson, assistant professor
410-777-7115
bmnicholson@daikuan918.com
HLSB 264F

Amy Nudell, assistant professor
410-777-1477
anudell@daikuan918.com
HLSB 264E

Andrea Pecukaitis, assistant professor
410-777-7053
alpecukaitis@daikuan918.com
HLSB 264B

Jennifer Phipps, assistant professor
410-777-7060
jbphipps@daikuan918.com 
HLSB 264G

Heidi Rayner, associate professor
410-777-2423
hlrayner@daikuan918.com
HLSB 172B

Mandy Scholz, assistant professor
410-777-7226
mlscholz@daikuan918.com
HLSB 264D

Daniel Shields, assistant professor
410-777-7052
deshields1@daikuan918.com
HLSB 264C

Tracey Short, assistant professor
410-777-2177
tashort@daikuan918.com
HLSB 268D

Jacqueline Snyder, assistant professor
410-777-7045
jnsnyder@daikuan918.com 
HLSB 260C

Alice Stephens, professor
410-777-7333
apstephens@daikuan918.com
HLSB 264C 

Rebecca Tolley, associate professor
410-777-7108
rjtolley@daikuan918.com
HLSB 260C 

Mary Venters, assistant professor
410-777-7042
mlventers@daikuan918.com
HLSB 264E

Kristin Weedn, assistant professor
410-777-7233
klweedn@daikuan918.com
HLSB 264D

Ellyn Woodzelle, assistant professor
410-777-7092
epwoodzelle@daikuan918.com
HLSB 264G 

Margaret Wyatt, associate professor
410-777-7076
mlwyatt@daikuan918.com
HLSB 268E

Resources for Students

Nurse Mentor and Retention Specialist

Once you have taken that important step toward meeting your goal of success in the nursing program, the nurse mentor and retention specialist can support you with:

  • Creative study strategies
  • Test-taking skill development
  • Course-specific test prep session
  • Success skill workshops
  • Traditional (face-to-face) and online tutoring

Associate Professor Heidi Rayner helps AACC nursing students meet their academic and emotional needs. AACC nursing students have access to the services Rayner provides, which include success skills workshops, group study and individual or group tutoring.

We encourage all nursing students to make use of this service, designed with you in mind, to enhance your nursing knowledge and strengthen your test-taking abilities, all while maintaining a positive outlook. The success of each AACC nursing student is our goal.

For information contact Heidi Rayner, nurse mentor and retention specialist, at nursingretention@daikuan918.com or 410-777-2423.

Program Statistics

Registered Nursing Program On Time Completion

On Time Completion
(4 semesters/AP 3 Semesters/Benchmark=45%)

Term Graduated

Aggregate

Face to Face

Advanced
Placement
(LPN/Veteran/
Paramedic)

Fall 2020

63%

62%

100%

Spring 2021

49%

49%

None

Fall 2021*

54%

55%

50%

Spring 2022

60%

58%

80%

Fall 2022

51%

47%

82%

Spring 2023

61%

60%

100%

*COVID-19

Performance on Registered Nurse Licensure Exam

Term Graduated

Aggregate

Face to Face

Advanced
Placement
(LPN/Veteran/ Paramedic)

Spring 2020

97%

 97% 100%

Fall 2020

 95% 95% 100%

Spring 2021

 92% 92% N/A

Fall 2021*

 85% 84% 100%

Spring 2022

 87% 87% 90%

Fall 2022

 91% 91% 89%

Spring 2023

 Pending Pending Pending

Graduate success on licensure is a significant benchmark for any nursing program. Graduates' success on the RN-NCLEX is calculated by the graduating cohort.

View additional program completion statistics.

Learning Outcomes

Nursing Program Outcomes

The AACC Nursing program will demonstrate:

  1. Evidence of the graduates' achievement on the licensure exam with a pass rate of at least 92% for all first-time test-takers during the same 12-month period.
  2. Evidence of the graduates’ achievement in 60% completion of the Nursing program.
  3. Evidence of the graduates’ achievement in job placement in the nursing field of at least 90% within 12 months of graduation (this is self-reported data).
  4. Evidence of the program satisfaction:
    a. 75% of the graduating class reports satisfaction with the Nursing program at AACC graduation regarding preparation of End of Program Student Learning Outcomes.
    b. 75% of the graduates’ report satisfaction with performing at RN student learning outcomes level of achievement in employment.

End of Program Student Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:

  1. Utilize the five steps of the nursing process to determine and provide nursing care that is holistic, systematic, evidence-based, safe and grounded in understanding of the sciences, humanities, cultural diversity and nursing theory (Care Provider).
  2. Analyze data, question assumptions and approach all clients with a curiosity resulting in safe clinical decisions that improve quality of care (Investigator).
  3. Implement one’s role as a professional in ways that reflect integrity, responsibility, ethical practices and an evolving identity as a nurse (Professional).
  4. Collaborate with clients, families and the health care team to provide coordinated care that is holistic, safe and individualized for multiple clients in diverse health care settings (Collaborator).
  5. Utilize teaching and learning strategies to promote knowledge that optimizes decisions related to health and wellness for clients, families, peers and the community (Educator).
  6. Utilize professional and therapeutic communication strategies with clients, families and the health care team to promote positive client outcomes (Communicator).

This program aligns with the college’s core competencies.

Accreditation

The associate degree nursing program at Anne Arundel Community College is in accordance with the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) records located in Arnold, Maryland, and is accredited by the:

Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
3390 Peachtree Road, Suite 1400
Atlanta, GA 30326
404-975-5000

The most recent accreditation decision made by the ACEN Board of Commissioners for the Anne Arundel Community College associate degree in nursing program is continuing accreditation through fall 2029.

View the public information disclosed by the ACEN regarding this program on the ACEN website.

A copy of the Board of Commissioners Accreditation Letter may be obtained from:

Anne Arundel Community College
Nursing Office
101 College Parkway
Health and Life Science Building, Room 270
Arnold, MD 21012
410-777-7276

COVID-19 Information Clinicals, Fieldwork, Externships and Internships

Questions?

We’re here to help. 

School of Health Sciences

Denise Lyons, chair

410-777-7237

Send Email

Scott Olden
Assistant Dean

Nursing Info. Sessions

Learn About Our Associate to Bachelor's Nursing Program

Health Sciences Applicants

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Student Testimonial

Riverhawks in Focus

Bea Evangelista

 

Choosing to attend AACC allowed me to have a flexible schedule ... Once I finish school and graduate with my bachelor’s, I plan on working at a children’s hospital as a pediatric nurse while still attending school part time to earn my master’s degree.

-Bea Evangelista, nursing student

Health and Life Sciences Building Virtual Tour

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Making Up a Different Future

A realization of wanting to do more, paired with the COVID-19 pandemic, spurred a career change into nursing for 2023 Commencement valedictorian Samantha Navarro. "Education, at its core, is freedom. You can open a door that wasn't there before just because you took a step back and just sat in the classroom," she said.

Read Samantha's Story