Nursing
Earn your nursing degree or certificate at Trinidad State — with multiple pathways, flexible schedules, and an ACEN-accredited program built to get you career-ready.
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Nursing Application | RN-BSN Application | Admission Info | Nursing FAQ | RN-BSN Program | Nurse Aide
Our Mission
Trinidad State Nursing Mission Statement
Provide excellent education that prepares the learner to become a member of the nursing profession, meeting the needs of diverse populations.
ACEN Accredited
Program Cost
Degrees & Certificates
Whether you want a full degree or a fast credential, every TSC program earns you industry certifications and every certificate stacks toward the degree.
BSN Dual Enrollment
Earn your Bachelor of Science in Nursing through dual enrollment with a university partner while completing your ADN at TSC.
Nursing AAS
Build a broad foundation in nursing, then sit for your NCLEX-RN boards. Available at both Trinidad and Valley campuses.
LPN to ADN
Already a Licensed Practical Nurse? Return to school to earn your AAS and become eligible to sit for NCLEX-RN boards.
Paramedic to ADN
Leverage your paramedic experience to transition into nursing and earn your Associate Degree in Nursing.
Practical Nurse Certificate
Complete short summer courses after your first year and sit for your Practical Nursing boards — a built-in exit point toward full RN.
Where You Can Study
This program is offered at the following TSC campus locations.
Student Outcomes
Eight program learning outcomes define what every TSC nursing graduate is prepared to do.
Provide safe, quality, evidence-based, patient-centered nursing care in a variety of healthcare settings to diverse patient populations across the lifespan.
Engage in critical thinking and clinical reasoning to make patient-centered care decisions.
Implement quality measures to improve patient care.
Participate in collaborative relationships with members of the interdisciplinary team, the patient, and the patient's support persons.
Use information management principles, techniques, and systems, and patient care technology to communicate, manage knowledge, mitigate error, and support decision-making.
Provide leadership in a variety of healthcare settings for diverse patient populations.
Assimilate professional, legal, and ethical guidelines in practice as a professional nurse.
Promote a culture of caring to provide holistic, compassionate, culturally-competent care.
NCLEX-RN Pass Rates
State licensing exam pass rates for our graduates, sourced from the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies.
| Year | Pass Rate |
|---|---|
| 2025 | 96% |
| 2024 | 90% |
| 2023 | 89% |
| 2022 | 84% |
| Year | Pass Rate |
|---|---|
| 2025 | 100% |
| 2024 | 100% |
| 2023 | 100% |
| 2022 | 100% |
Colorado DORA — Nursing Education Programs. Pass rates are for first-time test takers.
Admissions Information & Requirements
Learn what it takes to apply to the TSC Nursing Program — prerequisites, deadlines, and selection criteria.
Frequently Asked Questions
Have questions about the nursing program? Browse our FAQ for answers about schedules, costs, clinical hours, and more.
Professional Licensure
Important disclosure information for students who may practice nursing outside of Colorado.
If you are considering an academic program that leads to a professional license in the state where you plan on living and working after graduating, it is highly recommended that you first seek guidance from the appropriate licensing agency in that state before beginning the academic program at Trinidad State College.
In compliance with the U.S. Department of Education and the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (NC-SARA), Trinidad State College provides information pertaining to professional licensure and certification in correlation with programs offered at TSC that may lead to state licensure.
In all fifty states and in all territories, the requirements for nurses and nurse aides are different. Trinidad State recommends each student visit the National Council of State Board of Nursing website to identify the requirements for the state in which you plan to live and practice. Trinidad State can only guarantee that the requirements for the state of Colorado are met with our program.
For additional assistance pertaining to professional licensing compliance, please contact Lynette Bates, Vice President for Academic Affairs: lynette.bates@trinidadstate.edu
AAS, Registered Nurse Degree
Click any semester to see the full course list. *Total program credits includes credits required prior to program admittance.
Semester One
Establishes a strong academic foundation with coursework in English composition, human anatomy, developmental psychology, and nutrition.
- ENG 1021 – English Composition I: GT-CO1 (3 credits)
- BIO 2101 – Human Anatomy and Physiology I with Lab: GT-SC1 (4 credits)
- PSY 2440 – Human Growth and Development: GT-SS3 (3 credits)
- HPR 1010 – Dietary Nutrition (1 credits)
Semester Two
Nursing fundamentals and pharmacology alongside advanced anatomy, rounded out by a program elective.
PROGAM CODE: AAS_NR1 | CIP: 51.3801
- BIO 2102 – Human Anatomy and Physiology II with Lab: GT-SC1 (4 credits)
- NUR 1009 – Fundamentals of Nursing (6 credits)
- NUR 1012 – Basics of Pharmacology (2 credits
Choose one: (3 credits)
- DEPT 1010 – Option A Course Name
- DEPT 1020 – Option B Course Name
Semester Three
Clinical nursing training through medical-surgical and maternal-child nursing concepts, supported by human pathophysiology.
*Or approved coursework with NUR prefix
- BIO 2116 – Human Pathophysiology * (4 credits)
- NUR 1006 – Medical Surgical Nursing Concepts (7 credits)
- NUR 1050 – Maternal-Child Nursing (6 credits)
Semester Four
Culminates nursing training with advanced medical-surgical, psychiatric, and pharmacology coursework, transitioning students into professional nursing practice alongside a social science elective.
- NUR 2006 – Advanced Concepts of Medical-Surgical Nursing I (6.5 credits)
- NUR 2011 – Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing (4 credits)
- NUR 2012 – Pharmacology II (2 credits)
Semester Five
Transitions students into professional nursing practice through advanced medical-surgical concepts, rounded out by a social science elective.
- NUR 2016 – Advanced Concepts of Medical Surgical Nursing II (5 credits)
- NUR 2030 – Transition to Professional Nursing Practice (4 credits)
Choose one: (3 credits)
- PSY 1001 – General Psychology I: GT-SS3
- SOC 1001 – Introduction to Sociology I : GT-SS3
Practical Nurse to Associate of Applied Science Degree
Click any semester to see the full course list. *Total program credits are conditional based upon student transferring Level I credits and pre-reqs from a regionally accredited institution with appropriate coursework.
Semester One
Single-course spring semester supports licensed practical nurses in transitioning into the Associate Degree Nursing program.
Spring Semester Only
- NUR 2002* – Transition from LPN to ADN (3 credits)
Semester Two
Clinical expertise through advanced medical-surgical nursing, psychiatric care, and pharmacology.
- NUR 2006 – Advanced Concepts of Medical Surgical Nursing I (6.5 credits)
- NUR 2011 – Nursing Care of Psychiatric Clients (4 credits)
- NUR 2012 – Pharmacology II (2 credits)
Semester Three
Transitions students into professional nursing practice through advanced medical-surgical concepts, rounded out by a social science elective.
- NUR 2016 – Advanced Concepts of Medical Surgical Nursing II (5 credits)
- NUR 2030 – Transition to Professional Nursing Practice (4 credits)
Choose one: (3 credits)
- PSY 1001 – General Psychology I: GT-SS3
- SOC 1001 – Introduction to Sociology I : GT-SS3
Practical Nurse Certificate-Exit Option
A student who has failed or withdrawn in one or more NUR courses from Trinidad State is not allowed to transfer 15 or less NUR credits back to Trinidad State and attain their Associate of Applied Science Degree in Nursing. Click any semester to see the full course list.
Certificate Curriculum
11 prerequisite credits in English, anatomy, psychology, and nutrition must be completed before admission to the nursing program. *Total credit hours includes credits prior to program admittance.
Semester 1 (11 credit hours) — 11 prerequisite credits in English, anatomy, psychology, and nutrition must be completed before admission to the nursing program.
- ENG 1021 – English Composition I: GT-CO1 (3 credits)
- BIO 2101 – Human Anatomy and Physiology I with Lab: GT-SC1 (4 credits)
- PSY 2440 – Human Growth and Development: GT-SS3 (3 credits)
- HPR 1010 – Dietary Nutrition (1 credits)
Semester 2 (12 credit hours) — Establishes the nursing foundation with fundamentals of practice and pharmacology, supported by continued anatomy and physiology study.
- BIO 2102 – Human Anatomy and Physiology II with Lab: GT-SC1 (4 credits)
- NUR 1009 – Fundamentals of Nursing (6 credits)
- NUR 1012 – Basics of Pharmacology (2 credits)
Semester 3 (13 credit hours) — Two pillars of clinical nursing: medical-surgical care and maternal-child health.
- NUR 1006 – Medical Surgical Nursing Concepts (7 credits)
- NUR 1050 – Maternal-Child Nursing (6 credits)
Semester 4 (3 credit hours) — Single summer course prepares students for the transition into practical nursing practice.
Summer Semester Only
- NUR 1069* – Transition to Practical Nursing (3 credits)
Where You'll Go
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Contact Us
Have questions about this program? Reach out to a faculty or staff member.
- TitleDean of Instruction
- DepartmentNursing
- LocationTrinidad, Colorado • 118 Davis
- EmailLoriRae.Hamilton@trinidadstate.edu