The Colorado Nursing Articulation Model: 2001-2005
Publication of the Colorado Trust
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Articulation Model
In response to the need to facilitate nursing education in Colorado, the CCNE convened faculty members from all of the practical, associate degree and baccalaureate nursing programs in the state to formulate a model for statewide program articulation. Articulation is a process through which nursing programs cooperate to facilitate educational progress of students with minimum repetition.
Need for the Model
The goal of the Colorado Nursing Articulation Model is to facilitate nursing education. This model makes possible the opportunity for many nurses to receive credit for their previous nursing education without the requirement of special testing. The Colorado Model is necessary because students who graduate from associate degree programs earn nursing credits at the lower division (100-200 level courses) while baccalaureate nursing programs in Colorado offer most course work at the upper division (300-400 level courses). Educators do not assume that lowerdivision course work is comparable to upper-division course work and have commonly used challenge testing to verify previous nursing knowledge. Such testing is expensive and time-consuming and has the effect of discouraging many nurses from seeking advanced educational degrees.
Validation of Curricula
Under the Colorado Nursing Articulation Model, nurses are able to progress either from a licensed practical to associate degree in nursing or from an associate degree or diploma to a baccalaureate degree in nursing or higher without testing to verify previous nursing education. This is possible for two reasons:
- Faculty members from each level of education representing every nursing school in the state validate the content of all curricula at regular intervals. The CCNE assumes that this validation is representative of program outcomes across the nation.
- There is individual validation of prior nursing knowledge by means of awarding credit for prior learning. These nursing credits are placed in escrow at the higher-level institution. When nurses successfully complete approximately one semester of fulltime nursing course work, thereby demonstrating prior nursing knowledge, the credits are placed on their transcripts.
Transfer of Credits
Under the Colorado Nursing Articulation Model, credits are awarded for transferable nursing and non-nursing courses at the college level. Vocational-technical and non-college general education courses do not transfer, subject to individual college policies.
Nursing Credits
Practical nurses articulating to the associate degree level and registered nurses articulating to the baccalaureate level are awarded or transfer in nursing credits equivalent to approximately one year of full time nursing courses in the program they are entering. For this to occur, a grade of C or better must have been earned in previous nursing course work. Nursing credits transferred or awarded under the model are held in escrow. These credits are placed on individual transcripts by the accepting institution after students have successfully completed nursing courses equivalent to approximately one semester of full-time nursing course work.
Non-Nursing Credits
A grade of C or better is required for nonnursing credits to transfer to baccalaureate programs. The licensed practical nurse should check individual community college requirements because grade requirements for transfer of non-nursing credit may vary according to nursing program policy.
Colorado associate degree programs will require a minimum of 20 semester credit hours of non-nursing courses, to include the following:
- Anatomy and Physiology, 5 to 8 semester hours
- Growth and Development (Life-span), 2 to 3 semester hours
- English Composition 121 or 122 (Community College Core Curriculum), 2 to 3 semester hours
- At least one course in Social and Behavioral Science or Humanities (from the Colorado Community College Core Curriculum courses)
- Students are encouraged to take courses that meet both non-nursing requirements and Colorado Community College Core Curriculum requirements whenever possible. Students are advised that other courses may not transfer.
Nursing Work Experience
Within three years of graduation, nurses may articulate directly from one program to most others without clinical work experience (some schools may have additional work requirements for admission). However, nurses graduating more than three years prior to articulating must meet the following requirements:
- 1,000 hours of employment (in prior three years) as registered or licensed practical nurse, or
- successful completion of a refresher course approved by the CCNE or the equivalent thereof (e.g., nursing course work as specified by the accepting institution).
Testing
Practical nursing graduates needing the testing option must successfully complete all CCNE-approved standardized challenge exams with the established passing score to receive credits equivalent to approximately one year of nursing courses. Partial credit may be awarded for successful completion of some, but not all of the tests. Test results are valid for three years.
The model recommends that the test not be taken more than twice. If it is necessary to take the test more than twice to receive a passing score, the student is advised to take a course with comparable content at the receiving school.
Periodic Review of the Model
Periodically, the Articulation Model is reviewed and evaluated by a CCNE committee chaired by the president-elect of CCNE consisting of representatives from each level of nursing education.
Copyright 8 2000, by the
Colorado Council on Nursing Education.
Permission to copy material from this model is granted
with the stipulation that the Colorado Council on Nursing
Education be cited as the author.