

This Nursing Associate degree program is designed to provide you the educational training and resources to meet the regional needs for nurses at a technical level. This program helps students develop the basic nursing skills and knowledge to function effectively as health care providers in a variety of health care settings as defined by professional nursing standards.
The Nursing Associate degree program is only available at ANU’s Pikeville Campus. Students will have a blend of online classes and classes that meet at the Pikeville campus.
In American National University’s Nursing Associate degree, you will learn nursing concepts, principles, and processes for an understanding of health. This can include:
Recognize the role of the associate degree nurse in nursing research and evidence-based practice to advance the practice of nursing. Students successfully completing this program are eligible to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEXRN) leading to licensure as a registered nurse.
The nursing program at ANU has a number of admissions requirements that must be met. Please see the student catalog for the latest admissions requirements.
American National University has met the requirements established by law for our Nursing Associate degree program and we maintain KENTUCKY BOARD OF NURSING APPROVAL.
ANU’s program reports all nursing benchmarks for the Kentucky Board of Nursing.
Blended = Synchronous video & asynchronous online learning with limited on-campus residency.
See our eLearning page for details on our exciting and innovative course delivery methods.
Save time and money by transferring in college credit or work experience! Please see the student catalog for ANUs policy on transfer of credit or experiential learning credit.
132 credit hours required/264 quality points required. (90 Weeks)
Program Core (Required) 101 total credit hours required
BIO105 Microbiology with Lab
6 Credit Hours
Course offered residentially. (Prereq. – BIO262) The characteristics of microorganisms and their relation to health and disease are studied.
BIO261 Anatomy and Physiology I with Lab
6 Credit Hours
Course offered residentially. This course will present the interrelationship of structures and functions of the human body including the study of the integumentary, skeletal, muscular, endocrine, and nervous systems. The study of basic chemistry, cell structure, cell physiology, metabolism, and tissues will be included.
BIO262 Anatomy and Physiology II with Lab
6 Credit Hours
Course offered residentially. (Prereq. – BIO261) This course will expand on the anatomy and function of the body systems. An exploration of how hormones, genetics, stress, acid base balance, fluids and electrolytes affect each body system will be studied.
HSC100 Pharmacology for Nurses I
4 Credit Hours
Course offered through distance education. (Prereq. – BIO261) Students will analyze the classes of medically approved drugs, their actions, indications, side effects, and interactions. A letter grade of “C” is required for successful completion of this course.
HSC200 Pharmacology for Nurses II
4 Credit Hours
Course offered through distance education. (Prereq. – HSC100) Students will analyze the classes of medically approved drugs, their actions, indications, side effects, and interactions. A letter grade of “C” is required for successful completion of this course.
NUR102 Fundamentals of Nursing
11 Credit Hours
Course offered residentially. (Prereq. – HSC200) Introduction to nursing and the nursing process are studied and integrated to reflect the hierarchy of basic human needs. Gordon’s functional health patterns throughout the life span are introduced. Areas of study include foundation knowledge, development theory, nursing process, therapeutic nursing interventions, concepts, skills and physical assessment including an emphasis on the communication process as it relates to health assessment, promotion, and therapeutic nursing interventions to promote and maintain optimum health. The nursing process and critical thinking skills are applied in the delivery of care. Pharmacological concepts are introduced as they relate to healthy individuals across the life cycle.
NUR103 Nutrition
4 Credit Hours
Course offered through distance education. (Prereq: BIO262/LAB262) This course is designed to provide a detailed outline of nutrition and diet therapy. The course will use a wellness approach based on health promotion and primary prevention, the basics of nutrition, and nutritional needs across the lifespan. The course will also offer the most current guidelines and evidence-based information on key nutritional topics throughout the lifespan.
The course will provide information concerning the role of inflammation in common diseases and medical nutrition therapy for a variety of systems disorders and conditions. Computerized case studies, assignments, and simulations will be utilized to build student competency toward successfully passing the nutritional content on the NCLEX-RN examination.
NUR201 Medical/Surgical Nursing I
12 Credit Hours
Course offered residentially. (Prereq. – NUR102 and NUR103) The course will provide an introduction of medical/surgical nursing concepts with a focus on the application of the nursing process as it relates to health promotion and care of adult clients experiencing difficulty with the ability to meet selected basic human needs. Areas of emphasis include the nurse as provider and manager of care, therapeutic nursing interventions, as well as health promotion with integration of Gordon’s 11 functional health patterns. The nursing process and critical thinking skills are applied in the delivery of care. Pharmacological concepts are discussed as they relate to chronic and acute illness.
NUR202 Medical/Surgical Nursing II
12 Credit Hours
Course offered through a hybrid format. (Prereq. – NUR201) The course will provide an expansion on previous medical/surgical nursing concepts with a more in-depth focus on the application of the nursing process as it relates to health promotion and care of adult clients experiencing difficulty with the ability to meet selected basic human needs. Areas of emphasis include the nurse as provider and manager of care, therapeutic nursing interventions, as well as health promotion. Classroom theory and clinical practice integrate all eleven of Gordon’s Functional Health Patterns. The nursing process and critical thinking skills are applied to increase the student’s autonomy in the delivery of patient care. Pharmacological concepts are discussed as they relate to chronic and acute illness.
NUR208 Maternal Newborn Nursing
7 Credit Hours
Course offered through a hybrid format. (Prereq. – NUR102, NUR103, NUR201, NUR202) Areas of study include the application of the nursing process, developmental theory, and therapeutic interventions to promote optimal health of newborns and women while incorporating the entire childbearing family. Specific emphasis is placed on health promotion and application of Gordon’s functional framework to the care of the family. The focus is on the nursing care of persons who have actual/potential health problems related to health patterns of: Nutritional/Metabolic, Elimination, Sexuality/Reproduction, Coping/Stress, Activity and Exercise. The nursing process and critical thinking skills are applied in the delivery of care. Pharmacological concepts are discussed as they relate to Maternal /Newborn areas.
NUR209 Pediatric Nursing
6 Credit Hours
Course offered through a hybrid format. (Prereq. – NUR102, NUR103, NUR201, NUR202) Areas of study for this course include the application of the nursing process, developmental theory, and therapeutic interventions to promote optimal health of children, beginning at birth and their families. This course focuses on the theory and clinical application of concepts related to the nursing care of children and their families by emphasizing the holistic care of the child that include the developmental, physiological, psychosocial, cultural, and spiritual care of the child within the family unit. Health care concepts discussed in this course will include family dynamic development and functional abilities related to care of the child. Professional nursing concepts including clinical judgement, pharmacological concepts, communication, ethical‐legal, evidenced‐based practice, health promotion, informatics, patient education, professionalism, safety, and collaboration will also be presented.
NUR210 Pathophysiology
6 Credit Hours
Course offered through a hybrid format. (Prereq. – NUR102, NUR103, NUR201, NUR202, NUR208, NUR209) This course will cover complex mechanisms of human disease processes. This course will include application of the nursing process as it relates to the client in a variety of settings. This pathophysiology course will emphasize mechanisms of diseases, including cell injury, fluid and electrolyte imbalances, acid‐base imbalances, and genetic defects that cause aberrations resulting inflammation and dysfunction of the immune, endocrine and cardiovascular systems. Classroom theory and clinical practice integrate all 11 of Gordon’s Functional Health Patterns.
NUR211 Mental Health Nursing
6 Credit Hours
Course offered through a hybrid format. (Prereq. – NUR102, NUR103, NUR201, NUR202, NUR208, NUR209) This course will cover mental health and care of the adult client experiencing difficulties meeting selected basic human needs. The emphasis is on empowering the nurse to provide therapeutic interventions to promote optimal mental health by utilizing Gordon’s functional health patterns (i.e. Roles/Relationships, Values and Beliefs, Cognitive/Perceptual, Coping/Stress, Activity/Exercise, Sleep/Rest and Nutrition). The nursing process and critical thinking skills will be applied in the delivery of care. Pharmacological concepts will be discussed as they relate to psychiatric conditions.
NUR226 Roles Transition/Leadership
6 Credit Hours
Course offered residentially. (Prereq. – To be taken within the last two terms of the program.) This course is designed to assist the nursing student in transitioning from the role of student nurse to professional nurse. The course covers material to help students delegate and prioritize nursing care. Professional considerations in leadership, working within an organization, dealing with professional issues such as stress in the workplace, and the code of ethics for nurses are topics covered in this course.
NUR299B Medical/Surgical Nursing IV: Integrated Practicum
4 Credit Hours
Course offered residentially. (Prereq. – NUR205, Co-Req. – NUR226) Integrates previous knowledge and utilizes basic human needs, developmental theory, the nursing process, therapeutic nursing interventions, and critical thinking skills to provide the delivery of care for clients in selected populations. This course includes a 120-hour practicum. With increasing autonomy, students assume the role of the Associate’s Degree nurse by providing direct bedside care under the supervision of an assigned preceptor. (See if there is an existing clinical site in your local area.)
Career Support (Required) 8 total credit hours required
MED110 Dosage and Calculation of Medications
4 Credit Hours
(Prereq. – MAT090 if applicable) The core of the course involves the basis for proper calculation for medication dosages. Topics include dosage calculation, how to properly interpret medication labels and identification of equipment used for dosage measurement. A letter grade of “C” is required for successful completion of this course.
MED160 Health Care Law and Ethics
4 Credit Hours
Introduction to law and ethics pertinent to medical careers. Topics include legal issues that are important to health care professionals, including the foundations of law and ethics as well as professional, social, and interpersonal health care issues.
General Education (Select 6): 24 total credit hours required
*This program requires this general education course or equivalent
Written and Oral Communication
ENG102* English Composition
4 Credit Hours
(Prereq. – ENG090 if applicable) Students taking this course will study and discuss rhetoric, style, and composition, with special emphasis on written communication skills.
ENG126 Oral Communication
4 Credit Hours
Students taking this course will develop the ability to express themselves effectively in public and private settings.
Mathematics, Statistics, and Logic
LOG215 Thinking Critically
4 Credit Hours
This course introduces students to the process of critical thinking and offers knowledge and experience that can be applied to academic, professional, and personal growth. Students will learn to examine and evaluate the information they are exposed to, confidently select appropriate evidence from conflicting data, and craft that evidence into viable answers or solutions. Material will be drawn from examples and scenarios based on actual academic and professional situations so that the application of knowledge will easily transfer to events outside of the classroom.
MAT101 Understanding Mathematics
4 Credit Hours
(Prereq. – MAT090 if applicable) Students taking this course will examine the fundamental principles of mathematical theory and grow to understand the logic and inter-relationship of various mathematical functions.
MAT214* Algebra
4 Credit Hours
(Prereq. – MAT090 if applicable) Students will learn algebraic problem solving, radicals, quadratic equations, polynomials, inequalities, and applied problem solving.
MAT220 Algebra and Basic Statistics
4 Credit Hours
(Prereq. MAT090, if applicable) This course introduces algebra topics and basic elements of exploratory data analysis. This course will cover constructing, evaluating and analyzing mathematical models, specifically linear and exponential functions, to represent relationships in quantitative data.
Arts and Humanities
ETH205* Ethics
4 Credit Hours
Students taking this course will study ethical thought and ideals, with emphasis on the central assumptions of personal and social morality. Students will also investigate ethics and related problems in industry, civil society, and the typical American community.
GEN241 Cultural Appreciation
4 Credit Hours
The need for cultural awareness doesn’t just apply to one’s relationship with others; conflicting cultural perspectives often exist within the individual. Students will learn to appreciate their own heritage and understand how their heritage influences their perspectives while gaining an appreciation for the cultural heritage of those around them. Students will be challenged to think and discuss their beliefs and opinions in light of cultural influence and understand how those values affect their work ethic and working relationships. Course content will incorporate experiences similar to those that will occur in the vocation’s students have chosen to study.
Social and Behavioral Sciences
POL202 Political Science
4 Credit Hours
This course provides the student with the means and opportunity to engage their government as a concerned individual. Global political systems and principal theories will be examined and compared to events and decisions affecting each student at the local level. Throughout the course, students will be encouraged to become participants in their local government and to recognize and understand the various challenges that influence local decisions. The information and skills students learn in this course may be applied to many professional fields.
PSY127* Psychology
4 Credit Hours
This course provides students with an overview of the fundamental principles and methods of psychology. Topics for discussion include biological basis of behavior, sensory and perceptual processes, learning, motivation, developmental changes, personality, social behavior, and behavioral disorders.
PSY200 Human Growth and Development
4 Credit Hours
This course is designed to study human growth and development across the life span with emphasis upon normal growth and milestones achieved in the physical, cognitive, social, and emotional systems. Professional consideration is given to understanding changes that occur at different stages of development, and how care and interaction with individuals needs to be appropriate for their stage of development.
SOC103 General Sociology
4 Credit Hours
This course is a combination of applied sociology, communications and interpersonal relations designed to acquaint the student with the tools for self-examination and understanding of business and social relationships.
Physical/Natural Science
BIO101 Introduction to Biology
4 Credit Hours
Introduction to Biology is a general biology class for non-biology majors in which the following basic principles are explored: Characteristics of Life, Basic Biochemistry, Cell Structure and Function, Cell Metabolism and Reproduction, Genetics and Heredity, and Scientific Method. This class is intended for students who have never studied biology or who need to review basic biology.
BIO201 Basic Anatomy and Physiology I
4 Credit Hours
A study of the anatomy, physiology and medical terminology of the skeletal, muscular, respiratory, cardiovascular, lymphatic, immune, hematological, digestive, and reproductive systems. This course covers human development, birth and genetics.
BIO202 Basic Anatomy and Physiology II
4 Credit Hours
(Prereq.-BIO201) Students taking this course will study the anatomy, physiology and medical terminology of the cell, tissues, membranes, and structures of the nervous system, the sensory system, the integumentary system, the digestive, the urinary system, and the endocrine system. This course will discuss the basic chemistry, water acids, bases, carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, nucleic acids and classes of macromolecules in cells.
CHM105 General, Organic and Biochemistry
4 Credit Hours
This course covers an introduction to general principles of chemistry providing an integrated approach to aspects of general, organic, and biochemistry. The course is designed to provide a background for students in nursing and other related allied health areas.
ENV101 Environmental Science
4 Credit Hours
Environmental Science is a general course for non-biology majors in which students will explore the following basic principles: concepts required to understand interrelationships of the environment and the natural world; environmental problems both natural and man-made; risks associated with air, water, land pollution; health of humans and ecosystems; deforestation and climate change; overpopulation, and environmental law, economics, and ethics.
MODE OF DELIVERY: Blended
For all courses: See course description for applicable prerequisites.
Credits in Program | Cost Per Credit Hour | Total Program Cost | Estimated Academic Year Cost* | |
Nursing Associate | 132 | $389 | $51,348 | $14,004 |
ADDITIONAL PROGRAMMATIC CHARGES
Nursing (associate’s degree):
The following are required prior to beginning the clinical rotation and are the responsibility of the student:
Other Fees (All Students), as applicable: