Prospective Nursing Student Resources

Prospective Nursing Student Resources

ATTENTION! Effective 12/23/21, all applicants to MaricopaNursing will be required to submit proof of completion of a Nursing Assistant program. For additional details, contact a nursing advisor.

Please click on one of the below titles to review the information.

Nursing Student Resources

Step #: What to do:
STEP 1 Visit: Become a Student to enroll. 
STEP 2 Take English, Reading and Mathematics placement tests at Testing Services or transfer coursework from another institution.
STEP 3

Attend a Mandatory Pre-Nursing Information Session

  • Online: GCC Pre-Nursing Information Presentation in Canvas or Google Forms (if you don't have an MEID and are unable login to Canvas)
STEP 4

Attend Mandatory Pre-Nursing Advisement

Excluding holidays and other campus closures.

STEP 5 Attend a Financial Aid information session

For details about MaricopaNursing program outcomes and achievement data, click on the blue "Download Our Program Outcomes"  button under "Additional Resources" on the Maricopa Nursing webpage.

  1. Graduates' success on the licensure and/or certification examination 
  2. Students' completion of the nursing program 
  3. Graduates obtaining a job

Students are admitted in fall and spring semesters to one of following 2 cohorts:*

  • Traditional: Classes generally Monday-Friday
  • Weekend: Classes generally Fridays & Saturdays

*Classes may be on weekends, evenings, or nights depending on availability of classroom and clinical site.

After submitting your application and while waiting for placement in MaricopaNursing, consider completing co-requisites and recommended courses below. The recommended courses are useful classes that will help you in the nursing program. Also, if you are planning to pursue your BSN after graduating from GCC nursing, these courses are required in many RN to BSN programs.

PRE-REQUISITE COURSES CREDITS
CHM130/130LL or 1 year High School Chemistry - Fundamental Chemistry 0-4
BIO156/BIO181 or 1 year High School Biology* - General Biology I 0-4
MAT140 or higher - College Mathematics 3-5
ENG101 - First Year Composition 3
BIO201 - Human Anatomy and Physiology I 4

*In order to waive BIO156 or BIO181 as the prerequisite to BIO201 and BIO205 by using one year of high school biology, you must complete the biology self-assessment exam with Testing Services. For some pathways, it may be in your best interest to complete BIO156 or BIO181 first. Please meet with an advisor to determine the best option for you.

 

CO-REQUISITE COURSES CREDITS
BIO202 Human Anatomy and Physiology II 4
BIO205 Microbiology 4
ENG102 First-Year Composition 3
CRE101 Critical and Evaluative Reading or Test Exempt 0-3
Humanities Elective 2-3
PSY101 Introduction to Psychology 3

HESI A2 

The nursing program entrance exam, HESI A2, is a four-hour, computerized test covering math, reading comprehension, vocabulary, general knowledge and grammar. The HESI A2 test can be taken at Testing Services. The cost is $45 and scores are valid for two years. For more information visit HESI Testing.

 

HESI PN

The HESI PN exam is the entrance exam for students applying for Blocks 3 and 4 of the nursing program. It is an untimed, computerized test. Most people finish in about an hour. Any PN-NLCEX review book will help you prepare for the HESI PN Test. For more information visit HESI Testing.

 

Background Check

Complete the background check as soon as you have been accepted into the RN program. You must meet background check requirements before the start of class:

  • Students in the nursing program must maintain a valid unrestricted Level One DPS Fingerprint Clearance Card (FCC) at all times while enrolled in the nursing program.
  • FCC cost: $65.00 payable by credit card (not American Express), gift card, electronic check or money order (additional $10.00 fee for a money order.) Price subject to change.
     

Students who have been notified of admission to the nursing program will be provided instructions to complete a supplemental background check required by clinical agencies for all nursing students.