Nursing
Nursing
Enroll in our Nursing Program and take the first step toward your new career
The Southwest Nursing Program is highly individualized and blends classroom instruction with excellent hands-on experience in a variety of health care settings.
One of the most sought after careers is nursing. If you're interested in becoming a front-line health care professional, this program is for you. Southwest offers lecture and clinical courses leading to an Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree in Nursing.
Graduates of this program are eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). Our Nursing Program is designed to prepare graduates for successful licensure and immediate employment in this high demand field.
Southwest offers three program options for this degree:
- The Generic Track (day program admits every fall and evening/weekend program admits every spring).
- The LPN Mobility Track is designed for currently licensed practical nurses seeking to transition into the role of registered nurse (day program that admits every summer).
- The Paramedic Mobility Track is designed for currently licensed paramedics seeking to transition into the role of registered nurse (day program that admits every summer).
Apply For Special Admissions Programs Nursing
The Associate Degree nursing program at Southwest Tennessee Community College, located
in Memphis, TN is accredited by the:
Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400 Atlanta, GA 30326
(404) 975-5000
The most recent accreditation decision made by the ACEN Board of Commissioners for
the Associate Degree nursing program is Continuing Accreditation. View the public
information disclosed by the ACEN regarding this program at
https://www.acenursing.org/search-programs
RE: PUBLIC NOTICE OF UPCOMING ACCREDITATION REVIEW VISIT BY THE ACEN
The Southwest Tennessee Community College Nursing Program wishes to announce that it will host a site visit for continuing accreditation of its associate degree nursing program by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN).
You are invited to meet with the site visit team and share your comments about the
program in person at a meeting scheduled at 5:00 pm to 5:45 pm on Tuesday, October
21, 2025, in UNS 106 of the Nathan L. Essex Nursing, Natural Science, Biotechnology
Building located at 693 Union Ave, Memphis, TN 38103. Written comments are also welcome
and should be submitted to the ACEN via email at public-comments@acenursing.org or
to the ACEN office:
Attn: Accreditation Services
Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing
3390 Peachtree Rd NE, Suite 1400
Atlanta GA, 30326
All written comments should be received by the ACEN by October 7, 2025*.
*Written comments are due to the ACEN two weeks before the visit.
The Nursing Program is located on the Union Avenue Campus. It is convenient to downtown and midtown Memphis.
In addition to high impact practices used in the class, clinical requirements are met using a variety of health care delivery settings.
To find out more about courses offered at Southwest, you can use our Interactive Course Schedule to see when and where a class is being offered.
A program of study designed to prepare individuals to be eligible to apply to take the National Council Licensure Examination for the Registered Nurse (NCLEX-RN). Upon successful completion of the program, each graduate will be able to:
- Practice within the ethical, legal and regulatory frameworks of nursing and standards of professional nursing practice.
- Communicate effectively using verbal, nonverbal, and written techniques including information and technology.
- Analyze subjective and objective data to identify actual or potential health alterations.
- Evaluate outcomes of clinical decisions implemented to provide safe and effective evidenced-based nursing care.
- Evaluate the effectiveness of caring interventions that incorporate principles of dignity, safety and knowledge.
- Evaluate the effectiveness of the implemented teaching plan to meet the learning needs of patients, families and/or groups.
- Collaborate when planning, implementing, and evaluating care.
- Manage care through effective use of prioritization, delegation, informatics and resources.
Program Outcomes
- Forty-five percent of entering nursing students will graduate with an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Nursing.
- Eighty percent of nursing graduates will pass the National Council Licensing Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) examination on the first attempt.
- Ninety percent of nursing graduates will be employed in nursing within six months of licensure.
Nursing Program Data
| Year | Graduation Rate | Employment Rate | NCLEX Pass Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 48 percent | TBD | 86 percent |
| 2023 | 39 percent | 89 percent | 78 percent |
| 2022 | 42 percent | 94 percent | 67 percent |
| 2021 | 53 percent | 86 percent | 80 percent |
| 2020 | 58 percent | 91 percent | 88 percent |
ARTICULATION AGREEMENTS
The University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) College
Southwest students who complete a minimum of an Associate Degree in Allied Health or General Studies and prerequisite courses with a minimum overall combined 3.0 GPA have the opportunity to continue their education toward a bachelor's degree. In partnership with The University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) College, through its Nursing Partnership Enrollment Program (PEP), any Southwest students who fulfill the requirements of the PEP are guaranteed full admission to the traditional BSN program at UTHSC. To learn more about the program and qualification, visit https://uthsc.edu/nursing/partnership-enrollment-programs.php.
Contact Us
- Union Avenue Campus Nursing, Natural Sciences, and Biotechnology Building, Suite 104
- 901-333-5475
- 901-333-5443
-
nursing@southwest.tn.edu
-
- Dr. Marlon Gibson, Department Head
- mdgibson@southwest.tn.edu
-
- Lashonda Ray, Secretary
- lray@southwest.tn.edu
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