Next Start: Oct. 26, 2026
Graduates are eligible to sit for their registered nursing exam
Faculty Mentorship program for current students
Dedicated job placement services for students and alumni
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Fill out the form to receive more information about the Associate of Applied Science in Nursing (AASN) Aurora, CO program at Casa Loma College.
Become a Registered Nurse in the Denver-Aurora Metro Area
Hands-On Nursing Education Designed to Prepare You for the NCLEX-RN and a Career in Healthcare
If you’re looking for a nursing program near Denver that combines classroom instruction, hands-on laboratory training, and supervised clinical experiences, Casa Loma College’s Associate of Applied Science in Nursing (AASN) program in Aurora, Colorado can help you take the first step toward becoming a Registered Nurse.
Conveniently located in Aurora and serving students throughout the greater Denver metropolitan area, our nursing program is designed for individuals who want to enter one of Colorado’s fastest-growing professions while receiving the education and support needed to prepare for the NCLEX-RN licensure examination.
Whether you’re beginning your first healthcare career or changing professions, you’ll learn from experienced nursing educators while developing the clinical judgment, communication skills, and patient-centered approach today’s healthcare employers expect.
Graduates of the Associate of Applied Science in Nursing program are eligible to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN).
Associate Degree Nursing Program at a Glance
| Campus | Aurora, Colorado (Serving the Denver Metropolitan Area) |
|---|---|
| Degree Awarded | Associate of Applied Science in Nursing |
| Program Length | Approximately 20 months |
| Program Format | Classroom instruction, nursing laboratories, simulation, and clinical experiences |
| Career Path | Registered Nurse (RN) |
| Licensure Preparation | Prepares graduates to sit for the NCLEX-RN examination |
| Financial Aid | Available for those who qualify |
| Next Start Date | Oct. 26, 2026 |
Why Choose Casa Loma College for Nursing in the Denver Area?
The Denver-Aurora metropolitan area continues to experience significant population growth, creating increased demand for healthcare professionals across hospitals, outpatient centers, specialty clinics, and long-term care facilities.
For aspiring nurses, that means opportunity.
Casa Loma College prepares students to enter this dynamic healthcare environment through a nursing curriculum that combines academic instruction with practical experience. Rather than focusing only on theory, students develop the critical thinking, clinical decision-making, and communication skills needed to care for patients in a variety of healthcare settings.
Our Aurora campus is conveniently located for students throughout the Denver metropolitan area, including:
- Aurora
- Denver
- Centennial
- Parker
- Lakewood
- Thornton
- Westminster
- Englewood
- Highlands Ranch
- Commerce City
Because many prospective students search for Denver nursing programs, our Aurora campus provides a convenient option for students who want to study close to the city while benefiting from a supportive learning environment.
A Message from Julie Lavender, EdD, MS, RN, NPD-BC
Nursing has always been a calling for me. I became a nurse because I felt drawn to care for people during some of the most vulnerable moments of their lives. Today, that same passion drives my commitment to nursing education.
I believe the role of a nurse educator is to facilitate adult learners in achieving their goals while helping them develop the critical thinking, clinical judgment, and professional identity needed to succeed. Our goal is for students to graduate not only with knowledge and skills, but with the ability to think and act like nurses.
Preparing compassionate nurses is essential. One day, I or my loved ones may need nursing care, and I want the confidence of knowing that a Casa Loma graduate will provide exceptional care with both competence and compassion.
Colorado is home, and the patients we serve are our families, friends, and neighbors. At our Aurora campus, students will find a welcoming, family-oriented environment where caring and support extend to students, staff, and faculty alike. I am deeply committed to helping every student succeed academically and professionally as they prepare to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.
Why Become a Nurse in Colorado?
Nursing continues to be one of the most rewarding and in-demand healthcare careers in Colorado.
Registered Nurses provide direct patient care, educate patients and families, coordinate treatment plans, advocate for patient safety, and work collaboratively with physicians and other healthcare professionals.
Colorado’s diverse healthcare landscape allows nurses to work in a variety of environments, including:
- Major medical centers
- Community hospitals
- Specialty hospitals
- Outpatient surgery centers
- Physician practices
- Rehabilitation facilities
- Public health organizations
- Long-term care facilities
- Home healthcare agencies
Whether you envision working in downtown Denver, suburban Aurora, or communities throughout Colorado’s Front Range, becoming a Registered Nurse can open the door to a wide range of career opportunities.
Program Overview
Casa Loma College’s Associate of Applied Science in Nursing program is designed to prepare students for entry-level registered nursing practice through an integrated combination of classroom instruction, nursing laboratories, simulation experiences, and supervised clinical education.
Throughout the program, students progressively build the knowledge and confidence needed to care for patients across their lifespan.
Instruction includes:
- Adult Health Nursing
- Maternal and Newborn Nursing
- Pediatric Nursing
- Mental Health Nursing
- Pharmacology
- Health Assessment
- Evidence-Based Nursing Practice
- Leadership and Professional Communication
- Community and Population Health
Students also participate in clinical experiences that allow them to apply classroom knowledge in real healthcare settings under the supervision of qualified instructors.
By graduation, students are expected to demonstrate competency in patient-centered care, communication, clinical judgment, professionalism, and collaboration as they prepare to enter the nursing profession.
What Makes This Program Different?
Many nursing programs teach students how to pass exams. Casa Loma College is equally focused on preparing students to become confident, compassionate healthcare professionals.
Throughout the curriculum, students learn how to:
- Think critically under pressure
- Communicate effectively with patients and healthcare teams
- Apply evidence-based nursing practices
- Deliver safe, ethical, patient-centered care
- Adapt to rapidly changing healthcare environments
These skills are essential not only for success on the NCLEX-RN examination but also for long-term success as a Registered Nurse.
What You’ll Learn
The Associate of Applied Science in Nursing (AASN) program at Casa Loma College is designed to prepare students to provide safe, compassionate, and evidence-based patient care in today’s healthcare environment. Throughout the 20-month program, you’ll build a strong foundation in nursing science while developing the clinical judgment, communication skills, and professionalism expected of Registered Nurses.
The curriculum combines classroom instruction, laboratory experiences, simulation activities, and supervised clinical education to help students gain confidence before entering professional practice.
As students progress through the program, coursework becomes increasingly complex, allowing them to integrate previous knowledge while caring for patients with a variety of healthcare needs.
Upon graduation, students should be prepared to:
- Deliver safe, patient-centered nursing care
- Collaborate effectively with physicians and interdisciplinary healthcare teams
- Apply evidence-based clinical decision-making
- Use therapeutic communication with patients and families
- Demonstrate professionalism and ethical nursing practice
- Promote health across diverse patient populations
Learn Through Hands-On Clinical Education
Nursing is a profession learned by doing. While classroom instruction provides the scientific foundation, clinical education allows students to apply what they’ve learned while caring for patients under the supervision of experienced nursing faculty.
Throughout the program, students participate in supervised clinical experiences designed to expose them to a variety of healthcare settings and patient populations.
Clinical education helps students develop confidence while learning how to:
- Perform patient assessments
- Administer medications safely
- Develop nursing care plans
- Communicate with patients and healthcare teams
- Apply critical thinking in real clinical situations
- Practice professional nursing standards, healthcare ethics, and legal considerations
- Participate in Patient Safety and Quality Improvement initiatives
Clinical Placement Opportunities
Examples of clinical partners or healthcare settings may include:
- Regional hospitals
- Community hospitals
- Long-term care facilities
- Rehabilitation centers
- Behavioral health facilities
- Outpatient clinics
- Specialty healthcare providers
- Home health and street medicine
Practice Before You Care for Patients
One of the advantages of nursing education is the opportunity to build confidence before entering clinical settings. Students develop and refine nursing skills through laboratory instruction and simulation activities before applying those skills in patient care environments.
The Casa Loma College Simulation Center provides:
- High-fidelity simulation mannequins
- Nursing Anne Geriatric Simulator
- Nursing Kid
- MamaAnne maternal and birthing simulator
- Skills trainers
- Medication administration supplies and equipment for skills competency
- Health Assessment and Skills Lab
- IV skills
- Medication administration
- Head-to-toe assessment
- Phlebotomy and point-of-care testing
- Invasive procedures
- Wound care
- Simulated electronic health record training
- Emergency response scenarios
- Collaborative simulation scenarios with other healthcare programs
- Small-group instruction
Nursing Career Outlook in Colorado
If you’re considering becoming a nurse, the timing is encouraging.
Colorado continues to experience demand for Registered Nurses as healthcare providers respond to population growth, an aging population, and workforce needs across hospitals and healthcare organizations.
According to O*NET, employment for Registered Nurses in Colorado is projected to grow approximately 20% through 2034, which means approximately 4,140 annual job openings, creating continued opportunities for qualified nursing professionals.
Demand exists throughout the Denver-Aurora metropolitan area as well as communities across Colorado’s Front Range.
Healthcare employers are increasingly seeking nurses who can:
- Deliver patient-centered care
- Collaborate with interdisciplinary healthcare teams
- Use evidence-based nursing practice
- Adapt to changing healthcare technologies
- Provide compassionate care across diverse patient populations
As healthcare continues to evolve, Registered Nurses remain among the most important members of the healthcare workforce.
Accreditation and Program Approval
Choosing an accredited nursing program is one of the most important decisions prospective students can make.
Institutional and program approval help ensure students receive a quality education that meets established academic and professional standards.
Institutional Accreditation
Casa Loma College is institutionally Accredited by The Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES)
Nursing Program Approval
The Associate of Applied Science in Nursing program at the Aurora campus is approved by the Colorado State Board of Nursing.
The Practical Nurse and the Associate of Applied Sciences in Nursing programs have been granted Candidate Status by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). This achievement represents a mark of academic distinction, signifying that the program has demonstrated its commitment to excellence in nursing education and its potential to meet rigorous national standards.
For Colorado AASN Students
ACEN Candidacy Statement
Effective May 4, 2025, this nursing program is a candidate for initial accreditation by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing. This candidacy status expires in Spring 2028.
ACEN Contact Information:
Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400
Atlanta, GA 30326
(404) 975-5000
https://www.acenursing.org/search-programs?status=Candidate
Note: Upon granting of initial accreditation by the ACEN Board of Commissioners, the effective date of initial accreditation is the date on which the nursing program was approved by the ACEN as a candidate program that concluded in the Board of Commissioners granting initial accreditation.
Start your journey to a career in nursing
by talking to our admissions team here at Casa Loma College.
We can help talk you through the enrollment and admissions process and map out a plan for your career success.
