Nursing

Program Overview

The Nursing (NURS) program at Skagit Valley College (SVC) prepares students for a lifelong career in nursing practice. Nursing is one of the most diverse and exciting careers in today’s health care field. It provides unlimited opportunities and numerous benefits for those who enter the profession. Nurses are employed in a variety of settings including hospitals, extended care centers, home health care agencies, physicians’ offices, mental health facilities, and corrections. New technologies are continually developing in the health care field, offering exciting and challenging career opportunities.

Nursing is a demanding, rewarding profession that requires strong communication skills, excellent problem-solving abilities, focused concentration when performing a task, attention to detail, the ability to work well with others, and extensive knowledge of the sciences.

Degree and Certificate Options:

Associate in Pre-Nursing Transfer Agreement, DTA/MRP Degree (90 credits, full-time)

Students who complete this degree may also choose to apply for entrance into the Associate in Nursing DTA/MRP degree at Skagit Valley College.

The Pre-Nursing Direct Transfer Agreement, Major Related Program or Major Related Program (DTA/MRP) streamlines preparation for the basic Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) pathway across the State. It does not, however, address the issue of significantly inadequate capacity (faculty, clinical opportunities, etc.) at the BSN level relative to workforce needs or current student interest. Due to high interest and limited space in BSN programs, admission to all BSN programs is highly competitive with many qualified applicants often finding themselves on waiting lists for admission.

BSN admission application deadlines vary; students must meet the deadline for the university or universities to which they plan to apply for admission to transfer.

Certain schools may have additional “university-specific” requirements for admission to the institution, not pre-requisites specifically identified in the DTA requirements, which will need to be completed prior to graduation. Contact with advisors from individual schools for institutional requirements is highly recommended since this DTA may not meet every institution-specific graduation requirement.

Pre-Nursing Direct Transfer Agreement, Major Related Program, Planning Guide

Associate in Nursing DTA/MRP Degree (135 credits, full-time)

The Associate in Nursing Direct Transfer Agreement (DTA/MRP) prepares students who are highly educated, technically advanced, competent and caring individuals to practice professional nursing in a variety of settings. The full-time Registered Nursing program runs 6 quarters with summers off. Attendance requirements are daytime lecture and lab classes, and both daytime and evening clinical experiences. Graduates of this program are eligible to take the examination for licensure as a registered nurse (NCLEX-RN). Passing the NCLEX-RN exam and completion of this transfer degree provide the general education and nursing courses for direct transfer with only one additional year of study to complete the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN-BSN pathway). Baccalaureate institutions part of this agreement include: Washington State University, University of Washington, Western Washington University, Heritage University, Pacific Lutheran University, Seattle Pacific University, St. Martin’s University, and Western Governors University.

All interested students must meet minimum academic qualifications to be considered for admission. Please see the nursing web page at www.skagit.edu/nursing for application requirements; both academic and non-academic.

Note: Admission to an RN to BSN program may be competitive; therefore, no particular GPA can guarantee admission to any specific program. Certain schools may have additional university-specific requirements for admission to the institution that are not prerequisites specifically identified in the DTA requirements.

Nursing Direct Transfer Agreement, Major Related Program, Planning Guide

(LPN-RN) Registered Nursing AAS Degree (99 credits, part-time)

SVC offers a Registered Nursing, AAS program for nurses who have graduated from a PN program and have a current Washington State unencumbered LPN license. Located on the Whidbey Island Campus, this is a part-time degree path (6 quarters including summer). The LPN to RN focuses on the second year of the Registered Nursing Program. Students complete the same RN program prerequisites and related education courses required for the ADN DTA/MRP Nursing degree. The program was designed to create a pathway for PN graduates to move into high-wage, high-demand career opportunities in healthcare. Graduates of this program receive an Associate Degree in Registered Nursing and are eligible to apply for the State Licensing Examination (NCLEX-RN) for Registered Nursing.

Registered Nursing, Associate in Applied Science, Planning Guide

Nursing Assistant Education Certificate (8 credits)

The Nursing Assistant program prepares students for employment as Nursing Assistants in hospitals, clinics, long-term care facilities, and home healthcare agencies. Additionally, this program prepares students for continuation into practical or registered nurse programs. Graduates of the program are eligible to take the Washington State competency examination to become a Nursing Assistant Certified. This is a Washington State approved, one quarter course, requiring 44 hours of classroom instruction and 88 hours of lab/clinical experience. Students must attend all scheduled classes and clinical experiences to meet State certification requirements.

Program Map - Nursing Assistant Education Certificate

Learning Outcomes:

General Education Learning Outcomes

Program Learning Outcomes

The nursing philosophy supports the student learner outcomes of Human Flourishing, Nursing Judgment, Professional Identity and Spirit of Inquiry:

Human Flourishing: Advocate for patients and families in ways that promote their self-determination, integrity, and ongoing growth as human beings.
Nursing Judgment: Make judgments in practice, substantiated with evidence, that integrate nursing science in the provision of safe, quality care and promote the health of patients within a family and community context.
Professional Identity: Implement one’s role as a nurse in ways that reflect integrity, responsibility, ethical practices, and an evolving identity as a nurse committed to evidence-based practice, caring, advocacy, and safe, quality care for diverse patients within a family and community context.
Spirit of Inquiry: Examine the evidence that underlies clinical nursing practice to challenge the status quo, question underlying assumptions, and offer new insights to improve the quality of care for patients, families, and communities.

The nursing process is foundational to the curricular framework defined by the National League for Nursing (2010) and adopted by Skagit Valley College ADN program. The nursing process consists of Assessment, Diagnosis, Planning, Implementation and Evaluation.

Nursing Curriculum and Graduate Outcomes

The curriculum includes a strong foundation in communication, biological and social sciences, general education and nursing courses. Students integrate theory and practice throughout the nursing program by combining their classroom work with skills laboratory and clinical experiences. The curriculum design reflects the nursing mission, philosophy, and program objectives. Faculty adopted the NLN Core Components and Competencies for Associate Degree Graduates (NLN 2010) as the organizing framework for the program. Each component was defined by SVC faculty. Competencies for each course and for SVC ADN students were developed. The curriculum design provides the foundation for nursing theory course content, laboratory experiences on campus, patient care experiences in clinical setting, and evaluation of student learning.

The goal of the Nursing Program at Skagit Valley College is to educate students to practice nursing within varied health care settings. Nursing education will assist the student to promote optimal level of health and wellness for the individual, family and community.

Program Accreditation:

Skagit Valley College’s Registered Nursing program (RN) is approved by the Washington State Department of Health Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission (NCQAC). The RN program is nationally accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). For further information, contact the organizations directly:

NCQAC - 111 Israel Road SE, Tumwater, WA 98501; 360.236.4700; www.doh.wa.gov
ACEN - 3343 Peachtree Road, NE, Suite 850, Atlanta, GA 30326; (404) 975-5000; www.acenursing.org

Program Admissions:

Prerequisites:

Required Immunizations Requirements for all Nursing Programs:

Negative TB test, OR chest x-ray and clearance by Health Care Provider. Students must provide documentation by the end of first week of class.
Current American Heart Association Basic Life Support (BLS) CPR card. A CPR card received through an internet-based training program is not acceptable for this program.
Annual Flu vaccine (except summer quarter).
Additional immunizations requirements will be discussed if you are accepted into the RN or LPN to RN program.

Program Re-entry:

Students requesting re-entry to the Registered Nursing (RN or LPN to RN) must fulfill current re-entry requirements as specified by the SVC Nursing Re-Entry Policy. Re-entry is based on space availability and Nursing faculty determination. A student who has a program interruption may be required to repeat some, if not all, nursing program courses if there have been curriculum changes or if the interruption has lasted greater than one year. Students will not be allowed to reenter the SVC Registered Nursing Program at either campus more than once for any reason. An exception will be made for student withdrawal due to military service.

Specialized Program Information:

Certification/Licensure

Upon successful completion of the nursing certificate or degree program, Nursing program graduates are eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) for registered nursing that is offered by the Washington State Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission. This computerized examination is individually scheduled at designated testing sites. Successful completion of the examination is required to be licensed as a registered nurse (RN). Passing a national licensing exam from the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCLEX-RN for RN) is required prior to working in the field, or pursuing advanced training and education (BSN, etc.) Graduates of the NAC program are eligible to take the Washington State competency examination to become a Certified Nursing Assistant.

Nursing Program Locations

The Nursing programs at SVC are offered at two campus locations: Mount Vernon Campus and Whidbey Island Campus (located in Oak Harbor).

Nursing Program Website

For the most current information about the Nursing program, specific program admission requirements, application documents, and deadlines, go to SVC’s website at www.skagit.edu/nursing.