Nursing

Nursing Degrees and Courses

Program Description

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 intangible 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.

Nursing Program Options

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

Associate IN NURSING DTA/MRP Degree (135 credits) - Mount Vernon

The DTA/ MRP degree 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, located on the Mount Vernon campus, requires attendance in 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 party to this agreement are: 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.

Note that 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.

Advanced Placement (LPN) Registered Nursing ATA Degree (99 credits) - Whidbey Island

SVC offers a 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, the LPN to RN program focuses on the second year of the Registered Nursing Program. Students complete the same RN program prerequisites, 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.

Nursing Assistant Certificate

Nursing Assistant Certificate (8 credits) - Mount Vernon and Whidbey Island Campuses

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 on into practical or registered nurse programs. Graduates of the program are eligible to take the Washington State competency examination to become a Certified Nursing Assistant. This is a Washington State approved, one quarter course offered evenings, 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.

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

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 and 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, laboratory 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 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 Program Website

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

Program Entry: RN Degree

Enrollment is limited in all nursing programs. Admission into the Registered Nursing Program is based on a competitive/selective process. Students interested in Nursing will be placed in the Pre-Nursing DTA/MRP program until acceptance into the Nursing program, at which time students will be moved to the Nursing DTA/MRP degree path.

All interested students must meet minimum qualifications in order to be considered for admission. It is recommended that students attend a program information session to get questions answered and meet a pre-nursing advisor. Applicant’s to the nursing program must be a high school graduate or have passed the General Education Equivalency (GED®) exam.

Students seeking admission to any of the Nursing programs must first apply for admission to Skagit Valley College indicating the nursing program as your area of interest. Admission to the college does not guarantee acceptance into a specific nursing program. Determine your placement in Math and English. In addition, applicants to the second year RN (LPN to RN) program must either hold an active unencumbered Washington State Practical Nurse License (LPN) and required certified minimum hours of work or meet the approved equivalent coursework of the first year of the RN program. The minimum qualifications and program prerequisites for the LPN to RN program are the same as those stated for the RN program. Students will also need to submit a completed Nursing Admissions Application with all appropriate documentation by the deadline indicated.

For a more detailed overview about the Nursing program, specific program admission requirements, application documents, and deadlines go to SVC’s website: www.skagit.edu/nursing.

All interested students must meet minimum academic qualifications to be considered for admission. Minimum qualifications include:

Valid American Heart Association Basic Life Support (BLS) Card
Demonstrate a level of “Proficient” or higher on the ATI Academic Preparedness TEAS Exam - See Nursing website for minimum individual scores required.
3.0 or higher Science cumulative GPA in required Science prerequisites
BIOL& 160 - General Biology w/Lab or BIOL& 211 - Majors Cellular
BIOL& 241 - Human Anatomy and Physiology I
BIOL& 242 - Human A & P II
CHEM& 121 - Intro to Chemistry
BIOL& 260 - Microbiology
NUTR& 101 - Nutrition
3.0 or higher cumulative GPA in all required Nursing prerequisites
ENGL& 101 - English Composition I
MATH& 146 - Introduction to Stats
PSYC& 100 - General Psychology
PSYC& 200 - Lifespan Psychology
ENGL& 102 - Composition II
10 credits of Humanities (CMST& 220 and SPAN& 121 strongly recommended) - See advisor for list of acceptable courses.

Note: CMST& 220 can substitute if taken before July 2017; CMST& 210 or ENGL 104 can be substituted if taken before July 2016

Mount Vernon Campus

Associate in Nursing DTA/MRP Degree

SVC offers an Associate Nursing DTA/MRP Degree. Student schedule may vary based on entry point and credit load. This is a full-time schedule. An Associate in Nursing DTA/MRP degree is awarded upon completion of a minimum of 75 credits of generic DTA credits and 60 nursing core course. Please note the annual schedule: not every nursing course will be offered every quarter.

Prerequisite and general education courses required prior to entering the Registered Nursing Program (full or part-time): MATH& 146 , †ENGL& 101 , CHEM& 121 , BIOL& 160 or BIOL& 211 , BIOL& 241 , BIOL& 242 , BIOL 260 , PSYC& 100 , and PSYC& 200 , NUTR& 101 .

10 credits of humanities may require completing prerequisites before a course may be taken. Please see a counselor/advisor for approved Humanities courses.

Students must have a cumulative overall 3.0 GPA in science prerequisite courses and overall 3.0 GPA in all nursing prerequisites with a minimum letter grade of “C” or better in all Nursing prerequisites. Students must also receive a letter grade of “C” or better in all general education courses and maintain a grade of “C” or higher while in the Nursing program.

See degree course sequence

Whidbey Island Campus

Registered Nursing ATA Degree (99 Credits)

SVC offers an Associate Nursing ATA Degree. Student schedule may vary based on entry point and credit load. This is a full-time schedule.

Prerequisite and general education courses required prior to entering the Registered Nursing Program (full or part-time): MATH& 146 , †ENGL& 101 , CHEM& 121 , BIOL& 211 or BIOL& 160 , BIOL& 241 , BIOL& 242 , BIOL260, PSYC& 100 , and PSYC& 200 , NUTR& 101 , ENGL& 102 .

10 credits of humanities may require completing prerequisites before a course may be taken. Please see a counselor/advisor for approved Humanities courses.

See degree course sequence

Once accepted into any of the nursing programs, and prior to course registration, the following verifications must be provided:

Required immunizations (see website for current list)
Pass both an Illegal Substance-Drug Screen and Criminal Background check
Professional Liability and Malpractice Insurance (cost is included in student fees)
Medical Insurance coverage for injury/sickness (strongly recommended)
Attend a nursing intake session following notification of acceptance.

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.).

Re-entry to Nursing Program

Students requesting re-entry to the Registered Nursing (full or part-time) must fulfill current readmission requirements as specified by the SVC Nursing Admissions Policy. Readmission is based on a space-available basis. 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. An exception will be made for student withdrawal due to military service.

Nursing Assistant Certificate

The Nursing Assistant program prepares students for employment as NA’s in hospitals, clinics, long-term care facilities, and home healthcare agencies. Graduates of the program are eligible to take the National Nurse Aide Assessment Program (NNAAP) examination in Washington State to become a Certified Nursing Assistant.

The Nursing Assistant program is a Washington State approved one quarter course. The course includes lecture, skills lab and direct patient care under the supervision of clinical nursing instructors. Students must attend all scheduled classes and clinical experiences to meet State certification requirements. Students must perform in a safe and competent manner in the clinical area, complying with OBRA guidelines. Failure to do so may prevent the student from receiving a certificate.

Students gain knowledge and learn skills caring for patients of various age groups during acute and chronic stages of disease, surgery, and rehabilitation, as well as how to maintain health during the normal aging process. Included in the curriculum are patients’ rights, basic bedside nursing skills, patient/personal safety, HIPAA and HIV/AIDS education. Skills are practiced in the program laboratory. Clinical experience occurs in skilled nursing facilities.

Schedule Options

Skagit Valley College offers two campus options for the Nursing Assistant program certificate. The following information will inform you about the options, admission requirements, application process, and deadlines.

Credits	Program Length	Admission/Campus
8	1 quarter	Fall, Winter and Spring quarters/MV
8	1 quarter	All quarters/WIC

It is the student’s responsibility to discuss sequencing and work out their individual schedule with a counselor or program advisor. Any developmental or prerequisite courses a student is required to complete may add additional quarters toward program completion.

Nursing 100/101/102 (Nursing Assistant Program) - 8 credits

The Nursing Assistant program (NURS 100 ) 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 on into practical or registered nurse programs. Graduates of the program are eligible to take the Washington State competency examination to become a Certified Nursing Assistant. This is a Washington State approved, one quarter course offered afternoon and evenings, 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

Entry into the NA Program

Students seeking admission to the Nursing Assistant program must first apply for admission to Skagit Valley College. Admission to the college does not guarantee acceptance into the NA course or any other nursing program. Students must be 18 to take the state exam and receive NA certification. Students need to be aware they must attend all scheduled classes and clinical times to meet State certification requirements.

Mount Vernon Campus and Whidbey Island Campus

Permission is required.
Contact: Samantha SopherProgram Assistant | 360.416.7045

Background Check

Pursuant to the requirements of 1987 Washington Laws, Chapter 496, students must fill out a Washington State Patrol background check/disclosure statement. The results of the disclosure search may prevent the student from completing the Nursing Assistant course. For more information about “disqualifying crimes,” please read/review the Licensing Eligibility/Disqualifying Crimes document located on page 18) If you anticipate problems answering any of these questions, please consult with a Nursing program counselor/advisor.

You should also be aware that some clinical facilities are fingerprinting students for federal background checks and are randomly screening for drug usage. A criminal history may impact your ability to both attend a clinical class at selected clinical sites and receive a Washington State nursing license. If you have a criminal history it is important that you determine the impact this will have on your choice of a career. The results of the disclosure search may prevent the student from completing the Nursing Assistant course. For more information about “disqualifying crimes,” please go to the Nursing program home page at SVC web.

Required Immunizations

Prior to participating in any clinical experience, students must show proof of:

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 Supplort (BLS) CPR card. A CPR card received through an internet-based training program is not acceptable for this program.

Nursing Degrees and Courses

Programs

Associate

Certificate

Nursing Assistant Certificate (Nursing 100)

Courses

Nursing