SKC Nursing Program Mission
The mission of the SKC Nursing Program is to provide Native American students with the competencies required for professional nursing practice and leadership in rural and tribal communities. The Program promotes collaborative partnerships and relationships with individuals and communities to enhance their health, well-being, and cultural identity.
Nursing Education
Nursing education at Salish Kootenai College provides a learning environment for students to acquire the knowledge, skills, and values necessary to become competent nurse generalist clinicians. Progressive levels of nursing education support career mobility and expanded scopes of practice in alignment with the Future of Nursing initiative. Each level of nursing education provides a foundation for further professional education.
Nursing education responds to advances in science, technology and changes in nursing practice. Graduate competencies of critical thinking, culturally congruent care, communication, and citizenship are facilitated through structured learning activities, active learning, independent study, and student reflection. Learning takes place in a variety of contexts on campus, in the community, and through an online format. Clinical education includes campus-based practice, low and high fidelity labs/simulations, project focused learning, total patient care, and community-based care that encourages application of classroom learning. Education is a life-long commitment to personal and professional growth and development involving self-evaluation and reflection on personal goals.
The SKC learning community supports cultural competence and mutual respect between and among faculty, students, and community partners. Faculty members are role models, mentors, facilitators, and resource persons responsive to the learning needs of students. The Nursing Program embraces Knowles Theory of Adult Learning principles. Students are adult learners who enter the educational process with life experiences, prior learning, and preferred ways of discovery. Students are expected to practice, acknowledge errors, and learn from such incidents to grow as individuals and professionals. Students are responsible for identifying their learning needs and preferences by utilization of appropriate learning resources to develop knowledge, skills, reasoning, and ethics as effective health care professionals.
Program Description
The associate and baccalaureate degree programs provide the theoretical and clinical foundations for educational and career mobility in nursing. The programs prepare graduates to practice in a variety of rural and Native American health care settings. The core competencies integrate evidence-based practice with health promotion, acute, and chronic care of individuals across the lifespan, families, communities, and populations.
The nursing curricula are based in part on the underpinnings of Knowles Adult Learning Theory and Leininger Theory of Transcultural Nursing. The nursing curricula are designed for students to earn their ASN degree, pass the NCLEX-RN exam, and return for one/two years to complete a BSN degree. The philosophy and organizing framework for the programs are published in the ASN and RN/BSN Student Handbooks. Prospective applicants are encouraged to contact the Nursing Department (406-275-4922) for the most current admission requirements and program updates. Also, consult our website, http://nursing.skc.edu, for information.
Career Pathways
A graduate from SKC Nursing programs will be prepared to work as a Registered Nurse (RN) in a variety of settings, including acute care, community health, educational setting, or clinic setting. According to the Montana Bureau of Labor Statistics (May, 2017), the mean wage for a Registered Nurse in Montana is $66, 280. Employment projections suggest the need for Registered Nurses in Montana will continue to increase by an average of 3% per year. This number can increase over time, as the RN gains experience, certifications, or if the RN specializes in a specific area of nursing. The degree prepares the student for postgraduate studies and degrees in nursing or health-related fields. Upon completion of the RN-BSN program, students may continue on to graduate school at colleges or universities that offer masters, DNP and PhD programs in nursing.
Accreditation
The ASN and RN/BSN programs are accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN).
Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing
3343 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 500
Atlanta, GA 30326. 404-975-5000
(http://acenursing.org/)