Nursing Program Bachelor of Science in Nursing
The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) Program is designed to provide the industry standard BSN degree. Upon graduation, the student is eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) and practice as a Registered Nurse.
Four-Year Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program Admission Requirements
Admission into the 4-Year BSN Program is based on the student’s high school GPA, other college and university transfer grades, Native American preference, Veteran’s Priority of Service status, applicant’s references, and applicant’s essay.
Native American Preference Policy
SKC does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, sexual identification, gender, age, or disability except as allowed by the Indian Preference provision of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended. Consistent with this provision and the mission of the College, the Nursing Program gives preference to enrolled tribal members and descendants traceable to the second generation during the admissions process.
Veteran Priority of Service Policy
The requirement to provide priority of service to veterans applies to all programs that receive funding from the United States Department of Labor. "Veteran" is defined as a person who served at least one day in the active military, naval, or air service, and who was discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable. The Veteran Priority of Service Policy is available at the Nursing Department upon request.
BSN Program Admission Process
Students must complete applications for Salish Kootenai College AND the Nursing Program by June 1, 2023 for consideration to be considered for the Fall 2023 cohort. Students are encouraged to apply online at SKC Admissions (for the SKC college application) and nursing.skc.edu (for the Nursing Program application). Please check the SKC college website (SKC Admissions) for required documents that need to accompany your SKC application.
The following documents must be included in the nursing program application.
- BSN application form
- Essay responses—please refer to nursing.skc.edu for essay questions and requirements
- Copies of unofficial transcripts verifying all college coursework completed to date
- Background check; please refer to nursing.skc.edu on background check process
- Immunizations; please refer to nursing.skc.edu on the immunization requirements
Upon receipt of the student’s background check, essay, transcripts, application, and immunization records, the admissions committee will meet and determine the successful candidates for admission. Students will be notified of the admission committee’s decision by June 20, 2023. Students must submit an ‘acceptance consent’ form by June 30, 2023 in order to secure their place in the Fall Admission cohort. Failure to submit the ‘acceptance consent’ form by June 30, 2023 will result in forfeiture of the admission and someone from the wait list being moved up to take the open space.
Additional requirements of record of immunizations and/or titers, health history form completed by a healthcare provider asserting the student is capable of clinical, CPR, and other mandated documentation will be given to the students upon the student’s acceptance consent; a due date of July 21, 2023 has been established for these additional documents.
Please note: annual background checks, annual random drug screening, and annual immunization requirements such as the flu vaccine are required elements in order to progress through the program.
Transfer Grade Requirements
In the event a prospective BSN student has already taken general education college courses at another college or university, the student must provide an official transcript to the SKC Enrollment Department in order for the transfer specialist to assess transferability. Students must have earned a B or better in 30 weeks of Anatomy and Physiology and a C or better in all other general education transfer courses. If a student has not earned a B or better in Anatomy and Physiology or a C or better in any other general education course, the student will be required to take these courses at SKC. Additional information about transferring courses to SKC is available on the website of the Office of the Academic Transfer Specialist.
Clinical Laboratories
Nursing coursework includes interactive learning activities in the classroom, independent study, campus practice lab, and clinical practice in a variety of institutional and community based health care settings. One lab credit hour represents three contact hours. Clinical facilities are located in Ronan, Polson, Plains, Kalispell, Hamilton, Missoula, and other Montana communities. Overnight stays in various communities may be necessary throughout the program. Clinical labs may be scheduled on days, evenings, nights, or on weekends. During the last quarter of the program, students participate in preceptorships, following the work schedules of RN preceptors. Students are responsible for housing and transportation to and from clinical facilities.
Students are required to meet the student clinical placement mandates of the clinical site such as required immunizations and titers; dress code; competencies concerning medication dispensing and electronic health record documentation; and regulations regarding HIPAA and COVID19 protocols. Failure to adhere to clinical site requirements will result in dismissal from the nursing program.
Nursing Department Policies
Due to the unique nature of the nursing profession, the Nursing Department maintains policies in addition to those of the College. The policies are available in the BSN Student Handbook. Examples include admission, progression, professional behavior, and grading policies.Students must earn a grade of "B" or better in all nursing courses and Anatomy and Physiology to progress in the Nursing Program. Please see the Nursing Student Handbook for details.
Please note: annual background checks, annual random drug screening, annual immunization requirements such as the flu vaccine, are required elements in order to progress through the program.
Additional Requirements for Licensure as a Registered Nurse (RN)
Completion of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing is not the sole criteria for obtaining a license to practice as a registered nurse. The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (ncsbn.org) publishes requirements by state. The Montana Nurse Practice Act authorizes the State Board of Nursing (http://mt.gov/dli/nur/) to set requirements for RN Licensure in Montana. Requirements for licensure include:
- Graduation from an approved school of nursing.
- A passing score on the NCLEX-RN, the national licensing exam.
- The capacity to maintain the professional code of nursing practice.
Licensure may be denied to graduates/nurses who demonstrate:
- Fraudulent information or misrepresentation in the licensing application or exam.
- Active history of substance abuse/chemical dependency
- Failure to maintain the professional conduct of nurses.
- Conviction of a crime that relates adversely to the practice of nursing.
BSN Degree Requirements
Fall (Year 1)
| IDST101 | SKC Seminar | 3 |
| ENGL101 | English Composition I | 3 |
| BIOS108 | Biology of Living Systems | 4 |
| BIOS109 | Biology of Living Systems Laboratory | 1 |
| BIOS138 | Anatomy and Physiology I | 4 |
| BIOS139 | Anatomy and Physiology I Lab | 1 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 16 |
Winter (Year 1)
| ENGL203 | Technical Writing for STEM Majors | 3 |
| NASD101 | History of Indians in the United States | 3 |
| MATH100 | College Algebra | 5 |
| BIOS158 | Anatomy and Physiology II | 4 |
| BIOS159 | Anatomy and Physiology II Lab | 1 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 16 |
Spring (Year 1)
| BIOS130 | Introduction to Microbiology | 4 |
| BIOS131 | Introduction to Microbiology Lab | 1 |
| CHEM124 | Introduction to General & Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry | 4 |
| CHEM125 | Introduction to General & Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry lab | 1 |
| BIOS178 | Anatomy and Physiology III | 4 |
| BIOS179 | Anatomy and Physiology III Lab | 1 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
Fall (Year 2)
ELECTIVE
| NASD OPEN | 3 |
| NURS201 | Introduction to Nursing | 2 |
| NURS235 | Pathophysiology I | 3 |
| NURS205 | Health Assessment | 3 |
| PSYC110 | Introduction to Psychology | 5 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 16 |
Winter (Year 2)
Spring (Year 2)
| NURS270 | Gerontology | 3 |
| NURS275 | Pharmacology II | 3 |
| PSYC230 | Developmental Psychology | 5 |
| | |
| PHIL100 | Introduction to Philosophy | 3 |
| OR | |
| HMNT101 | Introduction to Humanities | 3 |
| | |
| NUTR270 | Nutrition for the Health Professional | 2 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 16 |
Fall (Year 3)
Winter (Year 3)
Spring (Year 3)
Fall (Year 4)
NURS 430 is designated as a course that emphasizes information literacy.
Winter (Year 4)
| NSGD | Nursing Upper Division Elective | 3 |
| NURS441 | Global Health | 3 |
| NURS444 | Health Promotion, Health Protection, and Disease Prevention | 3 |
| NURS450 | Genetics and Genomics for Nurses | 3 |
| NURS469 | Senior Capstone I | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
Spring (Year 4)
Total Credit Hours: 185