For the requirements for admission and further information about the BSN and RN-BSN degree programs, please refer to nursing.skc.edu website.
SKC Nursing Program Mission
The mission of the SKC Nursing Program is to provide students, focusing on Native American students, with the competencies required for professional nursing practice and leadership in rural and tribal communities. The Nursing Program promotes collaborative partnerships and relationships with individuals, health care facilities, and our 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 Registered Nurses.
Nursing education responds to advances in science, technology, and changes in nursing practice. Graduate competencies and end-of-program student learning outcomes of critical thinking, culturally congruent care, communication, and citizenship are facilitated through structured experiential learning, classroom didactic, independent study, student reflection, and service learning. Learning takes place in a variety of contexts on campus, in the community, and online. Experiential learning 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 (1984) Adult Learning Theory 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 also responsible for identifying their learning needs and preferences by utilization of appropriate learning resources to develop knowledge, skills, reasoning, and professional ethics as effective health care professionals.
Program Description
The Salish Kootenai College Bachelor Degree Nursing Programs provide the theoretical and clinical foundations for educational and career mobility in nursing. The programs prepare graduates to practice in a variety of urban, rural, and Native American health care settings. The core competencies integrate evidence-based practice principles in the care of individuals across the lifespan, families, communities, and populations.
The nursing curricula are based in part on the underpinnings of Knowles (1984) Adult Learning Theory and Leininger's (2002) Theory of Transcultural Nursing. There are two program options. One program allows students to earn a 4-year Bachelor Degree in Nursing and take the NCLEX-RN exam to become a Registered Nurse. The second program option allows current practicing registered nurses to complete a Bachelor Degree in Nursing. The philosophy and organizing framework for the programs are published in the SKC Nursing Student Handbook. Please refer to nursing.skc.edu for the most current admission and program requirements and updates.
Student Learning Outcomes
Salish Kootenai College Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) for both RN-BSN and BSN degree options include the following student learning outcomes.
The graduate nurse will:
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Integrate theory and evolving knowledge from the sciences, social sciences, humanities, and nursing to guide nursing practice.
(AACN Domain 1: Knowledge for Nursing Practice)
- Apply principles and competencies of leadership to improve health outcomes for individuals, families, communities, and populations. (AACN Domain 10: Personal, Professional and Leadership Development)
- Analyze research literature and integrate evidence-based recommendations to inform nursing practice. (AACN Domain 4: Scholarship for the Nursing Discipline).
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Integrate knowledge of current healthcare policy, healthcare finance and regulatory agencies’ guidelines to positively influence nursing care across healthcare settings. (AACN Domain 7: Systems-Based Practice)
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Facilitate inter and intra-professional collaboration and communication to promote safe, quality patient care.
(AACN Domain 6: Interprofessional Partnerships)
- Cultivate a professional nursing identity that includes accountability, a collaborative attitude, a growth mindset that embraces lifelong learning and a disposition which reflects nursing values. (AACN Domain 9: Professionalism).
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Promote social justice and reduce social injustice through population health
(AACN Domain 3: Population Health).
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Employ principles of quality and safety to guide nursing practice on both the individual and systems level
(AACN Domain 5: Quality and Safety)
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Develop nursing care that integrates patient values and beliefs within the context of cultural congruence and demonstrate tolerance, respect and civility to all. (AACN Domain 2: Person-Centered Care)
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Utilize information and communication technology to provide care and gather data to drive decision making and expand knowledge. (AACN Domain 8: Informatics and Healthcare Technologies)
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 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (May, 2023), the mean wage for a Registered Nurse in Montana is $80,760. Employment projections suggest the need for Registered Nurses in Montana will continue to rise. Wages 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 BSN program, students may continue on to graduate school at colleges or universities that offer Master's Degrees, Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), and PhD programs in nursing.
Accreditation
The BSN and RN-BSN programs are accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN).
Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing
3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400
Atlanta, GA 30326. 404-975-5000
(http://acenursing.org/)
Approval
The BSN program is approved by the Montana State Board of Nursing.
Montana State Board of Nursing, Department of Labor and Industry
PO Box 200513
301 S. Park Ave.
Helena, MT 59620-0513