Additional Information for Nursing Students
Expenses
In addition to SKC tuition and fees, nursing students have additional costs including, but not limited to, laboratory fees, program fees, immunization fees, textbooks, uniforms, name tag, health insurance, background checks, drug screens, and clinical travel. RN licensure expenses include the NCLEX-RN exam fee and travel to the testing site. Please refer to nursing.skc.edu for an annual list of approximate costs in addition to the college tuition and fees. Students must also have access to a computer equipped with a webcam and a microphone. High-speed internet service is also required. Students are required to have a Microsoft Office Suite, including Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
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 may be located in Ronan, Polson, Plains, Kalispell, 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. Students are responsible for housing and transportation to and from clinical facilities. Students are required to limit outside work due to the variability of experiential learning schedules.
Students are required to meet the student clinical placement mandates of the clinical site. 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. Nursing Department policies are available in the SKC Nursing Student Handbook.
Please note that annual background checks, current American Heart Association BLS CPR certification, and current annual immunizations are required every year the student is in the nursing program.
Additional Requirements for Licensure as a Registered Nurse (RN)
Completion of the Bachelor Degree 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.