2024-2025 Catalog

Nursing Program Bachelor of Science in Nursing

(185 credits)

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, interview, and 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

Prospective students must complete applications for both Salish Kootenai College and the Nursing Program by March 31,2025 to be considered for the Fall 2025 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
  • NEX exam- please refer to nursing.skc.edu for NEX exam instructions

Upon receipt of the student’s essay, transcripts, application,  and NEX exam score, the admissions committee will schedule an interview with each candidate. Upon completion of the interview process, the admissions committee will meet and determine the successful candidates for admission. Students will be notified of the admission committee’s decision by May 14, 2025. Students must submit an ‘acceptance consent’ form by July 14, 2025 in order to secure their place in the Fall Admission cohort. Failure to submit the ‘acceptance consent’ form by July 14, 2025 will result in forfeiture of the admission and someone from the wait list being moved up to take the open space.

Additional requirements of a background check, drug test, immunization record, certification in CPR, and other required documentation will be given to the students upon completion of the interview process. A due date of July 31, 2025 has been established for these documents.  

 

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

End of Program Outcomes

The 4-Year BSN Program has three end of program outcomes which are measured annually:

1.  NCLEX passing rate:  Goal - 85% or higher first-time attempt passing rate.

2. Graduation rate: Goal - 80% or higher cohort graduation rate within 5 years of starting the BSN Program

3. Job placement rate: Goal - 90% or higher of the cohort will start working as a RN within 6 months of graduation.

 

 

BSN Degree Requirements

Fall (Year 1)

IDST101SKC Seminar

3

ENGL101English Composition I

3

BIOS108Biology of Living Systems

4

BIOS109Biology of Living Systems Laboratory

1

BIOS138Anatomy and Physiology I

4

BIOS139Anatomy and Physiology I Lab

1

Total Credit Hours:16

Winter (Year 1)

BIOS158Anatomy and Physiology II

4

BIOS159Anatomy and Physiology II Lab

1

ENGL203Technical Writing for STEM Majors

3

MATH100College Algebra

5

NASD101History of Indians in the United States

3

Total Credit Hours:16

Spring (Year 1)

BIOS130Introduction to Microbiology

4

BIOS131Introduction to Microbiology Lab

1

CHEM124Introduction to General & Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry

4

CHEM125Introduction to General & Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry lab

1

BIOS178Anatomy and Physiology III

4

BIOS179Anatomy and Physiology III Lab

1

Total Credit Hours:15

Fall (Year 2)

NURS200Nursing Fundamentals

4

NURS204Health Assessment

4

NURS235Pathophysiology I

3

PSYC110Introduction to Psychology

5

Total Credit Hours:16

Winter (Year 2)

NURS245Pathophysiology II

3

NURS266Pharmacology I

5

SPCH100Basic Communications

3

ELECTIVENASD Art Elective

3

 

PHIL100Introduction to Philosophy

3

OR

HMNT101Introduction to Humanities

3

Total Credit Hours:17

Spring (Year 2)

NURS270Gerontology

3

NURS276Pharmacology II

5

NUTR270Nutrition for the Health Professional

2

PSYC230Developmental Psychology

5

Total Credit Hours:15

Fall (Year 3)

MATH241Statistics

5

NURS305Nursing Theory

3

NURS331Medical Surgical Nursing I

7

ELECTIVENative American Studies General Education Open

3

Total Credit Hours:18

Winter (Year 3)

NURS340Maternal/Child Nursing

3

NURS351Medical Surgical Nursing II

7

NURS355Ethics and Issues

2

NURS369Mental Health I

3

Total Credit Hours:15

Spring (Year 3)

NURS371Medical Surgical Nursing III

7

NURS379Mental Health Nursing II

3

NURS383Pediatrics Nursing

5

Total Credit Hours:15

Fall (Year 4)

NURS405Nursing Informatics

3

NURS407Family Care

4

NURS420QSEN Competencies

3

NURS430Evidence-Based Practice

3

NURS438Advanced Leadership

3

Total Credit Hours:16
NURS 430 is designated as a course that emphasizes information literacy.

Winter (Year 4)

ENGL306Writing Research Papers

3

NURS441Global Health

3

NURS445Population Health Promotion

4

NURS450Genetics and Genomics for Nurses

3

Total Credit Hours:13

Spring (Year 4)

NURS391Culture and Caring

3

NURS485NCLEX preparation

3

NURS495Senior Practicum

4

NSGDNursing Upper Division Elective

3

Total Credit Hours:13

Nursing Electives

NURS304Health and Humanities

3

NURS354Issues in American Indian Health

3

NURS400Diabetes Mellitus Type 2

3

NURS449Pain Management

3

NURS468Critical Care Nursing

3

NURS476Palliative Care

3

Nursing electives are offered on a rotating basis. Please see the course schedule for each quarter's offerings.

Total Credit Hours: 185