DEPARTMENT OF NURSING
Office: Brockmann Center 210B
Professor: Swanson (Chair)
Associate Professor: Sowa, Suzanne Lockwood, Pappas
Assistant Professor: Adkins, Catron, Hoogendam, Winninghoff, Whitton
Adjunct Lecturer: Annau, Anderson
Montana State University-Northern offers multiple-entry/multiple exit nursing programs which include an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). LPNs may apply for advanced standing in ADN nursing courses, thus shortening their program of study by approximately 12 semester credits.
The ADN qualifies the graduate to write the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) to become a registered nurse. The program is fully approved by the Montana State Board of Nursing and the Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges and is accredited by the National League for Nursing (NLN). The program prepares men and women for entry level Registered Nurse positions in hospitals and other structured health care agencies.
The first year of the ADN program is offered on the Montana State University-Northern campus in Havre with clinical experiences at Northern Montana Hospital and the Northern Montana Care Center. The second year of the ADN program is offered at the Montana State University-Northern Great Falls Center with clinical placement at Montana State University-Northern various extended sites. The Columbus Hospital in Great Falls is the primary extended site, however, second year clinical experiences may include Missouri River Manor, Montana Deaconess Medical Center, St. James Hospital in Butte, and Northern Montana Hospital in Havre.
The BSN provides the opportunity for registered nurses to continue their education in the profession. The BSN program follows the Rules and Statutes of the Montana State Board of Nursing and is fully accredited by the National League for Nursing (NLN). The major builds on previous nursing education and is directed toward an expanded educational base in the areas of nursing leadership, and management, community health, and advanced clinical practice. The BSN graduate is prepared as a generalist to practice in varied settings and has the foundation for graduate education.
The BSN classes are scheduled innovatively to meet the needs of adult, non-traditional learners. Most BSN students maintain their jobs and residences and are able to attend classes without moving to the university setting. It is possible to attain BSN clinical experiences in students' geographic area of residence. Further information and program requirements may be obtained by calling the Department of Nursing office at 265-4196 or the University toll-free number, 1-800-662-6132.
Prerequisites for entering the Nursing Program:
Associate Degree:
1. Admission to Montana State University-Northern. Submission of all high school and university transcripts to the Office of Admissions of Montana State University-Northern and to the Department of Nursing.
2. Completion of application for admission into the nursing major by January 15 for the Fall Semester. LPNs must apply before March 15 for admission to NURS 212 and Level II.
3. Completion with a "C" or better, high school algebra, biology, and chemistry or university level equivalencies.
4. Admission into Montana State University-Northern MATH 110/112 as determined by placement examination or proof of completion of an equivalent math course.
5. An overall cumulative GPA of 2.50 or greater in required support courses.
6. Licensed Practical Nurses may receive advanced standing into Level II nursing courses. Ask for an application and advanced standing procedure from the Department of Nursing.
7. Coursework transferred from other colleges must reflect current knowledge and practices.
8. Students who desire to transfer into the Associate Degree Program from another school of nursing may apply by submitting a petition to the Department Chair. Placement in the program is determined on an individual basis through transcript and/or course evaluations. Applicants may be asked to take a standardized or teacher-constructed test, and demonstrate specific skills in the University nursing laboratory or in a clinical setting. A grade point average of 2.50 in required cognates and a grade of "C" or better in each required course is necessary for admission to the nursing courses. Once placement is determined admission is granted on a space-available basis.
Baccalaureate Degree:
1. Admission to Montana State University-Northern and submission of all high school and college transcripts to The Montana State University-Northern Admissions Office and Nursing Department
2. Applications should be received by March 15 for summer admission.
3. Must meet requirements stated above and show evidence of current licensure as a Registered Nurse, or license pending (Montana license required prior to enrolling in Practicum classes).
Previous nursing course work will be evaluated on an individual basis through transcript analysis, evaluation of course syllabi and course descriptions.
Additional Requirements:
1. A University entrance physical exam. (BSN students are exempt.)
2. Yearly proof of freedom from tuberculosis.
3. Immunizations or documented proof of immunity to the diseases of measles, mumps, rubella, diphtheria, tetanus and Hepatitis B immunization.
4. Any additional laboratory tests or health standards required by participating clinical facilities or Department of Nursing faculty to document health status and practices must be met.
5. Evidence of Professional Liability, yearly.
6. Evidence of health insurance, yearly.
General Requirements for Progression and Graduation, for both the ADN and BSN programs:
1. A grade of "C" or better in each required course.
2. Maintenance of an overall grade point average (GPA) of 2.25 or better on a 4.00 scale.
3. ADN students who receive a grade lower than "C" in any nursing course required for the nursing major, must drop from the nursing sequence at that time. Students must apply for reinstatement for admission into the nursing program for continuance of the nursing curriculum (See Nursing Student Handbook for Procedure).
4. The student will be dropped from the nursing program if they receive grades below a "C" among any of the required courses (nursing or support).
5. To assure progression through the program, the student must meet the total academic and clinical requirements. Satisfactory classroom academic performance within a nursing course does not, in and of itself, assure progression through the program. The student must meet the criteria which assures patient/client safety and welfare when assigned to clinical situations.
Participation in Clinical Experiences:
1. Students are expected to participate in clinical experiences in hospitals, nursing homes, and other community agencies at varied time schedules. Students who are employed must arrange with employers to allow for flexibility in meeting their academic and clinical schedules. The clinical schedule may involve day, evenings, nights and weekend assignments.
2. Participation in the clinical area is dependent upon space availability. Those students having the highest academic achievement will be selected first, if the space is limited.
3. We safeguard our students welfare against contractible diseases such as AIDS and Hepatitis B by teaching students, beginning with the first nursing course, precautionary measures including the use of universal precautions. This information is reinforced in each subsequent clinical course throughout the curriculum.
4. Faculty members have an obligation to the patient/client to insure that nursing students who care for them are competent to do so. In the interest of safeguarding the patient/client's welfare, students must meet the criteria detailed in the Nursing Student Handbook. For allowance to participate in clinical assignments the student must:
a) Demonstrate good health status and practices and be free from any condition that could jeopardize patient/client health which includes abuse of any mood altering chemicals.
b) Demonstrate emotional stability.
c) Demonstrate sensitivity to patient/client safety and comfort.
d) Practice within legal standards and demonstrate regard for professional ethics.
e) Comply with agency requirements pertinent to student participation.
f) Carry out patient/client care assignments with the required knowledge and skill as determined in classroom theory and laboratory demonstrations.
g) Provide own transportation to and from classroom and clinical assignments.
If for any reason the above criteria are not met, or if there is any conditional circumstance which may constitute an unreasonable risk to the safety and well-being of the patient/client, a student may be removed from the program. The final decision regarding removal will be based on the judgment of the Department of Nursing faculty and Chair.
Reinstatement after Withdrawal from the Nursing Major:
Reinstatement to the nursing major is not automatic. A former student must direct a petition to the Chair of the Department of Nursing days prior to the beginning of each semester.
Students petitioning for reinstatement may be required to pass a written test and a practical performance exam for placement into the nursing program.
Students who have left the program for non-academic reasons and have been out for one year or less, may be reinstated, on a space available basis, without testing. Additional criteria and policies are listed in the Nursing Student Handbook.
Additional information regarding student policies
and guidelines may be found in the Nursing Student Handbook which
is updated annually.
NURSING--No Minor Required--Bachelor of Science Degree