Nursing

Katherine Christian, Director of Health Education Programs 
509.793.2130

Mercedes Gonzalez-Aller, Division Chair
509.793.2136

Hannah Capelo
509.793.2139

Emily Eidson
509.793.2138

Carmen Sauvage
509.793.2132

Nursingprogram@bigbend.edu
509.793.2138 

Nursing education presents concepts from the humanities, life and social sciences, and biological and physical sciences. It promotes competency-based learning at all levels of nursing practice. The goal of nursing education is the provision of a theoretical knowledge base, competent skill base, and professional value insights that enable a beginning nurse to deliver safe care and to demonstrate accountability for care delivered or delegated to others. The Nursing Program’s curriculum is designed to incorporate the program’s philosophy/ mission and nursing paradigm concepts. It is designed to demonstrate learning from the simple to the complex, from the conceptual to the empirical.

Successful completion of this degree prepares the student to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). Successful completion of the examination and subsequent licensure allows the student to enter the workforce as a Registered Nurse.

The Associate in Nursing DTA MRP degree is approved by the Washington State Board of Nursing and the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges, and accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, 3390 Peachtree Rd NE, Suite 1400, Atlanta, GA 30326; tel 404.975.5000.

The program provides a three year Associate in Nursing DTA MRP as well as a Certificate of Certificate of Accomplishment Nursing Assistant Program (one quarter).

Physical and Psychosocial Requirements for the Nursing Program:

Students planning on entering the Nursing Program need to be aware of the fact that the physical requirements listed below are expected by employers. Therefore, students will be expected to meet the same criteria during clinical/lab instruction in the Nursing program.

• Demonstrate ability to tolerate intermittent sitting, standing, stooping and walking. Full range of motion is required.
• Demonstrate good manual and finger dexterity.
• Demonstrate ability to differentiate odors and colors in the clinical setting.
• Demonstrate competency in computer documentation
• Demonstrate communication skills: Must be able to read and write in English. Must be able to communicate verbally in English both in person and on the phone.
• Demonstrate ability to stand on carpeting, linoleum, or be seated at a standard desk at the nurse’s station using an office chair for a varying amount of time (i.e. 2-4 hours).
• Demonstrate ability to work in high-paced facilities that include dealing with stress.
• Demonstrate emotional stability and maturity in various circumstances through interpersonal relationships with staff, patients, and visitors.
• Demonstrate ability to deliver care across the age spectrum with cultural and ethnic sensitivity.
• Demonstrate a consistent ability to deliver safe and competent nursing care.

Application Procedure

Students are admitted each year in the fall quarter only. Prerequisite courses are done independently prior to applying to the nursing program. Students may apply to the program through the online application on the program’s website; applications for Fall 2024 will be accepted from March 15, 2024-April 2, 2024. The program’s website explains, in detail, how to prepare a complete application file. Incomplete application files will not be considered for admission. 

Selection and Acceptance Process

Selection of new students to the nursing program is done on a points-based system (see application information on the nursing program website). Prerequisite courses must be completed or in progress prior to applying for a position in the BBCC Nursing program. Prerequisite and corequisite courses must be completed with a minimum of 2.0 in each course. The top 24 applicants will be admitted to the program. There will be an alternate pool of applicants that will be utilized if necessary should any of the first 24 accepted students decide not to attend. Admissions from the alternate pool will continue until the class has 24 confirmed new students. The alternate pool will remain in existence until the first day of orientation. Applicants must re-apply to be considered for admission in subsequent years.

Nursing ADN Program Requirements

Before beginning the core Nursing program courses, the applicant will need to:

1. Provide evidence of a satisfactory physical examination within the preceding six months, validating all physical requirements (see above)
2. Provide evidence of a current AHA BLS Provider CPR Card**
3. Have a satisfactory criminal background check
4. Provide evidence of up-to-date immunizations and have initiated the Hepatitis B series
5. Provide evidence of negative drug testing

**BBCC’s Nursing Program requires CPR cards to be updated annually**

Transfer Students

Transfer students may be accepted from other nursing programs on a space-available basis following an evaluation of qualifications. Transfer students must meet all BBCC and nursing program requirements

(See application packet for application process). BBCC allows transfer credits from regionally accredited post-secondary institutions. The grade acceptable for credit must be a minimum of 2.0 in each class. Students must submit official transcripts from each institution attended to the Admissions/Registration Office, and copies of transcripts to the Director of Health Education Programs. Nursing course credit will be considered on an individual basis.

Attendance at BBCC is required for a minimum of two quarters prior to the completion of the nursing program. Twenty-four quarter credits, including the final twelve necessary to complete the degree, must be earned through enrollment in BBCC courses. 

The following schedule of courses is the recommended program for completing this degree. See a program advisor for substitute courses.

Nursing Assistant 

nursingprogram@bigbend.edu

Successful completion of the one-quarter program prepares students to take the National Nurse Aid Assessment Examination. Successful completion of the examination is required to become licensed as a Nursing Assistant – Certified (NAC) in Washington State, prepared to work in community, long-term, and acute care settings.

The program is approved by the Washington State Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission and is a valuable first step into the nursing profession.