Nursing

Student Learning Outcomes

The department is dedicated to the idea that our students will demonstrate four critical Student Learning Abilities as they relate to our institution and the larger community: Responsibility, Communications, Problem Solving and Global Awareness.

Associate in Nursing DTA/MRP Pathway

SCC nursing faculty members believe there are varying levels of nursing practice that provide unique contributions to meet the health care needs of society. The Associate in Nursing DTA/MRP degree program builds on the practical nurse foundation, guiding the graduate to become a Registered Nurse. The curriculum allows each student to move from one level to the next including advancing to a Bachelor of Science, master's, or doctorate in nursing after graduation if the student desires.

In the nursing classes, the students have both supervised clinical experience and classroom theory. Students study introduction to nursing, medical-surgical nursing including gerontology and pediatrics, prenatal nursing, mental health nursing, and beginning management/leadership concepts. Required clinical rotation hours vary and may include early morning (6:00 AM), evening, and weekend hours one or two days per week.

In addition to the nursing classes, students take courses in biology, algebra, chemistry, anatomy and physiology, microbiology, general psychology, lifespan psychology, English composition and liberal arts elective courses. Students must complete all required support courses with a 2.5 or better before applying to take the nursing core courses. Once all requirements are met, please contact the Health Sciences counselor in SCC Building 1 to review your transcripts and be advised regarding the competitive scoring process. Completion of required support courses with a cumulative 3.0 GPA or above and a minimum 2.5 grade in each course is required. Students are admitted to begin the nursing core courses fall and spring quarters. Students receive an Associate in Nursing DTA/MRP degree upon completion of the six quarters of the program.

Nursing Assistant Program Information

Admission to the nursing program is a competitive admissions process. You will find more information about the competitive admission process by visiting the Admissions Process links. Once all pre-requisite requirements are met, please contact the Health Sciences counselor in SCC Building 15 to review your transcripts and be advised regarding the competitive admission scoring process.

Applications to the nursing program are generally accepted:

March 15 - April 15 for fall admission
September 15 - October 15 for spring admission

Note: If the dates listed above fall on a weekend or holiday, the applications will be accepted the following business day.

Admissions Process

Please read the following information carefully so you fully understand the changes and what will be required as you apply to the SCC nursing program.

NURS 101 — Foundational Principles in Nursing — 3.0 Credits

This course introduces the foundation of nursing principles’. Students will be introduced to the nursing concepts of critical thinking, safety, time management and communication as they relate to patient assessment and patient care. This course is a concept based course specifically focusing on nursing process, caring, assessment and accountability. Prerequisite: Acceptance into the nursing program.

NURS 102 — Application of Foundational Principles in Nursing — 5.0 Credits

This course applies the knowledge from NURS 101 to the clinical practice. Students will apply the nursing concepts of critical thinking safety, time management and communication as they relate to patient assessment and patient care. This course is a concept based course specifically applying the nursing process, caring, assessment and accountability to patient care settings. This course will include laboratory and clinical application of nursing concepts. Grading option: Pass/fail. Prerequisite: Acceptance into the nursing program.

NURS 104 — Nursing Care of Patients Across the Lifespan — 3.0 Credits

This course builds from the knowledge from NURS 101, 102, and NUTRI 251. Students will continue to associate the nursing concepts of critical thinking, safety, time management and communication as they relate to patient care across the lifespan. This course focuses on the care of the patient from pediatrics to geriatrics. This course is a concept based course specifically identifying and discussing the concepts of health, wellness, and illness; teaching and learning; growth and development; mobility; comfort; grief and loss; sleep and rest; cellular regulation; metabolism; infection; and oxygenation. Prerequisite: Completion of the previous quarter.

NURS 105 — Application of Nursing Care of Patients Across the Lifespan — 5.0 Credits

This course builds from the knowledge from NURS 101,102, and NUTRI 251. Students will apply the nursing concepts of critical thinking, safety, time management and communication as they relate to patient care across the lifespan. This course focuses on the well patient from pediatrics to geriatrics. This course is a concept based course specifically applying the concepts health, wellness, and illness; teaching and learning; growth and development; mobility; comfort; grief and loss; sleep and rest; cellular regulation; metabolism; infection; and oxygenation in the clinical setting as they related to patient care across the lifespan. This course will include laboratory and clinical application of nursing concepts and pediatric outpatient clinical experiences. Grading option: Pass/fail. Prerequisite: Completion of the previous quarter.

NURS 106 — PSYC 106/Psychosocial Issues in Healthcare I — 2.0 Credits

In this course, students will begin to examine the determinants of health and illness to include social, psychosocial, environmental, spiritual and cultural dimensions across the lifespan and within the context of health care. Prerequisite: Completion of the previous quarter.

NURS 108 — Nursing Assistant Certified — 6.0 Credits

This course prepares the student to provide direct patient care in hospitals, nursing homes, convalescent centers and home health care settings. The Nursing Assistant Certified has direct contact with the patients and residents in these settings in the process of providing care for their basic daily needs. It teaches about the care of patients in a variety of health care settings. Students learn to recognize the patient’s physical, social and emotional needs and to care for these patients and meet their needs in a caring manner. Grade option: Pass/fail.

NURS 110 — Pharmacology in Nursing Practice — 2.0 Credits

This course introduces the students to the foundational principles of pharmacotherapy. The course includes pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, pharmacotherapeutics, and safe administration. The concepts of safety, communication, critical thinking and time management are introduced as they apply to medication administration. Prerequisite: Completion of the previous quarter.

NURS 111 — Nursing Care of the Acute Patient — 4.0 Credits

This course builds from the knowledge from NURS 101, 102, 104, and 105. Students will continue to interpret and discuss the nursing concepts of critical thinking, safety, time management and communication as they relate to patients with acute health problems. This course is a concept based course specifically exploring the concepts of clinical decision making, collaboration, evidenced based practice, fluid & electrolytes, oxygenation, perfusion, elimination, cognition, metabolism, nursing management, and acid base balance. Prerequisite: Completion of the previous quarter.

NURS 112 — Application of Nursing Care of the Acute Patient — 5.0 Credits

This course builds from the knowledge from NURS 101,102,104,105. Students will continue to apply the nursing concepts of critical thinking, safety, time management and communication as they relate to patients with acute health problems. This course is a concept based course specifically applying the concepts of clinical decision making, collaboration, evidenced based practice, fluid & electrolytes, oxygenation, perfusion, and acid based balance in the clinical setting. This course will include laboratory and clinical application and demonstration of nursing concepts. Grading option: Pass/fail. Prerequisite: Completion of the previous quarter.

NURS 113 — PSYC 113/Psychosocial Issues in Healthcare II — 3.0 Credits

This course is a continuation of NURS 106, where students will continue to examine the determinants of health and illness including social, psychological, environmental, spiritual and cultural dimensions across the lifespan and within the context of healthcare. Prerequisite: Completion of the previous quarter.

NURS 200 — Care of the Developing Family — 3.0 Credits

This course builds from the knowledge from year one for the nursing program. Students will continue to build the nursing concepts of critical thinking, safety, time management and communication as they relate to childbearing women and their families. This course is a concept based course specifically focusing the concepts of assessment and caring as they apply to maternal and perinatal health. Prerequisite: Completion of the previous quarter.

NURS 201 — Application of Care of the Developing Family — 2.0 Credits

This course builds from the knowledge from year one for the nursing program. Students will continue to build their knowledge and understanding of the nursing concepts of critical thinking, safety, time management, and communication as they relate to childbearing women and their families. This course is a concept based course specifically applying the concepts of assessment and caring to patient in a maternity/newborn acute care setting, by demonstrating assessment and care of newborn and postpartum maternal patients in the hospital environment. Grading option: Pass/fail. Prerequisite: Completion of the previous quarter.

NURS 202 — PHIL 202/Ethics and Policy in Healthcare I — 3.0 Credits

This course introduces ethical principles that shape the practice of healthcare professionals and are used to develop healthcare policies. This course is a concept based course introducing ethics, legal issues and health policy to nursing practice. Prerequisite: Completion of the previous quarter.

NURS 203 — Care of the Mental Health Patient — 3.0 Credits

This course builds from the knowledge from year one for the nursing program. Students will continue to apply the nursing concepts of critical thinking, safety, time management and communication as they relate to the mental health of patients across the lifespan. This course is a concept based course specifically interpreting and examining the concepts and how the concepts related to the assessment and care of, and therapeutic communication with, the patient in a variety of mental health settings. This includes demonstration of mental health status examination. Prerequisite: Completion of the previous quarter.

NURS 204 — Application of Care of the Mental Health Patient — 2.0 Credits

This course builds from the knowledge from year one for the nursing program. Students will continue to apply the nursing concepts of critical thinking, safety, time management and communication as they relate to the mental health of patients across the lifespan. This course is a concept based course specifically applying the concepts of therapeutic communication, assessment and caring to patient in a variety of mental health clinical settings. Grading option: Pass/fail. Prerequisite: Completion of the previous quarter.

NURS 205 — Nursing Care of the Critically Ill Patient — 5.0 Credits

This course builds from the knowledge from year one for the nursing program. Students will continue to apply the nursing concepts of critical thinking, safety, time management and communication as they relate to the critically ill patient. This course integrates and builds on the concepts of oxygenation, perfusion, acid-base balance, immunity, infection and tissue integrity as it relates to the care of critically ill patients in the acute care setting. Prerequisite: Completion of the previous quarter.

NURS 206 — Application of Nursing Care of the Critically Ill Patient — 6.0 Credits

This course builds from the knowledge from year one for the nursing program. Students will continue to apply the nursing concepts of critical thinking, safety, time management and communication as they relate to the critically ill patient. This course advances the application of the concepts of oxygenation, perfusion, acid-base balance, immunity, infection and tissue integrity as it applies to critically ill patients in the acute care setting. This course will include laboratory and clinical application of stated nursing concepts. Grading option: Pass/fail. Prerequisite: Completion of the previous quarter.

NURS 207 — PHIL 207/Ethics and Policy in Healthcare II — 2.0 Credits

This course builds from the content introduced in NURS 202. Students apply the ethical principles that are used to develop and implement healthcare policies in a variety of healthcare settings. Prerequisite: Completion of the previous quarter.

NURS 208 — Capstone Experience in Nursing — 6.0 Credits

This course is the culmination of all previous nursing quarters into a capstone experience. Students will continue to apply the nursing concepts of critical thinking, safety, time management and communication as they relate to patients in multiple care settings. This course applies the concepts of accountability, collaboration, comfort and technical skills in a capstone experience. Grading option: Pass/fail. Prerequisite: Completion of the previous quarter.

NURS 209 — Leadership Principles in Nursing Care — 4.0 Credits

This course prepares the student for transition to professional practice. Students evaluate key leadership principles and strategies to prepare for licensure. Students integrate and evaluate concepts of accountability and collaboration as they transition to a Registered Nurse. Prerequisite: Completion of the previous quarter.

NURS 210 — Simulation in Nursing Practices — 2.0 Credits

This course synthesizes nursing concepts, introduced across the nursing program, in a simulated clinical environment. Students collaborate with interdisciplinary partners to prepare for practice as a Registered Nurse. Grading option: Pass/fail. Prerequisite: Completion of the previous quarter.

NURS 299 — Independent Study in Nursing — 1.0-13.0 Credits

This course is designed for students wishing to complete specialized studies in the field of nursing. Objectives are developed jointly by the student and instructor. Prerequisite: Current enrollment in the Nursing program or permission of instructor.

The Spokane Community College Nursing Program is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), formerly known as National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission. For more information, visit our Nursing Accreditation page.

For questions regarding the program in general, visit our General Frequently Asked Questions page. For questions about accreditation, visit our Accreditation page. If you have questions about the admissions process, see our Frequently Asked Questions About Admissions page.

Our nursing program is built on a standard of excellence. SCC has had a nursing program since 1946 with the introduction of a practical nurse program. The associate degree nursing program, which prepares the graduate for licensure as a registered nurse, began in 1970. Part of the success of the nursing program can be attributed to the fact that the students have access to a nursing practice laboratory, computer-assisted instruction, and a variety of excellent clinical settings. The campus Learning Resources Center provides a wealth of information for the student in the form of books, journals, DVDs, and electronic media. Students consistently practice the theories and skills learned in the classroom in the lab and in the clinical settings.

Shawn Mielke ’10

"I am grateful to SCC for opening up a very important doorway after graduation—one to my preferred specialty! I was fortunate enough to be allowed to do my senior capstone on the Sacred Heart Medical Center psychiatric unit, where I was approached by the nurse manager. This contact led to a supplemental position not long after graduation. It was, and continues to be, a very positive experience."

Laurie Lee Potts ’05

"I am so thankful that I chose to attend SCC's nursing program to prepare for my career. They offer a wide variety of hands-on experiences that support book knowledge, as well as instructors who knew when I needed to be shoved and when I needed to be hugged."