Nursing
Highline College’s Registered Nursing program provides you with a comprehensive curriculum that includes study in nursing theory and practice. You will gain practical experience through supervised clinical practice in hospitals, long-term care settings, and community health care agencies.
The program is approved by the Washington State Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission and accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). Graduates qualify to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN).
Career
When you complete this program and pass your NCLEX (Licensure Exam), you will be qualified to work as an RN. Registered nurses have a wide array of opportunities in front of them, with each having its own set of unique requirements, benefits, challenges, and pay grades. Most recent graduates will begin in what is called Medical/Surgical nursing in the hospital setting to get the basic skill sets down and learn to think critically.
These jobs usually come with a residency program, which is very helpful for easing into the work setting. Most ADN graduates will eventually need to get their bachelor’s degree, however, as most employers now require this within three years of employment. So many students will move straight into an RN to BSN program while they begin a residency program at a hospital. Of course, there are many opportunities outside of hospitals and many of those do not require a bachelor’s degree, such as school nursing, long term care, community health nursing, and outpatient specialty nursing.
Associate Degrees
PDF Program Map
Department/Program URL:
GPA Requirement:
Must have a 2.5 (80%) to pass all classes in the nursing program.
Number of Credits:
109 Credits
Degree or Certificate Learning Outcomes:
- Employ critical decision making to prioritize and appropriately attend to client specific needs using data collection and analysis, problem identification, care planning, care delivery and evaluation of care.
- Provide accurate verbal and written communications using appropriate technology, while adapting to consider the needs of culturally and educationally diverse clientele and interdisciplinary health care team members.
- Demonstrate proficiency in psychomotor skills, computation, therapeutic communication, client education and use of technology in provision of nursing care.
- Function as an effective member of the health care team, practicing collaborative leadership, delegation and client advocacy to provide goal-oriented care.
- Perform optimally in the dynamic health care system by incorporating evidence based practice and continuing education in client care.
- Adhere to scope of professional practice and contribute to the profession through participation in professional organizations and sociopolitical awareness.
Top Transfer-To institutions
- UW Tacoma
- Western Governor’s University (WGU)
- UW Bothell.
Important Dates or Milestones Specific to Degree/Certificate
Key Advisors
An AA Pre-Nursing degree helps you prepare for the Registered Nursing – LPN to RN AAS program admission requirements, and transfer to a four-year university to complete a BS in Nursing. Additionally, this degree shows prospective employers that you have necessary science-based communication skills, knowledge, and laboratory techniques for a wide variety of applications.
PDF Program Map
Career
Nurses are an integral part of healthcare, and may work in many different settings, including hospitals, clinics, research laboratories, state and federal agencies, long-term care, and hospice facilities. An AA degree in Pre-Nursing can be applied to a variety of career and degree paths. This degree will provide foundational knowledge required for admission into Nursing, Dental Assisting, and Respiratory Care programs, or help you prepare for a career such as a nursing aid, caregiver, phlebotomist, or monitor technician.
Department/Program URL:
N/A
GPA Requirement:
Minimum 2.0 cumulative college-level GPA
Number of Credits:
Minimum 90 college-level credits (100 level or above)
Degree or Certificate Learning Outcomes:
Demonstrate knowledge, skills and abilities in preparation to transfer to a four-year university in nursing.
Top Transfer-To institutions
- UW
- CWU
- UWT
Important Dates or Milestones Specific to Degree/Certificate
Students must complete BIOL& 160 before enrolling in BIOL& 241/242/260.
Key Advisors
Chris Gan
Sam Shabb
Woody Moses
Colleen Sheridan
Lydia Garas