Nursing
FAQs
1. What high school courses will help me to prepare to go into a college nursing program?
Nursing blends a variety of disciplines such as social science, biology, chemistry, and math. The science areas are particularly important to prepare students for success in a college nursing curriculum, so students find a high school background in biology and chemistry particularly helpful.
2. I am going to be a freshman at SC. What courses do I need to take to get a BSN?
SC requires 11 Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS) courses in addition to major courses. All freshmen are assigned advisors who will enroll them in the LAS courses and nursing prerequisites. Nursing prerequisites are:
Human Anatomy and Physiology Micro or Macroeconomics General Psychology Developmental Psychology Abnormal Psychology Nutrition Introduction to Chemistry Introduction to Statistics Pathophysiology is not considered a prerequisite as it is taken during the nursing curriculum. However, if pathophysiology is taken at another institution, the following conditions must be met: - must be taken at a four-year institution. - a course in microbiology must also be completed.
3. What are LAS courses?
LAS (Liberal Arts and Sciences) courses meet the general education (also called Integrative Studies) requirements at SC. Thirty-three hours of LAS courses are required for graduation; however, hours transferred from other colleges may waive some of those LAS requirements.
4. How competitive is the admission process?
Due to the nation-wide nursing shortage, admission is becoming more competitive as we receive more applicants. Students wishing to be considered for admission to the nursing program must meet the following requirements:
- Be accepted to Southwestern College prior to April 1,
- Complete an application for admission to the department of nursing prior to April 1,
- Complete a personal interview with the admission and progression committee, and
- Have a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.75 for all college work completed.
5. I would like to transfer to the SC Nursing Program. What do I need to do?
Students wishing to transfer nursing course work from another educational institution will apply for admission as outlined above. In addition, any nursing course work completed at a prior institution must be considered on an individual basis according to the “Validation of Course Credit” policy prior to the granting of transfer credit. Students requesting admission after attending another nursing program must submit a recommendation from the dean, director, or chairperson of that program.
After the student is admitted to the nursing program, the following must be met prior to August 1:
- At least 60 college credit hours must be completed prior to beginning the nursing program. Students may request an exception to this policy; any exceptions will be addressed on an individual basis and approved by the admission and progression committee.
- Of the following support courses completed, a grade of “C” or better is required:
College Writing I (or equiv.) College Writing II (or equiv.) Nutrition Statistics Human Anatomy & Physiology General or Introductory Chemistry General Psychology Developmental Psychology Abnormal Psychology Economics
6. How often are students considered for admission?
Students are admitted to the nursing program once a year in the fall semester.
7. How expensive is the tuition?
The 2009/2010 Catalog lists tuition at $9,765 per term (semester). HOWEVER, we encourage everyone to check about financial aid before ruling out SC, thinking it is "too expensive"? See: http://www.sckans.edu/finaid/ for financial aid information.
8. How much money do nurses make?
A new graduate Registered Nurse (RN) can earn $30,000 to $55,000 per year depending on location. Wages are expected to go even higher in the next five years. Because of the current nursing shortage, the federal government and hospitals are offering incentives such as repayment of school loans. Benefits include medical, dental and life insurance as well as vacation, sick leave, tuition reimbursement, disability and retirement.
9. I have a degree in another field. Will that reduce the number of hours I need to take?
Any student with an Associate of Arts or Associate of Science degree is waived from all integrative studies requirements except LAS 499. Any student with a bachelor’s degree is waived from all integrative studies requirements.
10. What prerequisites do I need?
College Writing I (or equiv.) College Writing II (or equiv.) Nutrition Statistics Human Anatomy & Physiology General or Introductory Chemistry General Psychology Developmental Psychology Abnormal Psychology Economics
11. Where will the best nursing jobs be in the future?
Current trends in the nursing profession can be found at this website: http://www.nsna.org/pubs/imprint/janfeb99/nursing.html.
12. What is the difference between a BSN and ADN?
The American Nurses Association (ANA) has recommended that nurses be prepared with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) since 1966. States, however, have been slow to require the degree as shown by the use of the NCLEX-RN (state board exam) as a licensure exam for both levels. A BSN is usually obtained from a 4-year college or university while an ADN (Associate Degree in Nursing) is usually obtained from a 2-year institution. Nurses graduating from BSN programs have additional preparation in health assessment, community and public health, management, research, and political advocacy and are prepared for a broad range of careers in nursing. BSN nurses are prepared to fill professional nursing roles, while ADN nurses are prepared to fill technical nursing roles. Professional nursing roles range from bedside nursing in acute care settings to management roles in acute care, community or public health, schools, corporations and industry, and public service settings. Technical nursing roles are considered to be limited to acute care settings under supervision of a professional nurse. Please see the "ADN or BSN?" document for more information about these differences.
13. I want to specialize in nursing care of children. Can I do that in your program?
Our program prepares nurse generalists who are able to sit for the NCLEX-RN exam and become licensed. Specialties in nursing are obtained through Masters Degree programs and certain certification exams. A new graduate is a novice nurse who, when hired by a health care agency, usually undergoes an orientation that will prepare the new graduate to be competent in his or her new field of employment.
