Practical Nursing A.A.S.

Dixie McLaughlin, Nursing Program Director

The Missoula College offers an Associate of Applied Science degree (A.A.S.) in Practical Nursing (PN). Applicants for the PN program must have a high school diploma or equivalency, have completed the AA prerequisite courses with a minimum grade of C, except in BIOH 201N/BIOH 211N & BIOH 211N/BIOH 212N  (SCN 201N and 202N) which requires a B or higher grade, and possess a cumulative GPA of at least 2.75.

Admission to the program also requires completion of the application which can be obtained on the Missoula College UM Nursing webpage. The number of students accepted into the A.A.S. Program is limited to 20 each autumn and spring. A student may apply while enrolled in the final semester of the A.A.S. pre-nursing courses with acceptance to the program to be determined after the currently completed semester grades are finalized. All candidates who meet the admission requirements will be considered.

Students learn practical nursing skills through independent study, lectures, simulations, demonstrations, and practice in a nursing skills lab. Under instructor supervision, students also provide patient care in a variety of health care settings. The program is approved by the Montana State Board of Nursing (301 South Park, Helena, MT 59601).  

Students must provide proof of having met the following requirements to the Nursing Program Administrative Associate on or before the first day of class: 

  1. Two step Tuberculosis testing using the PPD (Purified Protein Derivative) or chest x-ray (positive results will require a physician's letter before a student can continue in clinical settings);
  2. Hepatitis B vaccine, (HBV, a three injection series that may be obtained at Curry Health Center and other health care providers). The Hepatitis B vaccine must be started on or before acceptance into the program so the three injections series is completed by the time clinical begins; 
  3. Measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) immunization (for those born before 1956, it is not required to have an MMR, but a titer must be completed);
  4. Influenza Vaccination;
  5. Varicellla (Chicken Pox) Vaccination;
  6. BLS training for health care providers;
  7. Proof of insurance;
  8. Criminal Background Check 

Many licensing bodies and employing institutions in health care have increasingly stringent requirements and background checks as conditions for licensing or employment. If a student has concerns about this, she/he should contact the licensing board for nursing at dlibsdnur@mt.gov.

Practical Nursing program graduates are eligible to write the National Council Licensing Examination (NCLEX) for Practical Nurses. Completion of the A.A.S. Practical Nursing Program does not guarantee a student licensure. This is a decision of the Montana State Board of Nursing.

After licensure, graduates typically find employment in hospitals, long term care facilities, physician offices and other health care agencies. They work under the supervision of a registered nurse, physician, dentist, osteopath or other health care provider as specified in the State of Montana Nurse Practice Act.

Associate of Applied Science - Practical Nursing

Missoula College

Catalog Year: 2015-2016

Degree Specific Credits: 52

Required Cumulative GPA: 3.0

Note: A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75, successful completion of pre-nursing courses within 2 attempts, and acceptance through an application process is needed for entrance into the Practical Nursing Program.
Total credits for the AAS Practical Nursing degree are 52. This includes pre-nursing credits (26 credits) and AAS Practical Nursing credits (26 credits).

Pre-Nursing

Rule: All courses required.

Note: Minimum cumulative in Pre-Nursing course of 2.75. BIOH 201N, 202N, 211N, and 212N must be completed with a 'B'.
CHMY 121N, CHMY 122, BIOH 201N, BIOH 202N, BIOH 211N and BIOH 212N must be completed within 5 years of application.
Anatomy and Physiology I & II coursework, whether completed at the Missoula College or transferred from elsewhere, must have been completed within the 5 years immediately preceding application to any specific health professions program.

Show All Course Descriptions Course Credits
Show Description BIOH 201N - Human Anat Phys I (equiv 301)
Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., introductory science course or college-prep high school biology course recommended.  Comprehensive knowledge of human form and function necessary for students preparing for health-related professions. Emphasis on structure, function  and homeostatic regulation of body systems with presentation of basic concepts in chemistry and microbiology as they relate to human anatomy and physiology. Covers tissues through nervous system. Required, integrated laboratory includes some dissection.
 4 Credits
Show Description BIOH 202N - Human Anat and Phys I Lab
Offered autumn and spring. Coreq., BIOH 201. Basic knowledge necessary for students in health-related programs. Emphasis on normal anatomy and physiology with presentation of basic concepts in chemistry and microbiology as they relate to human anatomy and physiology. Covers tissues through nervous system. A cadaver lab is included.
 4 Credits
Show Description BIOH 211N - Human Anat Phys II (equiv 311)
Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., and continuation of BIOH 201N. Comprehensive knowledge of human form and function necessary for students in health-related programs. Emphasis on structure function and homeostatic regulation of body systems with presentation of basic concepts in chemistry and microbiology as they relate to human anatomy and physiology. Covers endocrine through reproductive systems. Required integrated laboratory includes frequent dissection.
 4 Credits
Show Description BIOH 212N - Human Anat Phys II Lab
Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., BIOH 201N. Coreq., BIOH 211. Continuation of 201N. Basic knowledge necessary for students in health-related programs. Emphasis on normal anatomy and physiology with presentation of basic concepts in chemistry and microbiology as they relate to human anatomy and physiology. Covers endocrine through reproductive systems. A cadaver lab is included.
 4 Credits
Show Description CHMY 121N - Intro to General Chemistry
Offered autumn and spring. First semester of an introduction to general, inorganic, organic and biological chemistry.
 3 Credits
Show Description CHMY 122 - Intro to Gen Chem Lab
Offered autumn and spring.  Prereq., Enrolled in the College of Technology ASRN program.  Prereq. or coreq., CHMY 121N or equivalent.  A laboratory course emphasizing inorganic chemistry, quantitative relations and synthesis of inorganic and organic compounds.
 1 Credits
Show Description M 121 - College Algebra
Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., M 095 or ALEKS placement >= 4. Intended to strengthen algebra skills. The study of functions and their inverses; polynomial, rational, exponential, and logarithmic functions. Credit not allowed for both M 121, and M 151.
 3 Credits
Show Description NRSG 100 - Introduction to Nursing
Offered each semester. This online course is a prerequisite to the Practical Nursing program. Student will be presented with an introductory level of the core concepts of nursing practice and other issues such as the legal concerns and ethical/cultural issues that face professional nurses on a consistent basis.
 1 Credits
Show Description NUTR 221N - Basic Human Nutrition
Offered autumn and spring. The principles of science as applied to current concepts and controversies in the field of human nutrition.
 3 Credits
Show Description PSYX 100S - Intro to Psychology
Offered every term. Introduction to the scientific study of behavior in humans and other animals. Credit not allowed for both PSY 100S and PSYC 100S.
 4 Credits
Show Description WRIT 101 - College Writing I
UM: Offered every term. Prereq., WRIT 095 or proof of passing score on writing diagnostic examination, referral by WRIT 095 instructor-SAT writing score at or above 440, MUSWA at or above 3.5, SAT/ACT essay score at or above 7, or ACT Combined English/Writing score at or above 18. Expository prose and research paper; emphasis on structure, argument, development of ideas, clarity, style, and diction. Students expected to write without major faults in grammar or usage. Credit not allowed for both WRIT 101 and COM 101. Grading A-F, or NC (no credit). MC: Offered every term. Prereq., WRIT 095 or proof of appropriate SAT/ACT essay, English/Writing, writing section scores, appropriate MUSWA scores, or proof of passing scores on Writing Placement Exam). Expository prose and research paper; emphasis on structure, argument, development of ideas, clarity, style, and diction. Students expected to write without major faults in grammar or usage. Grading A-F, or NC (no credit).
 3 Credits
Minimum Required Grade: C 26 Total Credits Required

Mathematics Pre-Nursing Requirement

Rule: Must complete 1 of the following courses

Note: M 121 is the recommended math. Courses that substitute for M 121 College Algebra can be Probability and Linear Math, Pre-calculus with Algebra, or Pre-calculus with Trig , or Calculus.
Mathematics and Writing prerequisite coursework should have been completed no more than 10 years prior to application to any specific health professions program. If mathematics and writing prerequisite coursework is greater than 10 years old, the student should take the writing and mathematics placement exams administered by the college (e-write and ALEX respectively). If the student places into a comparable level to the specific course in question then that course shall be accepted as a valid prerequisite for the intended program. If the student places below the required standard then they shall remediate as needed prior to application to any specific health professions program.

Show All Course Descriptions Course Credits
Show Description M 115 - Probability and Linear Math
Offered every term. Prereq. M 090 with a grade of B- or better, or M 095, or ALEKS placement >= 3, or ACT score of 22, or SAT score of 520. Systems of linear equations and matrix algebra. Introduction to probability with emphasis on models and probabilistic reasoning. Examples of applications of the material in many fields.
 3 Credits
Show Description M 121 - College Algebra
Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., M 095 or ALEKS placement >= 4. Intended to strengthen algebra skills. The study of functions and their inverses; polynomial, rational, exponential, and logarithmic functions. Credit not allowed for both M 121, and M 151.
 3 Credits
Show Description M 151 - Precalculus
Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., ALEKS placement >= 4. A one semester preparation for calculus (as an alternative to M 121-122. Functions of one real variable are introduced in general and then applied to the usual elementary functions, namely polynomial and rational functions, exponential and logarithmic functions, trigonometric functions, and miscellaneous others. Inverse functions, polar coordinates and trigonometric identities are included. Credit not allowed for both M 151 and M 121 or 122.
 4 Credits
Show Description M 171 - Calculus I
Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., M 122 or 151 or ALEKS placement >= 5.  Differential calculus, including limits, continuous functions, Intermediate Value Theorem, tangents, linear approximation, inverse functions, implicit differentiation, extreme values and the Mean Value Theorem.  Integral Calculus including antiderivatives, definite integrals, and the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus.
 4 Credits
Minimum Required Grade: C 3-4 Total Credits Required

Practical Nursing

Rule: All courses are required

Note: NRSG 147 Practical Nursing NCLEX Review is an elective course.

Show All Course Descriptions Course Credits
Show Description NRSG 130 - Fundamentals of Nursing
Offered autumn and spring.  Prereq: acceptance into the Practical Nursing Program.  Introduces learners to the clinical skills essential for the nursing role.  Also includes complex concepts and behaviors of nursing roles within the context of the nursing process, holistic care and health care.  Emphasizes the theoretical and practical concepts of nursing skills required to meet the needs of clients in a variety of settings.
 7 Credits
Show Description NRSG 135 - Nursing Pharmacology
Offered autumn and spring.  Prereq: acceptance into the Practical Nursing Program.  Students learn a structured systematic approach to the study of drug therapy through caring, communication, professionalism, critical thinking, and clinical judgment.  Medications are studied according to drug classes, and therapeutic families.  Students will learn to apply the nursing process to drug therapy with an emphasis on accessing relevant information to ensure client safety.
 3 Credits
Show Description NRSG 138 - Gerontology for Nursing
Offered autumn and spring.  Prereq: acceptance into the Practical Nursing Program.  Introduces the student to the skills and knowledge needed to provide nursing care to aging clients.  Topics explored include current trends (including legal and ethical issues) in gerontological nursing, developmental stages and transitions associated with aging, expected age-related physiological changes, and assessment findings, recognition and management of acute and chronic illness that commonly occur in the older adult population, promotion of health for the older adult client, end-of-life issues and care.
 2 Credits
Show Description NRSG 140 - Core Concepts of Adult Nursing
Offered spring and autumn.  Prereq: successful completion of semester 1 of the PN nursing program.  Prepares the student to care for clients experiencing common, well-defined health alterations in settings where stable clients are anticipated.  Students are introduced to standardized nursing procedures and customary nursing and collaborative therapeutic modalities.
 7 Credits
Show Description NRSG 142 - Cre Cncpts of Mtrnl Chld Nrsng
Offered autumn and spring.  Prereq: successful completion of semester 1 of the PN nursing program.  Information about fetal development and prenatal and postnatal care of the mother and newborn emphasizing caring, communication, professionalism, and critical thinking.  Role of the nurse in meeting the needs of the family is emphasized.  Clinical application of caring for the mother and newborn will allow the student to demonstrate acquired knowledge.  
 3 Credits
Show Description NRSG 144 - Cre Cncpts of Mentl Hlth Nrsng
Offered autumn and spring.  Prereq: successful completion of semester 1 of the PN nursing program.  Exploration of physiological, psychological, sociocultural, spiritual, and environmental factors associated with mental health/illness affecting individuals and families.  Focus will be placed on basic concepts of psychiatric nursing, therapeutic modalities, as well as psychiatric disorders including psychopharmacological management.
 2 Credits
Show Description NRSG 147 - Practical Nursing NCLEX Review
Offered autumn and spring. Prereq: Successful completion of all courses in the first semester of the practical nursing program. Preparation for the national test for LPN licensure.
 2 Credits
Show Description NRSG 148 - Leadership Issues
Offered autumn and spring.  Prereq: successful completion of semester 1 of the PN nursing program.  Capstone course that provides the Practical Nursing student information regarding the current status of vocational nursing. There is a forty-five hour clinical/precepted component to provide the student opportunity to apply theoretical knowledge in the long-term care setting.
 2 Credits
Minimum Required Grade: B 26 Total Credits Required