Registered Nursing

Dixie McLaughlin, Nursing Program Director

The Associate of Science in Nursing (A.S.N.) requires four semesters of full-time study. Applicants to the program must have completed all pre-nursing courses, have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.75 (all courses taken post high school), and have received a B or better in BIOH 201/202 and BIOH 211/212.

Admission to the program requires completion of the application which can be obtained on the Missoula College Health Professions webpage. The number of students accepted into the A.S.N. stand-alone program is limited to 18 students in Spring 2017. Of the 18 students accepted for Spring 2017, 10 are in the on-campus face-to-face program and 8 are part of the hybrid program. All candidates who meet the admission requirements will be considered. Students learn Registered Nursing skills through independent study, lectures, simulations, demonstrations, and advanced skills practice in the nursing lab. Under instructor supervision and preceptorship, students also provide patient care in a variety of acute care settings.

The A.S.N. degree program is approved by the State Board of Nursing (301 South Park, Helena, MT 59601). The program is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for the Education in Nursing (ACEN) (3343 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 850, Atlanta, GA 30326).

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 and titer: The three injection Hepatitis B series must be started on or before acceptance into the program so the 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. Varicella (Chicken Pox) Vaccination;
  6. Basic Life Support (BLS) training Healthcare Provider;
  7. Criminal Background Check, including Sexual Offender Registery

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.

Associate of Science - Registered Nursing

Missoula College

Catalog Year: 2016-2017

Degree Specific Credits: 72

Required Cumulative GPA: 2.0

Note: Students must pass all NRSG courses with a minimum grade of a B. It is highly recommended that students have completed BIOH 211/212, SOCI 101, BIOM 250, and BIOM 251 prior to admission to the program.

Registered Nursing

Rule: All courses required

Note: Students must pass all nursing (rubric NRSG) courses with a minimum grade of a B.

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 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 BIOM 250N - Microbiology for Hlth Sciences
Offered spring.   Infectious diseases, including concepts of virulence, resistance, prevention and control of microbial diseases in the individual and in the community. If laboratory experience is desired, the student may enroll concurrently in BIOM 251. Credit not allowed toward a major in microbiology.
 3 Credits
Show Description BIOM 251 - Microbiology Hlth Sciences Lab
Offered spring.  Prereq. or coreq., BIOM 250N. Observation of live microorganisms, their characteristics and activities. Experience with microbiological techniques. Credit not allowed toward a major in microbiology.
 1 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 NRSG 230 - Nursing Pharmacology
Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., acceptance into the Registered Nursing Program. This course provides the student with an overview of pharmacology with an emphasis of the study of effects, interactions, and nursing considerations of pharmacologic agents on the client population across the lifespan. The course also explores the ethical, legal, cultural and age implications of pharmacologic therapy across diverse populations and the lifespan.
 3 Credits
Show Description NRSG 231 - Nursing Pharmacology Lab
Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., acceptance into the Registered Nursing Program. An integration of lab experiences focusing on the basic principles in providing safe medication administration, including intravenous therapy across diverse populations and the lifespan.
 2 Credits
Show Description NRSG 232 - Foundations of Nursing
Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., acceptance into the Registered Nursing Program. This course provides opportunities to develop competencies necessary to meet the needs of individuals throughout the lifespan in a safe, legal, and ethical manner using the nursing process. Students learn concepts and skills necessary for maintaining standard precautions, physical, psychological and nutritional safety, along with skills needed in therapeutic interventions. Students are introduced to the concepts of professional nursing, patient needs, safety, communication, teaching/learning, critical thinking, ethical-legal, rural nursing, cultural and ethnic diversity, and interdisciplinary patient-centered care.
 3 Credits
Show Description NRSG 233 - Foundations of Nursing Lab
Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., acceptance into the Registered Nursing Program. An integration of lab experiences focusing on psychomotor nursing skills needed to assist individuals in meeting basic human needs. Application of the nursing process and hands-on learning experiences for nursing skills, patient assessments, nutritional safety, and basic therapeutic skills are practiced and demonstrated.
 3 Credits
Show Description NRSG 234 - Adult Nursing I
Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., acceptance into the Registered Nursing Program and successful completion of semester 1 of the RN program. This course builds upon the knowledge and skills acquired in Foundations of Nursing, and places them in the context of patient-centered care. Social, cultural, ethical, rural and legal issues, end-of-life and palliative care across diverse adult populations are introduced. Health promotion and prevention throughout the adult lifespan, with specific focus on the geriatric patient, is emphasized. Normal aging, health alterations associated with aging, and their implications are addressed.
 3 Credits
Show Description NRSG 235 - Adult Nursing I Clinical
Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., acceptance into the Registered Nursing Program and successful completion of semester 1 of the RN program. This clinical introduces the student to nursing practice in care of the stable adult patient. This includes care of the adult in a variety of health care settings. Students utilize the nursing process to develop individualized plans of care to prevent illness, promote wellness and maintain or restore health based on patient needs and evidence based practice.
 2 Credits
Show Description NRSG 236 - Maternal Nursing
Offered autumn and spring. Prere., acceptance into the Registered Nursing Program and successful completion of semester 1 of the RN program. In this course, the student applies holistic concepts to the professional nursing care of the childbearing family including conception, prenatal, intrapartum, postpartum and newborn care. Content addresses health and complex alterations, reproduction and menopause, nutrition, therapeutic communication, ethical, legal, cultural and evidenced-based practice.
 2 Credits
Show Description NRSG 237 - Maternal Nursing Clinical
Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., acceptance into the Registered Nursing Program and successful completion of semester 1 of the RN program. This clinical introduces the student to the role of the registered nurse in the care of the childbearing family. Students will utilize the nursing process to assess and develop individualized plans of care for mother and infant. Emphasis will be placed on patient education to promote healthy mother infant and childbearing family bonding.
1 Credits
Show Description NRSG 244 - Adult Nursing II
Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., acceptance into the Registered Nursing Program and successful completion of semester I and II of the RN program. This course builds upon previous knowledge of the nursing process and care of the patient experiencing acute and chronic disease alterations. Pathophysiologic processes are discussed as related to evidence-based nursing interventions. Students apply the nursing process, nutritional therapy, and pharmacological therapy utilizing interdisciplinary practice to promote, maintain, and restore health across the adult lifespan.
 3 Credits
Show Description NRSG 245 - Adult Nursing II Clinical
Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., acceptance into the Registered Nursing Program and successful completion of semester I and II of the RN program. In this clinical experience the student will provide care for individuals and families experiencing acute health alterations, and those associated with chronic disease processes. Students use the nursing process to systematically analyze information to plan and implement nursing interventions which are individualized and founded on evidence-based practice.
 2 Credits
Show Description NRSG 246 - Child and Family Nursing
Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., acceptance into the Registered Nursing Program and successful completion of semester I and II of the RN program. In this course, the student applies holistic concepts to the professional nursing care of children and their families in health, illness, end-of-life and palliative care.Emphasis is placed on incorporating growth and developmental principles to facilitate positive health outcomes through health promotion, nutrition and disease prevention.
 2 Credits
Show Description NRSG 247 - Child/Family Nursing Clinical
Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., acceptance into the Registered Nursing Program and successful completion of semester I and II of the RN program. In this clinical, students will utilize the nursing process, to provide nursing care of healthy and high-risk pediatric populations and their families experiencing disruptions in bio/psycho/social/cultural and spiritual needs. Emphasis is also placed on health promotion, health maintenance, and therapeutic communication.
 1 Credits
Show Description NRSG 254 - Mental Health Concepts
Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., acceptance into the Registered Nursing Program and successful completion of semester I and II of the RN program. In this course, the student focuses on the nursing concepts utilizing basic human needs, developmental theory, nursing process, therapeutic communication, and nursing interventions to promote and maintain health for clients and families experiencing mental-health issues. The student will examine client responses to stressors across the life span. Tasks of biological-behavioral concepts in psychosocial nursing care, rural and cultural impacts will be addressed.
 2 To 3 Credits
Show Description NRSG 255 - Mental Health Clinical
Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., acceptance into the Registered Nursing Program and successful completion of semester I and II of the RN program. This clinical applies the knowledge of psychiatric and mental health nursing. Students will have mental health focused clinical experiences in a variety of settings.
 1 Credits
Show Description NRSG 256 - Pathophysiology
Offered spring and autumn. Prereq., successful acceptance into the Registered Nursing program. This course introduces the student to the basic principles and processes of pathophysiology including cellular communication, genes and genetic disease, forms of cellular injury, nutrition, fluid and electrolyte/acid base balance, immunity, stress coping and illness, and tumor biology. Pathophysiology of the most common alterations according to body systems will be discussed as well as the latest developments in research and patient-centered nursing interventions.
 3 Credits
Show Description NRSG 259 - Adult Nursing III
Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., acceptance into the Registered Nursing Program and successful completion of semester I, II and III of the RN program. This course expands on the nursing role in care of patients with complex health alterations. Students utilize evidence-based, interdisciplinary interventions to meet patient and family needs.
 3 Credits
Show Description NRSG 260 - Adult Nursing III Lab
Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., acceptance into the Registered Nursing Program and successful completion of semester I, II and III of the RN program. In this lab students are introduced to basic electrocardiogram interpretation, advanced concepts of perfusion, ventilation and complex pharmacologic regimens.
 1 Credits
Show Description NRSG 261 - Adult Nursing III Clinical
Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., acceptance into the Registered Nursing Program and successful completion of semester I, II and III of the RN program. This clinical experience focuses on application of the nursing process and utilization of information to provide comprehensive nursing care to the acutely ill patient experiencing complex health alterations in a variety of settings. Emphasis is placed on prioritization of care and collaboration with other members of the interdisciplinary team to ensure optimal client care.
 2 Credits
Show Description NRSG 266 - Managed Client Care
Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., acceptance into the Registered Nursing Program and successful completion of semester I, II and III of the RN program. In this course students examine concepts of leadership and management emphasizing prioritization, delegation, and supervision of nursing care for patients across the lifespan. Topics also include communication techniques, legal and ethical issues, care of the culturally diverse patient, and utilizing change theory. Healthcare policy, finance, and regulatory environment issues are explored and applied to planning, collaborating and coordinating care across the continuum.
 2 To 4 Credits
Show Description NRSG 267 - Managing Client Care Clinical
Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., acceptance into the Registered Nursing Program and successful completion of semester I, II and III of the RN program. This precepted clinical experience focuses on principles of nursing leadership and management in a variety of settings. Students apply knowledge to provide culturally competent, holistic interventions within the professional nursing role for individuals, communities, and families across the lifespan.
 2 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 SOCI 101S - Introduction to Sociology
Offered every term. Overview of the principles and concepts used in the study of human social interaction, groups, communities and societies. Required of all majors.
 3 Credits
Minimum Required Grade: C- 66 Total Credits Required

Writing Requirement

Rule: All courses required

Note: Students who have completed WRIT 101, College Writing greater than ten years prior to applying to the Missoula College must take the Writing Placement test. If the score on the test places the student in WRIT 101, the transfer credits will be accepted for the nursing program requirements. If the student places below the required standard, then they shall remediate as needed prior to application to the nursing program.
All students need to take WRIT 101 for the nursing program

Show All Course Descriptions Course 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- 3 Total Credits Required

Mathematics Requirement

Rule: Must complete one 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 the nursing 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