More about RN programs and preparation for entrance.

Shoreline Community College offers an excellent RN program which is considered one of the best in Washington State. The Nursing Department is a part of the Health Occupations and Physical Education Division (HOPE) and has extensive information on their web site at http://www.shoreline.edu/nurse.html

Prerequisite courses
RN Nursing Programs typically require a number of science courses as well as some general education courses. Specifics vary with each school. The prerequisite courses take from 1.5 to 3 years, depending on the level of English and mathematics the student starts out with, and the student’s circumstances regarding work and family responsibilities.

At SCC, college level math and English are required before taking the first science course: CHEM 101. A college level chemistry course is required before taking the first biology course, BIOSC 201, which is in turn a prerequisite for BIOSC 210, Human Anatomy and BIOSC 215, Microbiology. A sample course plan.

Relevant Experience and Multicultural Competencies
Nursing Schools consider health care and related experience important aspect of preparing to enter the nursing profession. Most include this as part of the application process and evaluation as well. Many pre-RN program students become a Certified Nursing Assistant so that they can have a job in the field. Other possibilities are: phlebotomy (= drawing blood, also a short term training), work or volunteering in any health care setting or social service setting, being active in a neighborhood organization or student club, other work or life experience.

Multicultural awareness, knowledge and skills are important to any job in health care. Thus, we recommend that you reflect upon your life experience so far and consider which culture groups you may not have much interaction with, whether they be an age group (elderly people are heavy users of health care), ethnic group, socio-economic class, people with a disabilities or a specific kind of disease/condition, or other. How might you learn more about them and find opportunities to gain interactive experiences?

Transfer Degree
A transfer Associates degree is recommended to prepare for RN programs at universities. RN programs at a community college do not require a previous degree, however some students are completing a degree while taking nursing prerequisite courses. This can be helpful later for those who follow up their RN training with a Bachelors degree completion program, such as the one at UW Bothell campus. Nursing prerequisite courses can be embedded into the Associate in Arts & Sciences Option A transfer degree which is part of the Washington State Direct Transfer Agreement (DTA) in the following way: AAS Option A for Nursing.

Advising for SCC Nursing Program
SCC Nursing Faculty are the primary advisors for SCC students who are admitted in the Nursing Program here or are preparing to apply. Students at other colleges who are preparing to apply to the SCC Nursing Program are primarily advised by Jeanne Strieck at the SCC Advising and Counseling Center (call 206-546-4559 for an appointment). Before meeting with an advisor, please study the Nursing Program web site (above) and attend one of the monthly information sessions (posted on that web site).

Nursing Transfer Advisors:
Several Science Division Faculty and the Science Division Advisor are available to advise students preparing for Nursing programs at other schools:
   Steve Bogart, on sabbatical until Fall 2008
   Joyce Fagel, Science Advisor, Rm 2814, 546-6984
   Leoned Gines, Biology, Rm 2815, 546-4543
   Stephen Goetz, Biology, Rm 5349, 546-4578
   Helen Hancock, Mathematics, Rm 5367, 546-4735
   Sarah Leyden, Math/Statistics, Rm 5357, 546-5819
   Judy Penn, Biology, Rm 2807, 546-4782
   Lauren Sandven, Mathematics, Rm 2811, 533-6795

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