Bellevue College Nursing Program: A Comprehensive Overview

Bellevue College offers an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) program designed to prepare students for a career as a registered nurse (RN). The program combines general education with nursing theory and clinical experience, providing a comprehensive foundation for success in the healthcare field. Graduates are eligible to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN), and Bellevue College’s program boasts a high first-time pass rate.

Program Overview

The Bellevue College Associate Degree in Nursing program is accredited by the National League for Nursing Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation (NLN CNEA). The curriculum is designed to meet the educational requirements for national certification, which is required for employment in the United States, its territories, and the District of Columbia. The nursing program functions within the framework of the mission and goals of Bellevue College. As part of the larger community, the nursing program builds upon the college’s mission by preparing students for life-long learning by offering a high-quality, flexible, and accessible education.

The program prepares students for beginning-level clinical practice as Registered Nurses through an associate degree in nursing. Graduates are eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) for Registered Nurses. The license to practice nursing in the State of Washington is granted by the Washington State Board of Nursing.

Application and Admission

Applicants to the ADN program must apply for general admission to Bellevue College and attend the new student orientation. Any applicant who attended schools other than Bellevue College must submit official transcripts and then submit a transfer credit request. To ensure full consideration, submit your transfer credit request by the prerequisite transfer credit deadline. Detailed information can be found on the Associate Degree in Nursing Prerequisites page. Bellevue College does not differentiate between online and in-person formats for lecture or lab prerequisites.

Starting with the Winter 2024 cohort, the Bellevue College Nursing program uses CommonAPP to collect and review applications. When setting up your CommonAPP account, select "Transfer degree."

To navigate the application process effectively:

Become familiar with the Application Instructions Overview webpage.
Sign up for a Virtual Information session, held throughout the year.

Admission Criteria

The ADN Admissions Committee reviews applications to guide their selection of candidates for each cohort. Guidance on what is required of Winter, Spring, and Fall 2026 applicants can be found in the ADN Admission Criteria.

Prerequisite Courses

Several courses must be completed before applying to the Bellevue College ADN program. The grades obtained in these courses are included in calculations for the Cumulative Sciences/Math/Psychology GPA and Cumulative Prerequisite Course Work GPA. These courses provide a foundation in the sciences, communication, and mathematics necessary for success in the nursing program.

Here's a breakdown of the required prerequisite courses:

Science Courses:

BIOL& 241: Human Anatomy and Physiology I (6 credits): Introduces the structure and function of tissues, organs, and systems of the human body. Both BIOL& 241 and BIOL& 242 are needed for a complete study of the anatomy and physiology of all human systems. The format includes laboratory work.
BIOL& 242: Human Anatomy and Physiology II (6 credits): Continues the study of tissues, organs, and systems of the human body. Both BIOL& 241 and BIOL& 242 are needed for a complete study of the anatomy and physiology of all human systems. The format includes laboratory work. Fulfills a laboratory science course requirement at BC.
CHEM& 121: Introduction to Chemistry (6 credits): Introduces simplified atomic and molecular theory. Students investigate the chemistry of solutions, gases, liquids, and solids and examine quantitative relationships in chemical processes. The format includes lecture, discussion, and laboratory.
BIOL& 260: Microbiology (6 credits): Explores the structure, function, and taxonomy of microbes, including bacteria and viruses, and their relationships to health and disease. The format includes substantial laboratory work and written reporting.
NUTR& 101: Nutrition (5 credits): Study of human nutrition and health. Topics include digestion, absorption and processing nutrients in the body; chemistry and functions of the major nutrients: carbohydrates, fat, protein; vitamin and mineral functions; food, culture and diet, energy balance, diet and metabolism; fitness and health; nutrition of the life cycle, food safety and local and world hunger issues. NUTR& 101 at Bellevue College focuses heavily on the chemistry and metabolism of nutrients.

Communication Courses:

ENGL& 101: English Composition I (5 credits): Develops clear, effective writing skills and emphasizes writing as a process. Students practice writing in a variety of forms and modes.
ENGL& 201: English Composition II (5 credits): Develops skills required for writing research papers. Students learn research techniques, source analysis, thesis development, argumentation styles, and summarizing. Fulfills a written communication course requirement at BC. Same as ENGL 102. Either ENGL 102 or ENGL 201 may be taken for credit, not both.
CMST 252: Communication in a Diverse Healthcare Workplace (5 credits): Designed for students pursuing healthcare-related careers. Students will apply communication concepts and theory to the culturally diverse healthcare workplace, focusing on patient-healthcare professional interactions, interacting effectively on a diverse healthcare team, organizational culture, conflict management, listening, nonverbal communication, language, giving and receiving feedback, and intercultural competence. Recommended: Placement in ENGL& 101, or higher. CMST 250 (CMST 252 is preferred over CMST 250. The diverse communications requirement for Nursing must be a class that focuses on diversity. This must be a diverse communications course.
CMST 280: Intercultural Communication (5 credits): Examines the relationship between culture and various aspects of the communication process. Students explore cultural identity, bias, and worldview. Students practice skills that contribute to intercultural competence in a variety of contexts.

Other Courses:

Psychology Course: Presents research and theories regarding human growth and change across the life span. Students explore factors that affect psychosocial, cognitive, and physical development from psychological and socio-cultural perspectives. Emphasis on gathering and interpreting data. Material has applications in the medical fields, as well as the Social Sciences.
Math Course: Other math courses that are not statistics

Essential Skills and Certifications

In addition to academic coursework, students are required to complete Basic Life Support (BLS) Certification from the American Heart Association BLS Provider certification. A minimum score of 70% in all content areas (no rounding up to that percentage) is required. Official ATI reports do not need to be sent to Bellevue College.

Read also: Bellevue College Mascot

Clinical Experience

Applicants to the ADN Program must be prepared to participate in clinical courses. All applicants to the ADN program must sign an acknowledgement stating that students at any external sites or practicum are required to follow the business, local, state, and federal requirements. This may include vaccination requirements. Bellevue College does not make any guarantees of placement for practicum or external sites to students not fully vaccinated for COVID-19. Practicum facilities and businesses may deny not fully vaccinated students or students without a booster shot(s) access to their site which may result in an inability or delay to fulfill academic requirements. Many clinical partners require that clinical students be fully vaccinated, or even have a booster, against COVID-19 regardless of whether the student qualifies for a religious or medical exemption as an accommodation from the College. Therefore, if you are not vaccinated against COVID-19 (regardless of whether you qualify for a religious or medical exemption), Bellevue College likely will not be able to place you in a clinical site, which means you will not be able to complete the program you have started.

Go to the Associate Degree in Nursing Clinical Passport page for information.

Faculty

Bellevue College boasts a dedicated faculty committed to student success. Examples include:

Lisa Tedeschi: Received her BS in Nursing from Southern Illinois University, her Masters in Nursing from Texas Woman’s University, and her Doctor of Nursing Practice from the University of Alabama in Huntsville.
Teaessa Chism: Received her BSN from Indiana University East, her MN (with education focus) from University Washington Bothell, and is currently pursuing her DNP (education focus) at Regis University. She holds certifications as a certified nurse educator, certified clinical nurse educator, and pediatric critical care nurse.

Cost and Financial Aid

Tuition and fees are billed by Bellevue College each quarter. The figures provided are an estimate of tuition and fee costs for the duration of the full-time or the part-time program. These charges are subject to change at the discretion of Bellevue College and the Nursing Program.

Career Opportunities

Graduates of the Bellevue College ADN program are well-prepared to enter the healthcare field as registered nurses. Certified nursing assistants have the knowledge and skills necessary to provide daily care to patients and clients who are unable to care for themselves. Certification can be used as a stepping stone into nursing or other healthcare professions. Graduates are eligible to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses, which allows you to practice nursing. (Bellevue College’s program has a 96% first attempt pass rate.)

A course map is a quick guide to help students figure out which courses to take each quarter. Course maps were written by BC faculty, who have used their expertise to recommend specific courses students can take to achieve their academic or career goals.

Accreditation Update

On February 19, 2025, the program received a letter from the National League for Nursing Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation (NLN CNEA). Contact the Commission at: 2600 Virginia Avenue, NW, 8th Floor, Washington, D.C. 20037 or 202-909-2538.

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