Clark College Nursing Program: Comprehensive Requirements and Opportunities

Clark College offers several pathways to a fulfilling nursing career, designed to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and confidence needed to excel in the healthcare field. These programs cater to a diverse range of students, from those seeking an associate degree to registered nurses aiming to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).

Pathways to a Nursing Career at Clark College

Clark College provides multiple avenues for aspiring nurses:

Registered Nursing (RN) Program: This program offers focused, hands-on training to develop clinical judgment, communication skills, and confidence in various healthcare settings, including adult, maternal-newborn, behavioral health, and family care.
Part-Time, Evening-Weekend Program: Designed for working adults, this program accommodates family and job demands while providing the necessary knowledge, clinical experience, and confidence for entry-level RN positions.
LPN to RN Transition Degree: This streamlined path allows Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) to efficiently transition to becoming Registered Nurses (RNs) through a blend of day or evening coursework.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) Completion Program: In the fall of 2025, Clark State College will offer a BSN completion program, enabling registered nurses to advance their education and become bachelor-prepared professionals.

The Role of a Registered Nurse

Registered nurses are licensed healthcare professionals who work with patients of all ages in various settings, including hospitals, clinics, acute care facilities, physicians' offices, emergency centers, long-term care facilities, and home healthcare agencies. Their responsibilities include:

Designing care plans
Performing patient assessments
Administering medications and injections
Serving as patient advocates
Referring patients to appropriate resources

RNs work in diverse specialties such as medical/surgical, obstetrics, mental health, long-term care, and community health.

Admission and Enrollment

Open Enrollment and Holistic Admissions

The Associate Degree in Nursing DTA/MRP is an open enrollment program for Financial Aid purposes. This allows students to complete the "Nursing Degree Requirements," which include courses in English, Biological Sciences, and Psychology. These courses provide the foundation for the "Nursing Core" classes (courses with the "NURS" prefix).

Due to clinical space limitations, enrollment in the "Nursing Core" classes is limited and follows a holistic admissions selection process. Students must complete required orientations and clinical compliance requirements to begin these core classes.

Requirements for Nursing Programs

Individuals seeking admission to nursing programs at Clark College must meet essential abilities, with or without reasonable accommodation, as defined by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act. Accommodations for the classroom, laboratory, or clinical setting are evaluated on a case-by-case basis, considering individual student disability needs and the reasonableness of the essential functions and learning outcomes of the program. Accommodations that compromise patient care or fundamentally alter the essential functions of the program are not considered reasonable.

Transferring to a Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program

Clark College offers an academic pathway for students planning to transfer to a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program. This pathway streamlines preparation for the basic BSN pathway across the state but does not address capacity issues at the BSN level.

This pathway is an agreement between baccalaureate institutions offering an entry-to-practice/basic BSN program and the community and technical colleges system. Participating baccalaureate institutions include:

University of Washington, Seattle
Washington State University
Northwest University
Seattle University
Seattle Pacific University
Pacific Lutheran University
St. Martin's University
Walla Walla University

The Washington State University Intercollegiate College of Nursing (WSU-ICN) includes Eastern Washington University, Gonzaga, and Whitworth. Associate degree transfers to WSU-ICN are admitted through WSU.

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Students must meet the residency requirements established by Clark and maintain a 2.0 cumulative GPA. They are encouraged to consult with advising and transfer institutions to ensure they meet the GPA and course requirements for program application.

Specific Course Requirements

Nutrition: Clark College's nutrition class is 3 credits, while some transfer institutions may require 5 credits.
General Electives: Up to 10 additional credits of general electives (100-level or higher) can apply. Physical Education activity credits are limited to 3 credits, and FLPC coursework cannot apply.
Quantitative/Symbolic Reasoning: UW Seattle and Seattle University require 10 credits in quantitative/symbolic reasoning, including college algebra or pre-calculus (at UW Seattle, a logic class also fulfills this requirement).

Distribution Requirements

Humanities: Students should consult with their transfer institution regarding humanities courses that best support or are required as prerequisites for their nursing curriculum. A curriculum that provides an understanding of and sensitivity to human diversity is encouraged (required by WSU).
Social Sciences: Walla Walla requires a course in General Sociology. A curriculum that provides students with an understanding of and sensitivity to human diversity is encouraged (required by WSU).
Natural Sciences: Introductory survey courses or review courses do not meet the content level expectations for these natural science requirements. UW Seattle requires a minimum GPA of 3.0 for 3 out of 7 courses or 2.8 for 4 out of 7 natural science courses at the time of application.

Electives

Elective courses should be chosen to provide an understanding of and sensitivity to human diversity (required by WSU). Students can select courses from the WSU "Diversity Course Identification Guidelines" or courses that include minority, non-Western, ethnic, or other "area" studies.

Program Outcomes

Clark College's nursing program emphasizes the following overarching skills:

Interpret the human experience within global and historical contexts.
Apply scientific inquiry to evaluate claims about the natural world.
Analyze patterns of power, privilege, and inequity in the United States.
Evaluate events, behaviors, and institutions using perspectives and methods in the Social Sciences.
Articulate well-considered ideas and written claims using effective rhetorical techniques and properly credited evidence.
Obtain, evaluate, and ethically use information.
Evaluate claims about the natural world using scientific methodology.
Demonstrate and explain strategies to solve quantitative problems.
Analyze and interpret quantitative information.
Demonstrate progress toward healthier behaviors.
Apply communication theory to demonstrate effective oral communication skills.

Application Process

NursingCAS

All communication regarding the nursing program happens through the NursingCAS WebAdmit tool. Applicants must verify the accuracy of their information in the Personal Information section.

Applicants can monitor the status of their application within the NursingCAS system, with green circles indicating completed sections. A "?" icon next to the applicant's name indicates missing information.

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Transcripts should be sent to NursingCAS, not directly to Clark College. It may take a few days for NursingCAS to process transcripts.

Kira Assessment

As part of the application process, applicants may be required to complete a Kira assessment, which includes answering pre-recorded questions. Applicants should allocate 15-30 minutes for the Check-In process and approximately 35 minutes for the asynchronous assessment. It is recommended to set aside an hour to ensure sufficient time.

Applicants needing an extension on the Kira assessment deadline should contact DAC before accessing the assessment, stating the reason for the extension.

Retaking the Kira assessment is possible, but there is no guarantee of acceptance.

Additional Information

CNA/NAC certification is not required for program application or entry.
There is a 7-year limit on all science courses, except for BIOL& 160.
Program maps are suggested academic plans and should not be used in place of regular academic advising appointments.

Financial Aid and Scholarships

Clark College Foundation offers scholarship and grant support to students, especially those facing financial barriers. To apply for Foundation scholarships, students must review the eligibility requirements and create an account on the SmarterSelect scholarship application software program. Scholarships are available for students transferring to WSU Vancouver or for students in specific majors planning to attend other schools.

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