Nursing

Oregon Coast offers a career ladder program for those who want to become licensed practical nurses (through the first-year Practical Nursing Certificate) or registered nurses (through the Associate of Applied Science in Nursing). Oregon Coast Community College staff members are also ready to advise students planning to transfer to a school of nursing that grants baccalaureate degrees. Oregon Coast Community College offers general education courses that apply to a Bachelor of Science program.

Employment Opportunities

As a nurse, your responsibilities will vary depending on where you choose to work. Hospital staff nurses care for a group of patients and often supervise others. They assess the needs and problems of their clients, diagnose nursing problems, and plan, implement and evaluate nursing care. The job requires technical, critical thinking and interpersonal skills. Nurses interact with clients and their families, as well as other members of the health care team. Your exact job activities will vary from day to day, depending on the type and condition of the clients under your care. However, each day will call for careful observation, decision-making and problem solving. Providing nursing care is both challenging and rewarding.

Prerequisites

The following courses are required for application to the OCCC Nursing program for both Practical Nursing and the Associate of Applied Science Degree in Nursing.

• Elementary Algebra, MTH 95 or higher, or placement

• Human Anatomy and Physiology (BI 231 and BI 232; Note: BI 112 is the prerequisite for BI 231).

• English Composition (WR 121Z and WR 122Z or WR 123 or WR 227Z)

• General Psychology (PSY 201A)

• Human Development (PSY 215)

• Medical Terminology (MP111)

Science and math courses must have been completed within 7 years of application. If the math is older than 7 years, you can take the placement test and must score into Math 111 or higher within one year prior to applying to meet the math requirement.

• The science and math courses must be completed by the end of winter term of the application year with a letter grade of “C” or better, and within seven years prior to entering the Nursing Program.

• Fundamentals of Nutrition (FN225) must be completed by the Fall Term of the first year of the nursing program.

• The nursing program at OCCC is completive and most pre-Nursing students complete the majority of general education and science courses required for the Nursing Program in order to enhance their chance of admission.

Specific entry requirements are outlined in the Nursing Application on the Oregon Coast Community College website. Enrollment in the program is limited, and there is an early deadline for applications. Most students spend one or more years in a pre-Nursing program to prepare for applying to the Nursing program. Students considering the Nursing Program are highly recommended to contact the Student Services at 541-867-8501 to meet with a student success coach.

Technical Standards and Student Disability Information

Nursing is a physically and mentally challenging occupation. Education related to this field is designed to prepare nurses for these challenges. Nursing students must be able to meet all established essential academic and clinical requirements to successfully complete the program. Persons with questions concerning qualifications are encouraged to contact the Health and Human Services office for individual consultation prior to formal application.

OCCC Nursing Program provides the information on technical standards with examples of learning activities to inform prospective and enrolled students of the skills required in completing their chosen profession’s curriculum and in the provision of health care services. These technical standards reflect the performance abilities and characteristics that are necessary to successfully complete the requirements of clinical based health care programs. The technical standards are available on the college website. Applicants with disabilities are encouraged to contact Vice President of Student Affairs 541-867-8501. To be eligible for a reasonable accommodation, applicants must provide clear documentation of their disability.

The Vice President of Student Affairs is responsible for determining if reasonable accommodations can be identified and ensuring that accommodations are provided for OCCC students. These services are confidential and are separate from the nursing and college application processes. Early contact with the Vice President of Student Affairs will ensure that accommodations can be made available when students begin the program.

Articulation Agreements

Oregon Coast Community College (OCCC) has multiple co-enrollment agreements to give students graduating from our program an opportunity to pursue a Bachelor’s in Nursing degree. These Co-Admission Agreements facilitate student progression from the Associate of Applied Science degree program to the Bachelor of Science degree program (RN to BSN) through consistent program communication, curricular coordination, and focused academic advising. Collaboratively, we are promoting successful undergraduate educational experiences for our nursing students. OCCC currently has co-admission agreements with Linfield University, Bushnell University, OHSU, Chamberlain College of Nursing, and Grand Canyon University.

Note: The number of clock hours required for the courses is higher than the number of credit hours. Details about clock hours for each course can be found in the Course Descriptions section of this catalog. Nursing courses are a combination of classroom and clinical hours with each classroom credit hour equal to one clock hour per week and each clinical credit hour equal to three clock hours per week. Preparation time for class and clinical experiences is outside the clock hours required for each course.

All required courses must be completed with a letter grade of “C” or higher.

Additional Requirements

Applicants and students must demonstrate a personal history compatible with obtaining a license to practice Nursing in Oregon. Admission to and graduation from the Nursing Program does not assure eligibility for licensure. The Oregon State Board of Nursing (OSBN) makes the determination about eligibility for licensure. The OSBN may not license persons with certain criminal convictions or with a major mental or physical illness that could affect ability to practice safely. Applicants or students with questions about licensing regulations may want to call OSBN at 971-673-0685. All applicants are required to check the Disqualifying Crimes and Potentially Disqualifying Crimes lists available on the website: https://www.oregon.gov/DHS/BUSINESS-SERVICES/CHC/Documents/HR-PDQ-Convictions-Conditions.pdf

Every Nursing Program applicant and student must answer questions to determine if there is personal history of:

• conviction for a criminal offense or
• physical or mental health problems that might interfere with the requirements of nursing practice.  
• Failure to provide truthful and complete answers to these questions will result in denial of admission for applicants and dismissal for students.
• If the college becomes aware of criminal or unethical behavior on the part of the applicant, admission will be denied.

Once a student is accepted into the nursing program they will be required to submit to a criminal background check and a drug screen. A student admitted to the Program with a history of substance abuse will be monitored for indications of a recurrence of substance abuse per College policy. Any student whose behavior, appearance, or breath odor indicates inappropriate use of alcohol or other drugs can be required to undergo immediate drug testing to detect the presence of alcohol or other drugs and to report the results of such testing to the Director of Nursing and Allied Health. The student’s status in the program will be reviewed by the nursing faculty and the director. Any required testing and counseling shall be at the student’s expense. Failure to follow a counselor-prescribed treatment plan will result in dismissal from the Program.