Nursing: Registered Nursing, ASN

Program Outcomes

Upon completion of the Associate of Science (ASN)-Registered Nursing curriculum, students will

• Develop and lead programs of health promotion and disease prevention that is cost effective, comprehensive and coordinated;
• Engage patient and families as partners in evidenced-based, ethical care, while respecting individual preference;
• Analyze and integrate current research findings, expert opinion, clinical reasoning, and patient preferences in developing and implementing plan of care;
• Promote and lead cooperation, coordination, and communication among team members, patients, and community populations to improve quality and enhance patient safety;
• Provide ongoing assessment and analysis of patients and systems with the goal of providing the highest level of patient care and outcomes;
• Demonstrate the ability to utilize technology to gather and analyze data, manage information, and improve communication among team members and across systems to support clinical decisions; and
• Participate as a team member to design, promote, and model effective use of technology to reduce the risk of harm to self and others.

Program Accreditation

Flathead Valley Community College Associate Degree Nursing Program holds accreditation status from the National League for Nursing Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation (NLN CNEA) located at 2600 Virginia Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20037, November 2019 through June 30, 2026. 

The FVCC ASN program is also approved by the Montana State Board of Nursing, which is required in order for graduates of the program to be eligible to take the National Council Licensing Exam Registered Nurse (NCLEX-RN) licensing exam. 

Required Prerequisites (Any Semester):

• BIOH 201NL - Human Anatomy and Physiology I Credit(s): 4 *
• CHMY 121NL - Introduction to General Chemistry Credit(s): 4 *

•  

• M 121M - College Algebra Credit(s): 3 *^R

• OR

• M 140 - College Math for Healthcare Credit(s): 3 * ^R

•  

• WRIT 101W - College Writing I Credit(s): 3 * ^R

First Year

Second Year

Total Credits: 73

¹ Indicates course may be taken before acceptance into the program. 

^R Indicates Related Instruction requirement.

*Indicates prerequisite and/or corequisite needed.  Check course description.

Admission Guidelines

• Applications for formal acceptance into the ASN program are accepted once a year. Applications are available at www.fvcc.edu/registered-nursing. In order to be considered for acceptance into the ASN program, the student must have

  • Completed or be currently enrolled in the required prerequisite courses with a grade of “B-” or higher in BIOH 201 , and “C” or higher in CHMY 121 , M 140  or M 121 , and WRIT 101 . A grade of “C-” is not acceptable in the prerequisite courses;
  • Completed BIOH 201  and CHMY 121  within five years of acceptance into the Nursing program.  If Individuals have completed BIOH 211  and BIOM 250  before acceptance into the program, these courses must also be within five years of acceptance into the program. Individuals may request evaluation by the Nursing Program Director for a possible exception to this policy. (If BIOH 201  or BIOH 211  were taken before fall 2016 and are within the five-year acceptance period, a grade of “C+” is acceptable.  Please note this will affect the student’s GPA.)
  • A selective GPA of 2.75 (out of 4.0 scale) in the four prerequisite courses;
  • Completed BIOH 201  and CHMY 121  within five years of acceptance into the Nursing program Individuals may request evaluation by the Nursing Program Director for a possible exception;
  • Degree status at FVCC with all required records on file;
  • Taken the Kaplan Nursing School Entrance Exam as part of the application process; and
  • Submitted a signed application and $20.00 non-refundable processing fee receipt.
• Once offered placement, students must provide proof of current health insurance (FVCC Student Health Center does not meet this requirement), complete a background check, and provide proof of required immunizations to finalize the acceptance process. 
• See Nursing Program Information Packet at www.fvcc.edu/nursing for more information regarding admission guidelines.

Program Information

• This is a demanding program.  Individuals will be required to actively participate in and subscribe to the legal and ethical tenets of the discipline while enrolled as a student and as a graduate.

• The focus of the ASN curriculum is to offer education leading to the knowledge that supports the RN to provide direct care to clients, individuals, or groups.

• Completion of the ASN degree does not guarantee FVCC’s or the Montana University System’s general education core is fulfilled.

• Once a student has applied and been accepted into the ASN program, each nursing course and BIOH 211 must be passed with a grade of “B-” or higher to continue in the program. A grade of “C” is acceptable for non-nursing courses: PSYX 100, SOCI 101, and BIOM 250.

• After successfully passing the NCLEX RN, the Montana Board of Nursing grants licensure to practice nursing as a Registered Nurse.

Opportunities After Graduation

• Individuals who successfully complete the ASN program and pass the NCLEX-RN exam will find many employment opportunities available to them in a wide variety of health care settings in Northwest Montana and other locations.  
• A graduate of the program may choose to continue their education by pursuing a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in nursing.

Nursing Program Director:

Carla Genovese
BC 102-A
(406) 756-3997
cgenovese@fvcc.edu

Advising Information:

For more information about this program, contact an advisor.

For general information, contact:

Cathy Fabel, Nursing Program Assistant
BC 102
(406) 756-3385
cfabel@fvcc.edu