Students planning to enter any of the nursing programs need to be aware of the essential skills required of the successful nurse. The essential skills are the expectations upon which clinical performance is based for all levels of nursing. Nursing students are expected to demonstrate these skills and characteristics in the classroom, campus lab sessions, and clinical rotations.

Persons interested in a career in nursing need to be aware of potential hazards and risks inherent in the field. Nurses, including nursing students in clinical placements, work in many different environments, some of which are hazardous. Nurses and their clients are exposed to infectious diseases, radiation, hazardous equipment, and environments in which accidents occur. Nurses may spend a lot of time walking, bending, stretching, and standing. They are vulnerable to back injuries because they must often lift and move patients.

During the course of the nursing program, nursing students learn strategies to achieve the National Patient Safety Goals for minimizing safety hazards and preventing injury. Nurses are not only responsible for their own safety but also for the safety of their clients. Failure to apply the principles of safety may result in serious and/or potentially life-threatening injury to the nurse, the client, or other persons. Nursing students are held to the same standard as nurses. Safety violations that cause actual or potential harm to clients, self or others will result in immediate dismissal from the nursing program.

All nursing programs include a required clinical work experience. Clinicals are at medical facilities requiring travel to various regions of Skagit, Whatcom, Snohomish, and Island counties. All students accepted into the clinical experience must have reliable transportation. All experiences will be under the supervision of college nursing program faculty. Students will not be allowed to choose their clinical site experience (location, shift, days of week, etc.). The department chair and/or designated faculty select the facilities used for clinical sites and place qualified students.

It is recommended that you do not work while in the program. If you do have to work, we recommend that you work no more than 8 hours a week while in the full-time program and no more than 24 hours a week while in the part-time program.

SKAGIT VALLEY COLLEGE NON-DISCRIMINATION STATEMENT

Skagit Valley College (SVC) offers bachelor of applied science degrees, academic transfer pathways, workforce education degrees and certificates, basic education for adults, and lifelong learning opportunities. SVC is committed to equity as its framework in providing access, supporting achievement, and strengthening the community.

It is the policy of SVC to provide a working and learning environment free from discrimination, harassment, and retaliation. SVC provides a drug-free environment and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, and/or gender identity, pregnancy, genetic information, age, marital status, disability, honorably discharged veteran or military status in its programs and employment.

This policy also prohibits retaliation as a result of an individual filing a report of discrimination or harassment or participating in an investigation of a claim of discrimination or harassment.

This policy applies to all programs and facilities, including, but not limited to, admissions, educational programs, and employment. SVC complies with all Washington State antidiscrimination laws (Chapter 49.60 RCW) and the following federal laws relating to equal opportunity: Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

SVC has an open admission policy. Students must apply for admission and register for credit-bearing classes. SVC is committed to providing access, equal opportunity and reasonable accommodation in its services, programs, activities, education, and employment for individuals with disabilities. SVC will take steps to ensure that the lack of English language skills will not be a barrier to admission and participation in all educational programs.

Coordination of the compliance efforts of SVC with respect to equal opportunity and disability accommodation regulations is under the direction of Carolyn Tucker, Vice President of Human Resources and Title IX/EEO at 360.416.7794 or [email protected], for non-discrimination, equal opportunity, affirmative action, or the American with Disabilities Act policies.

The following person is the designated Title IX Coordinator: Sandy Jordan, Title IX Coordinator at 360.416.7923 or [email protected] or [email protected] for Title IX/504 compliance.

Upon admission, a candidate who discloses a disability and requests accommodation will be asked to provide documentation of his or her disability for the purpose of determining appropriate accommodations. The Department of Nursing will provide reasonable accommodations but is not required to make modifications that would alter the nature or requirements of the program or provide auxiliary aids that present an undue burden to Skagit Valley College and its clinical sites. To continue in the program, the candidate must be able to perform all essential functions either with or without accommodation.

Requests for accommodation should be directed to:

Disability Support Services
360-416-7654 (Mount Vernon campus)
360-679-5319 (Whidbey Island campus)

Successful completion of the program, however, does not guarantee eligibility to take the NCLEX licensing examination or the ability to become licensed to practice nursing. Candidates with concerns or questions about specific health conditions, personal histories or disabilities should contact the Washington State Nursing Commission (360.664.2881).

To be eligible to take the NCLEX (the nursing licensure exam), the nursing commission requires you to provide information about physical/mental conditions and any filed criminal charges. You will be required to answer Yes or No to a series of questions. It is important for students to be aware of these questions before starting the nursing program. To learn more about eligibility requirements please read this document: Nursing-Licensing Eligibility/Disqualifying Crimes. If you anticipate problems answering any of these questions, contact the commission directly.

You should also be aware that some clinical facilities are fingerprinting students for federal background checks and are randomly screening for drug usage. A criminal history may impact your ability to both attend a clinical class at selected clinical sites and receive a Washington State nursing license. If you have a criminal history it is important that you determine the impact this will have on your choice of a career.