The Associate Degree Registered Nursing Program at Bellingham Technical College located in Bellingham, WA is accredited by the: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
3390 Peachtree Rd. NE, Suite 1400 Atlanta, GA 30326
404.975.5000
www.acenursing.org
The most recent accreditation decision made by the ACEN Board of Commissioners for the Associate Degree Registered Nursing Program is Continuing Accreditation.
If you are a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) in WA State and are interested in continuing your education to become a Registered Nurse (RN), then Bellingham Technical College’s Nursing Program LPN-RN option is for you!
The Bellingham Technical College Nursing Program is the largest nursing program in the region and has been educating nurses since 1954. The registered nursing program is nationally accredited through the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) and is a concept-based Associate Degree in Nursing Direct Transfer Agreement/Major Ready Pathway (DTA/MRP). Academic preparation includes core courses in arts and sciences and those focusing on basic nursing skills and knowledge.
LPN-RN NURSING PROGRAM INFORMATION SESSIONS:
Join us for an online Summer LPN-RN Nursing Info Session on July 19, 2023 at 3-4pm.
There is one Nursing Program at BTC which has three program options, Registered Nursing (RN), LPN-RN, and Practical Nursing (PN). The two-year registered nurse associate degree is intended for students new to the nursing field and is a full-time option only. Advanced placement students who are Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) are admitted into the part-time, evening LPN-RN option to complete the DTA/MRP associate degree. Students who graduate from the two-year full-time RN and LPN-RN pathway are eligible to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination – Registered Nurse (NCLEX-RN). The third program option is the Practical Nursing Certificate.
The BTC LPN-RN Program is excited to be able to offer LPN-RN students the DTA/MRP associate degree. This degree was collaboratively developed by the Washington State community and technical colleges and four-year universities to create a streamlined pathway to the Bachelors of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree.
Nursing Student Handbook 2022-2023
Please Note: BTC has not made a determination that the Nursing Program curriculum meets educational requirements for licensure/certification outside of Washington State. We encourage students who plan to work out-of-state to check relevant local licensure/certification requirements.
The BTC Nursing Program is approved by the Washington State Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission (NCQAC).
PO Box 47864
Olympia, WA 98504
360.236.4700
Data are provided on a program (not credential) level
92%1 BTC graduate placement rate (Employment Security Department- WA and OR only)
100%3 BTC graduate placement rate (faculty-tracked, national)
100%3 BTC in-field graduate placement rate (faculty-tracked, national)
$76,012 starting annual wage2
$93,326 average annual wage2
$100,118 potential annual wage2
Program fees address distinct and specified costs such as lab assistants, supplies, materials, equipment, rentals, software licensing, replacement and upgrade, maintenance, and other operational costs.
Apply now for the LPN-RN Part-Time Evening Cohort!
The application window for the LPN-RN Nursing program will open January 18, 2023.
If you have questions about applying to any of the programs, please contact your College Navigator or email admissions@btc.edu to schedule an appointment.
How to ApplyThe 2023/2024 LPN-RN Nursing Application Portal is now live! Program ready students are encouraged to apply.
Next possible cohort start is April 2024.
All applicants to the BTC LPN-RN Nursing Program must be Program-Ready before they can apply online during the Application Window. Students are Program-Ready once they have completed the following:
Effective April 12, 2023, the Nursing program will no longer require the ATI TEAS assessment as an admissions requirement.
Students interested in the LPN-RN program should apply to the college and contact Admissions at 360.752.8345 or at admissions@btc.edu for assistance with getting started at BTC. A college application and your score on complete guided self-placement and/or previous transcripts will determine where you begin your course sequence.
The Nursing Program enters advanced placement LPN-RN applicants into cohorts utilizing a program-ready list (waitlist). Complete applications are placed on the waitlist in the order in which they are received.
Graduates of BTC's Practical Nursing Progam will receive priority for applications received by each sorting date.
LPN-RN DTA Program Admissions Checklist
LPN-RN Admissions Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
The program no longer enters LPN's into the second year of the full-time Nursing Program, instead all advanced placement LPN students will apply to the part-time evening LPN-RN cohort. This cohort enters 10 students. Next possible cohort start is April 2024.
The BTC Nursing Program is educating our students in-person again. Please be aware that this is not an online program.
Students will be required to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19. To be considered fully vaccinated, two weeks must have passed since the date of the second dose or first dose for the one-dose vaccine. The program’s clinical partner agencies will not accept any exemption to full COVID-19 vaccination.
LPN-RN applicants must have an active, unencumbered WA State LPN license. Proof of current LPN license is required to apply for the LPN-RN admission application.
Verification of Work Experience as LPN Form (LPN-RN only)
Applicants with previously approved Verification of Work Experience forms do not need to re-submit within the five years of approval.
ALL COURSES MUST BE A MINIMUM OF 5 QUARTER CREDITS OR 3 SEMESTER CREDITS
The following courses must be completed with a B (3.0) or higher in each course:
The following courses must be completed with a C (2.0) or higher in each course:
30 credits of Practical Nursing - only required for students who completed Practical Nursing education at a college other than BTC
The transcript evaluation process must be complete before applying to the program.
AFTER admissions acceptance into the program and prior to beginning program classes students must submit proof of all Clinical Placement Requirements.
This program requires a criminal history background check prior to attending the clinic practicum. Criminal History Background Check Information Sheet
Students who test positive for THC (marijuana, including prescription marijuana) will not be allowed entrance to Nursing and Allied Health programs with clinical components. Drug screening is a requirement of our clinical partner agencies. Although private recreational and medical use of marijuana is legal in Washington state, our clinical partner agencies are governed by federal laws, and marijuana is a prohibited substance at the federal level. If your final drug test results are positive, you will be ineligible to participate in the program that year and will be allowed to reapply to the program 12 months from the date of the positive test.
NURS 210 | Acute Health Concepts | 5 CR |
NUTR 215 | Nutrition in Healthcare IV | 1 CR |
PHIL 215 | Ethics & Policy in Healthcare II | 1 CR |
The below courses are only for students who did not complete BTC Practical Nursing Program after 2018 |
NUTR 115 | Nutrition in Healthcare I | 1 CR |
PHIL 115 | Ethics and Policy in Healthcare I | 1 CR |
NURS 215 | Acute Health Concepts- Clinical Lab | 6 CR |
NURS 220 | Complex Health Concepts | 4 CR |
NUTR 216 | Nutrition in Healthcare V | 1 CR |
PSYC 215 | Psychosocial Issues in Healthcare IV | 1 CR |
The below courses are only for students who did not complete BTC Practical Nursing Program after 2018 |
NUTR 116 | Nutrition in Healthcare II | 1 CR |
NUTR 117 | Nutrition in Healthcare III | 1 CR |
NURS 225 | Complex Health Concepts- Clinical Lab | 6 CR |
The below courses are only for students who did not complete BTC Practical Nursing Program after 2018 |
PSYC 117 | Psychosocial Issues in Healthcare III | 2 CR |
NURS 230 | Professional Nursing Concepts | 3 CR |
PHIL 216 | Ethics & Policy in Healthcare III | 3 CR |
The below courses are only for students who did not complete BTC Practical Nursing Program after 2018 |
PSYC 115 | Psychosocial Issues in Healthcare I | 1 CR |
PSYC 116 | Psychosocial Issues in Healthcare II | 1 CR |
NURS 235 | Professional Nursing Concepts- Clinical Lab | 6 CR |
The BTC Associate Degree Nursing graduate will be able to:
"Nursing Program Outcomes link to College and National Standards"
MISSION STATEMENT
Bellingham Technical College’s Nursing Program delivers high-quality nursing education to benefit the health of our region.
VISION STATEMENT
The Nursing Program will be a recognized leader in providing innovative, effective, and progressive nursing education. The Program creates options for career success by developing a professional nursing workforce.
PHILOSOPHY OF NURSING
Nursing is both an art and a science; an art requiring creativity and skill, and a science requiring knowledge and the application of evidence-based practice. Nursing provides safe, patient-centered care in collaboration with the healthcare team.
NURSING PROGRAM VALUES
In accordance with Bellingham Technical College’s values, the nursing program has established the following values:
BTC graduated the first cohort of LPN-RN DTA/MRP students August 2020
Year: 2021 - % passed BTC: No graduates - % passes National: 82% - 3-year mean BTC: No graduates - 3-year mean National: 86%
Year: 2020 - % passed BTC: 95% - % passes National: 86% - 3-year mean BTC: 98% - 3-year mean National: 88%
Year: 2019 - % passed BTC: 100% - % passes National: 88% - 3-year mean BTC: 100% - 3-year mean National: 88%
Year: 2018 - % passed BTC: 100% - % passes National: 88% - 3-year mean BTC: 93% - 3-year mean National: 87%
Year: 2021 - Rate completed within 100% of expected program length: No graduates - Rate completed within 150% of expected program length: No graduates
Year: 2020 - Rate completed within 100% of expected program length: 95% - Rate completed within 150% of expected program length: 95%
Year: 2019 - Rate completed within 100% of expected program length: 100% - Rate completed within 150% of expected program length: 100%
Year: 2018 - Rate completed within 100% of expected program length: 100% - Rate completed within 150% of expected program length: 100%
Year: 2021 - # of graduates: 0 - Survey response rate: No graduates - Job placement: No graduates
Year: 2020 - # of graduates: 19 - Survey response rate: 100% - Job placement: 100%
Year: 2019 - # of graduates: 1 - Survey response rate: 100% - Job placement: 100%
Year: 2018 - # of graduates: 1 - Survey response rate: 100% - Job placement: 100%
Registered Nurses are the most advertised job online in Whatcom county. As the Baby Boomer population ages, the number of healthcare jobs in our community and beyond is rapidly growing. The demand for nursing program graduates is high: 97 percent of Bellingham Technical College Nursing Program students have jobs within nine months of graduating. The average annual wage in this field is $78,666, with an earning potential of about $96,658 per year.
BTC graduates are highly sought after by employers in our region and beyond. Graduates of BTC find top jobs in a variety of healthcare settings, including acute care hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, assisted living, skilled home care, hospice, clinics, day-surgery centers, schools, and public health.
Many of the Nursing Program graduates go on to complete their Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). The DTA/MRP degree that BTC offers allows graduates to seamlessly transfer to WA State RN-BSN programs. A BTC Associate Degree in Nursing is the first step on a path to further career advancement towards a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or a doctoral degree.
Nursing Support Specialist - Advising for all Nursing and Pre-Nursing Master of Education Bachelor of Science – Mathematics I am a dedicated, goal oriented, team player with eight years’ experience teaching and four years teaching Middle School Summer School, three years running an After School Homework Center, and four years as an Accounting Clerk. I have been a Site Team Chair, Mathematics Head Chair, and the Middle School and High School Curriculum Director for Mathematics. I like challenges and finding solutions to them. I thrive on providing excellence in all areas of my job. My undergraduate schooling was completed at Faulkner University in Montgomery, Alabama where I earned a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Mathematics and was awarded one of four of the University’s top awards, the George S. Benson Citizenship Award for Outstanding Contribution in Academics and Athletics. I have completed my Master of Education Degree and Teaching Certification in Secondary Education at Western Washington University in Bellingham, Washington
Holly Kennedy has a Master's Degree in Nursing from the University of Washington and a Certificate from the University of Washington in Nurse Educator Specialty Training. She has over 27 years of experience providing nursing care to patients in a variety of settings. Her background includes acute care hospitals, home health, home infusion, industry, Sara Lee Corporation, American Red Cross and medical office nursing. Holly Kennedy has over 9 years experience as a medical office nurse and clinic coordinator. She is committed to nursing education and facilitating the best experience possible for students in the clinical setting.
Tiffany began her nursing career as an LPN while immediately working toward her BSN. She graduated from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette in 2005. She completed graduate school at Western Governor's University with a MSN-Ed in 2015 followed by earning her national certification as a Certified Nurse Educator (CNE) in 2016.
Diana began as a nursing instructor at Bellingham Technical College in 2010. She has worked as a nurse in many settings in both Whatcom and Skagit County. Areas of experience include Acute Care, Long Term Care, Labor and Delivery, Postpartum, Health Clinics, Camp Nurse, and School Nurse. Diana began her nursing education at Skagit Valley College, and completed her Master of Nursing degree at University of Washington Bothell. Her research and projects focus on improving the health of student nurses and clients by promoting exercise and a plant strong diet.
Patrick Harris became a nursing instructor at Bellingham Technical College in 2021. He is currently the course lead for NURS 210/215. Prior to relocating to Washington, he worked for five years as a nursing instructor at Umpqua Community College (UCC) in Roseburg, Oregon. Patrick obtained his Associates of Applied Science in Nursing at Umpqua Community College in 2004 and his Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2006 at Kaplan University. He received his Master of Science in Nursing in 2017 through Western Governors University while working as a nursing instructor at UCC. Patrick has worked as a Registered Nurse since 2004, primarily in the emergency department with stints on the medical/surgical unit and in the cardiac cath lab. Patrick was a CNA and LPN prior to receiving his RN licensure. He worked in emergency departments in Oregon as both a traveling nurse as well as a full-time employee. He has worked in a variety of hospitals, ranging from a rural critical access hospital on the Oregon coast to a large hospital in Portland. He fulfilled a dream of his by working in Anchorage, Alaska as a traveling nurse prior to accepting a full time teaching job at UCC. He continued to work part time in the emergency department after becoming a nursing instructor.
Natasha graduated with an associate degree in Nursing from Olympic College. She went on to complete her bachelor’s and Masters in Nursing from Washington State University. She is currently working on her PhD in Nursing at Washington State University. She has worked as an RN since 2015. During this time, she has worked on a medical-surgical unit and obtained her Medical-Surgical Nursing certification. She went on to work in the float pool covering units such as psych, med-surg, rehab, oncology, and neurology. Her most recent nursing experience has been with a Progressive Care Unit, where she obtained her progressive care certification.
Mary Curran has experience in providing nursing care in a variety of settings. Mary began her pursuit in the field of nursing at Bellingham Technical College by completing the nursing assistant program in 1991 and practical nursing program in 1993. The solid nursing foundation gained at Bellingham Technical College laid the ground work for her journey in nursing. Working at each level Mary continued her nursing education: Associate's Degree in Nursing, Bachelor's Degree in Nursing, and Master's Degree in Nursing. Mary is dedicated to quality nursing care and education through role modeling.