3390 Peachtree Rd. NE, Ste. 1400 Atlanta, GA 30326
404.975.5000
www.acenursing.org
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!
Attend an online LPN to RN Information Session to learn more about the BTC LPN-RN Nursing Program option and get information about the admissions process and requirements of our program.
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.
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 2020-2021
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
92% Average placement rate for program graduates
$64,522 starting annual wageProgram 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 Nursing Program enters advanced placement LPN-RN applicants into cohorts utilizing a program-ready list (waitlist). Complete applications are placed on the program-ready list in the order in which they are received by the Nursing Program.
LPN-RN DTA Education Planning GuideLPN-RN Admissions Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
The program will no longer be entering LPNs into the second year of the full-time Nursing Program instead all advanced placement LPN students will apply to the new part-time evening cohort. This cohort will enter 20 students in Spring quarter every two years as demand dictates. Next possible cohort start is April 2021.
Applicants must score at the "PROFICIENT" level or higher in each of the four areas on one transcript. See the ATI Test of Essential Academic Skills handout for more information about this entrance assessment.
LPN-RN applicants must have an active, unencumbered WA Sate LPN license and submit the Verification of Work Experience Form documenting 1,000 hours of work as an LPN within the last five years. Proof of current LPN license is required to be included with LPN-RN admission application.
Verification of Work Experience as LPN Form (LPN-RN only)
Currently submissions are only accepted by email to nursing@btc.edu
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 an application is submitted.
Program-ready applicants are invited to submit an LPN-RN Admission Application.
LPN-RN Admission Application form
Currently only emailed submissions are accepted to nursing@btc.edu
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
NURS 210 | Acute Health Concepts | 5 CR |
NUTR 215 | Nutrition in Healthcare IV | 1 CR |
PHIL 215 | Ethics & Policy in Healthcare II | 1 CR |
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 |
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 |
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 |
PSYC 115 | Psychosocial Issues in Healthcare I | 1 CR |
PSYC 116 | Psychosocial Issues in Healthcare II | 3 CR |
NURS 235 | Professional Nursing Concepts- Clinical Lab | 6 CR |
The BTC Associate Degree Nursing graduate will be able to:
Nursing Care: Integrate the nursing process to deliver individualized culturally competent care.
Self-Care Promotion: Formulate strategies to promote the health of self and others.
Professionalism: Model integrity through professional boundaries, ethical behaviors, and respectful communication.
Collaborative Leadership: Maximize positive health outcomes through the promotion of evidence-based clinical care within the interdisciplinary team.
Clinical Judgment: Model safe nursing care by integrating critical thinking, evidence-based practice, and prioritization.
BTC graduated the first cohort of LPN-RN DTA/MRP students August 2020
2019-2020
1st Quarter - No graduates
2nd Quarter - No graduates
3rd Quarter - No graduates
4th Quarter – 95%
Cohort (Grad month year) - 08/20
20 began, 19 graduated
95% Retention
2019-2020: 75% employed 9 months after graduation*
*15 of the 19 graduates responded to survey
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.
Joan has been a nurse for 35 years. Joan graduated from Bellingham Technical College in 1979 and completed her BSN at Washington State University in 1983. In 2014 Joan completed her Master's of Nursing. Joan spent 30 years in industry before leaving to teach at BTC in 2008.
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.
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.
Nursing Student Navigator - 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
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.
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.