Direct Admit BSN
Salish Kootenai College Direct Admit 4-year BSN degree program utilizes best practices in higher education: robust curriculum that includes coursework designed for nurses to be exemplary clinicians and nurse leaders, high fidelity simulation, small faculty- to- student ratios, and patient-centered clinical sites including urban and rural hospitals located in Missoula, Mission Valley, and Kalispell areas in Montana. The nursing faculty all have graduate degrees and have been recognized as leaders in teaching excellence. SKC is accredited through Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. SKC Nursing Programs are accredited through Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing.
- Early entry—student comes right into nursing program and does not have to apply to the nursing program after 2 years of prerequisites.
- Or students may transfer in as sophomores
- Chemistry, anatomy and physiology, and math is offered the first year so the nursing student will need to be prepared to work hard and study hard!
- Cohort-based. Students progress as a group through the 4 years.
- Start Fall 2024, graduate Spring 2028 with a BSN (which is now the industry standard).
- SKC has access to a variety of clinical sites for nursing students; including, Providence St. Patrick Hospital in Missoula, Community Medical Center in Missoula, Logan Health in Kalispell, Marcus Daly Memorial Hospital in Hamilton, St. Luke Hospital in Ronan, St. Joseph Medical Center in Polson, and Clark Fork Valley Hospital in Plains, Montana. Various extended care facilities, schools, and community sites throughout the area are also utilized.
- Students must be able to stand, sit and walk for up to 12 hours and lift up to 100 pounds. Heavy lifting may be required in hospital settings.
- The BSN degree is required for hiring by any federal nursing position such as Indian Health Service, the military, Veterans Administration, and Public Health facilities. Most hospitals and community-based healthcare organizations also require a minimum of a BSN.
- After completing the BSN degree, graduates are eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) and after passing it, the student becomes a Registered Nurse (RN).
- A federal background check is mandated annually for nursing students. Students with a history of criminal convictions (whether felony or misdemeanor) relating to crimes such as, but not limited to, physical assault, use of dangerous weapon, sexual abuse or assault, abuse of children the elderly or infirm and crimes against property, including robbery, burglary and felony theft, may not be eligible for admission, clinical placement, and/or licensure.
Now accepting applications for 2025-2026 academic year
Chronological Order of Requirements of 4-year BSN Program
Detailed information about our program is provided in the SKC catalog.
Nursing handbook can be obtained here.
New 2024-2025 student handbooks are available in the nursing office.