go.chemeketa.edu/nursing

Registered nurses apply knowledge drawn from a broad, in-depth education in the social and physical sciences to assess, plan, order, provide, delegate, teach, and supervise care that promotes a patient’s optimum health and independence.

An RN guides other team members with less education and/or experience, evaluates needs for patient instruction, plans and participates in health teaching, and applies mental health principles to nursing care and function. RNs must also assume responsibility for their own professional development.

This program is approved by the Oregon State Board of Nursing and accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). You may contact ACEN for information about the program’s accreditation status. The address for ACEN is 3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400, Atlanta, GA 30326. The telephone number is 404.975.5000. The Web address is acenursing.org. If you wish to transfer to a school of nursing that grants baccalaureate degrees after completing Chemeketa’s nursing program. Please contact your program advisor or Chemeketa Advising and First Year Programs staff for details at 503.399.5120. You should also make early contact with an advisor at the institution to which you plan to transfer. 

Program Outcomes

Students completing the degree should be able to satisfy the following outcomes:

1. Patient Centered Care: Incorporates novice level management skills while providing patient centered care. 
2. Quality and Safety: Develop nursing care that minimizes risk or harm to patients, self, and others; and uses data to monitor outcomes of patient centered care.
3. Clinical Decision Making: Formulate clinical judgements in providing nursing care based on current evidence, clinical expertise, and patient preferences, needs, and values.
4. Professionalism: Design nursing care that reflects integrity, accountability, and legal and ethical practice while modeling the professional roles of coordinator of care, educator, advocate, and leader.
5. Informatics and technology: Formulate nursing care using current technology and patient information to maximize safety, and optimize health.
6. Teamwork and collaboration: Communicate effectively and collaboratively in a self-directed manner with patients, families, and members of the healthcare team.

Getting Started

This program has specific entry requirements as outlined in the nursing application packet available on Chemeketa’s website. Most nursing bound students complete the majority of general education and science courses required for the nursing program prior to applying in order to enhance their chance of admission. Enrollment in the program is limited, and there is an early deadline for applications. We recommend that you contact the Health Sciences Department at 503.399.5058 or email healthsciences@chemeketa.edu for details if you are considering the Nursing program. Most students spend one or more years completing program entry requirements to prepare for applying to the Nursing program. 

You may earn an associate degree by successfully completing the required 93 credit hours. You must earn grades of “C” or better in all required courses in order to progress through the terms. An associate degree in nursing qualifies you to apply to take the National Council Licensure Exam (NCLEX-RN) to become a registered nurse.