City College offers a CAS in Practical Nursing and an ASN in Registered Nursing. The College of Health Professions and Science also offers a 2+1 Option BSN Pathway.
Students apply to the nursing programs after completing the required prerequisites.
All prerequisite courses have to be completed with a “C” or better.
See msubillings.edu/citycollege/programs/ProgLPN.htm for the most recent practical nursing information and msubillings.edu/citycollege/programs/ProgRN.htm for the most recent registered nursing information.
Nursing students are held to the same standards as nurses. Students are required to pass a criminal background check and a urine drug screening at a site designated by the program before admission to clinical sites.
The Montana Board of Regents may alter information contained in this portion of the catalog. Please contact the Director of Nursing for the most current information.
The faculty believe practical nurses are an integral part of the nursing workforce. Licensed Practical Nurses function within the ethical and legal framework of the Nurse Practice Act. Licensed Practical Nurses provide nursing care for clients in structured health care settings who are experiencing common, well-defined health problems. In their roles as members of the discipline of nursing, practical nurses actively participate in and subscribe to the legal and ethical tenets of the discipline. Licensed Practical Nurses provide care under the supervision of registered nurses, physicians, osteopaths, podiatrists, and dentists. They participate in data collection, communicate information within the chain of command, and implement nursing interventions based on established plans of care. Licensed Practical Nurses work in doctor’s offices, community sites, and long term care facilities.
Special Considerations
If any physical limitations exist which might impair the ability of a student to fully perform required activities, a letter written by the physician attending the student should be sent to City College at MSU Billings. The letter must state that no risk to the student or potential patient exists, should the student be required to provide medical services to the patient.
It should be noted that completion of the practical nursing program does not guarantee state licensing to practice as an LPN. Graduates must pass the NCLEX-PN to practice as an LPN.
The practical nursing program is provided in a hybrid distance learning format. The lecture courses will be online and the clinical and lab courses will be in a hybrid format where some content is online and some is on campus or at assigned clinical sites. Students will be required to come to the City College campus for some labs and clinical experiences. Students will be liable for their own transportation and lodging. When students are admitted into the program they will be given a schedule of dates and times for required attendance on campus. Whenever possible, the dates and times will be lumped together so students will only be coming to campus once or twice a month for two to four days, which may include weekends.
Students will be admitted to the Practical Nursing Program in spring semester. The application process includes: filling out an application and points criteria form, having a selective GPA of 2.5 based on the grades for the prerequisite courses, an interview in person or via Skype, and having a reference letter submitted to the nursing department. See website for specific application directions (www.msubillings.edu/citycollege/programs/ProgLPN.htm)
PN Graduates who wish to take the registered nursing program will be required to take 11 additional credits of general education courses (see first semester of RN program).
Program Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:
- Provide evidence-based, relationship-centered care for clients within the Licensed Practical Nurse scope of practice.
- Demonstrate teamwork in an inter-professional environment.
- Provide inclusive care in a professional manner according to legal and ethical standards.
- Demonstrate critical thinking skills in providing safe quality care.
- Utilize communication skills to provide relationship-centered care.
- Ninety percent of graduates will pass the NCLEX-PN.
