Butte College Nursing Programs: Addressing the Northstate Healthcare Needs

Butte College is proactively addressing the growing demand for healthcare workers in the Northstate region by expanding its nursing programs. Recognizing the urgent need for qualified nurses, Butte College offers both a traditional and an accelerated Registered Nursing (RN) program.

Accelerated Track Registered Nursing Program

Butte College has created an accelerated program that will send students into the workforce sooner than their traditional program. The Accelerated Track Registered Nursing Program is the only public program of its kind in California. This intensive program is designed to equip students with the necessary skills to test for their RN license in a single year, running from January to December.

Program Structure and Curriculum

The accelerated program offers a blend of online courses and in-person clinical training, aiming to provide students with a comprehensive and well-rounded education. After completion of the program, students earn an Associate's degree in nursing, then ready to take their national test. At the end they graduate, but then they have to sit for the national license examination. When they pass that, not if, but when they pass that, then they’re a Registered Nurse in the state of California.

Admission and Selection

Admittance into the program is based on a point system, taking into account factors like grade point average, recent healthcare experience, and more. Butte College provided the breakdown of applicants for the program:

Number of applicants: 205
Number of women: 135
Number of men: 24
Number of veterans: 3
Number from outside of included counties: 1

Out of 205 students who applied to the program, only 48 were admitted. The program emphasizes on local students from counties in the surrounding area so that they may have a direct impact on the need for healthcare providers in the Northstate, although students from outside of the target demographic are encouraged to apply.

Program Benefits and Community Support

Officials say they have received over 1,000 letters of support from the community and industry partners in support of the accelerated program, saying their is a strong need for workers in the industry. Denise Adams, dean of instruction at Butte College, and Laurie Meyer, RN nursing program director, are confident of the success of the program and the students who will benefit from it, with the next program beginning Jan. 2025. Butte College is always looking at ways that we can expand our current programs and provide more graduates for our programs to meet healthcare employee needs.

Traditional Nursing Program

The traditional nursing program will be offered in conjunction with the new accelerated program. Educators at the college created the program to provide students with a faster track of receiving their nursing education, while aiding in the waiting list for the traditional nursing program offered at the college-which is four semesters long, spanning two years.

Lottery System

The traditional track program is a lottery system. An applicant meets the basic entry level requirements, and then eventually they’ll get in. Currently it's a three-and-a-half-year wait to get into that program. All program prerequisites must be completed at the time of application. In the event that there are more qualified candidates than spaces in the program, a computer lottery will select the individuals to be enrolled. Applicants that are not selected for enrollment must reapply if they wish to be considered for admission to a future semester. The odds of admission increase with each consecutive reapplication.

General Requirements and Information for Both Programs

Academic Prerequisites

Cumulative GPA of 2.5 for all prerequisite courses, with no less than a 'C' for each course. Credit/no Credit courses are not accepted. Overall GPA of 2.5 for the Human Anatomy, Human Physiology, and Microbiology prerequisite courses, with no grade less than 'C' for each course and no more than one repetition of one of these courses for purposes of GPA calculation. TEAS (Test of Essential Academic Skills) - The TEAS test must be completed with a composite score of 62% or greater by the first or second attempt to be considered for the lottery.

Ethnic Studies Requirement

Beginning Fall 2024, first time applicants and students not covered by previous catalog rights must complete an Ethnic Studies course to graduate with an AS degree in Registered Nursing. Students that use Fall 2024 or earlier catalog rights may have to complete additional GE requirements. Required Course: ANTH 4, ANTH 4H, SOC 2, or SOC 4 (select one option).

Read also: English Classes at Butte College

Registered Nurse Responsibilities

Registered Nurses (RNs) work to promote health, prevent disease, and help patients cope with illness. RNs are advocates and health educators for patients, families, and communities. RNs observe, assess, and record symptoms, reactions, and progress of patients. They assist physicians during treatments and examinations, administer medications, and assist in convalescence and rehabilitation. RNs develop and manage nursing care plans, instruct patients and their families in proper care, and help individuals and groups take steps to improve or maintain their health.

Licensure

Persons with substance abuse issues or with conviction of crimes substantially related to the practice of nursing may not be granted a license by the California Board of Registered Nursing. Fingerprints are a required part of the application for licensure.

Career Opportunities

The Associate Degree in Accelerated Track Registered Nursing program prepares the student for licensure as an RN at the Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) level. A registered nurse can seek employment in a variety of settings: acute care hospital, community/home health care, skilled and long-term care, clinics, physician offices and any number of private industries that interface with healthcare delivery.

Chico State Partnership

Butte College has partnered with Chico State to assist Butte College Nursing students in gaining a Bachelor's in Registered Nursing.

Read also: Navigating Butte College

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