Nursing

Faculty 

LAUREN SWANT, DNP, MSN, RNC-NIC, CNE, CPHQ, DIRECTOR OF NURSING & DEPT. CHAIR
APRIL BOITANO, DNP, CNM, WHNP
MARIA BROSNAN, MSN, APRN, ACNP-BC, FNP-BC, CNE, CHSE
AMANDA EVANS, MSN, FNP-C, BSN, RN
ZULEYHA INCEOZ, PH.D, MBA, MA, BSN, RN
JANET JOHNSON, MSN, RN, CNE 
MELISSA LEWIS, MSN, RN
JEN MILLER, MSN, RN, CPH, CCM
KATHERINE PIEPER, MSN, RN

Baccalaureate Nursing

The nursing program at Carroll College offers a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in nursing, preparing students to practice as professional nurses and/or for graduate studies in nursing. Upon graduation, students are eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). Successful passage of the NCLEX-RN exam is required for practice as a Registered Nurse. The Montana Board of Nursing makes all final decisions on eligibility and issuance of RN licenses in Montana. The baccalaureate degree in nursing at Carroll College is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org). The program is also approved by the Montana State Board of Nursing.

A baccalaureate degree in nursing represents a comprehensive, holistic approach to the delivery of healthcare for individuals, families, and local and global communities. Baccalaureate nurses utilize evidence-based practice models as they assess and plan care for the physical, emotional, social, and spiritual needs of their clients. Proficient in nursing skills, leadership skills, and health systems assessment, the Carroll nursing graduate is well-prepared to function as a generalist practitioner.

The current curriculum plans for the Carroll College Department of Nursing are available on the Carroll College website.

Mission

Inspired by the mission of our College, we are dedicated to preparing professional nurse generalists who promote excellence in holistic care. As community leaders, our graduates are critical thinkers, change agents, compassionate and skilled caregivers, as well as lifelong learners. Our graduates serve Montana, our region, and the world.

Goals

The Department of Nursing prepares its graduates to enter into the practice of professional nursing with a framework of knowledge integrated from the sciences, arts, and humanities. Emphasis is placed on the delivery of holistic nursing care which recognizes the dignity and uniqueness of every person. Completion of the major provides the foundation for life-long learning and graduate study in nursing.

The Faculty of the Department of Nursing seeks distinction in teaching, nursing scholarship, clinical expertise, and planning, directing, implementing and evaluating the curriculum.

Student Learning Outcomes

A graduate of the Department of Nursing will pass the NCLEX-RN licensure examination and enter into the profession of nursing with the following abilities:

1. Integrate interdisciplinary knowledge from the sciences, arts, and humanities into evidence-based nursing practice.
2. Evaluate organizational structures and systems leadership to enhance patient safety and quality healthcare outcomes.
3. Integrate nursing theory, research findings, and evidence-based practice to optimize health and well-being.
4. Implement patient care technologies and information management systems effectively to support clinical decision-making and optimize patient outcomes across diverse healthcare environments.
5. Advocate for evidence-based interventions to address social determinants of health within diverse populations in varied healthcare, social, political, financial, policy, and/or regulatory settings.
6. Demonstrate excellence in communication, including interprofessional communication and collaboration for improving patient health outcomes.
7. Implement evidence-based health promotion and disease prevention strategies tailored to diverse individuals, families, communities, and populations across varied healthcare settings.
8. Demonstrate personal accountability and commitment to professionalism and professional values through reflective practice and ongoing professional development.
9. Uphold nursing practice consistent with standards outlined by the Montana Nurse Practice Act and the ANA Code of Ethics.
10. Demonstrate comprehensive, Baccalaureate holistic generalist nursing care across diverse patient populations throughout the lifespan, ensuring inclusive and equitable practices.

Nursing Program Admission And Progression

Options for Admission to the Nursing Major

Students seeking admission to Carroll’s Nursing major have four options for entry, depending on their status: 1) Direct Entry, 2) Pre-Nursing Admission, 3) Transfer Admission, and 4) Accelerated Nursing track for post-baccalaureate students.

* Please note that meeting the minimum requirements for application eligibility does not guarantee admission to the nursing major, to include the Accelerated Nursing track.

The Carroll College Department of Nursing has a primary responsibility to the education of future professional nurses—a responsibility seriously recognized by the Admissions Committee, charged with selection of those candidates who best demonstrate the academic achievement, emotional maturity, integrity, and motivation necessary for consideration for admission.

The Department of Nursing reserves the right to accept for admission into the major the number of students for whom a quality educational program can be provided and in order to fulfill the accreditation guidelines mandated by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. The Department will use a Priority Ranking System based on the following criteria to select students for admission. Criteria will be applied after spring grades become available for pre-nursing and transfer applications. For the Accelerated Nursing track, criteria will be applied based on application materials submitted through NursingCAS in addition to supplemental documentation that may be requested by the Admissions Committee.

1. Successful completion of the items listed in the application eligibility criteria for each specific entry path.
2. Overall college career Grade Point Average (this includes all attempted credits at an accredited college or university).
3. Selected GPA from the following courses: BI-201, BI-202, CH-111, CH-112, Oral Communication course, CORE-110 or ENWR-102, PSY-105, PSY-203. A course from another institution must be accepted at Carroll as an equivalent course to be calculated in this selected GPA.
4. Completion of Core or nursing prerequisites without need for repeating courses (no D’s or F’s) or withdrawals.
5. Current enrollment and the number of credits completed at Carroll College. Students who have completed 24 or more Carroll credits by the end of the spring semester will be ranked higher on this criteria than students who have completed fewer than 24 Carroll credits.
6. No academic integrity violations on file in the Registrar’s Office at Carroll College.
7. A standardized exam to measure aptitude for nursing success, to be paid by the student, may also be required.
8. Additional documentation, letters of recommendation, and/or interviews may be required.

Direct Entry into the Traditional Track

When applying to Carroll College, a student will be considered for Direct Entry to Carroll's nursing major if the student submits a completed application, indicating NURSING as the first major of interest, and if the student meets the eligibility criteria outlined below. Direct Entry to the nursing major requires no additional application process once the student is admitted to Carroll. To receive priority consideration, students must submit a completed application by the November 1 deadline. As a Direct Entry nursing student, students will enroll in the pre-licensure BSN nursing curriculum beginning their first semester. Direct entry students must meet all the progression criteria to progress and maintain their placement in the nursing major. (See criteria for Progression in the Nursing Major)

Students who wish to be considered for Direct Entry into the nursing major must meet the following criteria:

1. Minimum 3.30 GPA
2. Completion of, or current enrollment in, two years of science (Biology and Chemistry recommended)
3. Completion of, or current enrollment in, mathematics through Intermediate Algebra (Algebra II)
4. Submission and completion of application (receipt of all supporting credentials) by November 1, listing NURSING as the first major of interest will be given priority consideration.

*Please note that not all candidates meeting the minimum eligibility criteria will be selected for the Direct Entry Option.

Students accepting Carroll's offer of admission are required to demonstrate their intent to enroll by submitting the Enrollment Reservation form and returning it with the $200 enrollment reservation fee to the Office of Admission by May 1st. Please note that failure to submit the required enrollment reservation fee by May 1st will result in the forfeiture of an offer for Direct Entry.

Pre-Nursing Admission into the Traditional Track

Students admitted into the Pre-Nursing licensure curriculum will have the opportunity to apply to the nursing major during their first year at Carroll. Pre-Nursing students must be formally accepted to the nursing major in order to register for nursing courses. Applications for Admission to the nursing major are accepted in the spring semester each year for admission into the major the following fall semester. All students who currently have listed Pre-Nursing as their major will receive notification regarding the admission process via Carroll College email. Final decisions regarding admission to the nursing major will be made after grades from the spring semester are available. Spring grades are posted by the Friday after graduation and students will have until the following Friday to notify the nursing department and/or Registrar of any grade changes. Please note that if there are more applications than spaces available, a Priority Ranking System will be used.

Pre-Nursing students seeking admission into the nursing major must meet the following criteria for application eligibility:

1. Be admitted to Carroll College as a degree-seeking student.
2. Complete, or be enrolled in, the following courses with a “C-” or better at the time of application: BI-201, BI-202, CH-111, CH-112, CORE-110 or ENWR-102, Oral Communication course (e.g. CO-101 or FR-101 or SP-101), PSY-105, PSY-203.
3. BI-201, BI-202, CH-111, CH-112, and BI-214 (or the equivalent of these courses) must have been completed within 5 years of admission to the nursing program at Carroll College. Any of these courses, taken prior to the five-year limit, may be analyzed by the nursing department for possible use depending on individual circumstances.
4. Have an overall college career Grade Point Average of 3.0 or higher on a 4-point scale. (This includes all attempted credits at an accredited college or university.)
5. Repeat or withdraw from no more than two (2) courses considered prerequisite to nursing or nursing courses taken either at Carroll or other institutions.
6. Complete all required coursework, to include independent study or “incompletes”, by established deadlines.
7. Students with an academic integrity violation on file at Carroll College will be evaluated individually to determine whether they are eligible to apply and/or will be admitted to the nursing major.

8. Provide documentation noting completion of and compliance with the expectations and requirements of the nursing program clinical affiliates to include, but not limited to, official documentation for specific immunizations, a criminal background check, a 10-panel urine drug screen, maintenance of current health insurance, and American Heart Association Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers certification. Costs to complete these clinical readiness requirements are to be paid by the student.

   Instructions for completing these requirements will be provided by the Department of Nursing after acceptance to the nursing major. Students with background checks that reveal a record and/or urine drug screen that reveal a positive result will be evaluated individually to determine whether they will be eligible to progress in the nursing major. Inability to comply with the outlined clinical readiness requirements may interfere with a student's ability to participate in the nursing program clinical requirements, making the student ineligible to progress in the major. Alcohol and drug violations may interfere with Montana Board of Nursing approval to sit for the NCLEX-RN exam.

Transfer Admission into the Traditional Track

Carroll College may accept a select number of Running start, Dual-enrollment, and/or external transfer students directly into the nursing program. Accepted students will enroll in classes beginning in the fall semester following their acceptance into the college and nursing major, completing a bachelor’s degree in 3 years.

Transfer students seeking admission into the nursing major must meet the following criteria for application eligibility:

1. Be admitted to Carroll College as a degree-seeking student.
2. Complete, or be enrolled in, the following courses with a “C-” or better at the time of application: the equivalent of Carroll College BI-201, BI-202 (Anatomy and Physiology I + II with labs), PSY-105 (General Psychology), PSY-203(Developmental Psychology), CH-111 (Essentials of Chemistry with lab), CH-112 (Organic and Biochemistry), ENWR-102 (English Writing), and CO-101 (Basic Communication).
3. BI-201, BI-202, CH-111, CH-112, and BI-214 (or the equivalent of these courses) must have been completed within 5 years of admission to the nursing program at Carroll College. Any of these courses, taken prior to the five-year limit, may be analyzed by the nursing department for possible use depending on individual circumstances.
4. Have an overall college career Grade Point Average of 3.5 or higher on a 4-point scale. (This includes all attempted credits at an accredited college or university.)
5. Repeat or withdraw from no more than two (2) courses considered prerequisite to nursing or nursing courses taken either at Carroll or other institutions.

Additional requirements specifically for transfer students:

• One semester of full-time college-level coursework within the last 3 years
• At least 25 College credits must be completed by June 1

For students applying to Carroll College as a running start or dual enrollment applicant, the student is required to comply with the policies and expectations of all first-time, first-year students.

Accelerated Nursing Track

The 15-month accelerated nursing track is designed for those who have earned an associate (AA/AS), baccalaureate, or higher degree in a non-nursing field. Students in this track build on their previous degree(s) to achieve a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree, enabling them to become a Registered Nurse. Applicants to the accelerated nursing track must have earned an associate (AA/AS) or baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university prior to their enrollment in the program. Applicants with an Associate of Applied Science or Applied Arts (AAS/AAA) do not qualify.

Additionally, students who earned an AA or AS degree while in high school and matriculate to Carroll as first-year students are not eligible to apply to the Accelerated Nursing Track.

Students seeking admission into the Accelerated Nursing track must meet the following criteria for application eligibility:

1. Complete, or be enrolled in, the following prerequisites (or their equivalent) with a “C -” or better at the time of program enrollment. This coursework needs to be completed prior to program start, with official transcripts on file with the Registrar's office.
   • Anatomy & Physiology I and II with labs
   • Essentials of Chemistry with lab
   • Organic & Biochemistry
   • Microbiology with lab
   • Intro to Sociology
   • Statistics
   • General Psychology
   • Developmental Psychology
   • Written Communication
   • Oral Communication
2. May be completed prior to application or taken concurrently with the accelerated nursing classes.
   • One theology class
   • One philosophy class
   • Note: For the theology or philosophy classes, one must be an ethical reasoning course
3. Other requirements:
   • Hold an associate (AA or AS) and/or baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university.
   • Have an overall college career Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher on a 4-point scale (This includes all attempted credits at an accredited college or university).
   • Students with an academic integrity violation on file at Carroll College will be evaluated individually to determine whether they are eligible to apply and/or will be admitted to the nursing major.
   • The Department will use the Priority Ranking System outlined above to select students for admission. Criteria will be applied based on application materials submitted through NursingCAS in addition to supplemental documentation that may be requested by the Admissions Committee.
   • Provide documentation noting completion of and compliance with the expectations and requirements of the nursing program clinical affiliates to include, but not limited to, official documentation for specific immunizations, a criminal background check, a 10-panel urine drug screen, maintenance of current health insurance, and American Heart Association Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers certification. Instructions for completing these requirements will be provided by the Department of Nursing after acceptance to the nursing major. Students with background checks that reveal a record and/or urine drug screen that reveal a positive result will be evaluated individually to determine whether they will be eligible to progress in the nursing major. Inability to comply with the outlined clinical readiness requirements may interfere with a student's ability to participate in the nursing program clinical requirements, making the student ineligible to progress in the major. Alcohol and drug violations may interfere with Montana Board of Nursing approval to sit for the NCLEX-RN exam.

Progression in the Nursing Major

To progress in the nursing major, to include the Accelerated Nursing track, the student must:

1. Have a grade of “C-” or better in all required nursing classes and the following co-requisites: BI-214, MA-207, PHIL-205or PHIL-208 (or other Ethical Reasoning course), SO-101. All nursing courses must be taken at Carroll College unless the nursing department grants an exception. Direct Entry nursing students must also have a “C-“ or better in all nursing prerequisites (BI-201, BI-202, CH-111, CH-112, CORE-110 or ENWR-102, Oral Communication course - e.g. CO -101/FR-101/SP-101), PSY-105, and PSY-203 to maintain their placement in the nursing major.
2. Maintain a minimum cumulative Carroll GPA of 2.75 at the end of each semester after admission into the nursing major.
3. Pass/Fail grades may be acceptable for courses not co-requisite to nursing courses as long as the student is within the parameters of the guidelines of the Academic Policies as stated in the Carroll College Catalog currently in effect.
4. In the event of a college academic integrity violation, the student’s ability to progress in the nursing major will be determined on an individual basis.
5. Provide documentation noting completion of and compliance with the expectations and requirements of the nursing program clinical affiliates to include, but not limited to, official documentation for specific immunizations, a criminal background check, a 10-panel urine drug screen, maintenance of current health insurance, and American Heart Association Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers certification. Costs to complete these clinical readiness requirements are to be paid by the student. Instructions for completing these requirements will be provided by the Department of Nursing prior to 200-level nursing courses. Students with background checks that reveal a record and/or urine drug screen that reveal a positive result will be evaluated individually to determine whether they will be eligible to progress in the nursing major. Inability to comply with the outlined clinical readiness requirements may interfere with a student's ability to participate in the nursing program clinical requirements, making the student ineligible to progress in the major. Alcohol and drug violations may interfere with Montana Board of Nursing approval to sit for the NCLEX-RN exam.
6. Students who receive any legal action that would appear on a criminal background check, such as a misdemeanor or felony charge or conviction, must immediately inform the chair of the Nursing Department, and will be evaluated individually to determine whether they will be allowed to progress in the nursing major.
7. Students must demonstrate the academic achievement, emotional maturity, integrity, and motivation necessary for progression in the nursing major.

If the student does not meet the above progression criteria, they may not continue in the nursing major. If a student does not pass required nursing course(s), they must demonstrate competency in the failed course(s) with a grade of "C-" or better prior to taking any other nursing courses.

The policy related to Student Withdrawal and Re-application/Re-entry to the Nursing Major is found in the Department of Nursing Student Handbook.

The Carroll College Department of Nursing reserves the right to make changes to these admission and progression criteria.

Nursing Major Activities

Access to Clinical Experiences

Clinical experience begins in the 200-level nursing courses and occurs in diverse community settings, varying from Helena’s hospitals to public health, assisted-living, long-term care, home visits, and psychiatric and school settings. Although nursing clinical is primarily in Helena, out of town clinical experiences are required periodically throughout the curriculum, necessitating personal transportation at the students' expense. On-campus clinical experiences are also provided in the on-campus nursing simulation center.

Nursing students are expected to purchase Carroll College nursing scrubs, nametags, hand-held mobile devices, and other items needed for clinical/ lab experience. As part of the program onboarding process and prior to beginning 200-level courses, nursing students must demonstrate specific clinical readiness requirements required by our third-party clinical affiliates. These requirements must be kept current throughout the program duration and include, but may not be limited to, up-to-date immunization records, a criminal background check, a 10-panel urine drug screen, maintenance of current health insurance, and American Heart Association Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers certification.

Professional nursing is regulated in Montana by the Board of Nursing to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the public. As part of their educational program, student nurses are entrusted with the responsibility of providing certain kinds of nursing care to clients/patients. It is the responsibility of the faculty to determine that the student nurse has demonstrated reasonable competence to render nursing interventions without risk to the client/patient. If the faculty member’s evaluation of the student nurse’s behavior or health status indicate that he or she is likely to provide unsafe nursing care as outlined in the course expectations, the Statutes and Rules of Nursing, and the ANA Code of Ethics, the faculty has the legal responsibility to deny the student nurse access to clinical learning experiences, which may inhibit progression in the nursing major. Professional liability insurance coverage is required for students engaged in clinical experiences and is included in registration fees.

Carroll College Student Nurses' Association (CCSNA)

The Carroll College Student Nurses’ Association is the college chapter for the state and national Student Nurses’ Association. CCSNA brings students together to help further the growth of nursing, providing opportunities for education, experience, service, and fellowship.

Sigma Theta Tau International (STTI, Sigma)

Sigma is the International Honor Society of Nursing. Sigma is an international community of nurses, dedicated to the advancement of knowledge, teaching, learning, and service through the cultivation of communities of practice, education, and research. The Zeta Upsilon Chapter of Sigma was formed through the joint efforts of the nursing faculty at Carroll College and Montana State University School of Nursing to encourage and recognize superior scholarship and/or leadership achievement in nursing at either the undergraduate or graduate level in the state of Montana. Most recently, Montana Technological University School of Nursing joined this at-large chapter in 2024.

The high percentage of nursing students who are invited to join Sigma is indicative of the strong academic success and leadership we have seen in the Carroll nursing students. Students in the traditional and accelerated nursing tracks are considered for eligibility once they have completed at least 50% of the nursing curriculum. Induction ceremonies are held twice a year on a rotating basis on the Carroll College, Montana State University and Montana Technological University campuses. At this induction ceremony, students learn about the privileges and responsibilities that come with membership in this international nursing society and receive an honors cord as a symbol of their achievement and membership.