Is This Program for You?
Nurses must work well under pressure, and they typically enjoy math, science, communications, and problem solving. If you are independent, compassionate, and are committed to helping people, you may find nursing to be very rewarding.
Students entering the Nursing program should:
- Have good reading and comprehension skills.
- Be in good physical and emotional health.
- Be flexible, adaptable, and enjoy working with people.
- Be self-confident, independent, and a self-directed learner.
- Meet Wisconsin Caregiver Law requirements.
Program Basics
- Day, evening/weekend and online classes available.
- Financial aid available to those that qualify.
- August program start date; however, some classes available in January.
- May take some courses immediately upon program acceptance.
- Students must achieve a grade of a C or better in each course of the program curriculum to be eligible to progress.
- Current Healthcare Provider CPR certification must be maintained throughout the program. (Courses must include CPR, and a hands-on exam must be taken.)
- Sign off as qualified in Functional Abilities for Nursing after acceptance to the program and prior to first clinical.
- Elective credits must be Associate Degree level courses and cannot be Fundamentals of Chemistry or Nursing Assistant.
LPN to RN Bridge
- Available to Southwest Tech District Residents Only
- The LPN entering into Associate Degree Nursing will take General Anatomy & Physiology and Advanced Anatomy & Physiology prior to entering the second year of the curriculum.
- LPN seeking progression track admission must submit a copy of current Wisconsin licensure as a LPN.
Program Outcomes
At the completion of the program, students are expected to be able to:
- Implement one's role as a nurse in ways that reflect integrity, responsibility, ethical practices, and an evolving professional identity as a nurse committed to evidence-based practice, caring, advocacy, and quality care.
- Demonstrate appropriate written, verbal, and non-verbal communication in a variety of clinical contexts.
- Integrate social, mathematical, and physical sciences, pharmacology, and pathophysiology in clinical decision making.
- Provide patient centered care under supervision by participating in the nursing process across diverse populations and health care settings.
- Minimize risk of harm to patients, members of the health care team, and self through safe individual performance and participation in system effectiveness of processes and protocols.
- Lead the multidisciplinary health care team to provide effective care throughout the lifespan.
- Use information technology to communicate, manage data, mitigate error, and support decision making.
| Program Learning Outcome (1-4 Scale) |
2018 |
2017 |
2016 |
| Professionalism |
3.65 |
3.8 |
3.87 |
| Communication |
3.6 |
3.79 |
3.66 |
| Integrating Theory into Practice |
3.5 |
3.67 |
3.59 |
| Nursing Process |
3.6 |
3.75 |
3.73 |
| Minimize Risk |
3.57 |
3.68 |
3.9 |
| Leadership |
3.55 |
3.7 |
3.82 |
| Use Technology to Support Decisions |
3.7 |
3.7 |
3.67 |
Wisconsin National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) Pass Rates
Southwest Tech specific Licensure examination, completion, and Employment Rates for Nursing
Opportunities include working in:
- Hospitals
- Physicians' clinics
- Nursing homes
- Extended care facilities
- Home health care
- Wellness centers
Southwest Tech's Career Connections Center offers Services to assist students looking for job placement.
Articulation with UW Collaborative Nursing Degree Program and other private BSN completion programs are available.
Credit for Prior Learning
Experience Pays! You've Been There... You've Done That... Let's See If You Can Get Credit For It!
Credit for prior learning gives you opportunities to earn credit for college-level knowledge that you have already acquired. This may be the result of work or volunteer experiences, certifications, apprenticeships, military training, extensive self-instruction, or professional development. Credit for Prior Learning affords you the opportunity to accelerate the completion of your educational goals.
For more information or to request Credit for Prior Learning see our Credit for Prior Learning page.
Nursing - Associate Degree Courses that may have Credit for Prior Learning options:
| Course # |
Course Title |
Challenge Exam
(Demonstration) |
Challenge Exam
(Standard) |
CLEP |
Credential |
Portfolio |
