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 Wisconsin residents and those living in adjacent counties in Iowa and Illinois and Minnesota
• The LPN entering into Associate Degree Nursing will have all first year coursework completed. Nursing Pharmacology must be completed within last 5 years or has to be repeated.
• The LPN seeking progression track admission must submit a copy of current LPN licensure
• The LPN must successfully complete the LPN to RN Bridge Course (normally in June) to enter second year coursework
• Admissions process (same as for ADN but do not take HESI test for acceptance)
• Required LPN to RN Bridge course students must take and pass to enter second year of program (How many credits, cost, when typically held, format, etc)

Admission and Program Requirements

• Submit Application and $30 Application Fee
• Submit High School Transcripts, College Transcripts, and Test Scores to: Southwest Tech, Attn: Admissions, 1800 Bronson Blvd, Fennimore, WI 53809
• HESI Exam: schedule and pay for HESI by calling 608.822.2313 or by going to https://www.swtc.edu/placement-testing
• Nursing Assistant: submit transcript showing successful completion of the Nursing Assistant course
• Chemistry Coursework: submit transcripts showing two semesters of High School Chemistry with a 'C' or higher * OR * one semester of College Chemistry with a 'C' or higher
• Admissions Meeting: schedule by calling Student Services at 608.822.2354

Program Requirements

• Prior to July 1^st of your Fall semester each student will need to complete and submit the Health Requirements listed below, to be able to participate in their clinical rotation experience.
  • Physical Form
  • Background Information Disclosure - complete in MySWTC listed in "My Documents"
  • TB skin testing
  • Fact Sheet
  • Current BLS for Healthcare providers CPR certification

Helpful Academic Background

• Biology, Chemistry, and Mathematics
• Computers
• Customer and Personal Service

Program Fees

• This program is eligible for Financial Aid.
• Estimated cost for each semester can be found under the Curriculum tab. Please note that costs are approximate and are based on the current academic year.
• Please discuss additional fee questions with the program advisor or instructor.

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.
• SWTC Nursing Assistant Pass Rate for the National Nurse Aide Competency Exam in 2019 was 97%.

Wisconsin National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) Pass Rates

• 2019 NCLEX Pass Rates

Southwest Tech specific Licensure examination, completion, and Employment Rates for Nursing

Professional Licensure Disclosure

Southwest Tech’s Associate Degree Nursing (A.D.N.) program is designed to prepare students to sit for the National Council State Boards of Nursing Examination (NCLEX) in Wisconsin. If you plan to pursue licensure in a state other than Wisconsin, please review state educational requirements for that state.

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 on Credit for Prior Learning see our Credit for Prior Learning page.

At any time, you may Request Credit for Prior Learning.

Nursing - Associate Degree Courses that may have Credit for Prior Learning options:

Course #	Course Title	Challenge Exam (Demonstration)	Challenge Exam (Standard)	CLEP	Credential	Portfolio
10-543-101	Nursing Fundamentals
	LPN License*
10-543-102	Nursing Skills
	LPN License*
10-543-104	Nsg: Intro Clinical Practice
	LPN License*
10-543-105	Nursing Health Alterations
	LPN License*
10-543-106	Nursing Health Promotion
	LPN License*
10-543-107	Nsg: Clin Care Across Lifespan
	LPN License*
10-543-108	Nsg: Intro Clinical Care Mgt
	LPN License*
10-801-195	Written Communication
	College Composition CLEP test would also be accepted for credit. However, the challenge exam is the preferred method.
10-801-196	Oral/Interpersonal Communication
10-809-188	Developmental Psychology
	CLEP Test - Human Growth and Development
10-809-196	Intro to Sociology
10-809-198	Intro to Psychology
	CLEP Test - Introduction to Psychology

Accreditation Status

The Southwest Tech Nursing program is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), 3343 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 850, Atlanta, GA 30326, 404.975.5000 (Voice), 404.975.5020 (Fax).