Direct Transfer Agreement (DTA)/Major Related Program (MRP)

(138 credits)

Program Description

Make a genuine difference in the lives of others. Become a caregiver and advocate for those who need you the most. A career in Nursing is as in-demand as it is rewarding, with extensive benefits in job security, flexibility, and portability. Whether you are looking to get to work quickly through Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) training or want to become a Registered Nurse, SPSCC’s extensive program options will prepare you to work in one of the world’s most necessary fields.

The Associate in Nursing Direct Transfer Agreement (DTA)/Major Related Program (MRP) Program is designed for persons interested in becoming a Registered Nurse as defined by Washington State law (RCW 18.79.040 and WAC 246-840-700).

Accreditation

The South Puget Sound Community College Nursing Program is approved by the Washington State Board of Nursing (WABON).

National Accreditation

The South Puget Sound Community College Associate Degree Nursing Program is accredited by the

National League for Nursing Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation (NLN CNEA)
2600 Virginia Avenue, NW
Washington, DC, 20032
202-909-2526.

Career Opportunities

Upon receiving licensure, graduates may be hired as nurses in a variety of settings including hospitals, clinics, medical offices, long-term care facilities, schools and community health agencies. Employment opportunities are high and well distributed throughout the state and the nation, especially in rural areas.

Program Mission, Vision & Values

Mission: The Nursing Program at South Puget Sound Community College prepares students to engage within the nursing profession, to thrive in the work force, and to further advance their professional knowledge and practice. This is achieved through an emphasis on lifelong learning, integration of technology, and information derived from evidence-based practice. Our students will be supported to be successful within the nursing program at SPSCC and provided opportunities for a seamless transition to their BSN and beyond.

Vision: South Puget Sound Community College’s Nursing Program is recognized as a leader in the South Sound region. Partnership with local stakeholders, innovative curricular design, and inclusion of a diverse student population prepare graduates to address diverse local and global community health and wellness needs.

Graduates will be prepared to pursue further education and to become nurse leaders, innovators, and creative community partners in the continually evolving nursing profession.

Values: The values of the nursing program at South Puget Sound Community College reflect nursing and nursing education to self, each other, the program, and the community:

• Caring
• Compassion
• Accountability
• Empowerment
• Respect
• Effective Communication
• Excellence with Integrity
• Humor and Laughter

South Puget Sound Community College believes that all students need to develop a broad range of abilities that will not only make them more effective in their professional pursuits but will enhance their capacity to relate well to others in their daily lives.

• Demonstrate the ability to assess, diagnose, plan, safely implement, and evaluate nursing plans of care which address the holistic needs of diverse individuals, families, groups, and communities
• Acquire and implement new scientific knowledge and use technology to enhance nursing practice
• Communicate effectively in full partnership to facilitate delivery of care
• Participate ethically and professionally in local and global communities as an entry level nurse

The SPSCC college-wide abilities are embedded into each program:

• Effective Communication
• Information Literacy
• Analytical Reasoning
• Multicultural Awareness
• Social Responsibility

Special Program Notes

The Nursing Program is rigorous, and our faculty advise students work no more than 20 hours per week while in the full-time Nursing Program.  All nursing courses must be completed with a “C+” or better to continue in and complete the program.

Application Process

Before applying for admission to the program, there are a few requirements (steps 1-3) to complete. It is your responsibility to ensure that all application materials and required documentation are received by the published application deadline.

1. Apply to SPSCC: If you are not already an admitted student at SPSCC, you must become one. Apply online to obtain a ctcLink ID number. It is free to apply to the college.
2. Complete the Prerequisites: Transcripts of prerequisite coursework must be received prior to the deadline of June 1st. Unofficial transcripts may be used with your application. Official transcripts will be required only from the finalists who are offered conditional program acceptance.

   Course List

   Code	Title	Credits
   BIOL& 241	Human A & P 1 ("B+" or better)	5
   BIOL& 242	Human A & P 2 ("B+" or better)	5
   BIOL& 260	Microbiology ("B" or better)	5
   CHEM& 121	Introduction to Chemistry ("B" or better)	5
   ENGL& 101	English Composition I ("B" or better)	5
   MATH& 146	Introduction to Statistics ("B" or better)	5
   PSYC& 200	Lifespan Psychology ("B" or better)	5

   
   An additional 30 credits of general education courses are also required for graduation from the nursing program. Though not required for admission to the program, it is recommended that you take these courses prior to entry into the program. These include:

   Course List

   Code	Title	Credits
   BIOL& 160	General Biology W/Lab	5
   or BIOL& 211	Majors Cellular
   PSYC& 100	General Psychology	5
   NUTR& 101	Nutrition	5
   Communications elective from DTA list		5
   Humanities electives from DTA list		10

Notes on Prerequisites and General Education:

• Based on placement testing, students may need to complete basic skills and/or pre-college English and math in order to complete prerequisites.
• Although general education courses may be taken after admission to the Nursing Program, students are encouraged to complete as many of these courses as possible prior to entering the Nursing Program.  Summer quarters are also good times to take general education courses.
• Communications and humanities courses may be chosen from the course list for direct transfer degrees.

3. Take the TEAS Exam: The TEAS (Test of Essential Academic Skills) is a required component of your application.  The TEAS assesses four areas; reading, mathematics, science and English of which minimum scores are required (see below). You may retake the TEAS exam if needed, but there must be at least thirty (30) days between attempts. For multiple attempts, the highest scores from each section will be taken for the application. The TEAS test scores must all be within three (3) years from January 1st of the application year.

TEAS exam scores will need to be scanned and submitted during the application process.  Failure to include TEAS exam score will result in denial of application.

Minimum required scores on each TEAS exam content area:

• Reading: 58.7%
• Mathematics: 58.7%
• Science: 58.7%
• English: 58.7%

4. Apply for Admission to the Nursing Program: To apply to the nursing program at SPSCC, you must submit a Nursing Program Application along with a non-refundable $25 application fee.
Application Periods:

January 2 - March 15:

Applications for Summer 2024 admission to the nursing program were accepted starting on January 2, 2024. No applications will  be accepted after March 15, 2024. Coursework completed through Winter Quarter 2024 will be accepted towards admission to the program. Application materials, dates of nursing information sessions, and information about the lottery process are available on the Nursing Admissions page.

April 1 through June 3:

Applications for Fall 2024 admission to the nursing program will be accepted starting on April 1, 2024.  No applications will be accepted after June 3, 2024. Coursework completed through Spring Quarter 2024 will be accepted towards admission to the program. Application materials, dates of nursing information sessions, and information about the lottery process are available on the Nursing Admissions page.

• Nursing Application https://spscc.edu/admissions/special/nursing

Admission Process

Qualified applicants who have met the above requirements by the application deadline are entered into the nursing lottery, which selects students for the nursing program.  For the Summer cohort, five slots will be specifically drawn for students who took 20 or more credits of their prerequisites at SPSCC.  For the Fall cohort, ten slots in the program will be specifically drawn for students who took 20 or more credits of their prerequisites at SPSCC. Applicants selected in the lottery process will be required to provide official transcripts, TEAS test results, proof of immunizations and be cleared through background checks in order to progress through the admission process.

To earn an Associate in Nursing DTA/MRP degree all courses taken must be: At college level (numbered 100 or above).

• A minimum of 75 of the 90 credits required for the degree must be from the General Education Requirements for the Associate in Arts & Science – Direct Transfer Agreement. Copies of the list are available online at spscc.edu/programs/general-edrequirements.
• A class can only count once toward General Education requirements. For example, CMST& 220 will satisfy either HUMANITIES or COMMUNICATION course requirements, but not both.
• A cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or above in all college-level courses required. Note that admission to specific upper division Nursing programs is competitive; therefore, no particular GPA can guarantee admission to any specific program.
• Although this degree is a direct transfer agreement/major-related program degree, South Puget Sound Community College has provided pathways and associated recommended courses for ease of student selection based upon a student’s career interest. Please review the pathway maps for recommended courses and course sequences.

Courses by Quarter

¹

Some students may place directly into MATH& 146

South Puget Sound Community College has provided pathways and associated recommended courses for ease of student selection based upon a student’s career interest. Please review the pathway maps for required and recommended courses.