Nursing

Nurses have an inherent desire to help and to heal. It's who they are and what they do. For more than 50 years, Southwestern Michigian College's nursing graduates have been helping save lives throughout the region.

Our associate degree in nursing program is regarded as one of the best in the region, with national accreditation (ACEN), the highest standards for admission, a 100% job placement rate, and a cutting-edge facility.

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• About the Nursing Degree

  The goal of the nursing program at SMC is to train nurses who are knowledgeable, experienced, compassionate, and capable of providing total patient care and becoming leaders in their workplaces.

  Whether you want to work in an adrenaline-inducing emergency room, in the infant care unit, or any other specialty, you can prepare for whatever the future holds in a program that pairs caring instruction with hands-on practice and clinical experiences.

  After completing basic prerequisite courses and gaining admission to the program, you’ll deep-dive into the world of nursing. You’ll learn how to properly administer medication, understand the psychology behind patient interactions, explore the dynamics of caring for patients of varying ages, research care across cultural contexts, and more. Class sizes are small so that you can build meaningful relationships with instructors and so that instructors can make sure you are progressing appropriately.

  From day one, you will gain experience practicing clinical tasks and applying what you learned in the classroom. After you’ve developed your skills, you’ll move on to complete clinicals at real health facilities and in simulation labs so that you graduate already having experience performing the tasks you’ll complete on the job and well-equipped to excel.

  The associate degree in nursing is a two-year degree designed to prepare you to enter the workforce. It will also transfer well to most four-year schools for a bachelor’s degree in nursing.

  SMC offers two tracks, one for students new to the nursing field and one for already-certified LPNs. An active LPN license satisfies the Foundations in Nursing course and can help LPNs finish the program more quickly. Additional prior learning credits may be available to active LPNs.

  Other Information

  • Southwestern Michigan College has determined the Associate of Applied Science in Nursing program does meet licensure/certification requirements in Michigan, Indiana, and Maryland. 

    Southwestern Michigan College has not yet determined the Associate of Applied Science in Nursing program meets licensure/certification requirements in states other than Michigan, Indiana, and Maryland.  For a determination of a state’s licensure/certification requirements, please submit a request to Dr. Melissa Kennedy, Dean of Nursing and Health Services at nhs@swmich.edu or call 269.782.1236.

    (Federal Regulation 34 CFR 668.14(b)(32)(ii))

  • Nursing prerequisite courses can be completed on the Dowagiac or Niles campus.
  • SMC's nursing program was named one of the top five nursing programs in Michigan in 2020 for its student success rates, reputation and affordability by nursingprocess.org.

  Mission

  The mission of the nursing program at Southwestern Michigan College is to provide quality nursing education to students that will benefit clients, employers, and the dynamic and diverse community. Graduates will successfully embody the ability to promote human well-being by exhibiting sound nursing judgment and demonstrating an inquiry in practice during the continual development of their professional identity in a culturally diverse society.

  End of Program Outcomes

  • Client-centered Care: The graduate will provide compassionate and coordinated care based on respect for diverse clients' preferences, values, and needs.
  • Evidence-based Practice and Informatics: The graduate will use current standards of practice using nursing informatics to support decision-making in nursing care.
  • Safety: The graduate will use psychosocial and physiological measures to minimize risk of harm to clients, families, and others in the healthcare environment.
  • Teamwork and Collaboration: The graduate will effectively collaborate within the interdisciplinary team (including clients and families) to achieve quality patient outcomes.
  • Professionalism: The graduate will uphold the ANA Code of Ethics for Nurses and perform within the legal scope of practice.
• Admissions Information and Deadlines

  Admission to the nursing program is a separate process from being admitted to the college. It is the student’s responsibility to understand and meet admissions requirements prior to admission. For answers to frequently asked questions, visit Nursing—Frequently Asked Questions.

  Application Process

  1. Apply for admission to SMC
     Fill out the free application here. Select Health Services AA on the application.
  2. Complete Pre-Requisite Courses
     Refer to the prospective nursing student packet Prospective Nursing Student Packet RN or Prospective Nursing Student Packet LPN-to-RN for more information on pre-requisite courses and admissions information.
  3. Contact the Program Advisor to Discuss Admissions Requirements for the Nursing Program
     Email Kwajalein Dodd at kdodd01@swmich.edu.
  4. Apply to the Nursing Program
     Complete the application packet (Nursing Application Packet RN or Nursing Application Packet LPN-to-RN) and return it to the nursing office.
     You will be notified of your admission decision by mail or email.

  Additionally, to become an RN, you must complete the nursing program and earn the associate degree in nursing and then pass the NCLEX exam to earn the RN designation.

  Forty students are admitted to the nursing program each fall and spring semester. Students must have a 2.75 or better in prerequisite courses and a minimum Kaplan admission exam score of 60 to apply to the program. Admission is highly competitive and is not guaranteed. There is currently no waiting list for admission.

  Application Deadlines

  June 1 for Fall Regular Program Admission

  November 1 for Spring Regular Program Admission

• Student Achievement Data

  Licensure Pass Rate

  Year	SMC Average	National Average
  2023	87.5%	88.56%
  2022	80%	79.91%
  2021	81%	82.48%

   

  Completion of Program*

  Program	2022-2023	2021-2022	2020-2021
  A.A.S.-RN	In Progress	40%	20.8%

  _{*SMC calculates completion rates based on students completing the Nursing Program in four semesters.}
  
  

  Job Placement

  2023	2022	2021
  100%	100%	100%

  
  
  

• Curriculum Guides

  View the full curriculum guide for the Associate in Applied Science in Nursing RN.

  View the full curriculum guide for the Associate in Applied Science in Nursing (LPN to RN).

• What Can I Do With a Nursing Degree?

  Nursing is one of the fastest growing occupations available and demand for nurses will always be steady. It is also one of the highest paying careers for an associate degree. Registered Nurses (RN) provide total patient care under the jurisdiction of a physician. Positions are available in hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, physicians' offices, and home healthcare. The average annual median pay is $77,600. As fast as average (9%) job growth is expected between now and 2030.

  Careers and Salaries

  Career Option	Salary
  Registered Nurse:	$86,070

  2023 median pay. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics