PHOTO COURTESY OF BMCC
The nursing program at Blue Mountain Community College received a formal program approval and numerous commendations during a recent Oregon State Board of Nursing site survey on the Pendleton campus.
The OSBN gave the program no deficiencies, and its education consultant recommended the program continue to receive approval for the next eight years – the maximum allowed by the OSBN.
Preparation for the site visit has been ongoing since the last OSBN visit in 2012. The nursing program is regulated by Division 21 Oregon Administrative Rules in the areas of organization and administration, nursing faculty, curriculum, students, records, facilities and services, and evaluation. BMCC Nursing Program Director Laurie Post and nursing faculty Carol Lovell, Andria Bye, Jessica Humphreys, and Tiffany Dawson provide students with an educational experience that meets the highest of college and community standards.
The program received multiple commendations during the site survey:
- Post was commended for her leadership in promoting compliance with the Division 21 Oregon Administrative Rules (OARs) and preparation for the survey visit.
- The nursing program and College received a commendation for providing a stipend to clinical teaching associates upon completion of required training.
- The faculty received a commendation for developing systems to ensure ongoing compliance with the Division 21 OARs.
- The faculty also received a commendation for having clear faculty meeting minutes reflective of discussions of significant issues with appropriate follow-up.
- The college received a commendation for supporting nursing student tutor positions.
The BMCC nursing program was developed in 1977 in response to the need for registered nurses in the region. Prior to 1977, the College had established a licensed practical nursing program in 1963.
Until fall 2010, the program offered a practical nursing certificate exit option. As of fall 2010 the program began the curriculum through the Oregon Consortium for Nursing Education with nine other community colleges and Oregon Health Sciences University, which allows students to be co-enrolled in OHSU while completing AAS credits in the BMCC program.
Upon completion of the associate degree, students can complete the Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing through OHSU, either on-line or on the Portland campus. One of the goals of the consortium is to increase the number of nurses with bachelor’s degrees.
Since 2005, 261 students have graduated from BMCC’s nursing program. Many BMCC nursing program graduates practice nursing in local facilities. The nursing program will host its annual Pinning Ceremony to honor Class of 2016 program graduates on June 10 at 2 p.m. in the Bob Clapp Theatre in Pioneer Hall on the Pendleton campus.
