2026-2027 Schedule

Fall Term Session 1: Applications will be accepted 8 am September 8th - 8 am September 14th

Fall Term Session 2: Applications will be accepted 8 am October 12th - 5 pm October 16th

Winter Term: Applications will be accepted 8 am November 30th - 5 pm December 4th

Spring Term Session 1: Applications will be accepted 8 am February 8th - 5 pm February 12th

Spring Term Session 2: Applications will be accepted 8 am March 29th - 5 pm April 2nd

Chemeketa Community College Nursing Program has the responsibility to society to educate competent health care providers to care for their patients/patients with clinical judgment, broadly based knowledge and competent technical skills at the entry level.

The program has academic as well as technical standards (non-academic criteria) students must meet in order to successfully progress in and graduate from the program.

The Technical Standards document is provided in order to assure that the students who enter the program know and understand the requirements, and can make informed decisions regarding the pursuit of this profession. 

Chemeketa Community College provides the following technical standards with examples of learning activities to inform prospective and enrolled students of the skills required in completing their chosen profession’s curriculum and in the provision of health care services.  These technical standards reflect the performance abilities and characteristics that are necessary for successful completion of the requirements of clinical based health care programs.  These standards are not a requirement of admission into the program.  Individuals interested in applying for admission to the program should review these standards to develop a better understanding of the skills, abilities and behavioral characteristics required for successful completion of the program.

Students admitted to Chemeketa Community College Nursing Program are expected to be able to complete curriculum requirements, which include physical, cognitive, and behavioral core competencies that are essential to the functions of the entry level professional nurse.  These core competencies are considered to be the minimum and essential skills necessary to protect the public.  These abilities are encountered in unique combinations in the provision of safe and effective nursing care.

Progression in the program may be denied if a student is unable to demonstrate the technical standards with or without reasonable accommodations.

Chemeketa Community College is obliged to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified students with disabilities, which may include academic adjustments, auxiliary aids and or program modifications.  Accommodations that fundamentally alter the nature of the academic program, could jeopardize the health and safety of others, or cause an undue burden to the program are not considered reasonable accommodations.  Regular consistent attendance and participation is essential to learning, especially for all scheduled clinical experiences.

Cognitive:

1. Recall, collect, analyze, synthesize, and integrate information from a variety of sources.
2. Measure, calculate, reason, analyze and synthesize data.
3. Problem-solve and think critically in order to apply knowledge and/or skill.
4. Communicate effectively with individuals from a variety of social, emotional, cultural, and intellectual backgrounds.
5. Relay information effectively, accurately, reliably, and intelligibly. This includes a thorough and accurate use of computers and other tools to individuals and groups, using the English language.
6. Effectively collect, analyze, synthesize, integrate, and recall information and knowledge to provide safe patient care for up to a twelve hour clinical shift.

Examples of learning activities found in the nursing curriculum and related to industry standards:

• Process information thoroughly and quickly to prioritize and implement nursing care.
• Sequence or cluster data to determine patient needs.
• Develop and implement a nursing plan of care for patients in acute, long term and community settings.
• Discriminate fine/subtle differences in medical word endings.
• Report patient data using multiple formats to members of the healthcare team.
• Appropriately interpret medical orders and patient information found in the medical record.
• Perform math computations for medication dosage calculations.
• Apply knowledge/skills gained through completion of program prerequisites, including requirement for computer proficiency.

Physical:

Motor:

1. Coordinate fine and gross motor movements.
2. Coordinate hand/eye movements.
3. Negotiate level surfaces, ramps and stairs.
4. Work effectively and efficiently within a limited space.
5. Effectively manage psychomotor tasks to provide safe patient care for up to a twelve (12) hour clinical shift.

Examples of learning activities found in the nursing curriculum and related to industry standards:

• Transfer patients/patients in and out of bed from stretchers and wheelchairs.
• Control a fall by slowly lowering the patient to the floor.
• Perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
• Lift, move, turn, position, push, or pull patients and/or objects and maintain a “medium activity level” as defined by the State of Oregon Department of Insurance Index of occupational characteristics.
• Place or access equipment such as intravenous fluid bags or catheter bags, within compliance of safety standards.
• Transport equipment and supplies to the patient bedside.
• Manipulate small equipment and containers, such as syringes, vials, ampules, and medication packages, to administer medications.
• Dispose of needles in a sharps container.
• Dispose of contaminated materials in a safe and compliant manner.
• Complete assigned periods of clinical practice (up to twelve (12) hour shifts, days, evenings, or nights, holidays, weekdays and weekends).
• Complete skills tests within the assigned time limit.

Sensory:

1. Acquire information from demonstrations and experiences, including but not limited to information conveyed through online coursework, lecture, small group activities, demonstrations, and application experiences.
2. Collect information through a variety of senses and/or using appropriate and approved equipment.
3. Use and interpret information from diagnostic procedures.

Examples of learning activities found in the nursing curriculum and related to industry standards:

• Detect changes in skin color, condition, or temperatures (i.e. pale, ashen, grey, or bluish).
• Detect a fire in the patient care environment.
• Draw up a prescribed quantity of medication into a syringe.
• Observe patients in a room from a distance of 20 feet away.
• Detect sounds related to bodily functions using appropriate equipment, such as a stethoscope.
• Detect alarms generated by mechanical systems such as those that monitor bodily functions, fire alarms, and call bells.
• Observe and collect data from recording equipment and measurement devices used in patient care
• Communicate with patients and members of the healthcare team in person and over the phone in a variety of settings, including isolation and the operating room where health team members are wearing masks and there is background noise.
• Detect foul odors of bodily fluids or spoiled foods.
• Detect smoke from burning materials.
• Detect unsafe temperature levels in heat-producing devices used in patient care.
• Detect anatomical abnormalities, such as subcutaneous crepitus, edema, or infiltrated intravenous fluids.
• Feel or note vibrations, such as an arterial pulse, using touch or approved equipment.

Behavioral:

1. Demonstrate ability to function effectively under stress and adapt to changing environments to provide safe patient care.
2. Maintain effective communication and teamwork to provide effective patient care.
3. Examine and modify one’s own behavior when it interferes with others or the learning environment.
4. Possess attributes that include compassion, empathy, altruism, integrity, honesty, responsibility and tolerance.
5. Accept responsibility for own actions and communicate in a courteous, assertive, non-aggressive, non-defensive manner with instructors, peers, staff and healthcare team members.
6. Integrate feedback into your own performance.

Examples of learning activities found in the nursing curriculum and related to industry standards:

• Exercise judgment, meet acceptable time frames for patient care delivery (acceptable time frames are reflected by ability to carry out the usual patient care assignment for a particular point in the program within allotted reasonable clinical time frame), work effectively under stress, and adapt to rapidly changing patient care environments.
• Accept accountability for actions that resulted in patient care errors.
• Deal effectively with interpersonal conflict if it arises and maintain effective and harmonious relationships with members of the healthcare team.

*revisions approved by Oregon Council of Associate Degree and Practical Nursing Programs 4-24-15 Track changes made May 3, 2017 with input from Disability Services Director at Chemeketa Community College Approved by OCAP 2018 

BNA Entry Requirements:

• Apply for admission (if not a current student)
  • Student must be an good academic standing
• Access to Chemeketa Gmail account
• Submit BNA application (accepted based on a lottery selection)

Once your application has been reviewed you have received confirmation of initial acceptance, you will need:

• Successful completion of CPR Certification - American Heart Association "BLS Provider Level"
• Successfully pass a criminal background check and required drug screen
• Submit required immunizations
• Attend mandatory orientation
• Commitment to being at every class session and clinical session
• Reliable transportation

Instructions on how to complete background check and drug screen will be given to accepted applicants only. 

For more information call the Health Sciences Dept at 503.399.5058.

Background Check:

Upon entry into the program, you will be required to pass a criminal background check. 

Failure to complete the background check or a background check revealing a disqualifying criminal history will mean you are ineligible to participate in the BNA course.

Disqualifying crimes can be found in the Oregon Department of Human Services Aging & People with Disabilities and Developmental Disabilities ORS 443.004/OAR 407.007.0275 Crimes list. For more information and more in-depth list, click here. 

For licensure with the Oregon State Board of Nursing, please visit the following links for DHS and OSBN's criminal history requirements. 

• Oregon Department of Human Services criminal history requirements and policies, located in Division 7
• Oregon Board of Nursing’s criminal history requirements and policies, found in Division 1 of the Nurse Practice Act 

Drug Screening:

Chemeketa follows Oregon Health Authority Division 30 - Health Profession Student Clinical Training Administrative Requirements.  The drug screen is required and is testing for the following as part of our 10 panel drug screening:

Amphetamines (including methamphetamines);
Barbiturates
Benzodiazepines
Cocaine
Marijuana
Methadone
Opiates
Phencyclidine

Immunization:

Applicants will be required to submit documentation of several immunizations.  Review the Immunization Flyer (click here) to learn more about the required immunizations. 

Course Costs:

Total cost for the BNA program is $1,466. Costs are subject to change. They include –

• Tuition and fees
• Textbook
• Stethoscope, gait belt, oral care kit

Non-credit courses are not eligible for financial aid, and fees must be paid in full by the first day of class, or set up a payment plan. 

Additional BNA Program Fees

Students will be required to pay for –

• A background check, drug screening, and immunization tracker - approx. $116
• Immunizations – cost varies
• CPR training – cost varies
• Parking pass (Salem Campus only) – approx. $25
• Scrubs - approx. $50

Fees after program completion:

Students will be responsible for testing fees for the Oregon State Board of Nursing (OSBN) include –

• Application to test – $106
• Fingerprinting – $70.50