Changes being implemented in Northern nursing program

Despite changes, faculty and administrators at Montana State University-Northern said the same number of freshmen will be accepted into the school’s two-year program and bachelor’s program next semester, and those in the programs will be able to finish them following the old curriculum requirements.

Arlys Williams, chair of the program, said Monday that as a result of a review and subsequent changes made to the curriculum by the Montana Board of Nursing, the content, description, outcomes and requirements of some of the courses have been revised.

One example, Williams said, will be that both core and complex maternal child will be divided into two courses. Previously, one course covered both maternal and child health. Under the new curriculum they will be two separate classes.

“So, now, maternal health is by itself, and child and family nursing are by itself,” Williams said.

She said those who have already completed level one will be able to complete the program under the old curriculum.

New students who come into the first phase of the program, level one, will be taught under the new curriculum.

Northern Provost William Rugg said the nursing program will be admitting 30 students next semester, the same number it usually does.

He said that when the changes were released in February, students were “very concerned” about the new curriculum.

Rugg said students who were half way through the program feared they would lose some credits or abruptly have to take new courses.

Rugg said Janice Star, director of Northern’s nursing program, held open forums in March to explain how the new curriculum will work, which helped provide students with a better understanding and quell any concerns they might have.

Rugg said he thinks that Northern and other schools that offer an ASN have two years to implement the new curriculum, but Northern will be implementing it right away.

He said Star encouraged students to take their general courses first.

He said part of this is because the department is bringing in new faculty as others have left.

“So it’s kind of the right thing to do everything at once. Transitioning faculty and transitioning in the new program at the same time,” Rugg said.

He said every school in the state with a nursing program is going to have to eventually put in place the new framework, but Northern is doing it faster.