Nursing

Degree program at Bay College

Close-up of nurse wearing blue scrubs holding a stethoscope.

Why Nursing?

Nurses are in high demand, and therefore a great career choice for both men and women. It is an honorable profession enabling students to help others and bring comfort to those in need. And, it provides job security for a lifetime. The AAS-Nursing (RN program) at Bay College is a 5-semester program preparing students with the competencies needed to be a registered nurses. Utilizing a concept-based framework, major concepts are introduced in the first semester and then linked throughout the program. Students receive supervised clinical experiences in hospitals and long-term care facilities, and have the opportunity to learn in a cutting-edge simulation lab. Graduates will meet the educational requirements to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nursing (NCLEX-RN).

Educational preparation in the healthcare field ranges from certificate programs to degree programs at Bay College. Bay also offers a three-semester certificate program in Practical Nursing (PN) and a three-semester AAS Completion program for practicing LPN’s who wish to complete an Associate’s degree in nursing.

ADN TRADITIONAL PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
ADN BRIDGE PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

PROGRAM SHEET

Why Bay College?

The Nursing program at Bay College offers an Associate Degree in Nursing program approved by the State of Michigan Board of Nursing and accredited with conditions through the Accrediting Commission for the Education of Nurses (ACEN). State-of-the-art nursing simulation labs and technology are utilized at both the Escanaba and Iron mountain locations to enhance learning. Simulation provides opportunities for students to practice nursing skills in a risk-free simulated environment, opportunity to learn correct interventions, promotes appropriate decision-making, and competency of skills that students can use to improve learning in the clinical environment. The curriculum is designed to assist students to think critically as they apply scientific, theoretical, and practical knowledge to clinical situations in a variety of health care settings.

Bay College’s nursing programs include classroom study, patient care simulation, and supervised clinical practice in healthcare facilities around the region. The nursing programs are designed to promote career mobility and offer qualified students alternative educational tracks according to their career goals. Successful completion of either of Bay’s programs will prepare students to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). The programs prepare students to demonstrate entry level competencies as practical or registered nurses.

Effective June 26, 2023, this nursing program is a candidate for intial accreditation by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing. This candidacy status expires on June 26, 2025. 

Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) is located at 3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400 in Atlanta, GA 30326. The phone number is: (404 975-5000 or visit the website at: http://www.acenursing.com/candidates/candidacy.asp

Note: Upon granting of initial accreditation by the ACEN Board of Commissioners, the effective date of initial accreditation is the date on which the nursinhg program was approved by ACEN as a candiate program that concluded in the Board of Commissioners granting initial accreditation.

Pass rates and completion rates for Bay College’s PN and ADN program approved by the Michigan Board of Nursing are as follows.

Pass Rates
RN-NCLEX Licensure Exam Pass Rates
  • January 2017 - December 2017 95.74%
  • January 2018 - December 2018 89.86%
  • January 2019 - December 2019 74.31%
  • January 2020 - December 2020 69.08%
  • January 2021 - December 2021 83.57%
  • January 2022 - December 2022 85.71%
Completion Rates for RN Program*
  • May 2017 Escanaba Campus Graduates-88%
  • December 2017 West Campus Graduates-82.76%
  • May 2018 Escanaba Campus Graduates-77.22%
  • December 2018 West Campus Graduates-77.50%
  • December 2018 Escanaba Campus Bridge Graduates-82.35%
  • May 2019 Escanaba Campus Graduates-64.44%
  • August 2019 West Campus Graduates-65.22%
  • December 2019 Escanaba Campus Bridge Graduates-86.36%
  • May 2020 Escanaba Campus Graduates-65.63%
  • August 2020 West Campus Graduates-77.27%
  • December 2020 Escanaba Campus Bridge Graduates-64.71%
  • May 2021 Escanaba Campus Graduates-59.26%
  • August 2021 West Campus Graduates-42.11%
  • December 2021 Escanaba Campus Bridge Graduates-85.71%
  • May 2022 Escanaba Campus Graduates-72%

*Rates are measured by cohort participants completing within 150% of required time

Application Process

You must apply to the Bay College Registered Nursing (RN) and Practical Nursing (PN) program. The Nursing programs require students to apply in order to rank into the program.

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Other Acceptance Criteria

All students accepted into nursing programs are required to purchase uniforms. To complete acceptance, students must successfully pass a criminal background check, drug screening and have completed set of clinical immunization requirements. Students are required to pass a physical exam and be immunized for contagious diseases, at their own expense. Students must be certified in Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) through an American Heart Association healthcare provider. Students are encouraged to maintain a personal health insurance policy whenever possible. Arrangements for liability insurance are made by Bay College.

Simulation Training

Degree Options
Certificate/DegreeCompletion CreditsContact Hours
Nursing (Pre)
Nursing - Registered74.00
Nursing Transfer60.00

Beyond Bay College

With the variety of opportunities available in the healthcare industry, many different levels of educational preparation are available for students at Bay College, including transferability to bachelor’s programs at area institutions and online. Students interested in transferring to a four-year institution to obtain a bachelor's degree or higher may find opportunities in the following areas of study:

  • Nursing
  • Registered Nurse (BSN)
  • Nurse Anesthetist
  • Nurse Practitioner
  • Nurse Administration
TRANSFER INFORMATION

Job Market Outlook

Registered Nurses will be in high demand for the next decade. Due to anticipated retirements nationally in the profession,the RN workforce is expected to grow to 3.2 million by 2024, a 16% increase in demand. Michigan employs approximately 91,840 registered nurses as of May 2013 from the Bureau of Labor and Statistics. There are several diverse job opportunities in nursing world-wide, as well as locally.

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