Program Overview
Columbia Basin College offers a National League for Nursing Accredited Career Ladder Nursing program. The curriculum is designed to utilize individual and group teaching strategies. Instruction takes place on campus as well as in local healthcare facilities. A lab is provided on campus to learn and practice clinical skills. For more information, call 544-8309.

Two major entry points are offered. The first is at the beginning level for individuals with no experience in nursing education. A new class is admitted each fall quarter. Secondly, Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN) may enter the Advanced Placement program without having to repeat course material they have already mastered. Transfer students are accommodated as there is space available. Placement is based upon individual evaluation of past education.

An exit avenue is provided at the end of each year of the Nursing program. Following successful completion of the first year, students receive a Practical Nurse Certificate and are eligible to take the LPN licensure exam. Following successful completion of the second year, students receive an Associate in Applied Science degree and are eligible to take the RN state board licensure exam.

Pre-Nursing Information
Students are strongly encouraged to complete as many nursing support courses as possible before entering the Nursing program. These courses provide points for the Admission Index Score. It is especially helpful to have the science classes completed before entry. Students should attend a Pre-Nursing Information Session, then contact the Admissions office to work with an advisor. Students apply to the Nursing program in January and February prior to the planned entry year. Nursing support courses that may be completed prior to entry include the following:

• High school Chemistry or college level Chemistry course, CHM 100 or higher 
• Anatomy/Physiology I, BIO 221/BIO 2221
• Anatomy/Physiology II, BIO 222/BIO 2221
• English Composition, ENG 101
• General Psychology, PSY 101
• Developmental Psychology, PSY 240
• Microbiology, BIO 260/BIO 2601
• Math, MTH above 100
• Speech Essentials, SPE 101

Entrance Requirements
For information on the specific requirements for entrance into the Columbia Basin College Nursing program, please see the Entrance Requirements.

Once accepted into the Nursing program, the following must be on file by September 1:

• Required immunization records
• Current CPR card for Healthcare Provider
• Satisfactory national criminal history background check

A minimum GPA of 2.0 per course must be obtained for the successful completion of the one-year certificate (Practical Nursing) and Associate degree in Nursing. This 2.0 GPA requirement is required for major courses, major support courses, and general education requirements.

Nursing Course List
Nursing One-Year Certificate
Nursing Associate of Applied Science

Program Coordinator and Secretary

• Mary Hoerner
  Nursing Instructor, Nursing Program Coordinator
  Location: Richland Campus, Health Science Center, HS-210
  Phone: (509) 544-8310
  Email: mhoerner@columbiabasin.edu
  Education: B.S.N., M.N., Washington State University
  
  Courses taught at CBC:
  Nursing Courses
   
• Denise Haug
  Secretary Senior, Nursing Department
  Location: Richland Campus, Health Science Center, HS-209
  Phone: (509) 544-8309
  Email: dhaug@columbiabasin.edu
  Education: B.A., Eastern Washington University

Faculty

• Laura Burns
  Nursing Instructor
  Location: Richland Campus, Health Science Center, HS-220
  Phone: (509) 544-8312
  Email: lburns@columbiabasin.edu
  Education: A.D.N., College of St. Mary’s; B.S.N., M.N., Montana State University

Courses taught at CBC:
Nursing Courses 

• Joan Guercia
  Nursing Instructor
  Location: Richland Campus, Health Science Center, HS-223
  Phone: (509) 544-8316
  Email: jguercia@columbiabasin.edu
  Education: A.D.N, Columbia Basin College; B.A., Erskine College; Graduate Studies, Walden University

Courses taught at CBC:
Nursing Courses

• Mary Hoerner 
  Nursing Instructor, Nursing Program Coordinator
  Location: Richland Campus, Health Science Center, HS-210
  Phone: (509) 544-8310
  Email: mhoerner@columbiabasin.edu
  Education: B.S.N., M.N., Washington State University

Courses taught at CBC:
Nursing Courses

• Tracy Horntvedt
  Nursing Instructor
  Location: Richland Campus, Health Science Center, HS-219
  Phone: (509) 544-8313
  Email: thorntvedt@columbiabasin.edu
  Education: A.D.N., Columbia Basin College; B.A., B.S.N., Washington State University; M.S.N., Ball State University

Courses taught at CBC:
Nursing Courses

• Leslie Irwin
  Nursing Instructor
  Location: Richland Campus, Health Science Center, HS-222
  Phone: (509) 544-8317
  Email: lirwin@columbiabasin.edu
  Education: B.S., Walla Walla College; Graduate Studies, Washington State University

Courses taught at CBC:
Nursing Courses

• Shirley Moffitt
  Nursing Instructor
  Location: Richland Campus, Health Science Center, HS-214
  Phone: (509) 544-8314
  Email: smoffitt@columbiabasin.edu
  Education: A.D.N., B.S.N., Eastern Kentucky University; M.S.N., Bellarmine College

Courses taught at CBC:
Nursing Courses

• Pam Morris
  Nursing Instructor
  Location: Richland Campus, Health Science Center, HS-221
  Phone: (509) 544-8315
  Email: pmorris@columbiabasin.edu
  Education: A.D.N., Columbia Basin College; B.S.N., Washington State University; B.A., Idaho State University; M.A., California School of Professional Psychology; M.N., Washington State University

Courses taught at CBC:
Nursing Courses 

• Valerie Topham
  Nursing Instructor
  Location: Richland Campus, Health Science Center, HS-225
  Phone: (509) 544-8319
  Email: vtopham@columbiabasin.edu
  Education: A.D.N., Columbia Basin College; B.S.N., University of Texas at Arlington; Graduate Studies, Washington State University

Courses taught at CBC:
Nursing Courses

• Kim Tucker
  Nursing Instructor
  Location: Richland Campus, Health Science Center, HS-218
  Phone: (509) 544-8318
  Email: ktucker@columbiabasin.edu
  Education: B.S.N., M.N., Washington State University

Courses taught at CBC:
Nursing Courses