Nursing Major Activities
Access to Clinical Experiences
Clinical experience begins in the 200-level nursing courses and occur in diverse community settings, varying from Helena’s hospitals to public health, assisted-living, long-term care, home visits, and psychiatric and school settings. Although nursing clinical is primarily in Helena, out of town clinical are required periodically throughout the curriculum, necessitating personal transportation at the students' expense. On-campus clinical experiences are also provided in the on-campus nursing simulation center.
Nursing students are expected to purchase Carroll College nursing scrubs, nametags, hand-held mobile device, and other items needed for clinical/ lab experience. As part of the program onboarding process and prior to beginning 200-level courses, nursing students must demonstrate specific clinical readiness requirements required by our third-party clinical affiliates. These requirements must be kept current throughout the program duration and include, but may not be limited to, up-to-date immunization records, a criminal background check, a 10-panel urine drug screen, maintenance of current health insurance, and American Heart Association Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers certification.
Professional nursing is regulated in Montana by the Board of Nursing to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the public. As part of their educational program, student nurses are entrusted with the responsibility of providing certain kinds of nursing care to clients/patients. It is the responsibility of the faculty to determine that the student nurse has demonstrated reasonable competence to render nursing interventions without risk to the client/patient. If the faculty member’s evaluation of the student nurse’s behavior or health status indicate that he or she is likely to provide unsafe nursing care as outlined in the course expectations, the Statutes and Rules of Nursing, and the ANA Code of Ethics, the faculty has the legal responsibility to deny the student nurse access to clinical learning experiences, which may inhibit progression in the nursing major. Professional liability insurance coverage is required for students engaged in clinical experiences and is included in registration fees.
Carroll College Student Nurses' Association (CCSNA)
The Carroll College Student Nurses’ Association is the college chapter for the state and national Student Nurses’ Association. CCSNA brings students together to help further the growth of nursing, providing opportunities for education, experience, service, and fellowship.
Sigma Theta Tau International (STTI, Sigma)
Sigma is the International Honor Society of Nursing. Sigma is an international community of nurses, dedicated to the advancement of knowledge, teaching, learning, and service through the cultivation of communities of practice, education, and research. The Zeta Upsilon Chapter of Sigma was formed through the joint efforts of the nursing faculty at Carroll College and Montana State University School of Nursing to encourage and recognize superior scholarship and/or leadership achievement in nursing at either the undergraduate or graduate level in the state of Montana.
The high percentage of nursing students who are invited to join Sigma is indicative of the strong academic success and leadership we have seen in the Carroll nursing students. Students in the traditional and accelerated nursing tracks are considered for eligibility once they have completed at least 50% of the nursing curriculum. Induction ceremonies are held twice a year on a rotating basis on both the Carroll College and Montana State University campuses. At this induction ceremony, students learn about the privileges and responsibilities that come with membership in this international nursing society and receive an honors cord as a symbol of their achievement and membership.