School of Nursing

In the beginning…

The School of Nursing was established in 1969.

Since then things have changed a bit…

The School of Nursing Programs

We offer several undergraduate and graduate programs:

Undergraduate Traditional Pre-Licensure BSN Program Accelerated BSN Option WCU-AB Tech Dual Enrollment RIBN Option RN to BSN Program

Graduate MS(N) Family Nurse Practitioner MS(N) Nurse Administration MS(N) Nurse Anesthesia MS(N) Nurse Educator Doctor of Nursing Program Program

The School of Nursing

Currently over 400 students are enrolled in our undergraduate and graduate online and residential programs.

BSN Admission Requirements

Admission to the BSN Program is highly competitive. Students must satisfy the following requirements to be eligible for admission consideration:

-General acceptance to WCU

-Minimum Cumulative GPA of 3.0

-Accumulate 60+ semester hours by program matriculation

-Complete three of the five science prerequisites by the application deadline

-Completion of all course prerequisites before entry into the program

-SAT Critical Reading Score – Minimum 500 – may be taken twice post-high school graduation

-TEAS exam – may be taken once per application cycle

Meeting the minimum admission requirements does not guarantee admission into the Traditional Pre-Licensure BSN Program.

Improve your odds of acceptance!

The average admission scores for recently accepted students are:

GPA: 3.65

SAT Critical Reading score: 600TEAS exam: 86

Weight of Admission Requirements:

GPA: 25%SAT Critical Reading score: 25%TEAS exam: 50%

What to expect as a pre-nursing student

During the Freshman and Sophomore years, students complete prerequisite courses including:

•ENGL 101/202 • ENVH 260/261 •Math 130 or higher • BIOL 291 A&P I•COMM 201 • BIOL 292 A&P II•Health and Wellness HSCC 101 • ND 338 Nml/Thera Nutrition

•PSY 150 • NSG 101 Intro to Nursing•CHEM 132 General Chemistry • NSG 346 Pathophysiology•CHEM 133 Organic Chemistry

And students:

•Take the TEAS and SAT exam

•Apply to the BSN Program during your sophomore year

What to expect as a nursing student

Class and Clinicals during the Junior and Senior years

Schedules vary but a typical schedule is class 2-3 days/wk and clinical 2 days/wk.

Clinical rotations are in a variety of settings in areas surrounding Cullowhee and Asheville to provide students with enriched and engaging experiences.

The BSN curriculum – Junior Year

Junior Year - First Semester (15 hrs)

•NSG 310 – Foundations of Nursing

•NSG 311 – Foundations of Nursing Practicum

•NSG 312 – Nursing Assessment Across the Lifespan

•NSG 313 – Pharmacotherapeutics in Nursing I

•NSG 314 – Nursing Informatics

•NSG 322 – Concepts of Geriatric Nursing

Junior Year – Second Semester (14 hrs)

•NSG 315 – Nursing Ethics and Health Policy

•NSG 320 – Concepts of Adult Nursing

•NSG 321 – Adult Nursing Practicum

•NSG 323 – Pharmacotherapeutics in Nursing II

•NSG 324 – Evidence-Based Nursing Practice

The BSN curriculum – Senior Year

Senior Year – First Semester (16 hrs)

•NSG 410 – Concepts of Adult Nursing II

•NSG 411 – Adult Nursing II Practicum

•NSG 412 – Concepts of Maternal-Child Nursing

•NSG 413 – Maternal-Child Nursing Practicum

•NSG 414 – Advanced Technology & Pharm

Senior Year – Second Semester (16 hrs)

•NSG 420 – Synthesis of Nursing Concepts

•NSG 421 – Synthesis of Nursing Concepts Prac

•NSG 422 – Concepts of Community/Mental Hlth

•NSG 423 – Community/Mental Health Practicum

•NSG 424 – Concepts of Nsg Leadership in Mgmt

Students who earn the baccalaureate in nursing degree will be prepared to sit for the NCLEX-RN licensure exam and enter a professional career with a myriad of opportunities in varied and dynamic work environments.

Students at Western Carolina University have the opportunities to closely interact with nursing faculty throughout their academic and clinical experiences. The low student-to-faculty ratio in the BSN Program allows for personalized advisement while also providing a comprehensive curriculum and educational experiences.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many students apply each admission cycle? We receive an average of 75 applications per admission cycle.

How many students do you accept? 25 twice per year: January (Spring) and August (Fall)

What is your NCLEX pass rate:

100% in 2012!

More FAQs

Do I need to be a CNA? No, applicants do not need to have a CNA certification though many students do.

Where will my classes be held? In the new College of Health and Human Sciences Building on the main WCU campus in Cullowhee, NC.

What if I am not accepted? Students are encouraged to reapply or advised on alternative pathways into healthcare or other WCU majors.

The College of Health and Human Sciences Building

WCU Nursing Rocks!

Halloween

Homecoming Nursing Float

Rubber Ducky Fundraiser for Breast Cancer