Program Description
The Division of Nursing at Winston-Salem State University is a national premier nursing school based on excellence in education, research, and public service, as well as diversity in student population and program offerings. Consistent with the WSSU mission and the mission of the School of Health Sciences, the division provides professional nursing education that prepares a baccalaureate degree nurse generalist. The undergraduate curriculum provides experiences needed for students to develop effective communication and critical thinking skills while executing therapeutic intervention, health promotion and disease prevention, and evidence-base practice strategies. These experiences include theory, clinical practicums and public service essential for delivery of professional nursing care in a variety of settings and to diverse populations.
Prior learning experiences are considered in the criteria for admission of a student population diverse in age, gender, ethnicity, academic levels, life experiences and health care experiences. The Division provides an environment conducive to personal and professional growth and lifelong learning for students and faculty. Faculty and students engage in mutually beneficial relationships with the community and other health care providers in ways that complement the nursing division’s educational mission. These experiences foster the impartation of values such as kindness, compassion, justice, loyalty and also cultural competence and sensitivity.
Student Learning Outcomes
The undergraduate program prepares a graduate who will:
- Use critical thinking and technology in synthesizing knowledge from the biological, physical and behavioral sciences, the humanities and nursing in making nursing practice decisions about clients of all ages from diverse and multicultural societies.
- Utilize the nursing process and patient centered care to promote wellness through illness prevention, supportive and restorative care.
- Perform nursing roles of caregiver, teacher/counselor, collaborator, client advocate, leader/manager, designer and research consumer to enhance the quality of client care.
- Implement effective verbal, written and computerized communication techniques with clients and other health care providers to promote a culturally sensitive holistic approach to health care.
- Provide nursing care that recognizes individual dignity and worth as well as rights and responsibilities with regard to quality of life issues and participation in decisions affecting well-being.
- Integrate ethics, caring and safe nursing practice in providing accessible and cost-effective health care for persons, families, groups and communities in all economic levels.
- Implement evidence-based practice through interpretation, utilization, and participation in research.
- Demonstrate professional responsibility and accountability in the practice of nursing.
- Assume responsibility for continuing professional and personal growth.
General Education Requirements
A total of 60 general education courses that meet WSSU’s general education requirements for transfer students are needed. All students should have at least one course (3 semester hours) in each of the seven general education Areas of Knowledge - Culture and Foreign Language, History, Literature, Mathematics, Natural Science, Social and Behavioral Sciences, and The Fine Arts (minimum of 21 semester hours). For additional information regarding general education courses access the transfer student tab at the following link.
https://www.wssu.edu/academics/general-education/general-education-requirements.html
Major Requirements
Admission to the university does not guarantee admission to the nursing program. Students must meet specific admission criteria and must apply for admission to the upper division of the major. Meeting the minimal admission criteria as listed below, does not guarantee admission into the Upper Division of Nursing.
Minimum Admission Criteria
Undergraduate Students (pre licensure)
- Satisfactory completion of core curriculum in general education and pre-requisite course requirements
- A grade of C or better in the pre-requisite nursing science courses and the NUR 2313 - Introduction to Professional Nursing
- Students are allowed 2 attempts to successfully make a grade of C or better.
- NUR 2313 - Introduction to Professional Nursing cannot be transferred. Course can only be taken at WSSU. *Applicants applying to the ABSN option, will not need to take this course prior to the nursing program. Accepted ABSN applicants will complete this course during the nursing program.
- All science courses must have been taken within the past 10 years at the time of submitting the application.
- Minimum Combined GPA 2.6
- Minimum Science GPA 2.6 (pre-requisite sciences only)
- ATI TEAS test score (proficient level preferred)
For detailed information about admissions criteria, please visit the Holistic Admission Process.
Admission Criteria for Candidates (post-licensure)
Students seeking entry to the RN to BSN (post licensure) option requirements listed below:
Students must hold an unrestricted and active North Carolina (NC) or Compact State RN license.
- Reside in an authorized state listed in the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC, https://nursecompact.com/),
- An active and unrestricted RN license from North Carolina (NC) or the states listed in the NLC.
- An associate degree in nursing or a nursing diploma,
- A cumulative undergraduate degree GPA of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale,
- A minimum of 51 general education credit hours (by the start of the program) are required.
- Completion of the following courses prior to the start of the program:
- Anatomy and Physiology I and II (5 credit hours)
- Completion of the following courses prior to admission or by the end of the program:
- Statistics (3 credit hours)
- Developmental Psychology (3 credit hours)
Campus Requirements:
- NONE — 100% Online Coursework
- The Clinical Requirement of the program - about 20 hours - might need to be completed in NC
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Time to Completion:
- Students will be able to choose from a 12-month full-time or 15-month part-time plan of study.
Nursing Pre-requisites
One nursing course and six non-nursing courses are required. These courses must be successfully completed prior to Spring admission into the option with a grade C or better. The 22 credit hours earned from the six non- nursing courses will count towards the required 60 general education hours.
BSN Plan of Study
The pre-licensure BSN curriculum for WSSU generic students consists of the General Education Core requirements for Winston-Salem State University, pre-requisite courses for the nursing major and the nursing courses.
Students entering WSSU as first time freshmen will be guided by faculty advisors through the General Education Core and pre-requisites. Transfer students will be advised by the Professional Advisors after acceptance to WSSU. The Division of Nursing will share information related to nursing pre-requisites and Upper Division admission requirements.
The application period for the Traditional option is October 15 – January 31 each year. If students are accepted, the program will begin the following summer semester. Students are notified via email by mid-March regarding admission decisions.
Freshman:
In Fall Semester students are required to take 15 semester hours of general education courses.
In the spring semester, students are reuried to take 14 to 17 semester hours of general education courses and nursing pre-requisites courses.
Sophomore
In the fall semester, students are required to take 9 to 12 semester hours of general education courses and 3 to 7 nursing pre-requisites courses.
In the spring semester, students are required to take 6 to 9 semester hours of general education courses and 4 to 7 nursing pre-requisites courses.
Total Credit Hours: 30 to 32
Sophomore_Summer Semester
LPN to BSN Option Plan of Study
Applicant must possess and maintain an unencumbered, active license as a practical nurse from the state of North Carolina, have 1 year of direct patient care experience as a Licensed Practical Nurse in the state of North Carolina, and have worked a minimum of 1,560 hours as a Licensed Practical Nurse within the past calendar year. Employer verification of this employment is required.
LPNs may challenge NUR 2313 - Introduction to Professional Nursing prior to the beginning of the spring term if all admission requirements to the upper division and the LPN-BSN track have been met. If the LPN does not meet requirements or is unsuccessful on the challenge exam, then enrollment in NUR 2313 should occur during the Spring term.
*An LPN-BSN student who has met all admission requirements and has one year of direct patient care experiences as an LPN in North Carolina may earn credit by challenge examination for the course.
** LPNs that have worked 3 of the past 5 years in the direct care of older adults in a geriatric nursing practice setting may earn credit by challenge examination for NUR 4203 - Care of the Older Adult upon successful completion of a challenge exam.
The LPN to BSN option is a full-time plan of study. Courses that eligible to be challenged are marked by the asterisks below.
Paramedic - BSN Plan of Study
The path allows students who are paramedics to challenge certain prescribed nursing courses based on their clinical experiences. Course credit is awarded if the paramedic passes the challenge exam(s) and clinical simulation experiences with the prerequisite score(s) and/or skills check-off. Students are given one chance to challenge a course and successfully pass skills check-off. If the student is unsuccessful on the challenge experience, the student must take the course.
The applicant must have a current certification by the North Carolina Office of Emergency Medical Services and/or the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians as EMT-P. The certification must be maintained throughout course of study.
Courses that eligible to be challenged are marked by the asterisks below.
Division of Nursing Accelerated Option Courses
The Accelerated Bachelor of Science (ABSN) option at WSSU is designed to give individuals who have a conferred bachelor’s degree in any discipline from an accredited university or college, an opportunity to complete the BSN program in 15 months. The ABSN option is a full-time plan of study. Students are highly encouraged not to work during their matriculation in the program.
Individuals interested in the ABSN option must complete all admission criteria and nursing pre-requisite courses, except for NUR 2313 - Introduction to Professional Nursing , prior to applying to the nursing program. Pre-requisite courses can be completed through any accredited community college, college, or university and transferred to meet university degree requirements.
The application period for the ABSN option is July 1 - September 1 each year. If students are accepted, the program will begin the following January (Spring semester). Students are notified via email by mid-October regarding admission decisions.
RN to BSN Online Option Full Time Curriculum
WSSU RN to BSN (Spring, Summer, Fall)
The RN to BSN path at Winston-Salem State University recognizes registered nurses as adult learners with experience in nursing and an active personal life. If you need a student-friendly program with enough flexibility to meet your specific needs, the WSSU RN to BSN program is for you.
RN to BSN Online Option Part-Time Curriculum
WSSU RN to BSN (Spring, Summer, Fall)
Below is the Part-time curriculum for the fall.
The spring and summer curriculum can be discussed with RN-BSN advisor.
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