Nursing

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.

Pre-Requisite Requirements

One nursing course and six additional non-nursing courses are required. These courses will need to be taken during the freshman/sophomore years in order to progress into the Upper Division of Nursing in the junior year. 

• NUR 2313 Introduction to Professional Nursing (This course is offered both Fall and Spring semesters. See catalog entry for course enrollment requirements).
• BIO 2311 & 2111 Anatomy & Physiology I
• BIO 2312 & 2112 Anatomy & Physiology II
• BIO 1331 & 1131 Microbiology
• CHE 1311 & 1111 Chem. for health Science Majors
• MAT/PSY/SOC 2326 Statistics
• PSY 2336 Lifespan Development

Students submit the Application to Upper Division by January 31 each year to begin program the Summer Session I. Most applicants will be enrolled in NUR 2313 and completing any other pre-requisites or General Education courses at the time the application is submitted. Acceptance and progression is contingent upon students being successful in the enrolled courses.

Sixty hours are required in the general education core and support courses for the nursing major. Upon completion of these courses, the student may apply for admission to the nursing major. 

The ABSN Option at WSSU is designed to give individuals who have a bachelor’s degree in another discipline an opportunity to complete the BSN in 13 months. 

The ABSN option is a full-time plan of study. Students are highly encouraged not to work during their matriculation in the option. The rigorous option offers the student every opportunity to engage in practical clinical, inter-professional and collaborative experiences. The ABSN path follows the same plan of study as the Traditional path, but in a 13 month timeframe.

Individuals interested in the ABSN option must complete all nursing pre-requisites prior to applying to the option.

Applications to the Accelerated BSN program are submitted August 1 - September 1 each year for January (Spring semester) start date. Students are notified via email by mid-October regarding admission decisions. 

 ABSN Option Application

The Paramedic to BSN path allows the paramedic who has graduated from an accredited paramedic program and is certified to practice as an Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic by the North Carolina Office of Emergency Medical Services and/or the National Registry to complete their BSN. The student must have at least one year of experience as an EMT-P.

The path allows the paramedic 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 student must follow all admission requirements set forth by the undergraduate nursing program. The paramedic to BSN option is a full-time plan of study.

The LPN to BSN path allows practical nurses licensed by the North Carolina Board of Nursing to complete their BSN. The student must have at least one year of direct patient care experience in the state of North Carolina. Direct patient care is defined as  hands on, face-to-face contact with patients for the purpose of assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation

The path allows the LPN to challenge selected nursing courses based on their clinical and academic experiences. Course credit is awarded if the LPN 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 successfully challenge a course. If the student is unsuccessful, the course must be taken.

Division of Nursing Application for the Upper Division

Please review information below and follow the guidelines explicitly to facilitate the processing of your application. Failure to comply with all directions and requirements will result in the application not being considered.

Meeting the minimal admission criteria as listed below, does not guarantee admission into the Upper Division of Nursing. Factors that are considered in admission decisions include but are not limited to:

• Grades received in science courses
• Grades received in Lower Division Nursing courses
• Overall Academic profile

Minimum Admission Criteria

• Cumulative GPA 2.6
• Verbal/Critical Reading SAT 470 if taken prior to March 2016; 500 if taken March 2016 or after OR ACT English score 19
• Grade of C or better in required Life and Physical Sciences courses taken within the last seven years on the first attempt. A student who receives a failing grade in a required life of physical science course may be denied admission.
• General education core and nursing pre-requisites

The Application Process

1. Meet with academic advisor prior to the deadline for submitting the application, preferably, the semester prior to applying to the Upper Division to assure readiness for applying and to clarify any questions related to the application process.
2. Submit and Complete the Upper Division application below to the Division of Nursing by January 31^st with ALL the items listed below:
   1. Transcripts from ALL colleges/universities (including WSSU) showing the grades for the general education core and nursing pre-requisites (completed and current enrollment), current GPA and degree if applicable. (DO NOT SUBMIT DEGREE AUDITS)
   2. SAT or ACT score report or documentation of the score on a high school or college transcript. (The scores do not have to be official)
   3. Submit application, and ensure you upload ALL transcripts and all other requested documents (TOGETHER)

Note: Applications will not be accepted to DON after January 31st

For questions or concerns about the application process, please send all correspondence to nursingosa@wssu.edu.