Department of Nursing

After completing the prerequisite courses, students may apply for admission to the nursing major, which has two tracks. Upon completion of the general education courses and the required nursing courses, the student will have accrued a total of 120 hours for graduation.

The Pre-Licensure Program is for students who wish to earn a BSN and take the registered nurse licensure examination, the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN). Once admitted to the nursing major, students in the Traditional Program must enroll full-time.

The RN to BSN Program is a program for registered nurses who have either a diploma or an associate degree in nursing. The RN to BSN Program has been specifically designed for the working registered nurse student, and is offered on the Wise campus and at the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center in Abingdon. Students may enroll full- or part-time in this program.

The mission of the nursing program is to prepare graduates with a liberal education, expanded knowledge about nursing and health care, competence in nursing practice, preparation for graduate study, and tools for lifelong learning.  The program prepares professional nurses able to practice in a safe and caring manner on a regional, national, and global level.