A career in nursing is challenging, rewarding, and offers varied and exciting work environments. Now more than ever, nurses prepared at the baccalaureate and master's level are in great demand by health care employers. Our faculty are invested in nurturing students as they prepare for their roles as clinicians, teacher/educators, researchers, leaders, life-long learners, and responsible members of society.
Nursing was established at Western in 1969 under Dr. Mary K. Kneedler, a nationally recognized leader in health care who helped develop the Head Start program under President Lyndon Johnson. The first class of BSN students graduated in 1973. In 1982, the RN to BSN program was started.
The master’s program was initiated in 1999 with the Family Nurse Practitioner as the first track. We now also offer tracks in Nursing Education and Nursing Anesthesia at the graduate level. The RN to BSN and RN to MS(N) tracks are now offered through distance learning with outreach hubs in Murphy and Morganton, NC.
In May of 2007 we also started an accelerated entry option for our pre-licensure program for individuals with baccalaureate degrees in other fields. In July of 2007 we were re-named as a School of Nursing.
The School now has well over 2000 alumni who practice in clinical and leadership roles nationwide. Students who graduate from our programs perform well on their licensure or certification exams with pass rates well above national averages.
Students have the opportunity for clinical experiences throughout western North Carolina in many different types of health care institutions and agencies. A strong element of our programs is that we offer clinical opportunities in rural and urban areas, providing students with diverse practice experiences.
The School of Nursing is approved by the North Carolina Board of Nursing and accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. The Master’s in Nurse Anesthesia is also accredited by the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists Commission on Accreditation.
Please take this opportunity to explore information on this website about our academic programs and faculty.
Vincent P. Hall, Ph.D., RN
Director, School of Nursing