Washington Adventist University Nursing School Review

Washington Adventist University (WAU) was started in 1904 as the Washington Training Institute. Its name was changed to Washington Foreign Mission Seminary in 1907, and then Washington Missionary College in 1914. In 1933 the lower division of the College became Columbia Junior College but was reabsorbed in 1942. The school became Columbia Union College in 1961 and was renamed Washington Adventist University in 2009.

WAU continues to be a Christ-centered, Adventist university. The University enrolls over 1200 students in the School of Arts and Social Sciences, School of Graduate & Professional Studies, and School of Health Profession, Science, and Wellness. The student to faculty ratio is 13 to 1.

Nursing Programs

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)

Students entering the Edyth T. James Department of Nursing will be trained as professional nurses. A maximum of 40 students is admitted to the program each fall and spring semester. Graduates of this program are allowed to take the licensing exam to become a Registered Nurse (RN).

Students must apply to the WAU as a pre-nursing major and may apply to the nursing program for admission after their sophomore year. To be eligible to apply to the program, they must have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.75, have an acceptable Nelson-Denny Reading test score, be certified in CPR for health care providers, be recommended for admission by the department, and complete the prerequisite courses with at least a C.

The prerequisite courses for this program are Composition, Research and Literature, Human Anatomy and Physiology I and II, Microbiology, Survey of Chemistry, Principles of Organic and Physiological Chemistry, Introduction to Human Communication, Nutrition, Introduction to Psychology, Psychology of Development and Learning, Probability and Statistics, General Sociology, and Introduction to Computers.

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) to BSN

LPNs that do not hold a two-year degree may apply to the traditional BSN program and will be awarded 20 credit hours for their prior nursing education.

Master of Science in Nursing Education (MSN-Ed)

This master’s level program is designed to prepare RNs to become Nurse Administrators, Health Policy Experts, or Clinical Nurse Leaders. It has been structured to meet the needs of the working adult student. Students may take the program full time, attending class two nights per week, and finish in 18 months. If they choose to go part-time, they will attend class one night per week and finish in 24 months.

To apply to this program, students must have graduated from an accredited BSN program with a 2.75 GPA or better. They must also have a current RN license, a professional resume, two letters of recommendation, and a written statement of their goals and purpose for pursuing this degree program. They may be asked to interview.

Students may focus on one or more advanced nursing specialties, including acute care, adult or family care, neonatal, psychiatric, and others. This program requires 36 credits to graduate.

Master of Science in Nursing and Business Leadership (MSNBL)

This program provides nurses with advanced leadership skills to get ahead in the healthcare field. Classes are offered at night in the same format as the MSN-Ed program, and students may finish in 18 or 24 months.

To apply to this program, students must have graduated from an accredited BSN program with a 2.75 GPA or better. They will need to take the prerequisite courses of Principles of Accounting I and Economic Fundamentals for Managers, both with a grade of B or higher. They must also have a current RN license, a professional resume, two letters of recommendation, and a written statement of their goals and purpose for pursuing this degree program. They may be asked to interview.

This program takes 42 credit hours to graduate.

Contact:

Nursing Department
Office: 301-891-4546
Email: [email protected]
Washington Adventist University
7600 Flower Ave.
Takoma Park, MD 20912