Gardner-Webb University Nursing School Review

Gardner-Webb University (GWU, GW) is a private Christian college not far from Boiling Springs, North Carolina at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. It is affiliated with the Baptist religion and has around 4,300 students enrolled at the university. There are 60 undergraduate majors that students may choose from, including nursing. There are many opportunities for service projects offered at the university whose mission is “Faith, Service, & Leadership.” Gardner-Webb is continually named as one of the Top 100 universities. The student body is a diverse one with students from 21 foreign countries and from 37 states. There is always something for students to do after studying is finished because there are over 50 clubs and organizations at Gardner-Webb.

Nursing Programs

Associate Degree in Nursing

Gardner-Webb offers an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN). Admission to the program is competitive, and even if an applicant meets all of the prerequisites for the program, he or she may not be admitted since only a limited number of seats are available. Applicants must apply to the university first and then to the nursing department. Applicants must have a grade point average of at least 3.0 on all college-level work so far to qualify for the program. Minimum scores of 1050 on the SAT or 22 on the ACT are also required. A satisfactory score is also necessary on the TEAS pre-nursing program admission test. Biology, chemistry, and algebra must be taken at the college-level if they have not been taken in high school. In addition, applicants must have a satisfactory criminal background check.

It is not required that applicants have certification as a Nurse Assistant, but this is a requirement of the Associate Degree in Nursing program so it must be completed before nursing courses are begun. At the end of the program that takes four to five semesters to complete, the student is eligible to take the NCLEX-RN to become licensed as a Registered Nurse.

Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program

The university offers a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program that takes four years to complete. A total of 64 to 70 credits in general education requirements must be completed plus 63 credits of nursing courses.

RN to BSN (Degree Completion)

The university offers a Registered Nurse (RN) to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree for RNs who have an Associate Degree in Nursing. RNs with a Diploma in Nursing may also apply to this program. Those with an ADN may receive a maximum of 40 hours of nursing credit after completing 9 hours of nursing courses. Requirements for admission include current licensure as an RN and a grade point average of at least 2.5 in college courses that have been completed. Applicants must also have a clear background check and must have a 12 panel urine drug screen before enrolling in nursing courses or in beginning clinical experience.

Master of Science in Nursing

Gardner-Webb University offers a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program. Applicants must first apply to the university’s Graduate School and have a criminal background check. A BSN is required for admission, but under certain circumstances, those with a Bachelor’s Degree in another area may be accepted. A grade point average of at least 2.70 is necessary in undergraduate work. Applicants must be currently licensed as RNs. Another requirement is a satisfactory score on the GRE and three letters of recommendation.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

The university offers a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) for RNs who have a MSN. Admission is competitive, and not all applicants are accepted into the program. Applicants must first apply to the Graduate School and they must have a 3.20 grade point average in their other college-level coursework. The number of years that a nurse has spent working in a specialty practice has an influence on whether or not the nurse is accepted into the program.

Contact:
Gardner-Webb University
110 South Main Street,
P.O. Box 997
Boiling Springs, NC 28017
(800) 253-6472