College of Southern Nevada Nursing Program Review
Founded in 1971, College of Southern Nevada (CSN) prides itself in being the states’ largest institution of higher learning with regard to student enrollment. It started off as Clarks Community College before the name was changed to Community College of Southern Nevada in 1991 and the name was changed again to the current name in 2007. As the largest college in the state, it maintains about 30,000 students annually in about 3000 classes. It offers programs in 3 campuses: Henderson, Charleston and Cheyenne and in 8 eight education centers across the state.
Nursing Programs at College of Southern Nevada
The nursing program at the college boosts to be the largest trainer of registered nurses in Nevada. There are three distinct nursing programs namely: a practical nursing track, an associate degree program and a nursing assistant program. There is also an associate degree completion program for Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) who wish to have advanced placement. Programs are accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission and approved by Nevada State Board of Nursing.
Nursing Assistant
The nursing assistant program awards the student a Certificate of Completion after taking the 6 credit hours of clinical and theory instructions. The program accepts students every spring, fall and summer and is an open-entry program hence; students do not need to apply. The 6 credits course is offered in Cheyenne and Charleston campuses but the theory portion can be taken online.
Practical Nursing (LPN) Program
Unlike the nursing assistant courses, the practical nursing program is a Limited-Entry program. Candidates for the program must hold a current Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) License or take courses leading to certification in tandem with the first semesters’ credits for the LPN program. Enrollment for the program occurs once annually for the classes commencing fall semester. Classes progress for four semesters to the spring of the 2nd year. After completion of the required 44 credits, students become eligible to take the NLCEX-PN exam besides earning a Certificate of Achievement. LPN graduates have the chance of completing an associate degree in nursing as will be explained later.
Nursing (RN) Program
The Nursing (RN) Associate of Applied Science at College of Southern Nevada has two entry options; one for fresh entry students and another for LPN wishing to advance and become professional registered nurses (RN). Courses can be taken on a full-time plan of 4 semesters or an extended part-time plan of 7 semesters at Charleston and Cheyenne campuses
Candidates for this program are selected bi-annually for the spring and fall semesters. Transfer candidates cannot transfer science courses that are more than 7 years old. Such courses must be subjected to a Pilot Test before they are accepted for transfer. 72 credits are required for graduation with an Associate of Applied Science degree-an occupation based degree. Students also become eligible to apply for the NCLEX-RN exam to become registered nurses
Nursing- LPN to RN Emphasis
This program is meant for Licensed Practical Nurses making a transition into nursing. After taking a practical nursing challenge course for Nevada LPN licensure, students receive advanced placement into the associate program. 37 nursing credits must be completed at College of Southern Nevada to be allowed to take the NCLEX-RN exam. These are not inclusive of the general education courses required for the associate of applied science in nursing degree.
Note
RNs can also apply to complete a registered Nurse First Assistant Course meant for nurses who wish to work in operating rooms. It if offered by the College in association with National Institute of First Assisting in an online, self-paced format.
Contact:
College of Southern Nevada
6375 W. Charleston Blvd., Las Vegas,
NV 89146
Great Basin College Nursing Program Review
Great Basin College (GBC) is a rural College-located and serving the communities in the rural settings of Nevada. The college was established as Elko Community College in 1967, before it was renamed to Northern Nevada Community College. It later received its current name owing to the state-wide coverage of its educational programs. The main campus is located in Elko and other campuses and satellite campuses are spread throughout the state-especially in the rural areas. It is a two-year public college with a few four-year professional programs.
Nursing at Great Basin College
Great Basin College offers qualified candidates a chance to become nurses through three programs. Students can choose to start from the Certified Nurses Assistant program or the Associate in applied science nursing program. Registered nurses can also choose to complete their Baccalaureate through the Bachelor of Science-BSN completion program. The associate and Bachelor programs at Great Basin are fully accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission and are approved by the Nevada State Board of Nursing.
Certified Nursing Assistant Program
The Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) program is a short nursing assisting course that requires 80 hours of both clinical and classroom instructions. The course is offered in several openings throughout the year and can be completed in either day or evening plans. Completion of this course gives the student eligibility to write the National Nurse Aid Competency Exam to become certified as a Nursing Assistant.
Associate of Applied Science in Nursing
This is a 4-semester program that welcomes fresh entry candidates who wish to become registered nurses. The program admits students once annually for classes commencing fall semester. However, admission into the program is kind of restrictive as students in the sense that, candidates from the 6-county Great Basin College service area are considered first during the selection process. Students from other locations outside the Great Basin College area are only considered if the former applicants do not fill-up all slots.
Candidates must be certified nursing assistants to be allowed to make an application into the program. Students are also required to have completed 20 general education courses prior to starting on any nursing courses. After enrollment, 50 nursing and supporting courses are taken on a 4 semester period at the main campus. Completing the program awards the student an occupation-based Associate of Applied in nursing degree in addition to gaining educational eligibility to apply for the NCLEX-RN exam. Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN) wishing to make the shift into professional nursing are also welcome to do so by taking a level 200-Introduction to Associate Nursing Bridging Course. After passing the course, such candidates are awarded advanced placement at the 2nd year of the associate degree program.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
The BSN at Great Basin College is an entirely online BSN Completion program. It offers students the flexibility of working as they pursue their baccalaureate degree. Candidates for this program must have current and unrestricted registered nurses licenses to be allowed to apply. As a 100% non-traditional program, students are able to complete all their nursing and remaining general education/supporting courses online. What’s more, the program is available in both full time and part time study plans.
Contact:
Great Basin College
1500 College Parkway, Elko,
NV 89801
Nevada State College Nursing Program Review
Nevada State College (NSC) is a relatively young institution of higher learning. It was founded in 2002 after a deliberative proposal to establish a state-founded college south of Nevada. The college started operations under the stewardship of University of Nevada Reno. However, the college has been near the edges of closure in recent years following the cutting-down of state funding but it’s still crawling to keep open..
Nursing Programs at Nevada State College
Nevada state college offers students 3 distinct paths to becoming professional nurses. The college has curriculum that leads to a Bachelor of Science in nursing with different entry options. Entry-level students can choose to join the traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program. Registered Nurses (RNs) can choose from the RN to BSN completion program while student with another baccalaureate degree can apply for the accelerated BSN for a second degree in nursing. All nursing programs at Nevada State College are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education and are approved by the Nevada state Board of Nursing.
Registered Nurse to Bachelors of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN Program)
This program is designed for RNs that are graduates of associate or diploma nursing programs. The curriculum aims at building on prior nursing experience at those levels towards the advancement to earn a baccalaureate degree. Students admitted to this program complete 128 credits of both core curriculum and major nursing &supporting credits.
The program is offered as a collaborative effort between the college and University of Nevada- Las Vegas (UNLV). As such, students must complete 6 credits from the University following an application to do so as a non-degree seeking student. There is also a choice of taking 6 graduate UNLV courses in place of the undergraduate that will count towards the BSN but can still be used towards a Master of Science in Nursing at UNLV.
Those who meet the core curriculum needs require only 56 nursing major credits to finish the program in RN to BSN curriculum at Nevada state college. The program can be completed in either a full time basis taking 2 years or a part time basis lasting 3 years. Students in the full time study plan have 1 summer session and 2-January sessions while those who choose the part time plan require 2 summers and 3-januray sessions besides the usual fall and spring semesters.
Bachelors of Science in Nursing (BSN)
This is the traditional/regular track that admits fresh entry students seeking a BSN degree. The curriculum is covered in 8-fall &spring semesters of 4-academic years on a full time study plan. Students require 128 credits to complete the program and be eligible to apply for the NCLEX-RN exam to become registered nurses.
Part-Time Bachelors of Science in Nursing
Unlike the traditional BSN, the part time option includes summer sessions throughout the period of study but with the same completion time of 8 semesters. It is designed for students whose commitments cannot match the rigorous traditional program. Classes for the part time option commence each fall and spring semesters unlike the traditional option that starts only on fall. Theory courses are taught every two days/week with lab and clinical sessions being held Thursday through Saturday during day or evening hours.
Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
The Accelerated BSN is meant for highly motivated career shifters who already hold a first bachelors degree or higher. Students are admitted to the program for classes commencing August and finish in August the next year. Preferably, students are advised to complete any outstanding prerequisite courses before taking the upper division courses. The upper division portion is a study-intensive full-time track that takes 3 semesters of full-load coursework in fall, spring and summer and a shorter winter session. Completion of the program awards the student a second degree Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Nevada state College and eligibility to apply and sit for the NCLEX-RN exam to become a professional RN.
Contact:
Nevada State College
1125 Nevada State Drive, Henderson,
NV 89002
Roseman University of Health Sciences Nursing School Review
Roseman University of Health Sciences (RUHS) was founded in 1999 as a very small pharmacy school in Nevada. In those days, it was known as Nevada College of Pharmacy offering only pharmacy undergraduate and graduate degrees. With intentions of introducing other degree programs being contemplated, the college changed its name to reflect this new idea and became the University of Southern Nevada. The college later added a nursing program in 2006 in Nevada and opened another campus in Utah which also started offering a Bachelor of Science in nursing in 2010. Due to the large geographical presence in Utah than in Nevada, the college finally changed its name to Roseman University of Health Sciences to shift the emphasis on Nevada.
College of Nursing at Roseman University
The college of nursing prepares registered nurses who will function as competent nurses in the healthcare sector. The college has 3 locations; 2 in Nevada and 1 in South Jordan Utah. The college offers qualified candidates a curriculum leading to a Bachelor of Science in nursing. There is a traditional Bachelor of Science track and an accelerated baccalaureate in nursing track for candidates who wish to shift into nursing as will be explained below. All programs at Roseman College of Nursing are accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission. The programs in Utah and Nevada are also approved by the Utah & Nevada-States Boards of Nursing respectively.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
The Bachelor of Science in nursing (BSN) at Roseman University of Health Sciences has an 81.5 credit curriculum that prepares entry-level students for initial licensures as registered nurses. The shorter curriculum implies that students must have covered all general education courses required for the award of a Bachelor of Science in nursing degree for application eligibility.
It is a full time week-long commitment that takes 18 months to complete. The curriculum is offered in Nevada Henderson campus and in Utah at the South Jordan Campus. Students are admitted as cohorts and must progress through the program as so. Candidates wishing to be admitted at the Utah Campus must make their applications by November for the January cohorts while those interested in Henderson campus must place their applications by May for the August cohorts.
This program is a bit peculiar in that students do not take multiple courses at once. Instead, students must take the courses in a ‘Block System” where, an entire course is exhausted before starting on the next. After 18 months, students are deemed educationally prepared to apply and write the NLCEX-RN exam to become registered nurses.
Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN)
This program is designed for students who have another baccalaureate degree other than nursing. It is only offered in the 2 Nevada campuses; Henderson and Hartwell. It utilizes the same curriculum like the BSN but the block system curriculum coverage is compressed to ensure students finish in 14 months. A hybrid mode of learning is utilized for curriculum delivery with all didactic courses being offered online while courses with a clinical component are taken on-site. Basically, not all courses are offered in one campus and therefore, students have to commute between the 2 campuses for assessments, skills labs etc.
This program admits students thrice annually for classes commencing February, July and October. Completion of the Block system curriculum prepares the student to write the NCLEX-RN exam hence make the career shift to professional nursing. Students also earn a second degree-Bachelor of Science in Nursing.
Contact:
Roseman University of Health Sciences
11 Sunset Way, Henderson,
NV 89014
Touro University Nevada Nursing School Review
Touro University Nevada (TUN) is part of the larger Touro College System with headquarters in New York. The college was established in 1970 and its main aim was to enrich and spread the Jewish Heritage. The branch in Nevada was established in 2004 and serves as an exclusive academic health training center i.e. it offers health-related degree programs only. The university follows the Judaic values and observes Jewish traditions although it welcomes students from all walks of life.
Nursing Programs at Touro University Nevada
The school of nursing in Touro University is mandated to offer five nursing tracks leading to award of Bachelor, Master and Doctoral nursing degrees. Students should note that the university does not offer pre-requisite or general education courses for the nursing programs hence, these must be completed elsewhere. The university prides itself to be first university to offer the terminal degree in nursing in the state. All the nursing tracks are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education and are approved by the Nevada State Board of Nursing. At Touro University, students can choose from the many learning options including online, part time and full time as will be explained below:
BSN Program
The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program at Touro University is designed for pre-licensure transfer students. This means that all candidates must have completed 60 general education and prerequisites credits prior to admission. Candidates who meet this requirement can apply for the BSN program and complete the 60 upper-division nursing credits in 4-semesters of 16 months.
Since it is designed is for pre-licensure students coming from pre-nursing programs, completion leads to educational eligibility to apply and write the NCLEX-RN exam to become a registered nurse (RN). Students are also awarded a Bachelor of Science in nursing degree.
RN to BSN Program
This is for registered nurses who wish to expand their knowledge and earn a baccalaureate nursing degree. The program is well suited for working nurses as all courses are offered online. Like the BSN track, students must have met the 60-credit general education and perquisites requirements. For the remaining 60 credits required for a BSN at Touro University, students are allowed to validate 36 of them. The 36 credits must have been taken at an accredited associate or diploma program.
Basically, those admitted into this track only require 24 upper division nursing credits to be allowed to graduate with a Bachelor of Science nursing degree. These are designed to be complete in three lightly-loaded semesters.
MSN Program
The online Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program at Touro University is designed for BSN-prepared students or BS graduates of other related fields. The program is designed such that students can choose to take clinical and didactic courses leading to a generalist MSN degree. Such students must later take a post-master advanced practice track to become certified in a field of choice. On the other hand, students who wish to take specialty roles in Nursing Education or Management /Leadership can add some courses to the MSN generalist curriculum.
To complete the MSN graduate –level generalist track, students require 36 credit hours designed to be completed in 6 semesters. All courses are offered online on a full time or part time basis.
Doctor of Nursing Practice
This terminal nursing degree at Touro University Nevada is meant for MSN-prepared students. The program requires completion of 39 credits hours culminating in a practice-based project. Although most of the courses are offered online, students are required to visit campus on selected dates for intensive sharing of development and implementation of their projects.
The curriculum can be completed in 6 intensive semesters of year-round study and students can transfer most of their clinical practice hours from their MSN program. However, personalized part time options can be arranged with interested students.
Contact:
Touro University Nevada
874 American Pacific Drive, Henderson,
NV 89014
Truckee Meadows Community College Nursing Program Review
Truckee Meadows Community College (TMCC) was established in 1980 as an independent community college. Initially, the college had operated under the Western Nevada Community College system until a campus of the college was established in Reno. This campus grew and the Board of Regents found it appropriate to split the new Western Nevada campus to another college which became Truckee Meadows Community College. It became the 4th community college in the state. It offers various 2-year degrees, certificates and transfer programs and occupational and career enhancement programs in its main and 4 satellite education centers.
The Nursing Program at Truckee Meadow Community College
The nursing program at the college is also known as the Maxine S. Jacobs Nursing program. It is a single-track program that leads to the award of an associate degree in nursing and has no options for non-traditional entry. There is also a short certified nursing assistant program besides the Maxine S Jacobs program that trains students to become nurse aides. The nursing program is approved by the Nevada state Board of Nursing and is accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission.
Certified Nursing Assistant Program
This is a relatively short course consisting of 6 credit hours. The course trains students on basic bedside patient care skills in preparation of taking the Nursing assistants exams to become certified as nursing assistants.
Maxine S. Jacob Nursing Program
As mentioned earlier, this is the only main nursing degree program at Truckee Meadow Community College. The curriculum of the program prepares students to become professional registered nurses with classes commencing each fall semester. Candidates for the program need to complete general education courses before making an application to the college and 34 of these are needed for graduation.
The program is offered on a full time basis at the Dandini main campus and requires 75 credits to complete. 4 semesters are required to complete the 41 nursing and support courses needed for graduation. To maintain progression, students must maintain a minimum of grade ‘C’ in all nursing courses.
The curriculum is not dynamic to accommodate student’s needs and as such, they must also follow an outlined sequence of taking the courses. Those who do not meet this sequence are allowed to re-take those courses once. Re-taking of a skipped course is not guaranteed and depends on space availability.
Successful completion of the completion gives the students educational eligibility to apply and write the NCLEX-RN exam to become registered nurses. This also awards the students an occupation-based Associate of Applied Science in nursing degree.
Note
Truckee Meadow community College Fast-Track Associate of applied science in nursing has temporarily been discontinued. The reason put forward by the college is that there is a decreasing need for nurses in the state that would warrant a fast track training program. Currently, the college is evaluating the need for that program and it assures it would re-institute it if a job demand rose and if the economic budget made sense.
Contact:
Truckee Meadows Community College
7000 Dandini Boulevard, Reno,
NV 89512
University of Nevada Las Vegas Nursing School Review
The University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV) was established in 1951 as an extension campus of the University of Nevada Reno. The Las Vegas campus operated in Las Vegas High School until it was able to secure some donations and funds to put up a campus building of its own. Then, the campus was known as Nevada Southern until 1968 when the campus was given autonomy from its mother campus to become a fully fledged independent university with the current name UNLV.
UNLV School of Nursing
The school of nursing offers 4 main nursing degree programs starting with the bachelors to the master and the two terminal nursing degree programs: Doctor of Nursing Practice and PhD. Several tracks fall under each of the four mainstream degree programs giving students different entry options and specialty choices. The nursing programs are fully accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education and approved by the Nevada State Board of Nursing. Details of each program are given below:
BSN
The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) is a traditional 4-year degree program whose curriculum prepares students for initial licensure as registered nurses. All candidates are admitted as Pre-nursing major students in Pre-Nursing program before they can take any nursing courses. Courses for the pre-nursing portion can be completed on full time and part time study plans. Those who make it through the 61-credit pre-nursing program are welcome to apply to the upper division baccalaureate nursing program. Transfer students from other pre-nursing programs are also welcome to apply but preference is given to UNLVs pre-nursing graduates.
After enrollment in the BSN major, students must take another 64 credits in order to fulfill the graduation requirements of the Bachelor of Science in nursing degree. The 64 credits are designed to be completed in 4-semesters of full time study taking 16 months instead of the usual 24 months. As such, it is a kind of accelerated program and applicants are advised to give-up employment. Completion of all the courses awards the student a BSN degree and grants them educational capacity to apply and write the NCLEX-RN exam to become Registered Nurses (RN).
Collaborative RN to BSN Program
The collaborative registered nurse to Bachelor of Science degree program is offered by the University and the Nevada State College. The program is designed for associate or diploma registered nurses who wish to earn a baccalaureate degree. Most of the courses are taken at Nevada State College campuses with only 6 undergraduate credits being completed from the UNLV curriculum. Full time and part time study plans are offered by the college. It is worth noting that the undergraduate courses need not be taken at UNLV campuses but can be completed at Nevada. UNLV faculty teaches the courses.
The program is also designed to help RNs who wish to have a Master of Science in nursing (MSN) degree cover some courses during their baccalaureate program. Students who choose this arrangement take between 6-9 credits hours of graduate nursing courses from UNLV while still at the College. These 9 credits are double edged meaning they cover the requirements for the BSN but can still be used towards the Master of Science in nursing at UNLV.
MSN
The Master of Science in nursing (MSN) degree program at UNLV provides a flexible way to obtain an advanced practice RN status. The program has two specialty roles namely:
- Family Nurse Practitioner Track
- Nurse Educator Track
Most of the coursework for the program is offered online and students come for on-site classroom instruction once/semester for the Nurse Educator track and thrice for the nurse practitioner track. Students can also choose between the 4 semesters of a full time study plan or the 6 semesters of a part time study plan. The full time option takes 18 months to complete including 1 summer semester while the part time option has 2 summer sessions. 48 and 39 credit hours are required for graduation for the nurse practitioner and educator tracks respectively.
The university also offers an accelerated option for students taking the nurse educator track that can be completed in a record 12 months. Graduates students of Nevada State College RN to BSN program who have taken master-level nursing courses during their study may be considered for this program. These students receive up-to 9 credits for the MSN tracks at UNLV.
PhD in Nursing
The PhD program offers MSN-prepared students two options of specialization namely:
- Nurse Education option
- Urban Sustainability: Health Option
Students can choose from any of the 2-full time or 2-part time options for each track consisting of 65-credits. This precisely means that each track has 4 entry options to choose from. The option chosen depends on whether some of the MSN courses taken at master level that are applicable for exemption at PhD level. Such students follow a ‘fast track’ option in either a full time or part time plan. Those who do not have any transferable credits take the generic track with the same plans to choose from. Generally, the full time tracks take 3 years while the part time tracks take 4 years to complete including full-load summer sessions.
UNDNP
The University of Nevada Doctor of Nursing Practice (UNDNP) is a joint terminal degree program offered by both Reno and Las Vegas campuses. The program offers students two tracks to choose from namely:
- Advanced Practice
- Nurse Executive
All DNP students are admitted as full time Cohorts in fall and spring semesters and must progress as so throughout the program. Each track consists of a minimum of 39 credit hours taken through distance/ web enhanced formats. However, students are required to visit campus for 2-3 times to present and defend their DNP practice-based project. It takes 2 years of five semesters to complete the program including a summer session in the 1st year.
Continuing Education
Nursing continuing education offers chances for professional development. Such courses can be used towards license renewal in Nevada or for lifelong learning purposes. The courses are offered at the Division of Educational Outreach of the University. Through the states board of nursing, the university is an approved provider of CE for nurses by the American Nurses Credentialing Center.
Contact:
University of Nevada Las Vegas
4505 S. Maryland Pkwy, Las Vegas,
NV 89154
University of Nevada Reno Nursing School Review
Initially located in Elko, the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) was founded in 1874. Owing to the small population at that time in Elko, the legislature voted to re-locate the campus at the more populated Reno- Carson City area 10 years later. With the University’s strive to reach more residents in Nevada, it established an extension campus in Las Vegas in 1951. The extension campus grew and was later separated from the main campus to become University of Nevada Las Vegas.
University of Nevada Reno-Nursing Programs
The nursing programs at the college are offered at the Orvis School of Nursing. The school has about 7 nursing programs ranging from bachelors to doctorate degrees in nursing. Besides the usual master tracks, the nursing school also has a dual degree program in nursing and public health. All programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
The BSN curriculum prepares fresh entry-level students to become registered nurses (RN) by giving them educational capacity to take the NCLEX-RN exam. The program requires 128 credit hours for eligibility to graduate and take the licensure exam. Students must first complete all the general education courses offered exclusively in the 1st and 2nd year before taking nursing courses are offered in the 3rd and 4th years.
Out of the 128 credits, 57 are nursing major requirements and can be completed in 4 semesters of full time study. Admissions occur in both fall and spring semesters for both high school graduates and pre-nursing programs transfer students.
RN to BSN Program
The program is meant for registered nurses who wish to advance their knowledge by earning a baccalaureate degree in nursing. Candidates for this program must have current RN licensure in Nevada and must have graduated from an accredited diploma or associate in nursing program.
The nursing major coursework for this completion program is offered fully online and students complete their clinical experience at their local communities. After portfolio evaluation, RNs receive 29 upper division credits in recognition of their earlier education. Those who have not completed pre-requisite courses may take them at the university Extended Study Program or from any community college at their locality. Admission to the RN to BSN occurs once annually for classes commencing fall semester.
Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)
The MSN program is designed for BSN-Prepared registered nurse candidates. Interested candidates must be willing to take specialty roles in:
- Family Nurse Practitioner
- Nurse Educator
- Clinical Nurse Leader
All tracks require between 35-39 credit hours to complete with options of full time and part time study plans being offered. In addition, students who already have a MSN degree may seek certification in all the above tracks by taking the Post-Master’s Certificate programs.
The Orvis School of nursing also offers a unique Master of Science in nursing/ Master of Science in Public Health dual degree program. The MSN/MPH dual degree program is a good choice for highly motivated students who wish to earn two master-level degrees hand-in-hand.
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
The DNP program at University of Nevada, Reno is offered as joint degree program with University of Nevada Las Vegas. The University of Nevada DNP (UNDNP) program admits students on cohorts of up-to 15 students in each university’s school of nursing. Although most of the courses are offered online, students must go to their respective campus for purposes of presenting and defending their DNP projects. It takes 5 semesters including a summer session to complete the 39 credits curriculum.
Contact:
University of Nevada, Reno
1664 N. Virginia Street, Reno,
NV 89557
Western Nevada College Nursing Program Review
Western Nevada College (WNC), then known as Western Nevada Community College opened its doors to the first group of students in 1971. Then community college was meant o serve the residents of western Nevada especially Reno and Carson City. The college had a satellite campus in Reno which was later separated as independent campus to what today is Truckee Meadows Community College in late 1979. In 2007, the college dropped its community college name to the current name to reflect the expanded academic outlook. It offers 2-year degrees, certificates and work force training programs in its main campus at Carson City and 7 other education and learning centers across the state.
Nursing at Western Nevada College
Western Nevada College offers two nursing programs. One is a short Nursing assistant course while the other is a 2-year program that leads to the award of an occupation-based Associate of Applied Science in nursing degree. The associate degree program is approved by the National League in Nursing and accrediting Commission and is approved by the Nevada State Board of Nursing. Details of each program are provided below:
Nursing Assistant
The nursing assistant program is designed to train entry-level students basic bedside patient care skills. It is a 1-course program that enables students to apply for the Nurse Aide evaluation tests for certification as a nursing assistant. The course is also meant to meet the application requirements of most associate of science in nursing programs in the state.
Associate Degree Nursing
The associate degree in nursing at Western Nevada is the only main nursing program offered by the college. It offers a curriculum that leads to education eligibility of students to apply and write the NLCEX-RN exam to become registered nurses. Candidates applying for this program must take the Kaplan Nursing Entrance Test instead of the common TEAS test. The program is offered at the Carson City campus on a full time basis. At times, students may be required to attend classes in the evening and weekends if need arises.
A total of 71 credits must be completed on a sequential complexity progression basis to be eligible for graduation. 21 of these are general education and must be completed before the candidates apply to the program. The remaining 50 credits are taken after admission into the program and include nursing and support courses covered in a period of 4 semesters. Courses are offered on-site at Carson City or through the Western Nevada College Online Moodle therefore, students need to be computer literate. Satisfactory completion of the program awards the students an Associate of Applied Science Nursing degree.
High School Programs
Western Nevada College has partnered with High school in the western region of the state to enable them complete some courses that can be used to full some of the associate degree requirements. One such program is the Tech Prep-Nursing and Criminal justice program. Through the program, students earn college credits at their senior level at no extra cost.
Contact:
Western Nevada College
2201 W College Pkwy, Carson city,
NV 89703
