University of Wisconsin at Eau Claire Nursing School Review

The University of Wisconsin at Eau Claire (UW-Eau Claire, UWEC) was founded in 1916 and is one of the Midwest’s top public universities. The University enrolls almost 11,000 students each year in undergraduate and graduate programs.

The 363 acre campus is located along a river in Eau Claire, a city with a population of 65,000. The campus is crossed by the Chippewa River State Trail, part of the Wisconsin state trails network.

Nursing Programs

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) Eau Claire Site

This program is for students beginning their studies in professional nursing, and is offered at the Eau Claire campus. Graduates of the program will be allowed to take the Registered Nurse (RN) licensing exam. Students will enter the University as Pre-Nursing, and may apply to the BSN program during the semester in which they have completed at least 30 credits.

Applicants will need to have at least a 3.0 GPA, have a grade of at least a C in all nursing courses, and have taken three or more natural science classes with a GPA of 2.5 or higher. Students must also be certified in CPR for Healthcare Providers, and must be certified as a Nursing Assistant (CNA) before they may register for Foundations of Nursing Practice.

BSN Marshfield Site

Students accepted into the BSN program make take courses offered in Ministry St. Joseph’s Hospital in Marshfield. The admission requirements are the same as for the BSN program in Eau Claire.

Accelerated BSN

This program is offered for students who have a bachelor’s degree in a field other than nursing. Applicants must complete the prerequisites, have an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher, a GPA of at least 2.5 in the required science courses, meet the University Cultural Diversity requirement, be CNA certified, and be CPR certified.

The prerequisites for this program are General Chemistry I, Survey of Biochemistry, Human Anatomy and Physiology I and II, Microbiology, Human Development, and Introduction to Statistics.

RN to BSN Program – Collaborative Nursing (BSN @ Home)

Nurses with an RN license may apply to this program to earn their bachelor’s degree. This flexible online program does not require students to relocate. Students may also continue to work while earning their degree.

This program is a partnership between UW-Eau Claire, UW-Madison, UW-Milwaukee, UW-Oshkosh, and UW-Greenbay. Nursing courses are offered online to students enrolled in the program, and are taught by faculty at one of the Universities. Students will designate a home University when they apply, and that is who awards their degree when they complete the program.

Applicants to this program will need to have a current RN license, or be in the final semester of an accredited nursing program, with an overall GPA of at least 2.5. Students need to have taken the non-nursing required classes prior to applying to the program. These are English Composition, Wellness Theory, Physical Activity, a Cultural Diversity course, and a Foreign Language course. They also need to take 39 credits of general education classes, including a Communication Skills course, Statistics, General Chemistry, Human Anatomy and Physiology I and II, Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Human Development.

Undergraduate Nursing Honors Program

This program allows students to extend their learning and complete a more challenging course of study, as well as complete an independent study project or paper to be reviewed by faculty committee.

Students interested in the Nursing Honors program must have a GPA of 3.5 or higher, and must have their advisor’s recommendation. Students will need to take at least eight nursing honors credits and pass an oral exam to complete the program.

Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)

This program allows students to choose a population focus of Adult-Gerontologic Health Nursing or Family Health Nursing. Students may also choose the role function of Advanced Clinical Practice, Administrator, or Educator.

This program can usually be completed over the course of two years of full time study. The number of credits required are 40-42 for the roles of Educator or Administrator, and 45-49 for Advanced Clinical Practice as Family or Adult Nurse Practitioner or Clinical Nurse Specialist.

Applicants to the MSN program must have a BSN degree with a GPA of 3.0 or higher, an RN license, have taken a Statistics class, be ready for graduate studies, demonstrate health assessment competency, and have nursing experience.

Depending on what role the student prepared for, they may be able to take the certification exams for Adult Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner, Adult Clinical Nursing Specialist, Nursing Education, or Nursing Administration.

Post-Master’s Certificate Programs

This program is for nurses with an MSN who want to assume a new role as Adult or Family Nurse Practitioner, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Nursing Education, or Nursing Administration. Students need to have a GPA of at least 3.0 in their master’s program, and specialization as a clinical nurse specialist in adult health nursing, or in adult or family health nursing.

RN-BSN-MSN

This program is for students enrolled in the RN to BSN program. It allows them to begin their MSN studies by enrolling in MSN program courses during the last year of their undergraduate program. All master’s level courses must be taken with a grade of B or higher for the student to be allowed to enroll in further graduate courses. Students may substitute graduate level courses for up to nine credits of undergraduate courses.

In addition to meeting the requirements for the RN to BSN program, students must have a recommendation from the Associate Dean of the Nursing program.

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

This program offers the highest level of education in advanced practice nursing, and allows graduates to assume leadership roles as nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, or nurse administrator.

Applicants must have an MSN degree with a GPA of at least 3.0 and an RN license. They also need to submit three reference letters, a resume, and an essay.

This program requires 28 credits to complete, and takes two years if taken part time, or three semesters if full time. Classes are offered in an online/on-campus hybrid format.

BSN to DNP

This is a new program allowing students to pursue their DNP degree immediately after earning their BSN. Students must complete 67-76 credits and at least 1050 clinical hours, depending on whether they choose the administration or advanced clinical practice roles. This program may be taken full time over the course of three years, or part time over four to five years. The 800 level courses are taught in an online/on-campus hybrid format.

Applicants must have a BSN degree with a GPA of at least 3.0, an RN license, an undergraduate Statistics course, three reference letters, a resume, and an essay.

Continuing Education

UW-Eau Claire offers continuing nursing education in a variety of subjects that have been approved by the Wisconsin Nurses Association. Courses are offered in a lecture format or online. Students may register online or through the Continuing Education office.

In Summary:

Undergraduate Programs

Undergraduate programs in nursing at University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire include a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (Traditional BSN) – Traditional track at both Eau Claire and Marshfield campuses, an Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (Accelerated BSN) and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing Completion Program (BSN Completion). The Bachelor of Science in Nursing is for individuals who wish to pursue employment as a Registered Nurse in a variety of healthcare institutions, such as hospitals, physicians’ offices, long-term care facilities and hospices amongst others. The Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing is for individuals who already hold a baccalaureate degree, and wish to pursue a second baccalaureate degree in nursing. Theses individuals are permitted to enter the accelerated track, as they already hold post-secondary education in another field and can transfer specific credits. Individuals who complete the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program at University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire can go on to write the NCLEX-RN examination in order to become licensed as a Registered Nurse.

The final undergraduate degree in nursing at the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire is the BSN Completion Program, which is intended for practicing nurses who already hold an associate degree or diploma in nursing, and wish to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree, but cannot relocate or give up employment. Individuals in this program can complete general education classes at any college or university that offers the classes and then transfer them to UW-Eau Claire. The nursing courses are taught online, and are available only to those individuals registered at the College or Nursing and Health Sciences at UW-Eau Claire, or any of the other campuses of the University. The selected campus becomes the individuals “home” campus and then all of the student services an individual may require (including financial aid, registration, etc.) must take place through that institution.

Graduate Programs

The graduate programs at University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire consist of a Master of Science in Nursing program (MSN) and a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP). The nursing programs offer hands-on clinical practice in Harlaxton, England, Anchorage, Alaska, Rosebud, South Dakota and many more locations worldwide. The Master of Science in Nursing Program at University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire is for nurses who wish to focus on Adult-Gerontologic Health Nursing or Family Health Nursing and also provides study for individuals who wish to work as a Nurse Educator. The graduate programs in nursing at University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire are intended for individuals who wish to work at higher levels of service in the field of nursing.

The Doctor of Nursing Practice program at University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire is for individuals who wish to pursue education in advanced nursing practice in either Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Specialist or Nursing Administration. The Doctor of Nursing Practice is offered as a post-masters option only, but eventually the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire hopes to offer both Master of Science in Nursing to Doctor of Nursing Practice and Bachelor of Science in Nursing to Doctor of Nursing Practice options. For individuals who have completed a Master of Science in Nursing, the Doctor of Nursing Practice includes 28 credits of nursing courses over three terms – summer, fall and spring for full-time study and two years for part-time study.

Contact:
University of Wisconsin Eau Claire
105 Garfield Avenue
,
Eau Claire
, WI 54702-4004