Waynesburg University Nursing School Review

Waynesburg University (WU) of Pennsylvania, located about one hour south of Pittsburgh, was founded in 1849. In addition to its main campus at Waynesburg, the university has extension centers for adult education in Southpointe, Monroeville, and North Hills (all in the suburbs of Pittsburgh). The university specializes in programs in business, communication, education, nursing, and law. Approximately 1500 students take classes at the university; two-thirds of them are undergraduate students.  The school’s nursing program boasts a high rate of success (including a first-time pass rate of 100 percent on the National Council Licensing Exam for Registered Nurses) and is fully accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

Bachelor of Science in Nursing – Basic BSN Program

Students who are interested in the traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program spend the first year as “Exploring Nursing” students, taking general education courses. They begin nursing courses through the Department of Nursing in their sophomore year. The Basic BSN program takes four years to complete, and includes general education courses, nursing courses, and clinical rotations. Graduates are prepared to take the National Council Licensing Exam for Registered Nurses (NCLEX_RN).

Bachelor of Science in Nursing – LPN to BSN

A Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) can advance in his career by earning a full BSN degree and successfully passing the NCLEX_RN. He can do so through Waynesburg University’s LPN to BSN program. In order to start the LPN to BSN program, he must enroll as a first-year student at Waynesburg University and complete any missing prerequisites and general education classes. Meanwhile, he can take an exam that tests his nursing skills, earning up to twenty-four advanced placement credits toward the lower-level nursing courses. He then enrolls as a nursing student, and transitions directly into the upper-level nursing courses of the BSN program. An LPN can complete the LPN to BSN program in six semesters.

Bachelor of Science in Nursing – Nursing as a Second Degree Program

A prospective nurse who already holds a bachelor’s degree in a field other than nursing can enroll in the Nursing as a Second Degree Program. The program takes three semesters and two additional summer terms to complete, and is only available on a full-time basis. Classes meet during the day. Before enrolling in the program, a student must complete prerequisites in anatomy, physiology, and psychology.  After completing the program, a student is eligible to take the NCLEX_RN and begin her career as a Registered Nurse (RN).

Bachelor of Science – RN to BSN

A graduate of a diploma or associate-degree nursing program is eligible to complete his BSN degree through the RN to BSN program. He can continue working full-time while studying, since the program is designed to accommodate a working schedule. Some classes are offered online, while others are offered in the evenings on campus. The classes are available on the main campus of Waynesburg University, as well as at Southpointe Center in Washington County, Seven Fields in the North Hills, and Monroeville in Eastern Allegheny County, and occasional other sites. An incoming RN will receive fifty-nine credits for his previous nursing education, and may transfer in up to thirty-two other credits toward the general education courses. He can complete the remainder of the RN to BSN curriculum in just sixteen months.

Master of Science in Nursing

A nurse who has completed a BSN program is eligible to enroll in the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program. This program consists of thirty-six credits total. Of these credits, fifteen are for core graduate nursing classes, and the remainder are for classes in a selected area of specialization. MSN students can choose to specialize in Nursing Education, Nursing Administration, Nursing Informatics, or Clinical Research Management. They are also eligible to enroll in a Dual Nursing Education and Nursing Administration track of the MSN program, which requires an additional twelve credits. The program is designed for working RNs, with classes that meet one night a week. Classes are available at the main campus of Waynesburg University, as well as at Southpointe Center in Washington County, Seven Fields in the North Hills, and Monroeville in Eastern Allegheny County. Classes for the MSN program begin year-round, and the program can be completed in two years.

Master of Science in Nursing/Master of Business Administration – Dual MSN and MBA Option

MSN students have the option of simultaneously completing the MSN degree and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree. This requires fifty-four credits in total. Students complete the Nursing Administration track of the MSN program in addition to classes through the business department.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program is open to nurses who have completed an MSN degree. The program is designed to accommodate full-time work; classes meet one weekend every other month. Classes for the DNP program are offered at Southpointe, Monroeville, and North Hills. The suggested course sequence allows for twelve credits each year, over the course of three years, but a student may complete the program in as little as two years if she wishes. The program includes clinical hours and a capstone project.

Contact:
Waynesburg University
51 W. College Street,
Waynesburg, PA 15370