College of Nursing
West Coast University (WCU) is committed to the education of students who have the desire to enter or advance in the nursing profession at various levels of experience. Nursing students are supported through innovative methods to develop critical thinking skills necessary to provide nursing interventions to a diverse population. The mission of the College of Nursing is to provide evidence based and innovative nursing education to culturally diverse learners; preparing nurses to provide quality and compassionate care responsive to the needs of the community and the global society. The philosophy of the College of Nursing is that education is a continuous process, occurring in phases throughout an individual’s lifetime. Nurses are lifelong learners and critical thinkers.
The purpose of the Nursing programs at WCU is to provide the essential body of knowledge and experiences necessary to prepare students for the program of their choice based on their level of experience. WCU offers the Bachelor of Science (BSN) degree in Nursing for those students desiring to enter the nursing profession. The University also utilizes a career ladder approach to enable Licensed Vocational Nurses and Registered Nurses who hold an Associate Degree or Diploma in Nursing to earn their BSN. WCU also offers the Master of Science (MSN) degree in Nursing, preparing RNs for advanced nursing practice roles, and post-master’s certificate programs in nursing education and family nurse practitioner.
College of Nursing Residency Requirements:
- Pre-Licensure Nursing Program: 30 Credits Minimum
- RN-BSN Program: 30 Credits Minimum
- RN-MSN Advanced Generalist, Informatics, Leadership or Educator: 36 Credits Minimum
- RN-MSN-FNP: 56 Credits Minimum
- MSN-Advanced Generalist, Informatics, Leadership or Educator: 24 Credits Minimum
- MSN-Family Nursing Practitioner: 41 Credits Minimum
- Post-Family Nursing Practitioner Certificate: 20 Credits Minimum