Degree Offered: Master of Science (M.S.) in Nursing

Programs: Nurse Anesthesia, Family Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Administrator, & Nurse Educator

Nurse Anesthesia

The Nurse Anesthesia Program will provide students with academic and clinical experiences that lead to an M.S. degree.  The 28 month program is full-time and requires a minimum of 66 course credits.  New classes will be admitted in January of each year for the spring semester.  The program will require travel to assigned clinical facilities in Western North Carolina including weekend and call rotations.  A written comprehensive exam will be required during the final semester.  The research requirement is a two-hour project that is to be completed during the final semesters of the program.  Students selecting the thesis option will be exempt from the research project requirement.

• Graduate School Admission Requirements
• Admission requirements for Nurse Anesthesia
• Program Director for NA
  Shawn Collins, Director CRNA Program, Assistant Professor
  AB-Tech Enka Campus, Haynes Building 617
  1459 Sand Hill Road, Candler, NC 28715
  828-670-8810 (extension 245) | Email: shawncollins@email.wcu.edu

Application Deadline: June 15 (Spring Admission)

Apply Now!

Family Nurse Practitioner

Family Nurse Practitioner Program Description: The Master of Science degree in Nursing - Family Nurse Practitioner prepares nurses in an advanced practice role with competencies in family health promotion and clinical management of common conditions across the life span. The three-year program requires 49 to 50 semester hours of graduate course work including 720 clinical hours. The total number of required hours depends on whether the thesis option is selected. A written comprehensive exam will be required during the final semester. The research requirement is a two-hour clinical project that is to be completed during the final semesters of the program. Students selecting the thesis option will be exempt from the research project requirement.

A Post-Master's Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate Program.  A post master’s certificate program is available to nurses who have earned a master’s degree in Nursing. The certificate program prepares the nurse in the advanced practice role of a Family Nurse Practitioner with competencies in family health promotion and clinical management of common conditions across the lifespan. The three year program requires 38 hours of graduate course work including 720 clinical hours. A comprehensive clinical exam will be required during the final semester. Students are exempt from the graduate core courses (NSG 601, 610, 611, and 616) and thesis or research project requirements.

In addition to the academic requirements, students are expected to adhere to the technical and professional standards of the program. For the most up to date information regarding these standards, program suspension, and termination refer to the program’s web site at the College of Health and Human Sciences.

Admission Requirements for Family Nurse Practitioner

Graduate School Admission Requirements

Program Admission Requirements

• GRE General Exam (Minimum score of 850) 
• Resume
• Professional statement (see details)
• Applicants must have a B.S.N. from a regionally accredited college or university and a nationally accredited nursing program with at least a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale in the nursing major based on the last 60 undergraduate hours. 
• Applicants must be a registered nurse eligible for licensure to practice in the state in which the student intends to practice, and have a minimum of one year clinical experience within the last five years.
• Applicants may be required to participate in an interview session that includes a written essay.
• Students who are accepted into the program must own or have access to a computer with a CD burner and high-speed Internet access.

Prerequisites:

Applicants must have completed an undergraduate or graduate level statistics course

Applicants must have completed an undergraduate course in research

Application: Application materials are available here

Nurse Administrator

Program Description: The Master of Science (M.S.) degree in Nursing - Nursing Administration, prepares nurses in an advanced practice role with competencies in Health Systems Management, Nursing Leadership and Financial Management.  The Master’s of Science in Nursing - Nursing Administration track is a 2–year program consisting of 40-41 semester hours. The total number of hours depends on whether the thesis option is selected.  This program prepares the nurse administrator to address the health care disparities within diverse populations. All courses except practicums are taught online, and practicum courses are arranged with a preceptor in a medically underserved location or with a culturally diverse population.

Admission Requirements for Nurse Administrator

Graduate School Admission Requirements

Program Admission Requirements

• GRE General Exam or MAT 
• Resume
• Professional statement (see details)
• Applicants must have a B.S.N. from a regionally accredited college or university and a nationally accredited nursing program with at least a 3.00 GPA on a 4.0 scale in the nursing major based on the last 60 undergraduate hours 
• Applicants must be a registered nurse eligible for licensure to practice in the state in which the student intends to practice, and have a minimum of one year clinical experience within the last five years.
• Applicants may be required to participate in an interview session that includes a written essay.
• Students who are accepted into the program must own or have access to a computer with a CD burner and high-speed Internet access.

Prerequisites:

Applicants must have completed an undergraduate or graduate level statistics course

Applicants must have completed an undergraduate course in research

Application Deadline:

• April 15 for following Fall Semester
• October 15 for following Spring Semester

Application: Application materials are available here

Nurse Educator

The Master of Science in Nursing, Nurse Educator track prepares nurses in an advanced practice role with competency in one of three educational areas: academic educator, staff educator, or patient educator. The three-year program requires 38 to 39 semester hours of graduate course work including a 3 credit hour practicum. The total number of required hours depends on whether the thesis option is selected. A written comprehensive exam will be required during the final semester. The research requirement is a two-hour project that is to be completed during the final semesters of the program. Students selecting the thesis option will be exempt from the research project requirement.

A Post-Graduate Nurse Educator Certificate Program is also available to students who have earned a Master of Science in Nursing degree or master's in a related discipline. The Post-Graduate Certificate Program requires 18 semester hours of study and can be completed in four semesters.

Admission Requirements for Nurse Educator

Graduate School Admission Requirements

Program Admission Requirements

• GRE General Exam or MAT 
• Resume
• Professional statement (see details)
• Applicants must have a B.S.N. from a regionally accredited college or university and a nationally accredited nursing program with at least a 3.00 GPA on a 4.0 scale in the nursing major based on the last 60 undergraduate hours 
• Applicants must be a registered nurse eligible for licensure to practice in the state in which the student intends to practice, and have a minimum of one year clinical experience within the last five years.
• Applicants may be required to participate in an interview session that includes a written essay.
• Students who are accepted into the program must own or have access to a computer with a CD burner and high-speed Internet access.

Prerequisites:

Applicants must have completed an undergraduate or graduate level statistics course

Applicants must have completed an undergraduate course in research

• April 15 for following Fall Semester
• October 15 for following Spring Semester

Application: Application materials are available here

Program Information

Number of Graduate Faculty: 7

Number of Students:
The number of students admitted is based on available faculty and clinical/practicum resources. Classes are admitted annually each fall semester. Enrollment is year-round and structured on a part-time basis.  

Location of Course Offerings:
Enka Campus Only -- on Tuesdays. (Some coursework is on-line or Web-enhanced.)

Graduate Program Directors:

Program Director for Family Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Educator, and Nurse Administrator programs
Linda Comer, Associate Director, School of Nursing, Graduate Programs
AB-Tech Enka Campus, Haynes Building
1459 Sand Hill Road , Candler, NC 28715
828-670-8810 (extension 247) | Email: lcomer@email.wcu.edu

Program Director for Nurse Anesthesia program
Shawn Collins, Director CRNA Program
AB-Tech Enka Campus, Haynes Building 617
1459 Sand Hill Road, Candler, NC 28715
828-670-8810 (extension 245) | Email: shawncollins@email.wcu.edu

Departmental Website: School of Nursing