The WSU Department of Nursing, founded in 1953, offers career progression opportunities: You can move from Practical Nursing (PN) to Associate of Science Degree Nursing (RN) to Bachelor of Science Nursing (BSN) to Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) via a ladder curriculum, which allows you to climb through these levels according to your individual abilities, aspirations, career goals and changing life circumstances.

The program provides a foundation from the physical, biological, behavioral and nursing sciences that you can apply in caring for clients in a variety of nursing environments.

We offer four levels of preparation for nursing practice: PN, AS/ADN, BSN, and MSN. Our curricula reflect distinct purposes and expectations for each level of preparation. Competency standards define graduate characteristics at each of these levels.

There are five entry options into the program: PN, PN to RN, RN (ADN), RN to BSN, and MSN. The PN option leads to a certificate and to licensure by examination as a PN. The PN to RN (AS/AAS) and the RN (AS) options lead to an associate's degree and to licensure by examination as a registered nurse (RN). The RN to BSN requires valid RN licensure prior to entry and leads to a bachelor's degree. The MSN requires a BSN prior to entry and leads to a master's degree.