Wheeling Jesuit University

Nursing Programs Offered

RN to BSN Program Details

Especially designed for the motivated adult learner and working registered nurse, this program is available through a distance format. Upon completion, this program awards the nurse the baccalaureate degree and thus the opportunity for advancement in nursing. The courses are available online with students traveling to campus an average of once or twice a semester.

BSN Program Details

The Wheeling Jesuit University Nursing major builds on Jesuit principles and a foundation in the humanities and sciences. The Nursing program is rigorous and promotes both personal and professional growth. The student is challenged to think critically, to make important clinical decisions, and to act compassionately. Graduates are qualified to take the national licensing exam and to apply for licensure in any state.

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree affords the nurse flexibility and marketability in the competitive health care delivery system; opportunities for upward mobility and for management positions; a foundation for graduate school and advanced practice positions; a more time and cost efficient way to obtain a bachelors degree (returning to school to obtain a bachelors degree after receiving an associate degree often takes 4 to 6 years of part-time study to complete, and it often becomes difficult to manage school, work, and personal life).

Wheeling Jesuit graduates easily find employment in a variety of healthcare settings across the United States. Here is a partial list of professional nursing positions that graduates typically enter: hospital staff in the emergency department, intensive care unit, open heart unit, labor and delivery unit, operating room unit, neurology unit, medical/surgical units, pediatric unit; psychiatric unit; home health care agencies; public health care agencies; military service; ambulatory care clinics; physician office.

With some experience in nursing, graduates of the Wheeling Jesuit University’s Nursing Program have the following additional career opportunities: school nurse; legal nurse consultant; case manager for hospitals or health insurance agencies; nursing administrator; travel nurse; and flight nurse.

The Nursing faculty believe in preparing their graduates for the “real world.” Based on this philosophy, clinical courses are designed to give the student practical experience in a variety of nursing settings. The faculty have expertise in the clinical settings where students practice, and many faculty continue to practice in their specialties in addition to teaching in the classroom and clinical setting. Specific methods that prepare the nursing graduate to enter the work force and add to marketability are: emphasis on the development of strong assessment skills; EKG interpretation class; advanced cardiac life support class; two semesters of an NCLEX review course using computer simulations; diverse clinical experiences in open heart, cardiac care, medical/surgical units, obstetrics, home health, pediatrics, psychiatry, community health clinics, operating room, recovery room, and ambulatory care centers.

MSN Program Details

MSN Programs:

A. Nursing Administration

This MSN program is designed to enhance the graduate’s knowledge in both nursing and administration since many management positions expect the nurse to be both a clinician and a manager. This program is offered in a distance format.

B. Nursing Education Specialist

This MSN program is for nurses interested in teaching in an academic setting or in a health care agency. Offered through a distance format, this program is designed to enhance both nursing and education knowledge and skills.

C. Family Nurse Practitioner

The graduate of this MSN program is prepared to apply to take a national certifying examination in the area of family nurse practitioner. Courses are offered in a distance format. Clinical is arranged on campus and in primary care sites and clinics. 668 clinical hours are required.

RN to MSN Program Details

At the completion of this program, the graduate achieves both the BSN degree and the MSN degree. The student may elect any of the three MSN tracks listed below.