WPCCNursing
Get an exciting career in the healthcare field with advancement opportunities.
”Nursing is an art: and if it is to be made an art, it requires an exclusive devotion as hard a preparation…’’
— Florence Nightingale
Nursing Facts
Nursing is a career field that is in high demand, but there are some little-known facts about nursing that are interesting.
- Nursing is considered the most honest and ethical profession in the U.S.
The Gallup Poll has ranked nurses the most honest and ethical for 18 years in a row. - Nurses have been employed for thousands of years.
The first nursing school (for men only) was in India 2,200 years ago. - The Civil War saw the rise of nursing as a career in the U.S.
The first nursing school in the U.S., the New England Hospital for Women and Children opened in 1862 in New England. - There are over 4 million nurses in the U.S.
The Kaiser Family Foundation notes that there are 3.2 million registered and 800 thousand practical nurses employed in the U.S. - Demand for nurses continues to increase.
With an aging population, job opportunities in nursing continue to outpace those entering the field. - Nurses work in more places than hospitals.
In fact, only 60% of nurses work in hospitals according to AMN Healthcare. Schools, hospice care, and in-home services are a few of the other locations nurses work. - Like other healthcare professionals, nurses can specialize in a field.
There are many specialties in nursing, such as cardiac care, geriatric, hospice, long-term, and nurse educators to name a few. - You get exercise on the job.
Nurses walk an average of 4-5 miles per day during their shifts, twice the average of most Americans.
WPCC Nursing
Statistics
For the 2021-2022 year:
- Employment Rate – 100%
- Graduation Rate – 43%
- NCLEX-RN First-Time Pass Rate – 92.59%
Associate Degree Nursing at WPCC
Our Associate Degree Nursing program gives you the knowledge, skills, and strategies to provide safe, quality nursing care that positively impacts the lives of patients. You will study how the nurse is a integral member of the healthcare team, employing evidence-based practice and quality improvement in advancing appropriate healthcare practices.
Learn MoreEmployment opportunities may include positions within acute, chronic, extended, industrial, and community health care facilities. Data from O*Net Online indicates high demand for nurses.
Graduates of the A.D.N. program are eligible to apply to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN).
WPCC’s nursing program is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, Inc. (ACEN), 3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400, Atlanta, GA 30326, (404) 975-5000.
Program Costs, Graduation & Job Placement
Estimated Total Cost
for A.A.S. Degree
- AHA-BLS Healthcare Provider (Every 2 years) – $70
- Immunizations (See enclosed Health Form) – $200 (variable)
- 2-Tb tests at the beginning of the program and 1-beginning of 2nd – $100
- A minimum of 2 uniforms (2-Ceil blue tunic tops and 2-black pants) – $100
- 2-lab jackets – $60
- A pair of nursing shoes (black enclosed shoes, no clogs, no canvas) – $100
- A watch with a second hand – $30
- A stethoscope – $40
- Bandage scissors – $20
- (6) 2” Binders, paper, dividers, tabs – $150
- Pens, pencils, erasers, highlighters – $100
- Thumb Drive – $20
- Computer (laptop) for loading books and bringing to class – $500-$1,000
- Electronic Resources (books & V.sims) (fee for the entire program) – $1,700
- Textbook for co-requisite course (ACA-115) – $62
- ATI Lab fees- [$625.00/semester (4)] – $2,500
- Technology, parking, activity and Insurance fees [x4 semesters] – $289
- Tuition $76 per credit hour x 67 credit hours (Entire Program) – $5,100
- Graduation Petition Fee – $30
- Pinning Ceremony Uniform – $50
- School Pin – $60
- Lamp for pinning ceremony – $35
- NCLEX-RN Application Process:
- NC Application Fee – $75
- Criminal Background Check – $38
- Fingerprinting – $10
- NCLEX-RN registration (Pearson View) – $200
- Passport photo for application – $10
- CastleBranch (First- and Second-year requirements) – $189
ESTIMATED TOTAL FOR THE PROGRAM: $11,838-12,388
Graduation Rates
43%
Job Placement
100%
Additional Requirements for Licensure,
Certification or Approval
2021-22 First-Time Takers of NCLEX-RN pass rate is 92.59%
(WPCC is consistently above the national average)
Applying for Admission
Admission is selective and all requirements (1-8) must be completed and submitted by May 31st of the same year the student intends a Fall entrance. Nursing Director will mail (paper & email) the notification of acceptance and letters of intent beginning January 31st (as students qualify). WPCC Nursing does not have a “waiting list”. July 18th is the final date letters of intent will be accepted (either paper or email).
- Completion of a Western Piedmont Community College admission application with Nursing as major by May 31, 2023.
- Submission of official high school and all college transcripts.
- Cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.5 on all post-secondary coursework within the last 7 years.
- Eligible to take ENG 111 or higher without a co-requisite.
- Eligible to take MAT 143 or higher without a co-requisite.
- Completion of high school biology, BIO 111, or BIO 168 with a grade of “C” or better within the last 7 years.
- Submission of a certificate of completion/transcript from a state approved Nurse Aide I program and an active DHSR listing. For more information, call the Foothills Higher Education Center at 828.448.3532 or visit the WPCC Nurse Aide page.
- Completion of the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) with a minimum score in the proficient category of ≥ 63 (unrounded). TEAS score must be 3 years old or less and may only be taken twice in an academic year with at least 45 days between testing. A TEAS test schedule & registration link will be emailed to pre-nursing students in the Program A1030N. Typically test date options vary, but will be prior to the deadline. Study resources: www.atitesting.com & the WPCC Academic Success Center
Other Information for Applicants
WPCC ranks applicants to the Associate Degree Nursing program on the following points grid and they are admitted as space permits:
- BIO 168 – Anatomy & Physiology I (A=20, B=15, C=10)
- BIO 169 – Anatomy & Physiology II (A=20, B=15, C=10)
- ENG 111 – Writing & Inquiry (A=10, B=7, C=5)
- PSY 150 – General Psychology (A=10, B=7, C=5)
- TEAS Categories:
Exemplary (40 points)
Advanced (30 points)
Proficient (20 points)
Western Piedmont Community College reserves the right to make changes in the admissions requirements as needed.
- Nursing applicants are encouraged to complete Anatomy & Physiology I and II before entering the Nursing Program.
- North Carolina law requires a nursing student to be physically and emotionally healthy in order to ensure safe care of clients. The determination that a student is healthy and can participate in clinical practice must be made by a licensed medical provider (physician, physician’s assistant, or nurse practitioner). A student is admitted conditionally until a completed physical appraisal form, including the statement verifying the student is able to perform clinical practice and with documentation of all required immunizations, is uploaded on castlebranch.com.
- An applicant is considered a nursing student at Western Piedmont Community College when official written notification of admission is received, the student has submitted written acceptance of admission to the program, and the health form with documentation of immunizations are completed as stated above.
- A fee is assessed for professional liability insurance and Assessment Technology Institute supplemental resources at the time of registration.
- Clinical practice experiences are provided at many different facilities. Students are responsible for providing transportation to the sites and purchasing required uniforms.
- Clinical agencies accredited by The Joint Commission may require a criminal background check on and/or drug testing for nursing students. This is a requirement of the agencies and not the nursing program. Any student denied clinical access at any WPCC clinical agency due to the results of the criminal background check, drug test, or for any other reason will be dismissed from the program. Also, the North Carolina Board of Nursing requires a separate criminal background check on all program graduates prior to taking the NCLEX-RN Licensure exam. Specific information regarding this process is provided to students in the last semester of the nursing program.
Contact Us
Call Us
(828) 448-3533
Email Us
Our Location
2128 South Sterling Street
Morganton, NC 28655