Nursing Education

Program available at/via: [Walla Walla][Clarkston]

Department Overview: The Associate Degree Nursing Program at WWCC is approved by the Washington State Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission: 310 Israel Rd., Tumwater, WA 98501, phone (360) 236-4700. The Associate Degree Nursing Program is also accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), formerly called the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC): 3390 Peachtree Rd NE, Suite 1400, Atlanta, Georgia 30326, phone (404) 975-5000, http://www.acenursing.org.

Letter of ACEN Accreditation

Program Level Outcomes:

The program’s most recent annual pass rate on the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) will be at least 80% for all first-time test-takers during the same 12-month period.
Seventy percent (70%) or more of students will earn an associate level degree in nursing within two years (six quarters) of enrollment in the first nursing course.
Ninety percent (90%) of the nursing graduates who responded to the Nursing Graduate Survey will report being employed in nursing 6-12 months after graduation.
Forty percent (40%) of the nursing graduates who responded to the Nursing Graduate Survey will report being admitted to or having completed a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree at 6-12 months after graduation.
Ninety percent (90%) of the nursing graduates who responded to the Nursing Graduate Survey will rate their overall nursing program satisfaction at ≥ 3 on a 1-4 point scale. (4 = Highly satisfied, 3 = Satisfied, 2 = Dissatisfied, 1 = Highly dissatisfied)
Eighty percent (80%) of the employers of nursing program graduates who responded to the Employer Survey will rate the Overall Job Preparation of graduates 3 on a 1-4 point scale. (4 = Excellent, 3 = Good, 2 = Fair, 1 = Poor)

WWCC Nursing Program Outcomes Results

Degrees: Associate in Nursing DTA/MRP (Direct Transfer Agreement/Major Related Program) Degree.

Graduates who complete the Associate in Nursing DTA/MRP degree are eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination-Registered Nurse (NCLEX-RN) exam to become licensed as a Registered Nurse. Passing the NCLEX-RN exam and completion of this transfer degree provide the general education and nursing courses for direct transfer with only one additional year of study to complete the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree at public four-year institutions in Washington state. While the agreements with baccalaureate institutions assure the transfer of credit, the admission to a particular university program is not assured. Each institution has separate admission criteria which can be based on grades and other considerations.

Industry Description: According to the 2016-2026 Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of Registered Nurses (RN) is expected to grow 15%, faster than the average for other occupations. The median pay for an RN in 2021 was $77,600 or $37.31/hour. Retirement of a large number of “baby boomers”, chronic disease management, and longer life expectancies are all factors in the ongoing national shortage of nurses. In the future, more focus will be placed on preventive care, patient education, and community management of chronic diseases and nurses are essential in this objective. All associate level RNs are strongly encouraged to pursue further education in nursing to at least the Bachelor of Nursing (BSN) level to provide the most effective evidence-based nursing care in this ever changing healthcare environment.