- Completion of all required learning support courses
- A grade of “C” or better in BIOL 2010/2011
- Completion of ENGL 1010, MATH 1530, and PSYC 1030 (with a grade of “C” or better
- Grade point average of at least 2.5 in required general education courses
- A 2.0 GPA of all courses taken at Walters State
- Application to WSCC and a separate nursing application
Additional Information
The Associate of Applied Science Degree in Nursing prepares individuals to apply to take the National Council Licensing Exam for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) following approval by the State Board of Nursing to become registered nurses and assume positions in the healthcare industry. Settings such as hospitals, long-term care facilities, and clinics are just a few of the career options available to Walters State nursing graduates.
The Nursing degree program is offered at WSCC campuses in Morristown, Greeneville, and Sevierville.
Application Requirements
Apply to the Nursing Program
Students must read, understand and comply with the following information prior to applying to the nursing program.
Application Requirements
- Application to WSCC and a separate nursing application
- Completion of all required learning support courses
- A grade of “C” or better in BIOL 2010/2011
- Completion of ENGL 1010, MATH 1530, and PSYC 1030 (with a grade of “C” or better)
- Grade point average of at least 2.5 in required general education courses
- A 2.0 GPA of all courses taken at Walters State
- *Meeting minimum requirements does not guarantee program admission
Application Deadlines
Fall Semester Admission - Morristown / Greeneville
January 31st of the year the student elects to participate in the selection process. (Courses taken through Spring semester of the year the student elects to participate will be considered.) Fall acceptance letters will be mailed approximately mid-June.
November 1
Application Period Begins
Online Application Available
January 31
Application Period Ends
Online Application Unavailable after 11:59 p.m.
Spring Semester Admission - Morristown / Sevierville
During the Fall prior to the Spring Semester the student elects to participate in the selection process. (Courses taken through Fall semester prior to the Spring will be considered.) Spring acceptance letters will be mailed approximately the first full week of January.
August 1
Application Period Begins
Online Application Available in Early Fall
October 1
Application Period Ends
Online Application Unavailable after 11:59 p.m.
Career Mobility Admission - LPN-RN Transition
January 31st of the year the student elects to participate in the selection process. (Courses taken through Fall semester prior to the application deadline will be considered.) Career Mobility acceptance letters will be mailed approximately the first week of April.
November 1
Application Period Begins
Online Application Available
January 31
Application Period Ends
Online Application Unavailable after 11:59 p.m.
Only students who are accepted will be notified by mail.
Pre-Nursing Entrance Exam
Additional ranking points can be obtained for either:
- ACT/ACT Residual score of greater than 19, or
- A defined score on a pre-nursing assessment exam. All tests scores must be less than 5 years old.
The pre-nursing assessment exam currently being used is the HESI-A2. This test consists of three sections including math, reading, and vocabulary. To receive the additional ranking points, the candidate must achieve 80% or better in each of the three sections.
Deadlines for Completion to be considered in the admission ranking
- Fall Admission: April 30
- Spring Admission: November 30
- Career Mobility: January 31
For information regarding exam scheduling and cost, please visit the Counseling & Testing Website or call 423.585.6800.
WSCC Health Programs Immunization Requirements
Available on the Health Programs Application Portal
What should I do if I do not receive notification?
- If you know you are qualified
- If you think you might not have been qualified
- If you were qualified but not accepted
If you know you are qualified
If you think you might not have been qualified
Please contact a health program advisor to assist you in planning your course work to increase your chance of success next year.
Advisors are available:
Monday - Thursday: 8:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Please call 423.585.6981 to schedule an appointment
If you were qualified but not accepted
You will need to reapply for the next nursing admission period.
- It is the student's responsibility to make sure transcripts are forwarded from transferring institutions to WSCC Admissions Department promptly.
- Only completed applications will be considered for admission.
Academic Information
Philosophy and Conceptual Framework of the Nursing Department
The Walters State Community College Department of Nursing shares the Vision and Mission of the College. The philosophy of the nursing program provides the foundation for the curriculum, reflects the beliefs of the faculty, and supports achievement of division student learning outcomes.
Missing and Purpose
The purpose of the Program is to provide an affordable, high quality nursing educational opportunity for the residents of East Tennessee. The program will prepare individuals to:
- Complete the requirements for an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Nursing
- Complete successfully the National Council Licensing Exam for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN).
- Provide safe and effective care for diverse populations.
- Promote improvement in the quality of life for East Tennessee residents.
- Maintain a spirit of inquiry through lifelong learning.
- Access other educational institutions for higher education in nursing
The Practice of Associate Degree Nursing
The Associate Degree Nurse is prepared for entry level practice as a registered nurse. To achieve the outcomes of the program, graduates will demonstrate relationship-centered care based on national standards set forth by the National League for Nursing (NLN, 2010) and the Quality and Safety Education for Nurses initiative (QSEN, 2011).
End of Program Student Learning Outcomes:
- Practice within the ethical, legal and regulatory frameworks of nursing & the standards of professional nursing practice.
- Communicate effectively using verbal, nonverbal, and written techniques including information and technology.
- Analyze subjective and objective data to identify actual or potential health alterations.
- Evaluate outcomes of clinical decisions implemented to provide safe and effective evidenced-based nursing care.
- Evaluate the effectiveness of caring interventions that incorporate principles of dignity, safety, & knowledge.
- Incorporate principles of teaching and learning to meet the educational needs of patients, families, and /or groups.
- Collaborate when planning, implementing, and evaluating care.
- Manage care through effective use of prioritization, delegation, informatics, and resources.
Inherent in the program and graduate outcomes are the core components and competencies basic to the practice of nursing as identified by the National League for Nursing (2000) and the quality and safety competencies identified by QSEN.
Core Components and Competencies
- Professional Behaviors
- Communication
- Assessment
- Clinical Decision Making
- Caring Interventions
- Teaching/Learning
- Collaboration
- Managing Care
Quality and Safety Competencies
- Patient-Centered Care
- Teamwork and Collaboration
- Evidence Based Practice
- Quality Improvement
- Safety
- Informatics
Education
The Walters State Community College nursing program promotes excellence in the teaching and preparation of students for life-long learning. Each student is valued as a unique person and is guided toward development of individual potential as a contributing member of the nursing profession and as a citizen in a democratic society.
The faculty believe that learning takes place within the learner; therefore, self awareness and self evaluation are emphasized. Faculty acknowledge that learners bring a variety of life experiences, learning styles, and personal goals to the education setting. Further, faculty believe learning is:
- Meaningful, when there are goals and objectives.
- Enhanced, when the climate is non-judgmental.
- Meaningful and lasting, when there is opportunity for application.
- Enhanced, when the learner is motivated by an awareness of his or her own needs.
- Progressive from the familiar to the new and from the simple to the complex.
- Enhanced, when the learner is involved in the learning process.
To prepare an adaptable generalist, nursing education is best accomplished in an institution of higher learning through a curriculum which incorporates knowledge from a variety of disciplines. These disciplines include the natural sciences, social and behavioral sciences, humanities and mathematics as well as the incorporation of oral, written, and technological communication.
The combination of general and nursing education courses provides learning experiences that prepare the student to function with intellectual and technical competence, utilizing critical thinking skills in the application of the nursing process.
The nursing faculty endeavors to provide the guidance that will enable each individual to apply his or her potential in the field of nursing. The nursing faculty facilitates learning for the students while functioning as nursing experts, teachers, mentors, and nurturers.
Philosophy
The philosophy of the Nursing Program is a belief system held by the faculty regarding person, environment, health, and nursing. These defining concepts are interrelated and exist in a dynamic relationship.
PERSON is defined as a human being worthy of respect and dignity. Accepting Maslow's theory, each individual has a hierarchy of needs from physiologic to self-actualization. Each person makes decisions and choices based on knowledge, cultural background, experience, perceptions, values, and goals. Changes in the person occur throughout the lifespan. Each person interacts with and responds to changes in the internal and external environment. The concept of person may include individuals, families, communities, and groups.
ENVIRONMENT refers to the total of all factors and processes, internal and external, continuously impacting on the person.
HEALTH is a dynamic state of being resulting from the adaptation to the interaction of person and environment. Health is a subjective and individual perception existing on a continuum from optimal wellness through end of life.
NURSING is an applied discipline of knowledge and skills based on research. Nursing functions are dependent, independent, and collaborative. The nurse interacts with the person in the environment to promote health. As a stakeholder in the community, nursing has a responsibility to provide fiscally sound, quality care that promotes health, prevents illness, restores health, and facilitates coping across the lifespan. Nursing occurs in a variety of settings.
Nursing process is a systematic method that uses critical thinking to provide structure to nursing practice toward the achievement of positive outcomes. Through the use of nursing process, nurses diagnose and treat the person's response to actual and potential health problems. The practice of nursing includes provision for a safe effective care environment, measures to achieve physiological and psychosocial integrity, and promotion and maintenance of health.
The Conceptual Model for this associate degree program depicts the interrelationship between the central concepts of person, environment, health, and nursing. The outer circle reflects the external environment. The broken lines of the two inner circles illustrate the continuous open interaction between the internal and external environments. The inner circles, representing person and nursing, overlap to depict the role of nursing as it interacts to promote health, prevent illness, restore health, and facilitate coping. The straight line intersecting person depicts the health continuum on which each person exists.
Estimated Expenses
Tuition, Fees and Financial Aid
Tuition is set each June by the Tennessee Board of Regents. Tuition and fees for the current academic year may be viewed on the Cashiers Office website.
Four types of financial aid are available; federal, state, institutional and other sources. Students need to send FAFSA information to the college for consideration for state and/or federal money (lottery scholarships, Pell grants, etc.). WSCC is an eligible institution for Hope (lottery) scholarships. For specific information please contact the Financial Aid Office.
Students Admitted Beginning Fall 2024
Expenses prior to admission to program not included in overall expenses:
| Hepatitis B Vaccination (3 doses over seven months) |
$150 | Begin this process several months before first semester. |
| Entrance Exam | $120 | 2 attempts maximum |
Expenses in 1st - 4th semester are in addition to college tuition and fees:
First Semester Expenses
| Physical Exam | $200 | Pesonal physician, estimated |
| ATI Package (Text, resources, review) | $690.33 | Varies |
| Clinical Uniforms (1 uniform, 1 lab coat, shoes) | $125 | Shoes not included |
| Patches for lab coat (2) | $20 | WSCC |
| Background check and drug screen | $100 | Varies |
Second Semester Expenses:
| ATI Package (Text, resources, review) | $690.33 | Varies |
Third Semester Expenses:
| ATI Package (Text, resources, review) | $690.33 | Varies |
Fourth Semester Expenses
| ATI Package (Text, resources, review) | $690.33 | Varies |
| NCLEX-RN Fee | $200 | |
| Photograph sitting fee | $27 | Varies |
| Fingerprint and background check by TBI for licensure | $45 | Varies |
| Graduate nursing pin (sterling silver) | $55 | Optional |
*Price of Professional Liability Insurance may vary based on additional license / certification.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What courses should I take first?
- What courses do I need to get into nursing?
- When do I need to take BIOL 2020/2021 (Anatomy & Physiology II)?
- Do I need to take micro?
- Do I have to take Math?
- Do I need to complete the general education requirements before I apply to nursing?
- When do I apply?
What courses should I take first?
What courses do I need to get into nursing?
You must complete
- BIOL 2010/2011 (with a grade of "C" or better in all science courses)
- ENGL 1010, MATH 1530 and PSYC 1030. (with a grade of “C” or better)
- all required learning support courses
For career mobility, students will be ranked on classes completed through fall semester.
Students applying for fall clinical admission will be ranked on classes completed at the end of spring semester.
Students applying for spring clinical admission will be ranked on classes completed at the end of fall semester.
When do I need to take BIOL 2020/2021 (Anatomy & Physiology II)?
BIOL 2020/2021 must be completed before the beginning of the second semester of clinical nursing. When BIOL 2020/2021 is taken, a grade of "C" or better must by achieved for admission or progression in clinical nursing.
Completion of BIOL 2020/2021 with a grade of "B" or better will be considered in your ranking score for admission.
Do I need to take micro?
Microbiology BIOL 2230/2231 must be completed before the beginning of the fourth semester of clinical nursing.
When BIOL 2230/2231 is taken, a grade of "C" or better must by achieved for admission or progression in clinical nursing.
Do I have to take Math?
Do I need to complete the general education requirements before I apply to nursing?
The required courses for admission consideration are BIOL 2010/2011, ENGL 1010, MATH 1530, PSYC 1030.
After completing these courses, you certainly are encouraged to begin taking the remaining required general education courses.
When do I apply?
For Fall Semester admission - January 31st of the year the student elects to participate in the selection process. (Courses taken through Spring semester of the year the student elects to participate will be considered.)
For Spring Semester admission - October 1st prior to the Spring the student elects to participate in the selection process. (Courses taken through Fall semester prior to the Spring will be considered.)
For Career Mobility admission - January 31st of the year the student elects to participate in the selection process. (Courses taken through Fall semester prior to the application deadline will be considered.)
