Nursing Schools in NC

WantAccel.BSN, BSN, RN · Feb 15, 2009

There are some great information sessions that the ABSN program conducts yearly. You should go to one and meet the director, face-to-face. I live in Asheville and my primary back-up plan was to attend AB-Tech, but after meeting some faculty at a nursing school open house for WCU, I would much rather do the commute to Cullowhee for a year. Classes are held M-W on Cullowhee campus for the first year, and if you live in Asheville, they try to get you into Th/F clinicals in the Asheville area. THEN, the second year of classes are on the Asheville campus. I don't think the commute would be so bad, three days a week for only two semesters. It is the same amount of time as the ADN program at AB-Tech, but you will have the BSN instead.
Definitely apply to both programs at WCU- Also, you can work in the traditional program if that is something you need to do. Where are you moving from? Did you know that East Tenn University has an accelerated nursing program? They have a day and evening program, and depending on where you live, it may only be a 45 minute commute. It was not an option for me, as I live way south and I have little kids! I can balance a lot, but I am not a superhero. Take care! Let me know if you have any more questions- I was exactly where you are a year ago, and wow, does the year fly by...

Thanks!! That is great information. I am scheduled to go to an information session in April, and am looking forward to that. Did they give you all of that information about the traditional program when you went to the information session? Can you apply to both programs at the same time? I had no idea that, in the traditional program, you would only have to commute for the first year, and maybe only for 3 days a week. That would make a big difference. I'll look into the East Tenn program, but I'll be in South Asheville so it would probably be kinda far.

We will be moving from Durham. There are several programs down here, but, assuming my husband is able to get the job he wants his summer, it really doesn't make sense for us to stay down here any longer. Honestly, I'm pretty sure I wouldn't be happy in the programs down here any way. That, and it seems to make more sense for me to go to school in the area that we are 100% sure we want to live in (we recently inherited a house up there), so I can do clinicals in places I might actually be working.

Did they give you any ideas about what they would ask in the interviews when you went to the info. session? The interview and the TEAS test are probably my two biggest sources of anxiety. I hate standardized tests, and I can sometimes get anxious when put on the spot!

Can't wait to hear whether or not you got in! I'll keep my fingers crossed for you!

Carolinanurse2010 · Feb 15, 2009

They tell you a little bit about the interview at the info session- The questions are about why you want to be a nurse, how your academic and professional life have prepared you, I think the questions are what you would expect. Again, the faculty is so nice, so although I was nervous, I felt fine. Good luck with your move! You will be fine on the TEAS- just study:) Keep in touch! I am nervously awaiting an answer, so it is great to be in touch with someone else going through the same process.

Dr. Shelia, RN · Apr 18, 2009

Don't let "organic chemistry" keep you from pursuing a career in nursing. The Survey of Bio/Organic Chemistry required for WCU is exactly that: a survey course. Take it at a local community college-- it is a very basic (and useful) course that most students (even those who have been out of school for a long time) do well in.