UW or WSU Spokane. Can't decide!

LV3677 · Apr 21, 2016

UW for sure. My hometown is Spokane. WSU students are great, but if you want the experience of a level one trauma center/nationally recognized burn center/teaching hospital, you'll want to go to Seattle for UW's clinicals at Harborview. Not to mention it's incredibly difficult to get in UW's nursing program; way to go!

coug_nurse · Apr 21, 2016

I personally am in the WSU-Spokane program, just finishing up my junior year. I lived 30mins north of Seattle until I left for college. I can only speak for WSU program as I have no idea about UW's, besides a girl I know is really enjoying it. I love my program and I'm a very proud Coug. The campus is small in Spokane, which I was worried about since I came from the large Pullman campus but I enjoy the smaller campus a lot. The student entertainment board does great activities for the students and really promotes interprofessional learning. Simulation lab is state of the art, I've loved my clinical professors. Clinical sites are good; large and medium sized hospitals. The connections with cougar alumni and the staff are incredible, I've already secured a job in Seattle after I graduate next year. At the moment, biggest con i'd say is the first semester is just way to over loaded with class, clinical, and lab. The school knows this. They are actively changing the curriculum but probably won't start that for another year or so. It is do-able, but not very fun to go through. I'm sure this happens at other schools too. My second semester has gone very smoothly for me. Is there anything you wanted to know about specifically? I've enjoyed getting to know a new city and live somewhere different. most of my friends from school are from Spokane. I can say I personally did not enjoy Harborview when I job shadowed there a few years ago, but I'm just not a large hospital type of girl. That was sort of a ramble but feel free to ask me anything!

subsub · Apr 21, 2016

Thanks for the feedback! I've definitely heard that UW students don't feel as supported by their instructors and that the program is a tad unorganized, so I'm a bit concerned. WSU students, on the other hand, seem pretty happy. Do a lot of the students try relocating to Seattle after graduation? (What does the job market for nurses look like in Spokane?) Also, would you say that the students are primarily younger or is there a mix of ages and backgrounds? (I'm in my 30's so that why I ask ) I appreciate you being so thorough! Thanks again.

coug_nurse · Apr 21, 2016

I would say I feel supported by 90% of my instructors (there are a couple not as nice ones, but they are not mean just here to teach the class and do research). A fair amount of the staff will do everything they can to help you with whatever you need (one is particular really helped me getting the job). Job market is good for WSU nurses, as the hospitals around here are shorter on BSN prepared nurses. A lot of people are from Seattle though and all their family is back on the Westside so that is why they move back to Seattle, not because they cannot find jobs here. There are a couple of hospitals with new grad residency programs. At the moment I do clinicals at Kootenai (a magnet status hospital in Coeur d'Alene) and many of the nurses there have graduated WSU within the past 10 years. There certainly is a mix of ages (average age is 26), but majority is young. I would say probably at the very least 15% of my class is people over the age of 25. I do not feel like their is any exclusion based on age, and the older students tend to group together and form great friendships.