Nursing - University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point

Nursing - University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
School of Health Sciences and Wellness
Nursing Degree
Major
Help patients maintain and recover their health and well-being
When you choose nursing at UW-Stevens Point, you will find a path to your BSN that is cost effective, flexible and supportive. Students can pursue
pre-nursing
with our 1+2+1 partnership program or
RN to BSN completion
for those with an Associate Degree in Nursing completed or in progress. Pre-nursing students start classes at UWSP, transition to the local technical college for four semesters of RN classes then finish their BSN degree with UWSP.
GET STARTED TODAY!
Request information and start your journey to making an impact with a degree in nursing from UW-Stevens Point.
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Why choose Nursing at UW-Stevens Point?
When you choose nursing at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, you’ll have two options: pre-nursing (provides prerequisite courses for admission to schools of nursing) or the Bachelor of Science in Nursing completion program designed for associate degree or diploma registered nurses. UW-Stevens Point also offers the pre-nursing program that can satisfy prerequisites to our 1+2+1 nursing partnership program, or to other BSN programs.
Sample Graduation Plan
Academic and Career Advising
Scholarships and Aid
Pre-Nursing
RN to BSN Completion
Nursing
Hired Before Graduation
Jasmin Duranceau
Jasmin Duranceau
was hired before graduation at
Aspirus
Birthing Center in Wausau, Wis.,
as a r
egistered nurse.
Hired Before Graduation
Alumni Map
Where are they now?
UW-Stevens Point alumni live and work all over the world—so if you’re looking for networking opportunities close to a new home or contact info for fellow Pointer in another city, you’re in luck. Looking for a fellow Pointer near you or want to add your pin? Start with our map.
Alumni Map
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What to Expect?
According to the Wisconsin Center for Nursing, the current increasing demand for RNs in the state of Wisconsin–coupled with the decreasing total number of RNs–will lead to supply demand gap of 35 percent by 2035.
Just about anywhere doctors work, RNs do too, including but not limited to hospitals, doctor’s offices, clinics, hospice, emergency rooms, intensive care, government agencies, corporations, and more. In fact, RNs also work in other areas where physicians typically do not, including home health and schools. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, over half of all RNs work in hospitals.
Pre-Nursing Paths at UW-Stevens Point
The 1+2+1 nursing partnership program (1 year at UWSP + 2 years at Partner Program + 1 year at UWSP) offers an opportunity for high school graduates to earn both an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing (BSN) through the collaborative programs of UW-Stevens Point, Mid-State Technical College (Stevens Point, Wisconsin Rapids and Marshfield), Northcentral Technical College (Wausau) and Nicolet College (Rhinelander).
Students entering the program can experience traditional college opportunities, including: living on campus, NCAA athletics, and participation in student organizations while also taking advantage of the high quality, nationally accredited expertise of UWSP and our partner ADN programs.
Students may begin their coursework at UWSP or partner institutions by taking general education courses in addition to the partnership program’s ADN admission requirements. It is possible to be dually enrolled at UWSP and the local partner institution to complete these requirements.
This program provides an efficient and affordable path to becoming a Registered Nurse (RN) in Central Wisconsin. For students beginning at UWSP, the program provides a competitive application process for UWSP students to gain entrance into a partner’s ADN program at Mid-State, NTC or Nicolet. Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee selection via the competitive application process. Priority for selection is given to students that have: (1) successfully completed pre-nursing and general education requirements, (2) greater credit hours with UWSP, and (3) a higher cumulative GPA. Students may be selected for placement in the ADN program at any of our three partner institutions: Mid-State, NTC or Nicolet.
Upon completion of the ADN, students then complete the
RN to BSN Completion program
with UWSP.
The RN to BSN Completion program requires students to have an Associate Degree in Nursing.
When do I apply to the Nursing Program?
There is not a set requirement on when you must apply, but if you want to follow our sample graduation plan as an incoming freshman starting in the fall, and want to graduate with both your Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) and your Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) within the four-year timeframe, it is recommended to apply at the end of your second semester of freshman year, while enrolled in General Anatomy and Physiology with the technical college. Transfer students or students bringing in a lot of dual enrollment credits from high school may want to develop a customized grad plan with the UWSP nursing adviser to determine application timeline. Students who were required to take MATH 90 based on the math placement test will likely apply during their fourth semester and graduate with the BSN in 4.5 years total.
UWSP Pre-Nursing 1+2+1 Application Checklist
The 1+2+1 partnership program is a unique opportunity for UWSP students. In this program, students spend 1 year at UWSP + 2 years at a partner program school completing associate degree in nursing and then +1 year back at UWSP for completion of the BSN degree. This unique opportunity gets students into the workforce sooner, gaining salary and benefit options with licensure, while completing a bachelor’s degree.
Students get the best of both worlds with our 1+2+1 program, they get to experience traditional college opportunities, including: living on campus, NCAA athletics and participation in student organizations–all of this while taking advantage of the high-quality, nationally accredited expertise of UW-Stevens Point and our partnering programs. The nursing partner program is with Northcentral Technical College in Wausau, Wisconsin.
For more information about the UW-Stevens Point international nursing program, contact Krista Nelsen, international recruitment specialist, at 715-346-2702 or
krista.nelsen@uwsp.edu
. You may also learn more about the
Office of International Education
The United States Department of Education requires institutions that provide distance education to disclose information for programs leading to professional certification or licensure about whether each program meets state educational requirements for initial licensure or certification. Following is this disclosure information for this program:
This program meets the certification/licensure requirements in the following states/territories*:
Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming
This program
does not
meet the certification/licensure requirements in the following states/territories**:
Alaska, American Samoa, California, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New York, Northern Mariana Islands, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Republic of Palau, Republic of the Marshall Islands, U.S. Virgin Islands
The UW-Stevens Point Pre-Nursing (1+2+1) curriculum fulfills the State of Wisconsin requirements for licensure. Additionally, the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) permits licensed nurses to practice in participating states. More information on states that participate in the NLC may be found here:
**
Several states and territories in the “do not meet” list above have legislation and implementation pending to join the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC). Prospective students in any of these states should examine the status of the NLC agreements at:
Nursing 1+2+1 FAQs
The numbers 1+2+1 represent the general structure of a student’s academic journey through the program:
“1” = Your first year is primarily spent taking courses through UWSP, building your foundation in science and general education. Some students may take anatomy and physiology courses through a partner institution, depending on availability.
“+2” = During years two and three, you are dually enrolled with a technical college, completing your associate degree in nursing (ADN). You’ll still take at least one UWSP course each semester and remain fully connected to UWSP. 38 nursing credits are completed at the technical college partner for the ADN.
“+1” = Your final year is spent completing your Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) through UWSP, with flexible online or Zoom-based courses.
Technically, the timeline is closer to “1.5 + 2 + 0.5,” but “1+2+1” is a simpler way to describe the flow—and it sticks! Refer to
the Sample Graduation Plan for Pre-Nursing 1+2+1 Program
for a better understanding of the course flow and structure.
Not exactly. Students are UWSP students from start to finish. Typically, on a traditional path, during semesters 4-7, they are dually enrolled with a technical college while continuing UWSP coursework. They take at least one UWSP course online each semester during this time. Clinicals are coordinated through the technical college as part of the ADN portion of the program. Students remain eligible for UWSP housing, athletics, financial aid, and student life throughout the entire program. Transfer students or students who changed their major to nursing may have a different path.
This is up to every individual student. Traditional students with no prior college credits can follow our standard four-year plan. Students are generally able to complete everything in 4 years if they are successful at their first attempts at every class. Some students choose to go part-time due to being a non-traditional student, transferring from other schools, already having a bachelor’s degree in a different field, or changing their major to nursing. Transfer students or students who changed their major to nursing may have a different path. New students with many dual enrollment or AP courses may possibly graduate early. Contact the UWSP nursing advisor in
the School of Health Sciences and Wellness Student Success Center
for a customized graduation plan if necessary.
Yes! Students remain eligible for
athletics
student organizations
and
campus housing
throughout the program. Even during dual enrollment, credits taken at the technical college count toward full-time enrollment for athletic eligibility and student engagement.
Yes. All
financial aid and military benefits
are handled through UWSP, even during dual enrollment. The credits taken at the technical college are included in the total credit load used to determine financial aid eligibility. The process is called a consortium agreement.
Students may choose from:
Mid-State Technical College (MSTC)
Campuses in Stevens Point, Wisconsin Rapids, Marshfield, Adams
Northcentral Technical College (NTC)
Wausau Campus only
Nicolet College
Rhinelander Campus only
Includes a rural Northwoods experience with housing at
UWSP Treehaven
, located between Tomahawk and Rhinelander, during the 4-semester ADN portion of the program.
UWSP has not had a waitlist in the past 6 years, and students have consistently been placed in their first or second choice ADN program if eligible. However, waitlists cannot be guaranteed in the future. The UWSP nursing program works closely with partners to maintain seat availability for our students and negotiate for more openings when needed.
Generally, students get their first choice and have always at least received their second choice, although not guaranteed. This depends on factors such as UWSP GPA, number of UWSP credits, and number of students wanting to attend a specific technical college partner.
Students save significantly because a typical student in semesters 4–7—the four semesters of the ADN portion—is primarily billed by the technical college partner, where tuition is nearly half the cost of traditional UWSP tuition. During this time, students typically take one UWSP course per semester billed by UWSP at their tuition rate.
In total,
at least 38
of the 120 credits required for graduation are billed by the technical college partner. 38 is the number of ADN credits you will earn at the technical college partner.
Applications are fully hosted by UWSP. To apply, students generally need the following courses:
General Chemistry
General Anatomy and Physiology
Advanced Anatomy and Physiology
Human Growth and Development or Developmental Psychology
Nursing Assistant (CNA) course
Statistics course
Minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA
Generally, these courses must be completed with a “C” or better; or be in progress for the current semester in which they are applying; or registered for the following semester. Requirements may vary slightly between partner colleges—please refer to
the application checklist (PDF) for full details
There is no strict deadline, but timing matters if you want to stay on track for a four-year graduation.
If you’re an incoming freshman starting in the fall and plan to follow
the sample graduation plan
, it’s recommended to apply at the end of your second semester, while enrolled in General Anatomy and Physiology at the technical college.
Transfer students or those bringing in dual enrollment/AP credits should meet with the UWSP nursing advisor in
the School of Health Sciences and Wellness Student Success Center
to create a customized graduation plan and determine the best time to apply.
Students who are required to take MATH 90 based on placement testing will likely apply in their fourth semester and graduate in approximately 4.5 years, with an added semester.
Application cycles:
To start the ADN program in a fall semester, apply in December of the previous year (about 9 months in advance).
To start in a spring semester, apply in May of the previous year (about 9 months in advance).
While a 2.5 GPA is the minimum for admission, nursing courses at the technical college are rigorous and follow a higher grading scale—any grade below 80% is considered failing and must be repeated. A 3.0 cumulative GPA or higher is more closely aligned with the academic expectations of the program.
No. There are no entrance exams (like the HESI), no essays and no letters of recommendation required. The application is based on academic information only.
No. Once a student begins the ADN portion of the program with a technical college partner, they must
complete the program with that same institution
If they wish to change partners (e.g., from MSTC to NTC), they would need to
withdraw from the 1+2+1 program
and apply to the new technical college as a
transfer student
Transferring nursing courses between institutions can be complex and is not guaranteed. Curriculum differences and clinical placement requirements often make switching mid-program difficult.
Clinical placements are typically within 5-45 minutes of the UWSP campus. The first term of the ADN will have a long-term care facility component. Locations include:
Mid-State Technical College
Wisconsin Rapids
Aspirus Wisconsin Rapids Hospital
MSTC Healthcare Simulation Center
long-term care facilities
Stevens Point
Aspirus Stevens Point Hospital
long-term care facilities
Marshfield
Marshfield Medical Center
long-term care facilities
Adams (occasionally 1st semester clinical only of ADN)
long-term care facilities
Northcentral Technical College
Wausau area
Aspirus Hospitals
NTC Healthcare Simulation Center
long-term care facilities
Nicolet College – rural health experience option
Rhinelander area
Students do not always get to choose their clinical site. Placement depends on availability at the time of registration, especially for MSTC, which serves multiple city locations. Technical colleges can change clinical partners as needed. When students attend MSTC, they do not get assigned a “home campus” so classes and clinical sites will vary in location.
Who coordinates clinicals?
Clinicals typically begin in semester 4 (spring of sophomore year) and are coordinated through the technical college as part of the ADN portion of the program. Students will have clinical rotations for
all four
ADN terms!
A final clinical through UWSP is done typically after the summer of semester 8, through
NURS 455 – Concepts in Nursing Practice
, which is a capstone project that you will be required to complete with your employer as a working nurse. Students can still walk for graduation in May, prior to completion of this final clinical course the following summer.
Refer to
the Sample Graduation Plan for Pre-Nursing 1+2+1 Program
for a better understanding of the clinical flow and structure.
Typically, after semester 7—or after term 4 of the ADN—students are eligible to take the NCLEX-RN to become Registered Nurses (RNs).
Optional Certification
: After semester 5—or after term 2 of the ADN—students may take the NCLEX-PN to become Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs). This can be a great way to gain experience and earn higher part-time pay while finishing their degree.
Becoming an LPN mid-program is a unique benefit of the 1+2+1 model—something not typically available in traditional four-year BSN programs!
What are the NCLEX pass rates?
Since students take the NCLEX exams as part of their ADN program, UWSP does not report NCLEX pass rates. A simple Google search for “NCLEX pass rates WI” will lead you to the most recent data, including the 2024 NCLEX Pass Rate Report (PDF) from the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services.
Note
: While NCLEX pass rates can be a helpful indicator of program quality, they should be interpreted with care. Rates can vary year to year based on cohort size, student preparation, and other factors. A single year’s data may not reflect the overall strength or supportiveness of a program.
Yes. BSN-level courses are offered:
100% online (asynchronous)
Live via Zoom (synchronous) with a choice to attend either Wednesday mornings or Thursday evenings. Your choice! Missed classes are recorded.
RN to BSN Information
The RN to BSN completion program is designed for associate degree or diploma registered nurses (RNs). Students complete requirements for the Bachelor of Science in Nursing through UW-Stevens Point. The nursing curriculum consists of 31 required nursing credits: 9 core courses (including 1 credit introductory course and a 3 credit capstone course) and two electives. Nursing courses are offered through a synchronous Zoom hybrid format where classes are held at convenient times through Zoom with the addition of online coursework. The Zoom classes have a weekly morning and evening option. In addition, a fully online class format is offered through BSN@Home.
BSN@Home
Admission Requirements
Hold an associate degree or diploma degree from an accredited program of nursing
Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5
Wisconsin residency
RN licensure in the state of Wisconsin
Tuition
UW-Stevens Point
tuition rates
decrease with increasing credit load.
BSN@Home online course tuition is a flat fee of $452/credit.
Application Steps 1-4
Apply to UW-Stevens Point
Activate your username and password
Complete the demographic form with BSN@Home
Contact
ian.rode@uwsp.edu
for application approval
NURS 310 – Professional Essentials (1 cr.)
NURS 430 or 407* – Foundations of Professional Nursing Practice (3 cr.)
NURS 431 or 441* – Chronic Care Management (3 cr.)
NURS 432 or 452* – Aging and Health (3 cr.)
NURS 433 or 453* – Information Management and Health Care Technology (3 cr.)
NURS 434 or 454* – Community Health Nursing (3 cr.)
NURS 436 or 446* – Research and Evidence-Based Practice (3 cr.)
NURS 437 or 447* – Leadership and Management (3 cr.)
NURS 455 – Concepts in Nursing Practice (3 cr.)
Nursing Elective 1 (3 cr.)
Nursing Elective 2 (3 cr.)
CHEM 101 – Basic Chemistry (5 cr.)
HSW 301 – Fundamentals of Biostatistics (3 cr.) OR
MATH 255 – Elementary Statistical Methods (4 cr.)
The Institute of Medicine (IOM) in a 2011 report
The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health
identified the need for nurses to obtain a baccalaureate degree to meet the changing healthcare environment. The IOM set a goal of 80 percent of nurses be baccalaureate prepared by 2020. The Wisconsin 2016 RN Workforce Survey reported that 46.1 percent of all licensed nurses in the State were baccalaureate prepared at the time of the licensing in 2016. Many institutions, to meet the demands of the workforce, are emphasizing baccalaureate preparation and requiring it for leadership and some clinical roles.
After earning your BSN, further your health education with the
online Health and Wellness Coaching Graduate Certificate
from UW-Stevens Point and the National Wellness Institute. As a health and wellness coach, you will guide individuals during their transformative journey of achieving lasting changes and enhanced well-being by helping them overcome hurdles, surpass limitations and tap into their own unrealized personal and professional potential.
BSN@Home Info Sessions
9/25
Info Session
10/22
Info Session
11/19
Info Session
1/27
Info Session
2/25
Info Session
4/2
Info Session
6/9
Info Session
Get Involved on Campus
Joining a health-related
student organization
, you may help with blood drives, raise funds for overseas orphanages, strategize and plan for graduate school and network with professionals from allied health care fields.
Nursing
Navigate Your Major
Major Maps help students map their first day to the first job in their chosen field. While a four-year plan outlines classes to get a degree, Major Maps help students learn how to build career-ready skills and experiences outside the classroom. Each Major Map shows how students can get the most of their UW-Stevens Point journey from enrollment to graduation and beyond. It’s a roadmap to discovering your purpose!
Major Map
Sample Graduation Plan
Academic and Career Advising
Meet Your Faculty and Staff
The faculty and staff members of the School of Health Sciences and Wellness are committed to developing professionals who study, promote and model lifelong wellness for individuals, families and communities, building a stronger, healthier community.
View all our faculty/staff
Ian Rode
Recruitment and Student Success Specialist – School of Health Sciences and Wellness
ian.rode@uwsp.edu
715-346-4142
View profile
Elizabeth Lamb
Assistant Professor – Nursing
elizabeth.lamb@uwsp.edu
715-346-4828
View profile
Lorraine Zoromski
Director – RN to BSN Program
Associate Professor – Nursing
lorraine.zoromski@uwsp.edu
715-346-2803
View profile
Krista Polomis
Assistant Teaching Professor – Nursing
krista.polomis@uwsp.edu
715-346-3143
View profile
Accreditation
CCNE Accreditation
The RN to BSN Completion baccalaureate degree in nursing at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street, NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC
20001, 202-887-6791.
CCNE Website
School of Health Sciences and Wellness
Programs
Athletic Training
Doctor of Audiology (Au.D.)
Child Life Specialist Preparation
Child, Youth and Family Studies
Communication Sciences and Disorders
Communication Sciences and Disorders-Speech-Language Pathology 3+2 Dual Degree
Community and Organizational Leadership
Community Health
Dietetics
Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)
Employee and Organizational Wellbeing
Family Adversity and Adaptation
Family and Consumer Sciences
Family and Consumer Sciences Accelerated Teacher Licensure
Family and Consumer Sciences Add-on
Family and Consumer Sciences – Child Life and Family Studies
Family and Consumer Sciences – Teacher Education
Financial Literacy
Food and Nutrition
Food and Nutrition for Health and Wellness
Health and Wellness Coaching
Health Coaching and Wellness Leadership
Health Science and Wellness
Health Science and Wellness: Athletic Training 3+2 Dual Degree
Health Science and Wellness: Clinician Degree
Health Science and Wellness: Pre-Athletic Training
Health Science and Wellness: Pre-Occupational Therapy
Health Science and Wellness: Pre-Physical Therapy
Health Science Education
Healthcare Administration
Medical Laboratory Science
Medical Laboratory Science – Histotechnology
Medical Laboratory Science – Medical Laboratory Technician to Medical Laboratory Scientist
Medical Laboratory Science – Medical Technology
Nursing
Speech-Language Pathology
Strength and Conditioning
Sustainable and Resilient Food Systems
Sustainable Food and Nutrition
Wellness Leadership
Youth Programming
University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
School of Health Sciences and Wellness
D127 Science Building
2001 Fourth Ave.
Stevens Point, WI 54481-3897
715-346-3766
health@uwsp.edu
College of Professional Studies