If you’re looking for high-quality, reputable nursing degree programs in North Carolina, you’ve come to the right place. Although famous for its barbecue, its sweet scuppernong wines and as the home of the Wright Brothers’ first flight, North Carolina offers a number of incentives to fulfill available nursing positions. Whether you’re looking to visit the resting site of Blackbeard’s pirate ship or you’re considering earning a nursing degree from an accredited, affordable, and reputable school, North Carolina offers some of the most distinguished colleges and universities for top-notch nursing programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels. To see more accredited degree programs in North Carolina, visit Nursing Degree Programs in North Carolina (A-L) and Nursing Degree Programs in North Carolina (L-U).
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
School of Nursing
The School of Nursing at UNC prepares well-qualified, excellent professional nurses for careers internationally, nationally. The School’s graduates practice in a number of settings, including acute care settings such as medical centers and hospitals, advanced practice settings like clinics, home health care and community health agencies. The School of Nursing boasts a 94 percent pass rate for the NCLEX exam. The School’s goal is to be the premier school for providing the best scholarships and nursing education to its students in order to promote healthy citizens in both the Charlotte area as well as throughout the country. In addition, the department places a strong emphasis on scholarship, diversity, collegiality, innovation, and integrity.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
The Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from UNC Charlotte requires at least 122 credit hours, 25 percent of which must be earned at UNC Charlotte. Prerequisite course requirements include chemistry, biochemistry, organic chemistry, microbiology, human anatomy and physiology, general nutrition, and human growth and development. Students will complete 61 credit hours in upper-division nursing major requirements, including courses such as Nursing Care of Children, Concepts of Professional Nursing, Introduction to Nursing Science, Pharmacology in Health and Illness, and Health Assessment and Application. In addition, students will be exposed to a variety of topics and practicums in population-focused nursing, complex illness and disease management, design and coordination of care, and trends, issues and licensure.
Accreditations
- Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
Contact
9201 University City Blvd.
Charlotte, NC 28223
(704) 687-8622
admissions@uncc.edu
https://catalog.uncc.edu/preview_program.php?catoid=20&poid=4055
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
School of Nursing
The School of Nursing at UNC Greensboro provides state-of-the-art simulation centers and community-engaged practical experiences at more than 500 service programs and clinics around the world, allowing students to connect their education to their patients. The School also utilizes an Anatomage table, one of only 70 in the world, allowing students to explore and dissect body systems using life-size, high-resolution scans of real cadavers.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Graduates of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program are prepared to sit for the National Council of State Boards of Nursing Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses. Students may complete the BSN in four years while taking additional courses for one summer. Students must complete 16 to 17 hours per semester, and the degree consists of electives, upper division major courses, nursing pre-requisites for the upper division major and general education core requirements. Classes include pathophysiology/pharmacology, nursing skills, childbearing/reproductive health, nursing informatics/technology, nursing care of individuals with chronic physiological problems, and health and illness in infants, children and adolescents. Students must successfully complete 122 semester hours in order to earn their bachelor’s degree.
Accreditations
- Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
- Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing Inc.
Contact
1400 Spring Garden St.
Greensboro, NC 27412
(336) 334-5400
nursing@uncg.edu
https://nursing.uncg.edu/academics/undergraduate/bsn/
RN to BSN
Students who have already earned a bachelor’s degree are assumed to have completed the liberal education requirements while pursuing the baccalaureate degree. Therefore, the requirements for the RN to BSN program include the completion of 25 hours of required nursing coursework as well as the completion of six additional hours at UNCG in order to satisfy the 31-hour residency requirement. Required courses include Nursing Leadership and Management, Nursing Care of the Older Adult, Community Health Nursing Concepts and Care, Nursing Health Assessment, Concepts of Professional Nursing, and Nursing Outreach. The RN to BSN degree includes outreach cohorts that are offered in collaboration with grant funding provided by the Northwest Area Health Education Center. This sequence is designed so that students may complete required nursing courses in three semesters.
Accreditations
- Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
Contact
1400 Spring Garden St.
Greensboro, NC 27412
(336) 334-5400
nursing@uncg.edu
https://nursing.uncg.edu/academics/undergraduate/rnbsn/
University of North Carolina at Pembroke
Department of Nursing
The University of North Carolina at Pembroke is ranked fifth in “Best Value Colleges for Nursing in the South: RN-BSN Degree Programs.” The Department of Nursing provides students with the opportunity to obtain a multicultural education that is grounded in the humanities, sciences, and arts and that prepares them for lifelong service to others, professional development and learning. The Department of Nursing is a member of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), and the master’s and baccalaureate programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
BSN
The pre-licensure BSN option at the University of North Carolina Pembroke can be completed in four-and-a-half academic years. The degree is offered in two phases, the first of which includes 62 semester hours of lower-division work, including nursing and liberal arts prerequisites. The second phase includes 62 semester credit hours of upper-division work in the nursing major, and students complete this second phase within the Department of Nursing. Although students are admitted into the bachelor’s program at the upper-division level, students must complete lower-division courses before they take nursing classes. Courses include Critical Thinking in the Nursing Discipline, Medical Terminology for Professional Nursing, Transition to Professional Nursing, and Foundations of Professional Nursing Practice. Graduates are eligible to take the NCLEX-RN licensure examination, which is administered by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing.
Accreditations
- Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
Contact
1 University Dr.
Pembroke, NC 28372
(910) 521-6522
nursing@uncp.edu
RN-BSN
The RN-BSN degree option is designed for registered nurses (RNs) who wish to further their careers by pursuing a baccalaureate nursing degree. The program builds on competencies already attained by the registered nurse in order to extend students’ attitudes, skills, knowledge, and scope of practice. Graduates will benefit from enhanced professional and personal satisfaction, expanded career opportunities and a foundation for further study in graduate nursing education. There are two pathways for students entering the RN-BSN program, depending on the semester in which they enter. In addition to general education requirements, students must complete 31 credit hours in required nursing courses such as Community Health Nursing, Leadership in Nursing, Nursing Research and Theory, Gerontology Nursing and Pathophysiology. Students will also develop their skills in health assessments, transcultural nursing and complete a capstone course. Students must complete 124 credit hours in order to graduate with an RN-BSN degree. The department accepts applications to the RN-BSN program on a rolling basis.
Accreditations
- Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
Contact
1 University Dr.
Pembroke, NC 28372
(910) 521-6522
nursing@uncp.edu
University of North Carolina at Wilmington
School of Nursing
The School of Nursing at the University of North Carolina Wilmington offers a number of undergraduate and graduate degrees for students who wish to pursue a career in the field of nursing. The School was established in the early 1960s and aims to educate clinical research and nursing professionals through community engagement, service, scholarships, and excellence in teaching. In addition to the FELS Program, the School of Nursing offers more than 50 scholarships to eligible students, and the department admits students earlier than nearly any other university in the state.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
The Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree program is designed to prepare students with the attitudes, skills and knowledge that will help them to practice family-centered professional nursing in a variety of emerging and current healthcare delivery systems. In addition, the program will provide students with a foundation for graduate nursing education. UNCW’s NCLEX pass rate is 96 percent — higher than the national average of 86 percent. Students will take courses in gerontology, pharmacology, pathophysiology, leadership and management, health assessments, research in nursing, pediatric nursing and community health. Required courses include English, a foreign language, Historical Approaches, and Living Global Society. Through interactions with clients, including communities, families and individuals, and other healthcare professionals, graduates from this program will help to meet the diverse needs of the larger community, region, and state.
Accreditations
- Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
Contact
601 S. College Rd.
Wilmington, NC 28403
(910) 962-7410
badzekl@uncw.edu
http://uncw.edu/oss/son/bsn.html
RN-BS
For more than 40 years, UNCW has been graduating exceptional nurses. The school offers an online RN-BS degree, which is designed to prepare students with the confidence, skills and knowledge to successfully complete and move into a high-demand field. Students will also develop a foundation for career advancement into teaching, consulting, research, and administration. This program includes a 31-credit-hour residency requirement, and students will take courses in transcultural healthcare, health policies, leadership and management in nursing, population and community health nursing, gerontological nursing, professional nursing practice and an introduction to health assessment.
Accreditations
- Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
Contact
601 S. College Rd.
Wilmington, NC 28403
(855) 306-4734
badzekl@uncw.edu
http://onlinedegree.uncw.edu/programs/rn-to-bs-nursing.aspx
Western Carolina University Cullowhee
School of Nursing
The School of Nursing at Western Carolina University Cullowhee offers affordable, accredited and nationally ranked undergraduate and graduate programs online, at the school’s Asheville instructional site and at WCU’s main campus in Cullowhee, NC. Students have access to state-of-the-art lab space and classrooms as well as opportunities for hands-on experience through off- and on-site service learning programs and clinical partnerships. The School of Nursing boasts a 96 percent BSN NCLEX pass rate and offers BSN, RN to BSN, and accelerated degree programs.
Accelerated BSN
The accelerated BSN (ABSN) at WCU Cullowhee is designed for bachelor’s-prepared students who wish to pursue a nursing career. The curriculum is designed the same as students in the traditional BSN program but is offered in four consecutive semesters, allowing students to earn their degree at a more rapid pace. Class schedules vary, but students can expect to take a clinical one or two days per week as well as classes two days per week. This format allows students the flexibility to work part-time while furthering their education, allows for more opportunities for financial aid, and gives students the option to attend classes at the WCU Biltmore Park campus located in Asheville, NC. Upon completion of the program, graduates are eligible to sit for the National Council of State Boards of Nursing Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN).
Accreditations
- Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
Contact
102 Cordelia Camp
Western Carolina University
Cullowhee, NC 28723
(877) WCU-4YOU
admiss@wcu.edu
http://www.wcu.edu/learn/departments-schools-colleges/HHS/nursing/undergrad-programs/accbsn/
Winston-Salem State University
Division of Nursing
The Division of Nursing, located within the School of Health Sciences, is a national premier nursing school based on excellence in public service, research and education as well as diversity in program offerings and student population. The Division offers responsive, accessible, and excellent programs at the doctoral, master’s and bachelor’s levels. The Winston-Salem State University Division of Nursing provides a transformative educational experience as well as degrees that help graduates to become leaders in the field. Graduates have the ability to provide culturally responsive, evidence-based, and compassionate care, and the Division aims to continue to educate the next generation of nurses.
BSN
The BSN at Winston-Salem State University prepares students to enter the workforce as generalists. The program provides public service experiences, clinical practicums and theories that are essential for professional nursing care to different populations and within different settings. The major consists of 60 hours in support courses and general education courses. Students will be expected to complete major requirements such as Pharmacology for Nurses, Clinical Nursing Foundation, Health Assessment, Nursing Research, Clinical Reasoning, and an Introduction to Professional Nursing. Students will also be exposed to areas such as community health nursing, content synthesis for nursing, caring for older patients, mental health nursing, child health nursing and an introduction to pathophysiology. Prerequisite requirements include chemistry, anatomy, physiology, microbiology, and statistics.
Accreditations
- Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
Contact
601 S. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr.
Winston-Salem, NC 27110
(336) 750-2000
admissions@wssu.edu
https://www.wssu.edu/admissions/programs/nursing.html
RN-BSN
The RN-BSN option at Winston-Salem State University is designed for registered nurses who are currently working in the field. The student-friendly program is flexible to meet each student’s specific needs. Although the program is designed within a generic nursing curriculum, students will develop critical thinking skills, creativity and imagination, allowing them to further develop the knowledge necessary to excel in their current positions or move onto graduate study. The degree is offered online as well as at 18 off-site locations. The curriculum includes courses such as Health Assessment, Pathophysiology, Dynamics of Professional Nursing, Adult Health Nursing and Nursing Research. Students will also become familiar and develop critical skills in a number of areas such as financial management, caring for the older adult, community health nursing, leadership and management of care, and global health nursing.
Accreditations
- Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
Contact
601 S. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr.
Winston-Salem, NC 27110
(336) 750-2563
admissions@wssu.edu
https://www.wssu.edu/academics/distance-learning/rn-bsn/index.html
North Carolina is the fourth fastest-growing state in the country, and as such, the state is always looking to fill nursing jobs. Special loans and scholarships are available for nursing students, and employees are known to increase salaries in order to attract and retain staff. If you’re interested in nursing degree programs in North Carolina, you can rest assured that the state offers an affordable, well-rounded educational system.
Related Resource: Top 10 Cheap Online RN to BSN Degree Programs