There isn’t much on this website about the direct admit nursing program at Westminster College in Utah so I wanted to share our impression after visiting.
Our nursing tour was given by two of the nursing professors. Their passion for the nursing profession and their role as educators was very evident. As they have a very small program at Westminster ( less than 60) all the professors know their students very well. Students are often on first name terms and are able to text them with questions . It’s so close knit that students feel able to seek help without feeling they will look stupid.
We were given a tour of the simulation labs in their nursing center.They have low and high frequency mannequins. They also pay senior students to act as patients and simulate scenarios using it as a teaching and leadership opportunity. The more complicated simulations are restricted to no more than 4 students.
Clinicals also start in junior year and a great deal of care is taken to ensure all students are treated fairly and have access to a wide range of clinical opportunities. They are not handed out based on who scored the highest grade in a test. Both the nursing students we met emphasized how much emphasis is placed on building a community amongst the nursing class and supporting each other.
Clinical opportunities are generally local and offer great opportunities. The University of Utah hospital is walking distance from Westminster.
Their final capstone clinical involves shadowing a nurse and working the same 12 hour shift he / she works. They mentioned other programs doing clinicals at same locations work shorter shifts and fewer clinical hours.
NCLEX prep seems thorough. Two practice tests the last seminar and support if you do badly in either of these tests.
At Westminster although they offer direct admit, the nursing program really formally starts in the last two years. Before then the focus is on getting the pre requisite classes done. However there will be nursing students in many of these classes. There is also a Westminster Nursing Club so that nursing students can get together.
To join the nursing program at Westminster you must be a certified CNA or EMT etc by 1 August ( before you start sophomore year). I have not seen this requirement at other schools. I believe it’s because they truly want their students to have a lot of hands on experience and want them to build up as much hands on experience as possible. In Utah it’s a much more simple process to get your CNA than a state such as California. Both students we met worked shifts at hospitals on weekends or during breaks.
Hope this is helpful to anyone considering applying for this program.
The school itself is small ( 2000 students) but it has great facilities ( inc food), pretty and safe location in Sugar House and a lot of social activities and support available to students. We are very glad we took the time to visit.