Walla Walla University School of Nursing has received a $105,231 grant from the Washington Student Achievement Council to upgrade nursing simulation labs on the Portland campus. This is the third significant grant awarded to the School of Nursing in the past year which total more than $490,000, continuing to support high-level nursing education at WWU.

This grant will provide funds to modernize nursing simulation labs on the university’s Portland campus. Simulators provide a solidly realistic, safe environment for nursing students to practice their skills, building confidence for clinical rotations and allowing students to learn in ways they may not be able to in clinicals. Similar simulation labs on the College Place campus were revamped this fall and have helped students master skills more efficiently. This grant will also support completion of an electronic medication delivery system to be available on both campuses.

The ongoing investment in excellent equipment is only a part of the WWU School of Nursing’s continuing success. Ranked in 2023 as the second-best school in Washington for a bachelor’s degree in nursing by RNCareers, WWU provides excellent preparation for a successful nursing career. Walla Walla University distinguished itself with high NCLEX passing rates and a curriculum that’s both academically rigorous and practically relevant, according to an RNCareer press release on the ranking.

National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) is taken by all nursing students after graduation, and all must pass the NCLEX before becoming registered nurses. According to the Washington State Board of Nursing and the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, 95% of WWU nursing graduates in 2023 passed the NCLEX on their first try. This is notably higher than the national average pass rate of 90 percent.

Michaelynn Paul, dean and professor of nursing, said, “Our robust simulation labs with brand new equipment enhance the 900 hours of clinical hours we provide to students. We are committed to creating a vision of nursing that is inclusive and equitable, and to prepare nurses to excel in the ever-changing health care environment. We’re grateful to the Washington Student Achievement Council for supporting our work with this grant.”

Founded in 1892, Walla Walla University is a private university affiliated with the Seventh-day Adventist Church. More than 1,600 students of diverse backgrounds attend WWU, which welcomes any student who desires an exceptional Christian education.

Opened in the summer of 1947, the School of Nursing Portland campus offers the course requirements and clinical training for junior- and senior-level nursing students. More than 120 nursing students are enrolled at the Portland campus, which is located adjacent to Adventist Health Portland. With a campus in both College Place and Portland, nursing students receive diverse clinical experience in rural and urban settings.