Nursing

There are multiple pathways to become a nurse in Washington State. Please consult with the Health Professions & Natural Science Pathways Manager regarding the best pathway for you.

01. Alignment Ensure that nursing is the path you want to take. Conduct interviews, shadow nurses in the field, get experience as a nursing assistant – these things help spur you forward and keep you motivated toward your pursuit of a career in nursing. And these experiences provide demonstration of alignment of your skills and interest in the field – you can write about this in your admission application!

02. Prerequisites The Washington State Department of Health web site provides a list of nursing programs. Open the “Nursing Programs in Washington” document and search for Registered Nurse (RN) programs. Look at all viable options and research program prerequisites. Work toward completion of those prerequisites with strong grades – these are the foundation on which you will build your knowledge! Contact admissions offices at each program to talk with advisors and make a plan.

Students are expected to conduct their own research regarding the prerequisite courses required for a specific nursing program. Prerequisite coursework varies between institutions. This is a guide; the list below is not comprehensive and is provided for informational purposes only. Consult your academic advisor at UW Bothell or at your community college to be mindful of each course’s prerequisites and offerings.

  • English Composition (choose one)
    • UWB: B WRIT 134 – Composition (5) – OR –
    • Community College: ENGL& 101 (5)
  • Advanced Writing (choose one)
    • UWB: B WRIT 135 – Research Writing (5) – OR –
    • Community College: ENGL& 102 (5) – OR – ENGL& 201 (5)
  • Communications
    • UWB: BIS 237 – Public Speaking & Communication (5) – OR –
    • Community College: CMST& 220 (5)
  • Biology
    • UWB: B BIO 200 – Intro to Biology – Cell (5) – OR –
    • Community College: BIOL& 160/211 (5)
  • General Chemistry
    • UWB: B CHEM 143+144 – General Chemistry + Lab (4+2) – OR –
    • Community College: CHEM& 121 (5)
  • Organic Chemistry (required for UW Seattle’s BSN program)
    • UWB: B CHEM 237 (4) and B CHEM 238+241 (4+1) and B CHEM 239+242 (4+1) – OR –
    • Community College: CHEM& 261 (5) and CHEM& 262 (5) and CHEM& 263 (5)
  • Human Anatomy & Physiology
    • UWB: no equivalent
    • Community College: BIOL& 231 (5) and 232 (5) – OR – BIOL& 241 (5) and 242 (5)
  • Microbiology
    • UWB: B BIO 370 – Microbiology (5) – OR –
    • Community College: BIOL& 260 (5)
  • Nutrition
    • UWB: B HLTH 218 – Nutritional Science (5) – OR –
    • Community College: NUTR& 101 (5)
  • Introductory Psychology
    • UWB: BIS 170 – Intro to Psych (5) – OR –
    • Community College: PSYC& 100 (5)
  • Lifespan Development
    • UWB: BIS 220 – Developmental Psychology (5) – OR – B HLTH 200 – Lifespan Development – OR –
    • Community College: PSYC& 200 (5)
  • Statistics
    • UWB: BIS 215 – Understanding Stats (5) – OR – B MATH 215 – Health Statistics – OR – B BUS 215 – Intro to Bus Stats
    • Community College: MATH& 146 (5)

Remember that prerequisite courses are just part of your application to a Nursing program. Program application processes are competitive, and the more you can demonstrate alignment with the field through valuable experiences, the better! Meet with a Pre-Health Advisor to learn about getting experience and articulating your skills for your application.

03. Apply Apply to programs that you would legitimately consider attending. Apply to both BSN and ADN programs. The best nursing school is the one you get into! If you are offered admission at more than one program, you will be able to choose the one that best suits your goals. You can pursue a program through a university for licensure + BSN. If you complete a program through a community college for licensure + ADN, you can still pursue a BSN degree after your RN license is earned to continue schooling while working as a nurse. (See the note about UWB’s BSN program below.)

04. Program & Test After graduating from a nursing program, you’ll sit for the NCLEX-RN, which is required for your Washington State RN License. Take time to study for the test. Retakes are allowed, but they can be expensive. Once you pass the test and have a license, you are ready to start working as a registered nurse!

05. Next Steps Many students want to continue their education. A BSN degree is becoming a requirement for most nursing positions, especially in hospitals. MN programs allow for professional development in nurse leadership and education. MSN programs are good preparation for continued clinical care and DNP programs.

Note about UW Bothell’s BSN program: UW Bothell does not currently offer a nursing licensure program. UWB’s BSN degree is a program for Registered Nurses who are already licensed. The program does not include nursing licensure, so it is not a pathway for becoming a nurse.

Nursing Resources