SWOSU Welcomes Nursing Students Ahead of First Spring Admission

SWOSU Nursing welcomed its first spring-entry class during orientation on Oct. 8.

Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) welcomed approximately 35 students to nursing orientation on Oct. 8 as the Department of Nursing prepares for its first spring-entry class in January 2027. Attendees included admitted students and students on the waitlist, who met with faculty to learn about program requirements and prepare for the semester ahead.

SWOSU's Traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program previously admitted new students only in the fall. Beginning in January, the program will admit students twice a year, opening more spaces for qualified applicants. The expansion follows several years of demand exceeding available space and will help SWOSU prepare more nurses to serve western Oklahoma and communities across the state.

During orientation, faculty walked students through clinical compliance, uniform standards, required supplies, academic expectations and paperwork needed before entering the program. The session concluded with time for questions, giving students an opportunity to clarify requirements directly with the faculty who will help guide them through their education.

SWOSU faculty review program expectations, clinical requirements and supplies with students preparing to begin their coursework in January.

Spring admission gives students another opportunity to begin their education at SWOSU.

Faculty support continues as students progress toward their degrees. Each student is assigned a faculty adviser to help plan coursework and stay on track with degree requirements. Students learn through classroom instruction, laboratory practice and scheduled clinical experiences in settings that include rural and urban health care facilities, public health departments and home health care agencies. These experiences prepare them to care for patients with different needs and understand the communities they will serve.

"This additional admission option is great for students because they now have an opportunity to start the nursing program after finishing their prerequisite courses instead of having to wait until fall," said Elissa Saunders, chair of the SWOSU Department of Nursing. "It also benefits the state by allowing us to graduate registered nurses twice a year. The goal of the expansion is to prepare more qualified registered nurses for Oklahoma, and our Traditional BSN program's 97.5% first-time NCLEX pass rate and dedicated faculty put us in a strong position to do that."

The incoming students will also benefit from additional learning space in Parker Hall, where renovations have brought a previously unused third floor back into use. Senior students are already attending class in one of the new classrooms this semester. Furniture has been ordered for the remaining classrooms, offices, student lounge, lactation room and conference room, with the spaces expected to be furnished and ready before spring classes begin.

The renovation, supported by deferred maintenance funding from the Oklahoma Legislature, made the expanded admission schedule possible. It also creates room to expand simulation training elsewhere in the department, giving students more opportunities to practice patient care and clinical decision-making before working with patients in health care settings.

For more information about SWOSU's nursing programs, visit swosu.edu/nursing.

About Southwestern Oklahoma State University

Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) was founded in 1901 and offers more than 100 undergraduate and graduate programs across three locations in Weatherford, Sayre, and Yukon. The university serves more than 5,000 students and prides itself on affordability, small class sizes, and over 200 faculty and staff committed to helping students achieve their academic and personal goals.

For more information about Southwestern Oklahoma State University, visit www.swosu.edu.