Character
Watts School of Nursing, founded in 1895, is the oldest nursing program for registered nurses in the state of North Carolina. Watts is the only hospital-based diploma program in the state.
Exclusive Focus
Watts concentrates solely on basic nursing education for entry into professional nursing practice. Upon completion of the program, graduates are eligible to apply to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN).
Mission and Philosophy
Diversity and Inclusion Statement
Approval
The nursing diploma program is approved by the North Carolina Board of Nursing and the North Carolina State Approving Agency (NCSAA).
Contact Info for NC Board of Nursing
4516 Lake Boone Trail
Raleigh, North Carolina 27607
Phone: 919.782.3211
Fax: 919.781.9461
www.ncbon.com
Contact Info for NCSAA
120 Penmarc Drive, Suite 103
Raleigh, North Carolina 27603-2434
Phone: 919.733.7535
Fax: 919.733.1284
NCSSA
Accreditation
Watts School of Nursing is accredited by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES) as an ABHES Institutional School.
Contact Info for ABHES
7777 Leesburg Pike, Suite 314 North
Falls Church, Virginia 22043
Phone: 703.917.9503
Fax: 703.917.4109
www.abhes.org
The nursing diploma program is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN).
Contact Info for ACEN
3343 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 850
Atlanta, Georgia 30326
Phone: 404.975.5000
Fax: 404.975.5020
www.acenursing.org
Student Achievement Outcome Data
NCLEX-RN Passage Rate
Graduates consistently exceed the state and national average on the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN), which licenses professional nurses to practice.
July 2018 - June 2019 95.7% to date
July 2017 - June 2018 91.6%
July 2016 - June 2017 97.4%
Retention/Completion Rate
July 2018 - June 2019 83%
July 2017 - June 2018 95%
July 2016 - June 2017 96%
Job Placement Rate (within 6 months of graduation)
July 2017 - June 2018 92%
July 2016 - June 2017 99%
July 2015 - June 2016 100%
Gainful Employment
Admission
Two classes are admitted a year -- January and June for the prerequisite courses and January and August for the nursing courses.
Student Body
Watts averages approximately 155 students. For the 2018-2019 academic year, 29.3% of the student body belonged to minority ethnic groups and 8.3% male.
Clinical Facilities
Clinical rotations are wide-ranging and culturally diverse, covering all ages and life spans. Our program draws upon the clinical strengths of two Magnet Hospitals, Duke Regional Hospital and Duke University Hospital, as well as other area hospitals and community-based settings. In 2014, the Duke University Health System was designated as a Magnet organization, one of three such designated health systems in North Carolina. Together, these clinical opportunities provide students with a broad base for professional practice.
Director
Dr. Peggy Walters became the Director of Nursing Education in 1994.
Faculty
There are 15 faculty members whose first priority is teaching. The instructor-student ratio in the clinical area is 1:8.
Alumni
Since its inception in 1895, more than 3,700 nurses have matriculated from Watts. The Alumni Association is closely aligned with the school, supporting its mission of upholding a tradition of excellence in the preparation of registered nurses.
Campus
Just moments away from Durham’s I-85 corridor, our location on Croasdaile Drive affords students a tranquil setting that is nestled in pine trees and the fairways of one of the area’s most prestigious golf courses.