College of Nursing

Being a registered nurse is one of the most rewarding and challenging of all professional careers. As a registered nurse, you will have the opportunity to promote health, serve humanity and experience the self-satisfaction of a rewarding career. At the University of West Alabama College of Nursing, we help to prepare students for lifelong success in nursing.

“Everyone there takes you on — like they have a vested interest in your success.” 

— Jennifer Collins, RN, UWA College of Nursing Graduate  

Choose the Program That’s Right for You

Choose a nursing degree that meets your needs and your schedule. Choose from a range of programs — on campus or online — all of which are designed to give you the tools and skills you need for a successful career in the healthcare field 

Nurses Change Lives

Nursing is a rewarding and stable career, offering strong job growth, excellent salaries, and the chance to make a real difference in people’s lives. Nurses are in high demand across a variety of healthcare settings, and the profession offers flexible pathways for advancement and specialization.

The UWA College of Nursing prepares students to make a difference in healthcare through hands-on learning, expert instruction, and a commitment to serving others. Accredited by the ACEN and approved by the Alabama Board of Nursing, our programs offer pathways to become a registered nurse in as little as two years.

Info for Current Students

Faculty Spotlight

Dr. Jennifer Harwell, EdD, RN, CHSE, CNE

BSN Program Coordinator & Professor of Nursing

Dr. Harwell is a proud graduate of the University of West Alabama, where she earned her Associate Degree in Nursing in 1998. She later completed her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) at the University of Southern Mississippi in 2007, followed by a Master of Science in Nursing with a concentration in Nursing Education from the University of South Alabama in 2010. In 2019, she earned her Doctor of Education (EdD) in Nursing Education from the University of Alabama. With over 27 years of combined nursing and nursing education experience—including clinical backgrounds in pediatric and community health nursing—Dr. Harwell currently teaches Fundamentals, Mental Health, and Community/Public Health Nursing at the UWA College of Nursing. She also serves as the BSN Program Coordinator, supporting curriculum development, student success, and program outcomes. Dr. Harwell is a Certified Healthcare Simulation Educator (CHSE) and a Certified Nurse Educator (CNE). Her professional interests include the integration of human patient simulation to enhance critical thinking and clinical preparedness. She is passionate about student success and committed to advancing innovative teaching practices in nursing education. “I strive to create learning experiences that prepare students for real-world nursing. Watching them grow in confidence and competence is incredibly rewarding.” Outside the classroom, she enjoys reading and spending quality time with her family.

Alumni and Student Experiences

“I chose UWA because the minute I walked on campus for the first time, it felt just like I was right at home. I instantly fell in love and knew this was exactly where I wanted to further my education. One professor who has made a lasting impact on me during my time at UWA has been Dr. Marsha Cannon. Though she has only been my nursing mentor for two semesters, she has helped me learn to navigate my way through learning to study for nursing exams and how to be a successful nursing student. My absolute favorite part of my major is clinical rotations! I love being able to apply what I’ve learned in the classroom to the hospital setting. Being able to meet patients and have a hands-on learning experience allows me to learn more about what being a nurse really is! To a prospective student I would be open and honest and tell them that yes, nursing is hard and takes time and lots of effort, but it’s not impossible. Being a nursing student is more than just sitting in a classroom, learning a bunch of material, and taking a test. Being a nursing student means learning skills and applying them to real-life scenarios, building relationships with peers who will ultimately become your best friends, and lastly, being able to feel proud knowing that one day you will be helping make a difference in many patients’ lives!”

Juliana Hayes, Millry, AL, Nursing

About the College of Nursing

Care, Serve, Help

The Ira D. Pruitt College of Nursing provides nursing programs designed to meet the growing learning needs of the region and contemporary society. Our mission is to bring about positive change in the field of healthcare through nursing education, service-learning projects, and community outreach. Nursing presents an opportunity to care for, serve, and help others. At its core, nursing provides for the well-being and basic care needs of an individual or community of individuals.

CON Programs and Initiatives

Faculty & Staff

Accreditation

The University of West Alabama is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate’s, baccalaureate, master’s, education specialist and doctoral degrees.

Associate in Science in Nursing Program Accreditation

The associate nursing program at The University of West Alabama located in Livingston, AL is accredited by the:

Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
3390 Peachtree Road, NE, Suite 1400
Atlanta, GA  30326
(404) 975-5000

The most recent accreditation decision made by the ACEN Board of Commissioners for the associate nursing program is Continuing Accreditation.

ASN Program Outcomes

Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program Accreditation

The baccalaureate nursing program at The University of West Alabama, located in Livingston, AL, is accredited by the:

Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400 Atlanta, GA 30326
(404) 975-5000

The most recent accreditation decision made by the ACEN Board of Commissioners for the baccalaureate in nursing program is Initial Accreditation.

BSN Program Outcomes

Alabama Board of Nursing Approval

The associate and bachelor of science in nursing programs at The University of West Alabama located in Livingston, AL have been approved by The Alabama Board of Nursing.

The Alabama Board of Nursing
RSA Plaza Suite 250
770 Washington Avenue
P.O. Box 303900
Montgomery, AL  36130

*The UWA College of Nursing meets all requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

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