This fall, Walla Walla University’s School of Nursing was selected by the Washington Student Achievement Council to receive a $105,231 grant in support of continuing to build capacity in simulation and clinical skills labs in Washington state. These funds will be used to expand such capacity at the College Place campus.
This new grant directly extends the earlier lab and simulation investments the school made in previous years. In 2022, the School of Nursing was one of only 10 schools selected by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing to introduce new strategies and clinical experiences, moving the school towards competency-based nursing education. Other grants enabled lab upgrades and expansions, new educational tools, and curriculum.
Similar grants enabled modernization and expansion of core simulation infrastructure, particularly on the Portland campus, and a redesign of curriculum elements. The current award scales these previous projects—making it possible to serve more students with better access to simulation, skills practice, and virtual clinical learning without compromising quality.
Innovation in nursing is nothing new for the School of Nursing—since its first course was offered in 1899, students have been taught to meet the demands in an ever-evolving healthcare environment. Today, WWU’s nursing students complete around 750 hours of clinical training, plus extensive simulation work, which results in NCLEX scores consistently above the national average for nurses.
“Our core focus now is on preparing practice-ready graduates, while responsibly expanding capacity to meet workforce needs,” says Kari Firestone, dean and professor of the School of Nursing. “This grant is part of that broader strategy, and it invests in infrastructure that makes high-quality, student-centered nursing education possible as our enrollment continues to grow.”
To learn more about past expansions or find more information about the School of Nursing, visit wallawalla.edu/nursing.
Posted Jan. 26, 2026.
