PLAINVIEW, TX — Wayland Baptist University is making a new path for students on the South Plains to pursue a nursing degree without leaving West Texas.
Beginning this fall, students may enroll in pre-nursing coursework on the Plainview campus to be a part of the first local cohort of the Ben and Bertha Mieth School of Nursing in Fall 2028. The expansion will allow students who begin their studies in Plainview to complete all four years of their Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Wayland’s home campus rather than relocating to San Antonio, where the university’s Mieth School of Nursing has been based.
In an interview, Dr. Rebekah Grigsby, dean of the Mieth School of Nursing, said the expansion creates new opportunities for students who want to pursue nursing while remaining rooted in West Texas.
“For two decades our students could complete their prerequisite coursework in Plainview but had to move to San Antonio to finish the nursing program,” Grigsby said. “This expansion means those students can stay at Wayland in Plainview and continue straight through to earn their Bachelor of Science in Nursing.”
The four-year degree program begins with two years of foundational coursework, including general education requirement as well as Wayland’s highly regarded biology, chemistry and anatomy classes. After completing those prerequisites and meeting certain standards, students apply for admission to the professional nursing program and complete two additional years of nursing coursework.
Graduates of the program are eligible to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination, the national exam required for licensure as a registered nurse.
University leaders say the expansion also reflects the growing demand for nurses across Texas and the nation, particularly nurses prepared at the bachelor’s level.
“There is a nationwide shortage of nurses,” Grigsby said. “Providing more opportunities for students to earn a bachelor’s degree in nursing helps strengthen the healthcare workforce and improves patient outcomes.”
The new Plainview pathway is expected to help meet healthcare workforce needs across the South Plains while giving students another option for pursuing a nursing degree at a smaller, faith-based university.
“Some students want the experience of a smaller university or specifically a Christian university,” Grigsby said. “This gives them that opportunity while preparing them for a profession that serves others in meaningful ways.”
The Mieth School of Nursing currently offers its Bachelor of Science in Nursing program at Wayland’s San Antonio campus. The school also offers an online RN-to-BSN program that allows registered nurses with associate degrees to complete their bachelor’s degree remotely, as well as a fully online Master of Science in Nursing focused on nursing education.
Celebrating its 20th year, the nursing school is excited to have two options for students.
University officials are preparing facilities and resources in Plainview in advance of the 2028 launch of nursing coursework. Grigsby said plans include classroom space, simulation labs, and emerging technologies designed to support hands-on nursing education.
Among the technologies planned for the program are virtual-reality simulation environments that allow students to practice clinical scenarios in immersive settings before entering real-world healthcare environments.
Students in the nursing program will also complete supervised clinical experiences in healthcare facilities across the region. University leaders are working with area healthcare providers to identify clinical sites that will allow students to gain experience while serving communities across the South Plains.
Interest in the program is already strong. During a recent Pioneer Preview event on the Plainview campus, representatives from the Mieth School of Nursing met with prospective students considering the pre-nursing pathway.
“We were encouraged by the response,” Grigsby said. “Even with limited promotion, we met several students who are already interested in beginning the program.”
Incoming freshmen interested in nursing may begin the pre-nursing pathway this fall at Wayland’s Plainview and Lubbock campuses Students who complete the required coursework and meet admission standards will be eligible to apply for the inaugural Plainview nursing cohort beginning in Fall 2028.
More information about Wayland’s nursing programs and admissions requirements is available through the Wayland Baptist University Office of Admissions or online at wbu.edu.
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