With support from the Washington State Department of Health, the WSU College of Nursing is launching a new program that brings BSN education directly to rural communities. The Rural Nursing Education in Washington program is designed to increase access to care and grow the nursing workforce where it’s needed most.
“This is an opportunity to support rural communities by growing their own workforce, with students who already live and work in those communities,” said Ryan Hunt, DNP, Yakima Campus Coordinator and program director. “That’s where they want to be—and where they’re needed most.”
Ryan Hunt, DNP, Yakima Campus Coordinator and program director
Students complete prerequisites locally, then transition to WSU’s BSN program with didactic instruction delivered via Zoom and clinical experiences based in their home hospital. Rural adjunct faculty provide on-site mentorship, while students travel to a WSU campus up to 6 times per academic year for high-fidelity simulation training.
A new 1-credit course led by Dr. Beverley Mayfield will address rural health challenges including maternal-child care, agricultural injuries, chronic conditions, and limited-resource settings.
“I’ve lived and worked in rural nursing for much of my career,” said Mayfield. “There’s such a big need—not just for nurses, but for nurses who stay.”
The program responds directly to the national crisis of “OB deserts”—regions where labor and delivery services have disappeared. Mayfield is collaborating with local hospitals to co-develop rural OB simulations tailored to real-world staffing and infrastructure. Clinical OB placements will occur at rural partners like Prosser Memorial Hospital.
The first cohort will launch in early 2026. Outcomes will be tracked through NCLEX pass rates, student satisfaction, and post-graduation job placement. WSU’s Yakima campus—where the program is based—has maintained a 100% NCLEX pass rate for the past two academic semesters.
“This isn’t just a degree—it’s a pipeline,” Hunt said. “We’re building from the ground up so rural communities can grow and retain their own nurses for the long haul. That’s the land-grant mission in action.”
