Why Hands-On Training at Westcliff University Prepares Students for Real-World Nursing
(Featuring Educator Melissa De Vera)
A New Standard for Career-Ready Nursing Education
Westcliff University’s College of Nursing is redefining how future nurses learn by delivering hands-on, clinically immersive training from day one. Through high-fidelity simulation labs, faculty mentorship, and clinical placements across the Inland Empire, students in both the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and Entry-Level Master of Science in Nursing (ELM) programs gain the real-world skills they need to enter healthcare with confidence.
Located in Corona, California, Westcliff’s programs are approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing (BRN) and regionally accredited by WSCUC, giving students a trusted, rigorous, and supportive pathway into the profession.
Learning by Doing: Simulation Labs That Feel Like Real Healthcare
At Westcliff, students don’t wait until the end of their program to practice clinical skills—they begin the moment they start.
Westcliff’s simulation environment includes:
- High-fidelity manikins that mimic real physiological responses
- Hospital-grade monitoring equipment
- Scenario-based simulations that develop critical thinking and clinical judgment
- Guided faculty debriefs that reinforce evidence-based practice
This immersive approach allows students to learn, make mistakes, and grow in a safe environment long before caring for real patients.
Weekly Open Skills Labs: Confidence Through Repetition
Faculty-led “open lab” time gives students additional space to refine skills such as IV insertion, head-to-toe assessments, medication administration, and prioritization. These sessions—unique to Westcliff’s teaching model—offer individualized support and more practice hours than many traditional programs.
Students who enter hesitantly quickly gain confidence. “They come in shy and uncertain. By week seven, they’re scoring in the 90s,” said Melissa De Vera, MSN, RN, PHN, Westcliff Nursing Faculty.
Meet the Educator Connecting Practice and Purpose: Melissa De Vera
While Westcliff’s facilities set students up for success, its faculty bring the curriculum to life—none more powerfully than Melissa De Vera.
Her path into nursing began in an ICU, watching nurses care for her hospitalized father. That moment reshaped her future—and now, she brings that same clarity of purpose to her students.
She teaches with:
- Empathy shaped by lived experience
- A coaching mindset that meets students where they are
- A focus on clinical judgment, not memorization
- Continued hands-on clinical practice, keeping her instruction aligned with today’s rapidly changing healthcare landscape
Her approach reinforces Westcliff’s belief that nurses must be trained both technically and emotionally to deliver excellent patient care.
Two Accredited Pathways: One Purpose
Westcliff’s College of Nursing offers two distinct routes for aspiring nurses:
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
Ideal for students beginning their nursing journey. Builds a strong clinical and academic foundation.
Entry-Level Master of Science in Nursing (ELM)
Designed for learners who already hold a bachelor’s degree in another field and want to transition into nursing more quickly.
Both pathways include:
- Small class sizes
- Faculty mentorship
- Clinical rotations across the Inland Empire
- State-of-the-art labs
- Support with financial aid for those who qualify
Why Westcliff? Designed for Today’s Nursing Students
Westcliff’s College of Nursing is intentionally built for learners who want a supportive, practice-first, modern education. Students benefit from:
- A brand-new, accessible Corona campus steps from Dos Lagos
- Faculty who actively practice in the field
- A curriculum centered on readiness, resilience, and real-world training
- Programs built for career changers, first-time students, and future nurse leaders alike
This student-centered, simulation-rich model prepares graduates not only to pass the NCLEX, but to thrive in a complex and rapidly changing healthcare system.
Ready to Start Your Nursing Career at Westcliff University?
Whether you’re exploring nursing for the first time or ready to make a meaningful career change, Westcliff University’s BSN and ELM programs offer an education grounded in skill, compassion, and clinical excellence.
Explore Nursing at Westcliff
Learn more about Faculty: Melissa De Vera, MSN, RN, PHN