Open Resources for Nursing
The Open RN project is led by Chippewa Valley Technical College as part of the Wisconsin Technical College System (WTCS) consortium. OER nursing textbooks and virtual simulations are collaboratively developed by faculty based on the WTCS State Nursing curriculum and the current NCLEX-RN Test Plan. Textbooks undergo national peer review by faculty, deans, industry members, and nursing students to ensure the content is accurate and relevant, written in clear language for pre-licensure nursing students, and based on current, evidence-based practices. All Open RN materials have CC-BY 4.0 Creative Commons licensing.
Open RN textbooks are published in Pressbooks where they are free and accessible in online or downloadable formats. The textbooks are also uploaded to LibreTexts where they can easily be "remixed" by faculty and aligned to their curriculum. Affordable print versions are published by XanEdu and available in college bookstores and on Amazon.
Open RN OER Textbooks
Nursing Pharmacology - Second Edition (Published August 2023)
View Online
Nursing Pharmacology - First Edition (Published Fall 2020)
View Online | Download Printable PDF
Nursing Skills - Second Edition (Published August 2023)
View Online
Nursing Skills - First Edition (Published May 2021)
View Online | Download Printable PDF
Nursing Fundamentals (Published Fall 2021)
View Online | Download Printable PDF
Management & Professional Concepts (Published Summer 2022)
View Online | Download Printable PDF
Mental Health & Community Concepts (Published Fall 2022)
View Online | Download Printable PDF
Nursing Advanced Skills (Published Spring 2023)
View Online | Download Printable PDF
Medical Terminology (Anticipated Spring 2024)
Nursing Health Alterations (Anticipated Fall 2024)
Nursing Health Promotions (Anticipated Spring 2025)
Read more about Open RN textbook content
HEERF-Funded OER Textbook
Nursing Assistant (Published January 2023)
View Online
Virtual Simulations
The Open RN project is also developing 25 virtual scenarios with three potential levels of student access. The first two levels require the institutional purchase of an Acadicus VR software license for one or more “virtual spaces.” Open RN simulation scenarios can be run in these virtual spaces with multiple student groups, similar to a simulation lab, but in a virtual space. The first level of access allows students to become totally immersed in a virtual reality scenario in the virtual space by using a gaming laptop and Oculus Rift-S headset. Alternatively, as a second level of access, a faculty member can log into Acadicus, screenshare the virtual reality scenario with students in a classroom or learning remotely, and lead them through the clinical judgments required to complete the virtual simulation.
View Open RN OER Virtual Reality Scenarios
A third level of access allows students to independently access free, online, asynchronous, virtual simulations using a hyperlink and any device connected to the internet. No special equipment or software is required to complete these learning activities that encourage the development of clinical judgment and provide immediate formative feedback. These Open RN online virtual simulations are created using H5P software and have CC BY 4.0 licensing. They are incorporated into the Open RN OER textbooks and can also be directly accessed by using the URLs contained in a working document that can accessed by clicking the following button. Media used in many of these virtual simulations has been uploaded to the Open RN YouTube channel with CC BY 4.0 licensing for potential reuse. Media contains nurse handoff reports, patient interaction videos, family member videos, and interprofessional team communication. The most recently developed Open RN virtual simulations contain NCLEX Next Generation-style questions and/or media created by multiple generative artificial intelligence platforms and vetted by subject matter experts.
Disclaimer: These Nursing Open Educational Resources were developed under a $2.5 million dollar grant from the Department of Education. However, those contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.
Next Gen RN
The Next Gen RN project is a spinoff project funded by a $500,000 WTCS Core Industry grant. The goal of the project is to improve the preparedness of pre licensure nurses entering the workforce by providing the opportunity to practice taking NCLEX Next Generation (NGN) style questions. NGN questions were launched on the NCLEX in April 2023 in an effort to more accurately assess nursing graduates’ clinical judgment.
LibreTexts’ ADAPT software platform has been customized for nursing faculty to create NGN-style case studies and questions and share them publicly with other faculty. Over 25 NGN-style case studies are shared in the “Next Gen RN” public course in ADAPT that serves as a repository.
Nursing instructors can request a personal ADAPT account to view these questions by going to LibreTexts ADAPT platform and clicking on “Contact Us.” Resources for using ADAPT are located online at the Next Gen RN Nursing Tutorial.
In addition to NGN case studies available to faculty within the ADAPT platform, individual NGN questions are also linked within the Open RN OER textbooks as formative assessments with immediate feedback provided to students.



Latest Updates
Learn more about the Open RN project and see the latest updates on the textbook progress by viewing our blog.
Student Success with Open
and Affordable Resources
This course will provide a beginner-level overview of how student success relates to open educational resources (OER) through the lens of who, what, where, when, why, and how. Participants will examine the problem with the current textbook publishing model, investigate student and faculty perceptions, identify stakeholders within their own institutions, review trends in the Wisconsin and higher education landscape, explore available resources, and begin a plan to get them started on their own OER journey.
Upon course completion you will receive a certificate as a Wisconsin OER Champion! Speak with your supervisor to discuss how this can be incorporated into your ongoing professional development plan!
Consider enrolling in the course with a colleague from your institution to work together!
This learning opportunity was developed under a $2.5 million dollar grant from the Department of Education. However, course content does not necessarily represent the policy of the Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.
Instructor //
Vince Mussehl, Chippewa Valley Technical College
Course Delivery //
10 - 15 Hours | Online Instruction
Course Cost //
FREE
January 8 - 31, 2024
Register Now | Registration Closes December 20
February 1 - 26, 2024
Register Now | Registration Closes January 22
June 3 - 28, 2024
Register Now | Registration Closes May 24
August 1 - 30, 2024
Register Now | Registration Closes July 22
October 1 - 31, 2024
Register Now | Registration Closes September 23
January 3 - 28, 2025
Register Now | Registration Closes December 20
Request More Info
For more information about the Open RN project, to get involved, or to sign-up for quarterly updates, please fill out this form or email us at OpenRN@cvtc.edu.
We will never share or sell your information outside of CVTC. We may, on occasion, contact you regarding relevant services, events, and materials. You may opt out at any time. View our privacy policy to understand how we collect and use your information.