How Concordia Prepares You for a Career in Nursing

Nursing is, according to the American Nurses Association, “the glue that holds a patient’s health care journey together.” With a job description like this, it’s evident why nurses are one of the most in-demand professions in 2023. The field of “nursing” encompasses a multitude of unique careers with unique job descriptions and duties. No matter your goals in your studies, Concordia University, Nebraska’s pre-nursing offerings will prepare you for employment in virtually any location where nurses can serve.  

Concordia has two options when it comes to preparing undergraduate students for entry-level work or graduate school in nursing. The first option is the university’s pre-nursing program, which consists of courses from biology, psychology and anatomy to nutrition, microbiology and chemistry. Students can pair this program with any academic major if they fulfill prerequisite requirements for any graduate school they plan to attend after Concordia.  

The second of these options is Concordia’s unique 3+1 Nursing Program, which the university offers in conjunction with Creighton University. Creighton’s main campus is in Omaha, Nebraska, but students who choose to enroll in the 3+1 program will complete courses and clinical training at its Grand Island campus, located about 70 miles from Seward. The program is arranged in such a way that students will earn a B.A. in biology from Concordia during their first three years of college and will receive an accelerated BSN (Bachelor of Science in nursing) degree from Creighton during their fourth year.  

Either of these two paths will provide students with a comprehensive undergraduate education that will prepare them to enter the field of nursing with a strong foundation in science, patient care and their Christian faith. In Concordia’s Dunklau Center for Science, Math and Business, pre-nursing students will have access to 11 laboratory classrooms as well as a greenhouse and several research labs in which to further their education in the natural sciences.  

Concordia’s pre-nursing program offers students a comprehensive overview of the many fields of study of which a career in nursing may require their knowledge. It is for this reason that graduates can go on to work in any number of nursing specialties or earn more specialized degrees. There are more than forty types of nurses who can work in a wide variety of facilities, including hospitals, emergency rooms, schools, correctional facilities, or even in homes.  

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from Creighton (or another university, after completing Concordia’s pre-nursing program) enables recipients to work in most of these locations in some capacity. According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, approximately half of healthcare settings require applicants to have a BSN to work as a nurse in their facility. Nurses with a bachelor’s degree typically earn around $80,000 per year and can work in different specialized areas, such as pediatrics, gastroenterology or labor and delivery.  

For students who pursue further education after they earn their BSN, more advanced nursing jobs are available. For example, family nurse practitioners (FNPs) must hold at least a Master of Science in Nursing degree before they can practice, although they will enjoy more career autonomy. An ICU nurse requires a bachelor’s degree as its highest level of education, but prospective ICU nurses must earn a special ICU certification. Alternately, students who wish to become a Certified Nurse-Midwife, a Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice, or a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist may be required to earn a doctoral degree in the field – yes, you can become a Doctor of Nursing!  

Nursing is a career that necessitates a certain type of person to work in the field; nurses must be compassionate, patient, dedicated, persevering and willing to serve others. Selflessness is a requirement when it comes to providing direct patient care, and nurses must be ready for this task. At Concordia, the pre-nursing program prepares students for all aspects of the nursing profession, from a deep knowledge of the natural sciences to an appreciation for God’s creation and a heart ready to serve.  

Interested in pre-nursing offerings at Concordia? Learn more here.