Pre-Nursing at Concordia

When people think of nurses, images of hospitals, clinics and maybe even nursing homes are generally what comes to mind. However, over time and with advanced technology and research, nursing roles have expanded and many doors have been opened. Nurses are now employed in many non-hospital settings, including schools, camps and even cruise ships.

Concordia University, Nebraska’s pre-nursing program offers several different paths that cater to a wide range of student interests. The liberal arts-based program provides graduates with foundational knowledge in the sciences as well as psychology and sociology. It also allows students to develop their critical writing and analytical reasoning skills.

In addition to Concordia’s pre-nursing program, the university offers the 3 + 1 Nursing Program in collaboration with Creighton University. This program results in a dual degree in biology from Concordia and in nursing from Creighton. This degree will prepare graduates for a career as a Registered Nurse (RN).

If students choose to go this route, they will be a full time Concordia student upon their acceptance. During their first three years at Concordia, they will live on campus and be eligible for financial aid from the university. After successfully completing the required course in three years with a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA, they will become a Creighton University student. They will finish their ABSN courses on Creighton’s campus and participate in clinicals at local health care facilities. They will be eligible for financial aid through Creighton in this year. Students can still choose to live on Concordia’s campus during their fourth year.

Specialty nursing is a field that has grown tremendously in recent years. While this path is often accompanied by many certifications within the specialty, it is still a very viable option. In addition to the pre-nursing track, Concordia offers a variety of other pre-professional programs within the health field, including pre-physician assistant, pre-radiation science technology, pre-medical laboratory science, pre-clinical perfusion science, pre-cytotechnology and pre-osteopathic medicine.

Concordia’s pre-nursing track allows students to have hands-on experiences prior to graduation. Students will get lab experience as well as the opportunity to intern and job-shadow with local nurses. Additionally, Concordia students pursuing a healthcare major who have met the minimum high school academic prerequisites may be eligible to apply for Concordia’s Micah Scholars. This program offers more hands-on experiences working in healthcare, fosters community between like-minded students and helps prepare students for graduate or professional school. Students in this program also receive an annual scholarship for up to five years while attending Concordia.

Some common career outcomes of the pre-nursing degree include becoming a registered nurse (RN), a nurse practitioner or a certified nursing assistant (CNA). In addition, nursing care has been expanded to patients’ homes through Home Health and Hospice. There are also alternate settings such as nursing positions within insurance and pharmaceutical companies. In addition, with the appropriate degrees, nurses can be employed as university nursing professors.

Concordia Nebraska’s pre-nursing program is designed to prepare you to transfer to a BSN program elsewhere, or to provide you with a four-year degree in the science field of your choice, usually biology or chemistry that can prepare you for a health-related career. Learn more about Concordia’s pre-nursing program here.