Overview
The traditional baccalaureate curriculum is designed for recent high school graduates and requires eight (8) semesters of full-time study on the Omaha campus. The College of Nursing (CON) has variations of the traditional 4-year curriculum to accommodate students with various interests, including, but not limited to:
- Study Abroad
- Army Reserve Officers Training Corp (ROTC)
- Air Force (ROTC)
During the freshman year, students in the Traditional Curriculum are enrolled in the Ratio Studiorum Program (RSP) course, an introduction to professional nursing, and the foundational level courses of the Magis Common Core Curriculum (Common Core). Using a concept-based framework, sophomore students are offered nursing courses in health assessment, pathophysiology, lifespan development, nutrition, and statistics. Additionally, students complete courses at the explorations level of the Common Core. Nursing courses at the junior and senior level build upon the Common Core and nursing support courses offered at the freshman and sophomore level. While continuing to use a concept-based approach, the College offers courses that focus on outcomes-oriented, evidence-based nursing practice, and interprofessional collaboration to enhance quality and safety of care delivery.
The College of Nursing provides instruction for the practicum experiences in collaboration with cooperating agencies in both hospital and community-based settings to enrich the learning experience. Clinical reasoning activities using simulation and problem-based learning activities are integrated into all didactic and practicum courses. Emphasis is placed on using the College's innovative care management process model as a framework for achieving optimal clinical, quality, and cost-effective outcomes through health promotion, protection, maintenance, and restoration of altered health states. Population-based concepts are threaded throughout all care management practicum learning experiences. The senior year culminates in a capstone practicum designed to provide a concentrated experience in complex, collaborative nursing care management under the supervision of a nurse preceptor.
Admission
High school graduates who are first time freshmen wishing to pursue the Traditional nursing curriculum leading to the degree of Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) apply to Creighton University's Office of Undergraduate Admissions. General admission requirements for freshman and transfer students are listed in this Catalog under "Admissions."
The College of Nursing recommends that these students pursue a strong college preparation course of study in high school, which would include courses in science and math. High school chemistry, or its equivalent, is required for admission into the College of Nursing. An ACT composite score of at least 24 or combined SAT score of 1100 is recommended.
Transfer students from non-nursing majors, within Creighton University, may be admitted on a space available basis.
Admission to the College of Nursing is a two-tiered process, both conditions must be successfully completed.
- Academic acceptance is based on academic credentials and application materials.
- Validation of applicant's ability to meet the cognitive, affective, and psychomotor requirements of the challenging nursing curriculum, with or without reasonable accommodations, consistent with the American Disabilities Act is required. Applicants must complete the "Safety and Technical Standards" form attesting to their ability to meet these requirements.
Conditions of Enrollment
- Completion of immunizations required of all Creighton University Health Sciences students.
- Completion of College of Nursing's Attestation of Physical and Mental Health Form by a healthcare provider.
Additional Requirements Prior to Enrollment in Clinical Courses
- Current immunizations consistent with Creighton University and/or clinical agency guidelines for all current students.
- Background investigations and results consistent with Creighton University and/or clinical agency guidelines for all current students.
- Drug screen and results consistent with Creighton University and/or clinical agency guidelines for all current students. This drug screen will be conducted sophomore year in advance of the start of clinical.
- Current certification in Basic Life Support (BLS) from the American Heart Association (AHA) which includes CPR and Automated External Defibrillator (AED). Content must include adults, children, and infants.
Advanced Placement, Transfer, and Other Credit
The policies of the College of Arts and Sciences govern the granting of Advanced Placement (AP), transfer, or other credit apply to students in the College of Nursing, except for selected nursing courses.
Requirements for Graduation
A candidate for a BSN degree must have earned a minimum of 128 semester hours of credit with a grade point average (GPA) of 2.20 or above. A grade of "C" (2.00) must be earned in all required nursing courses and pre-requisite/nursing support courses.
Academic Standing
The College of Nursing (CON) applies Creighton University's policy on academic standing in that a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.00 is required for graduation. The average shall be computed only on the basis of all work attempted at Creighton.
The College of Nursing's Undergraduate Retention & Progression Policy is outlined in the College of Nursing BSN Student Handbook.
Traditional BSN Curriculum (128 credits)
Magis Common Core Courses
The Creighton University Common Core requirements are a minimum of 33 semester hours.
Transfer students may enter the traditional curriculum at various points, based on individual evaluations of past academic history. Descriptions of past courses will be compared to Creighton University courses for equivalency and granting of transfer credit.
Foundations Level
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Contemporary Composition | 3 | |
| Critical Issues in Human Inquiry | 3 | |
| COM 101 | Digital Communication Lab | 1 |
| MTH 205 | Mathematics for the Modern World | 2 |
| Philosophical Ideas | 3 | |
| The Christian Tradition | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 15 | |
Explorations Level
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Ethics | 3 | |
| Global Perspectives in History | 3 | |
| Literature | 3 | |
| The Biblical Tradition | 3 | |
| CHM 111 | Fundamentals of General Chemistry | 3 |
| PSY 201 | Introductory Psychology | 3 |
| Total Credits | 18 | |
NOTE: All Foundations and Explorations Magis Common Core courses must be completed prior to Junior level nursing courses. You can find approved Magis Core courses here.
Integrations Level
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Intersections | ||
| NUR 439 | Population-Based Health Concepts II | 3 |
Designated Courses
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Designated Ethics | ||
| NUR 476 | Applied Nursing Ethics | 3 |
| Designated Oral Communications | ||
| NUR 349 | Care Management Concepts Practicum II | 5 |
| Designated Statistical Reasoning | ||
| NUR 200 | Statistical Reasoning | 3 |
| Designated Technology | ||
| NUR 357 | Professional Concepts II | 2 |
| Designated Written Communications | ||
| NUR 416 | Care Management Concepts III | 5 |
Nursing Pre-Requisite/Support Courses (in addition to Core)1
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EXS 111 | Fundamentals of Human Anatomy | 4 |
| EXS 112 | Fundamentals of Human Physiology | 4 |
| CHM 112 | Fundamentals Of Biological Chemistry 3 | 3 |
| CHM 113 | Fundamentals Of Chemistry Laboratory | 1 |
| MIC 141 | Microbiology | 4 |
| RSP 102 | An Introduction to the Culture of College Life | 1 |
| SOC 101 | Introduction to Sociology: Self and Society | 3 |
| or ANT 111 | Introduction to Anthropology: Human and Cultural Diversity | |
| or ANT 112 | Introduction to Anthropology: Culture, Ecology and Sustainability | |
| or ANT 113 | Introduction to Anthropology: Social and Cultural Determinants of Health | |
| Total Credits | 20 | |
- 1
EXS 111 Fundamentals of Human Anatomy, EXS 112 Fundamentals of Human Physiology, CHM 112 Fundamentals Of Biological Chemistry, CHM 113 Fundamentals Of Chemistry Laboratory, MIC 141 Microbiology, PSY 201 Introductory Psychology, SOC 101 Introduction to Sociology: Self and Society or ANT 111 Introduction to Anthropology: Human and Cultural Diversity, and MTH 205 Mathematics for the Modern World are pre-requisite to nursing courses. Students must receive a "C" or better in each of these courses.
Nursing Courses
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| NUR 125 | Professional Concepts I | 1 |
| NUR 200 | Statistical Reasoning | 3 |
| NUR 223 | Nutrition | 2 |
| NUR 228 | Lifespan Development | 3 |
| NUR 229 | Foundational Concepts in Nursing & Health Assessment | 3 |
| NUR 230 | Foundational Concepts in Nursing & Health Assessment Lab | 2 |
| NUR 252 | Human Pathophysiology | 3 |
| NUR 331 | Nursing Pharmacology | 3 |
| NUR 339 | Care Management Concepts I | 5 |
| NUR 342 | Care Management Concepts Practicum I | 5 |
| NUR 346 | Evidence-Based Practice I | 3 |
| NUR 348 | Care Management Concepts II | 5 |
| NUR 349 | Care Management Concepts Practicum II | 5 |
| NUR 357 | Professional Concepts II | 2 |
| NUR 366 | Population Health I | 2 |
| NUR 416 | Care Management Concepts III | 5 |
| NUR 417 | Care Management Concepts Practicum III | 5 |
| NUR 439 | Population-Based Health Concepts II | 3 |
| NUR 475 | Professional Concepts III | 3 |
| NUR 476 | Applied Nursing Ethics | 3 |
| NUR 477 | Evidence-Based Practice II | 2 |
| NUR 483 | Capstone Practicum | 7 |
| Total Credits | 75 | |
Minors
Students in the College of Nursing may pursue a minor in other Colleges within the University. The minor is in addition to the BSN degree. Requirements of the minor are listed in each department’s entry in the Catalog and websites. To apply for a minor, the student should contact the Assistant Dean of Student Affairs in the College of Nursing for appropriate consultation and referral.