About Us
Nursing is incredibly challenging, but it is even more rewarding. There is nothing like conquering the challenge of all that I have to learn, and then going out the next day and using that knowledge to help real people.
— Rachel VanderWall '15
Overview
Our accredited nursing program combines vital foundational knowledge in science, healthcare practices, and practical clinical experience in community settings. Small class sizes means that you’ll get plenty of personal attention from our experienced Christian nursing faculty.
Admission to Calvin's nursing program is competitive: it accepts 80 students each year to the program. Most students apply to the program in their sophomore year after completing nine prerequisite courses. See admissions requirements.
Careers in nursing
Once you graduate with a BSN degree, you will be prepared for all acute care, community care, and ambulatory care roles of an RN. A partial listing includes:
- Ambulatory clinic nurse
- Cardiac care nurse
- Case management nurse
- Correctional facility nurse
- Critical care nurse
- Emergency nurse
- Geriatric nurse
- Home health care nurse
- Hospice nurse
- Labor and delivery nurse
- Long-term care nurse
- Medical-surgical nurse
- Missionary nurse
- Neonatal intensive care nurse
- Occupational health nurse
- Oncology nurse
- Pediatric nurse
- Psychiatric nurse
- Public health nurse
- Rehabilitation nurse
- School nurse
- Travel nurse
You are also prepared for graduate school where you can get advanced degrees for roles that include the partial listing below:
- Certified nurse midwife
- Nurse anesthetist
- Nurse educator
- Nurse practitioner
- Nurse researcher
Get started at the Career Center.
See job placement rates for Calvin grads.
See ways to experience Calvin nursing.
Student involvement
- Participate in Calvin Nursing Association
- Participate in nursing department committees
- Be a student nurse mentor
- Volunteer at local hospitals, blood banks and senior centers
Accreditation
The baccalaureate degree program in nursing at Calvin University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaacreditation.org).
Mission
- Exceptional professionals and leaders
- Image-bearing community partners at the local, regional, and global levels
- Advocates for health transformation and health equity among diverse populations
The department fosters commitment to the triune God; core values such as empathy, humility, compassion, justice, and faith; and insightful and creative participation in society. The context for nursing education includes the learning community of the university as well as the healthcare community, the professional nursing community, and the world community in which Christian service takes place.