Nursing

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Chair: Dr. Joy Pieper

The nursing program at Crown College complements the college’s commitment to academic excellence by preparing highly qualified nursing professionals who practice Christian compassion and caring in a variety of global health care environments. Students who graduate with a nursing degree are academically prepared to enter the work force as a new graduate nurse and pursue graduate studies in a variety of disciplines. Program curriculum and teaching methodologies are structured within a four-year education plan to meet the requirements for entry-level practice. A liberal education based on the sciences and the arts, as well as Christian studies, establishes groundwork for students. They gain content needed for practice and develop appreciation of the views and values of others. Students within our program understand the value of community. There is a shared faith and focus on Christ that calls for an openness and understanding of peoples of all faiths, including those who do not express a faith. This leads to a place where the mind, body, spirit, and emotions of the individual can be cared for holistically.

The baccalaureate degree program in nursing at Crown College is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (www.ccneaccreditation.org), 655 K Street NW, Suite 750, Washington DC 20001, 202.887.6791. Graduates of the program are eligible to apply to take the NCLEX (National Council Licensure Examination) for registered nurses.

Entrance Requirements for the Department

The following are minimum threshold requirements to be considered for acceptance into the Crown College Nursing Department. Space may be limited, however, and not all qualified applicants are guaranteed departmental acceptance.

1. Be age 18 or older by the start of the program/starting NUR courses.
2. Achieve a cumulative GPA of at least 2.75 pending spring grades. GPA will be calculated based on all current/previous college-level coursework.
3. Complete all prerequisite courses with a grade of C+ or higher, pending spring grades, and with no prerequisite course being taken more than twice. Science prerequisite courses must have been taken within the past five years.
4. Be recommended for acceptance to the Nursing Department by one person outside the Nursing Department.
5. Proof of current certification in Basic Life Support (BLS) for the Health Care Provider through the American Heart Association.
6. A cleared background check from the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) is required prior to starting clinicals.
7. Demonstrate a level of personal health consistent with safe nursing practice as determined in a physical examination within the past 12 months. Each student must submit a completed “Crown College Nursing Department Essential Function and Physical Assessment Form” prior to starting clinical experiences.
8. Must provide one of the following negative TB test results within the past 12 months: 
   • Single-step Mantoux (TB skin test-TST)
   • QuantiFERON®-TB Gold In-Tube test (QFT-GIT) or T-SPOT®.TB test (T-Spot) 
   • Documented normal chest x-ray within the past 5 years
   • After admission to nursing program, a symptoms assessment form may be required
9. Provide documentation for Minnesota Department of Health Recommended Vaccines for Health Care Personnel
   • Hepatitis B series
   • MMR-Measles, Mumps, & Rubella
   • Varicella-Chickenpox
   • Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Pertussis (Tdap) once and Tdap booster every 10 years
   • Influenza-annually
10. Comply with current Minnesota Department of Health COVID-19 Recommendations for Health Care Workers and clinical site requirements. COVID-19 vaccination is not required to be accepted in the Nursing Program. Preference for exemption should be disclosed when other required vaccination documentation is provided.
11. Comply with facility-specific requirements, such as drug and alcohol testing, with negative results.

Application materials and procedures are available from the Nursing Department for students interested in the traditional baccalaureate nursing program during the fall semester of the sophomore year. Applications are due during the spring semester of the sophomore year. Contact the Nursing Department for exact dates and times.

Courses in the nursing program require students to spend substantial time in off-campus clinical settings, such as hospitals, clinics, and public health agencies. Students must furnish their own transportation to and from these clinical sites.

Minnesota state law requires that health care facilities complete background checks on all employees (and students and faculty). The Nursing Department will complete background studies as indicated by the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) to maintain compliance with our clinical agencies. If an employee or student has been convicted of certain crimes, he/she may not be allowed to work in such facilities. All prospective students need to be aware of this law because someone convicted of these crimes may be unable to complete the clinical requirements of the nursing program and, consequently, may not be able to graduate from the program. Any questions should be addressed to Minnesota Department of Human Services, Division of Licensing, Background Study Unit, 444 Lafayette Road, St. Paul, MN 55155-3842.  

Students are expected to maintain current health insurance.

Prerequisite Courses

• 3 credit COM 252 - Interpersonal Communication  
• 3 credit ENG 131 - English Composition  
• 3 credit MAT 226 - Applied Statistics  
• 3 credit SCI 312 - Pathophysiology  
• 3 credit PSY 130 - General Psychology  
• 3 credit PSY 236 - Developmental Psychology  
• 4 credit SCI 249 - General, Organic and Biochemistry   
• 4 credit SCI 261 - Human Anatomy and Physiology I  
• 4 credit SCI 262 - Human Anatomy and Physiology II  
• 3 credit SCI 359 - Microbiology  
• 4 credit SCI 360 - Applied Nutrition  

Department Goals

Upon completion of the Crown College Nursing Program, students will be able to:

• Demonstrate knowledge, skills and attitudes characterized by a commitment to the profession of nursing.
• Apply principles of nursing leadership to improve quality of patient care and patient safety.
• Use interprofessional communication and collaborative skills to advocate for safe, evidenced-based quality patient care to families, communities, and populations across the health care continuum.
• Practice Christian compassion and caring in the provision of professional nursing care.
• Illustrate accountability for self and professional nursing practice to include continuous engagement in life-long learning.
• Display accountability for legal, moral, and ethical considerations consistent with Biblical values.
• Integrate current theory and evidenced-based knowledge to guide and teach individuals, families, communities, and populations of diverse cultures regarding health promotion and illness prevention.

Degree Programs

• Nursing Major (B.S.)

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