Nursing (Natural Science) Department

Contemporary nursing is a demanding multifaceted calling that utilizes a wide variety of personal characteristics and technical skills such as: compassion, discernment in understanding complex human physical, mental, emotional and spiritual needs, knowledge of disease processes and healing countermeasures, wisdom in approaching ethical issues in modern healthcare, ability to connect quickly and meaningfully with others, perseverance, attention to detail, the ability to quickly learn new methods and new technologies, flexibility in the face of changing health care delivery models, and the ability to responsibly exercise authority and to work under authority.

There are a variety of options for students who want to take advantage of a Covenant education as they prepare for a career in nursing. (A helpful resource on the web that gives a brief description of a variety of nursing education options is www.allnursingschools.com/faqs/progtypes.php).

two years of study at Covenant leading to a transfer to a BSN program at another institution. See further description of this option below.
a BA in Biology with a Health Professions concentration as a preparation for direct entry into a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or an accelerated second degree BSN programs. See http://www.aacn.nche.edu/Media/FactSheets/AcceleratedProg.htm for descriptions and a current list of institutions offering these programs. See further description of this option below.
a BA in the student’s major of choice, while also taking approximately 25 hours of natural and social science prerequisites for direct entry into an MSN/accelerated second degree BSN program. Prerequisites vary but typically include courses in human anatomy and physiology, microbiology, nutrition, statistics and developmental psychology.
an MSN/BA dual degree with Vanderbilt University .

Transfer option

By satisfactorily completing two years of pre-nursing curriculum at Covenant, the student may apply for admission on the junior level to a school of nursing for completion of the Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing. Covenant participates in a cooperative program with the Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing of Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia to facilitate this option. Other universities have also accepted our students after their two years of preparation at Covenant. Covenant’s pre-nursing curriculum is planned as much as possible on an individual basis to meet the prerequisites of the selected school of nursing; therefore, it is helpful if incoming freshmen provide their advisor with catalogs from one or two nursing schools that they might wish to attend. Freshmen also need to consult with their advisor concerning the specific schedule of pre-nursing courses the department plans to offer in the two year period the student plans to attend Covenant so that appropriate plans can be made if specific courses are needed by the student but will not be offered in a particular two year period.

A BA in Biology with a Health Professions Concentration

As nurse practitioners play an increasing role in delivering primary care as well as care in a variety of specialties, deeply and broadly educated nurses will be increasingly in demand. MSN programs now accept well qualified students who have majored in areas other than nursing in their undergraduate programs. These “direct entry” programs are increasingly offered in an accelerated format of 2-25 years. A full biology major in the Health professions allows able students to take full advantage of the opportunities for Christian academic development at Covenant as well as to keep a wide variety of career options in the health professions open. For more information see the description of the Biology Department and the requirements for the Biology, Health Professions Concentration .

Dual Degree Program with Vanderbilt University

Covenant participates in a dual-degree program leading to a Master of Nursing Science at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. Students attend Covenant for three years and apply to Vanderbilt’s graduate school during their junior year. After successfully completing the first two semesters at Vanderbilt, the student would graduate from Covenant with a baccalaureate degree in natural science. After another full year and one term at Vanderbilt, the student would graduate with a master’s degree with a specialty in adult health care, primary care, psychiatric-mental health, perinatal nursing, neonatal nursing, parent, child and adolescent, or nursing administration. Further general information on the Vanderbilt MSN programs can be found at http://www.nursing.vanderbilt.edu/msn/index.html and more specific information about the dual degree partnership programs can be found at http://www.nursing.vanderbilt.edu/msn/snryria.html.

Important notes: 1) Although Covenant students have been successful in the Vanderbilt MSN admissions process, admission is competitive and is not guaranteed by simply completing Covenant’s program requirements. 2) Because of the rigorous nature of this program, a minimum combined SAT score of 1100 (sum of the critical reading and math section scores), or composite ACT score of 24 is normally required for those entering the program. Interested students with lower test scores should consult the Biology Department chair before registering for courses required in the program. 3) In order to finish the Covenant portion of the dual degree requirements in 3 years, students in the program may need to take the required Microbiology course and a social science elective course during a summer term before enrolling at Vanderbilt. Suitable courses are widely available at community colleges and may be available during Covenant’s May term. Before taking a summer course, students should get the course approved for transfer.