Nursing is founded on a commitment of service to others and focuses on the health and well being of society. Nursing practice involves four areas: promoting health and wellness, preventing illness, restoring health, and care of the dying.
The nursing program at St. Olaf College offers students the opportunity to enjoy a St. Olaf education, earn a bachelor of arts degree with a major in nursing, enroll in nursing courses with students outside the major, and have clinical learning experiences in a wide variety of local and Twin Cities medical and health care centers, long-term care facilities, community agencies, home health, and other facilities. By combining the values of the individual and a liberal arts background with the acquisition of professional knowledge and nursing skills, the nursing program integrates development of the whole person, a commitment to life-long learning, and service to others with a holistic approach to the practice of professional nursing.
Upon graduation, students are eligible to apply for initial licensure by examination for registered nurses offered by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing and, upon licensure, they can apply for certification as a public health nurse in Minnesota.
Overview of the Major
The nursing program, through an innovative design that integrates theory with practice and partners educators with professionals in practice, prepares graduates to provide and coordinate nursing care for individuals, families, and communities within standards of professional practice. Students learn to think critically, communicate effectively, and implement holistic nursing care within the developmental, physical, psychological, socio-cultural, and spiritual context of patient situations.
Graduates are qualified to work in hospitals, public health agencies, transitional and long-term care facilities, homes, hospice, healthcare organizations, and clinics to provide high-quality nursing care to individuals, families, communities, and populations and to direct the nursing care given by others. They have the background for graduate study in nursing programs, which can prepare them for advanced nursing practice, teaching, administration, and research.
Accreditation and Approval
The baccalaureate degree program in nursing at St. Olaf College is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791.
The Minnesota Board of Nursing has approved the St. Olaf professional nursing program for the purpose of meeting the education requirements for licensure as a registered nurse. Approval is the authority granted by the board for a controlling body to offer a program designed to prepare students to meet the education requirements for licensure as a practical, professional, or advanced practice registered nurse.
Information regarding state approval of the program is available from the:
Minnesota Board of Nursing
2829 University Ave SE Suite 200
Minneapolis, MN 55414
Phone: 612-317-3000
Fax: 612-617-2190
Email: Nursing.Board@state.mn.us
Distinction
See Academic Honors
The nursing department proposes three pathways for Departmental Distinction.
Departmental Distinction: Clinical Performance
Each year faculty will identify one student who has excelled in clinical performance. Students will be nominated by faculty and then selected by faculty vote at a spring meeting of the faculty during the nominee’s senior year. This student will be awarded Departmental Distinction for Clinical Performance at the Nursing Pinning Ceremony held on graduation day.
Departmental Distinction: Creative and Innovative Project
Students will create a proposal that demonstrates a significant contribution to the nursing profession. The proposal will be presented to the Department Chair; all proposals will be presented to the full faculty by the department chair at the beginning of the student’s senior year. Once the project is approved by the nursing faculty the student will begin work on a creative project with a designated faculty member. The project will demonstrate creativity and innovation and contribute to positive social change in the profession of nursing.
Examples could be the development of a teaching project and implementation to an identified group of learners or the implementation of a wellness-oriented project with fellow St. Olaf students. A final project will be presented to the nursing department faculty in a presentation and distinction will be awarded with faculty approval in the spring of the student’s senior year.
Departmental Distinction: Academic
To qualify for Academic Departmental Distinction students must have a cumulative 3.5 GPA in all nursing courses. Students will create a research project proposal which will be presented to the nursing faculty for approval. Once approved, the student will work with a faculty member to implement the research project. This project will include a literature review, the development of a research question and plan, and preliminary research if time allows. In addition to the written component, students will present the project to the nursing department faculty in the spring of the student’s senior year. Academic distinction will be awarded with faculty approval.
Special Programs
Study Abroad
Nursing students at St. Olaf can participate in the study/service or semester abroad programs listed in the Smith Center for Global Engagement section of the catalog. However, participants in study abroad/away programs will need to plan carefully and additional time may be necessary to complete all requirements for the nursing major. The nursing advisor or the department chair will assist in planning for these experiences.
Second Majors
Second majors may be desirable but not attainable for nursing majors without extensive planning and possibly additional years of college. There is no guarantee that nursing students will be able to complete a second major in four years.
Admission and Progression
Students are encouraged to express an interest in the nursing major upon application for admission to St. Olaf College. The admissions office will direct you to the necessary additional application required for the nursing major. It is advised that you apply as early as possible.
Information for Students Applying for Direct Admission to the Nursing Program
Students intending to major in nursing at the time of application to the College may be considered for direct admission to the nursing program as a first-year student. Students seeking direct admission to the nursing program must complete an additional application to the program at the same time they submit an application to the College.
Information for Students Not Applying or Not Selected for Direct Admission to the Nursing Program
Students who did not apply or were not selected for first-year direct admission may apply for admission to the nursing major during the fall of the sophomore year.
Information for All Students Applying to the Nursing Program
The nursing major begins in the spring semester of the sophomore year if the following criteria are met:
- Minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.85.
- Prerequisites must be taken for a letter grade, cumulative grade point average 2.70.
- Only one prerequisite course may be below C- and this course (or an alternate course approved by the Nursing Department chair) may be repeated once.
- A minimum grade of C- must be achieved in the repeated or substituted course.
- If a grade of C- is not achieved in the repeated or substituted course, the student may not continue in the major.
- If two or more prerequisite courses are below C-, the student may not continue in the major.
- Four prerequisite courses must be completed by the end of the fall semester of the sophomore year. All prerequisite courses must be completed by the beginning of the junior year.
Students not accepted may choose to be placed on a waiting list and will be notified of their rank on that list. If openings occur, admission will be offered to waiting list students by rank, highest rank first. Students on the waiting list may reapply for admission to the nursing program the following year. They will be considered in the next pool of applicants but will not be guaranteed admission because they apply a second time.
In addition to the college health requirements, clinical agency partners require documentation of current health and immunization status to be updated annually. For the most current information regarding requirements, please contact the St. Olaf Nursing Department.
In order to be qualified to provide direct patient services, students must undergo a criminal background study conducted by the Minnesota Department of Human Services (MDHS). If a student is disqualified by the MDHS, they will be unable to provide direct patient care and they will be dismissed from the nursing program.
Students beginning the nursing program must also complete the theory component of a CNA course. For purposes of the Nursing Department students do not need to sit for the certification examination. Students will need to provide documentation of their course completion (in the form of a course completion certificate) or verification of certification on a state nursing registry prior to beginning NURS 211.
Progression in the Nursing Program
Dismissal from the Nursing Program
Requirements for the Major
Course List | Code | Title | Credits |
| BIO 143 | Human Anatomy and Physiology: Cells and Tissues | 1.00 |
| BIO 243 | Human Anatomy and Physiology: Organs and Organ Systems | 1.00 |
| NURS 110 | Nutrition and Wellness | 1.00 |
| PSYCH 125 | Principles of Psychology | 1.00 |
| PSYCH 241 | Developmental Psychology | 1.00 |
| 1.00 |
| Explorations in Microbiology | |
| Microbiology | |
| 1.00 |
| Introductory Chemistry | |
| Structural Chemistry and Equilibrium | |
| 1.00 |
| Introduction to Sociology | |
| Introduction to Cultural Anthropology | |
| Sociology of Dying, Death, and Bereavement | |
| Families, Marriage, & Relationships | |
| Gender in Cross-Cultural Perspective | |
| Global Interdependence | |
| Race and Class in American Culture | |
| Medical Anthropology | |
| NURS 211 | Holistic Health Assessment and Health Promotion | 1.00 |
| NURS 212 | Foundations of Professional Nursing | 1.00 |
| NURS 310 | Pathopharmacology | 1.00 |
| NURS 312 | Family Health | 1.00 |
| NURS 313 | Gerontological Nursing | 1.00 |
| NURS 314 | Lifespan Medical-Surgical Nursing I | 1.00 |
| NURS 315 | Medical-Surgical Nursing II | 1.00 |
| NURS 316 | Public Health Nursing | 1.00 |
| NURS 317 | Behavioral Health | 1.00 |
| NURS 318 | Nursing Leadership (1.50) | 1.50 |
| NURS 319 | Complex Patient Care | 1.00 |
| NURS 399 | Senior Nursing Seminar (0.50) | 0.50 |
| 1.00 |
*By completing this major, the student also satisfies the OLE Core Writing in the Major requirement.
Nursing courses that count toward the major are upper-level (sophomore, junior, and senior years). Nursing courses include theory, simulation, lab, and clinical. Clinical experiences are provided in each semester of the nursing major in a variety of rural and urban settings. Clinical experiences may occur on any shift or day of the week as negotiated by agencies and the program. Students must provide their own transportation to clinical experiences. A fee is assessed annually in the junior and senior years of the nursing major for additional program expenses. This fee will appear on the student's tuition statement.
Courses that do not count toward the nursing major include: NURS 110 Nutrition and Wellness, , NURS 150 Introduction to Public Health, NURS 250 Epidemiology, NURS 260 Comparative Health and Wellness - Germany & Switzerland (study abroad), NURS 394 Academic Internship, NURS 396 Directed Undergraduate Research, and
NURS 398 Independent Research.
Courses that count toward the major:
NURS 211: Holistic Health Assessment and Health Promotion
This course focuses on holistic health assessment, health promotion, and disease prevention across the lifespan. Students obtain health histories, identify risk factors, and develop health assessment skills in physiologic, psychosocial, developmental, and spiritual dimensions. Identification of data from a holistic perspective and analysis of findings through critical thinking are emphasized. Active learning experiences are utilized to apply knowledge and informatics during health assessment. Students attend lectures plus one two-hour laboratory per week. Offered annually in the spring semester.
Prerequisites: open to sophomore nursing majors only; concurrent enrollment in NURS 212.
NURS 310: Pathopharmacology
This course explores pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics, integrating principles of pathophysiology through examining drug classifications in relation to disease processes and symptom management. Evaluation of efficacy, potential complications, and special considerations for medication administration are emphasized. Monitoring of physical signs and symptoms, diagnostic evaluation, and complications of drug therapy are reviewed. Open to non-nursing majors with approval of instructor. Offered annually in the fall semester.
Prerequisites: for nursing majors: open to junior nursing majors only; completion of NURS 211 and NURS 212 (previously NURS 311) with grades of C or above; concurrent enrollment in NURS 313.
NURS 312: Family Health
Students focus on the nursing care of childbearing and childrearing families in the context of family-centered care. Family theory will be utilized as the framework for nursing assessment and care of families in various situations across the lifespan. Clinical experiences are provided with childbearing and childrearing families. Offered annually in the fall semester.
Prerequisites: open to senior nursing majors only; NURS 314 with grades of C or above; concurrent enrollment in NURS 315 and NURS 316.
NURS 313: Gerontological Nursing
Students examine social, psychological, and biological aspects of aging within the context of holistic nursing. Application of knowledge and skills using gerontological principles for prevalent health problems experienced by older adults is emphasized. The course incorporates instruction and feedback for developing oral communication through the practice of interpersonal communication skills. Clinical experiences focus on elder care in a variety of community settings. Offered annually in the fall semester.
Prerequisite: open to junior nursing majors only; NURS 211 and NURS 212 with grades of C or above; concurrent enrollment in NURS 310.
NURS 314: Lifespan Medical-Surgical Nursing I
This course focuses on the etiology, clinical manifestations, and management of holistic nursing care for ill patients of various ages. Major concept areas explore the dynamics of common acute and chronic abnormalities observed in specific populations. Students utilize diverse roles of the nurse integrating knowledge from pharmacology and health assessment to manage the care of a patient in the clinical setting. Offered annually in the spring semester.
Prerequisites: open to junior nursing majors only; NURS 310 and NURS 313 with grades of C or above.
NURS 315: Medical-Surgical Nursing II
Building on the interplay between pathophysiology, pharmacology and the nursing process in NURS 314, this course expands upon the holistic nursing care for ill patients of various ages. Students utilize diverse roles of the nurse to manage the care of children and adults with complex abnormalities in the clinical setting. Offered annually in the fall semester.
Prerequisites: open to senior nursing majors only; NURS 314 with grade of C or above; concurrent enrollment in NURS 312 and NURS 316.
NURS 316: Public Health Nursing
Public health nursing is informed by community needs and environmental factors focusing on health promotion and disease prevention. Through project management, students address the health needs of groups and communities utilizing group communication processes, teamwork, and collaboration. Students focus on utilizing community resources, identifying risk factors, and evaluating the impact on population health as related to current epidemiological trends. Offered annually in the fall semester. Also counts toward business and management studies concentration.
Prerequisites: open to senior nursing majors only; NURS 314 with grade of C or above; concurrent enrollment in NURS 312 and NURS 315.
NURS 317: Behavioral Health
Students synthesize knowledge and apply evidence-based practice in the care and management of clients experiencing a major psychiatric and/or mental health disorder. Emphasis is placed on the role of the professional nurse in various treatment settings as well as current treatment modalities. The client population includes children, adolescents, and adults along the health-illness continuum. Offered annually in the spring semester.
Prerequisites: open to senior nursing majors only; NURS 312, NURS 315, and NURS 316 with grades of C or above; concurrent enrollment in NURS 318, NURS 319, and NURS 399.
NURS 318: Nursing Leadership (1.50)
This synthesis course focuses on professional role development, nursing leadership and contemporary issues in nursing. Students gain the knowledge and skills in organizational systems leadership, quality improvement and safety that are needed to lead healthcare teams, coordinate patient care, and achieve patient outcomes. Offered annually in the spring semester. Also counts toward business and management studies concentration.
Prerequisites: open to senior nursing majors only; NURS 312, NURS 315, and NURS 316 with grades of C or above; concurrent enrollment in NURS 317, NURS 319, and NURS 399.
NURS 319: Complex Patient Care
Students synthesize knowledge and apply evidence-based practice in the care and management of patients with multiple complex health conditions. The focus of this course is on caring for patients with limitations in their ability to function due to physical, mental, and psychosocial challenges. Simulation is used to facilitate student learning in critical care environments. Offered annually in the spring semester.
Prerequisites: open to senior nursing majors only; NURS 312, NURS 315, and NURS 316 with grades of C or above; concurrent enrollment in NURS 317, NURS 318, and NURS 399.
NURS 399: Senior Nursing Seminar (0.50)
Nursing is a complex, evolving profession responding to an ever-changing healthcare environment. Students discuss emerging nursing/healthcare issues and are guided in the development of strategies to prepare for the NCLEX-RN and for successful transition to baccalaureate generalist nursing practice. This course focuses on professional development, including personal philosophies of nursing, professional ethics, and portfolio development. Offered annually in the spring semester.
Prerequisites: open to senior nursing majors only; NURS 312, NURS 315, and NURS 316 with grades of C or above; concurrent enrollment in NURS 317, NURS 318, and NURS 319.
Courses that do not count toward the major:
NURS 110: Nutrition and Wellness
This course explores the sources, chemical composition, and metabolic behavior of nutrients. Nutritional requirements for a balanced diet are examined as well as the consequences of excesses and deficiencies. Students use nutrition tools and guidelines to make sound food choices, learn how to read food labels, and consider factors affecting food consumption. Class activities increase students' awareness of a healthy diet, help students evaluate nutrition behaviors, and facilitate a nutritionally sound lifestyle. Offered annually. Does not count toward major, but is a prerequisite for the nursing major. Counts toward public health studies concentration.
NURS 150: Introduction to Public Health
This introductory course provides students a broad overview of public health focusing on concepts relating to health promotion, disease prevention and epidemiology. Additionally, students learn about the core public health values, functions, population health assessment and intervention and the socio-economic, behavioral, biological and environmental determinants of health. Students engage in oral and written communication to critically think and analyze public health issues. Offered alternate years during the spring semester. Counts toward public health studies concentration.
NURS 250: Epidemiology
Epidemiology is the science of applying information about populations with the goal of improving health. This course will focus on multiple epidemiological research strategies in scientific, social and ethical context. By examining the range of health problems and diseases affecting diverse cultures, races, and ethnic groups, students gain understanding of epidemiology as the science of public health. Offered periodically to all St Olaf students in the fall semester. Does not count toward the nursing major. Counts toward public health studies concentration.
Prerequisites: NURS 150 and one of BIO 121, BIO 123, BIO 143, BIO 150, or CH/BI 227, and any statistics course.
NURS 260: Comparative Health and Wellness - Germany & Switzerland (study abroad)
In the United States "health" constitutes seeing doctors, taking medicines, and getting in 5000 daily steps. In Germany, wellness is fundamental to lifestyle. While traveling in Germany and Switzerland, students compare health practices to examine the factors that contribute to health promotion. How do place, time, money, power, luck and compassion contribute to health in Germany and the U.S.? What personal health practices can we sustain to promote our own wellbeing? Does not count toward the nursing major.
NURS 294: Academic Internship
Does not count toward the major. Students may choose a 1.00, 0.50, or 0.25 credit option.
NURS 298: Independent Study
Does not count toward the major.
NURS 394: Academic Internship
Does not count toward the major. Students may choose a 1.00, 0.50, or 0.25 credit option.
NURS 396: Directed Undergraduate Research
This course provides a comprehensive research opportunity, including an introduction to relevant background material, technical instruction, identification of a meaningful project, and data collection. The topic is determined by the faculty member in charge of the course and may relate to their research interests. Offered based on department decision. May be offered as a 1.00 credit course or .50 credit course.
Prerequisite: determined by individual instructor.
NURS 398: Independent Research
Does not count toward the major.
