Nursing

Opportunities Abound

From practical hands-on experience to mission trips and study abroad, our nursing students graduate with a wealth of knowledge and experience. Scroll through the images and click to read more about our amazing students and alums.

Michelle (Stratton) Yeasting

New tools look inside the human body

Caelyn Pfister: Future ICU Nurse

Future healers: �ֲ��ý students make a difference on medical mission trip

Alexis Johnson and Hayley Solomon: Study Abroad

Preparing for trauma: �ֲ��ý nursing students engage in staged simulation

Photo of �ֲ��ý nursing student practicing on a manneguin

Discover nursing at �ֲ��ý Northern University

Follow your True North to become a highly skilled and compassionate caregiver, and pursue your extracurricular interests, from music to sports to community service. With a 100% job placement rate within six months of graduation, enjoy all the incredible outcome possibilities being an �ֲ��ý nursing graduate has to offer!

�ֲ��ý offers an exceptional education to prepare you to become an outstanding nurse. Our nursing program is a direct admit program which means you get to start your nursing classes right away. Our program combines rigorous coursework with hands-on learning in the lab and during clinical experiences. You’ll gain the knowledge, skills and experiences needed to communicate, problem-solve, collaborate, and lead in today’s changing health care environment. �ֲ��ý’s nursing program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), �ֲ��ý Board of Nursing and �ֲ��ý Board of Regents.

For academically prepared students, our nursing program provides direct-admission as a freshman nursing major. This means you can concentrate on your program from the moment you step on campus, eliminating stress and competition so you can focus on learning and collaboration. Your sophomore year, you’ll be in the lab working with professors and lab instructors using the latest equipment and simulation technologies.

You’ll also begin clinical rotations during your sophomore year. You’ll spend many hours in the clinical setting (690 total) working side-by-side with skilled professionals. Our goal is to expose you to a wide range of situations and health care settings. You will build skills and confidence in all areas of nursing practice.

Here, you won’t get lost in the crowd. You’ll enjoy small class sizes and lasting friendships. Our dedicated professors will get to know you. They will support you in your coursework, labs, clinical rotations, and post-graduate or career preparations.

Upon graduation from �ֲ��ý’s nursing program, you’ll have the confidence and preparation to successfully care for different populations.

College of Distinction - Nursing 2026-27

Solid Outcomes

91.52% Passage rate of �ֲ��ý graduates for the past five years on the national licensing exam for registered nurses (NCLEX-RN)
$52,300- $71,600 average starting salary for �ֲ��ý nursing graduates
100% �ֲ��ý nursing grads in the past three years who found full-time employment or were enrolled in graduate school within six months of graduating
A+ Listed in the Princeton Review as a Great School for Nursing Majors

Nursing Courses, Curriculum & Program Resources

You’ll need to complete 120 credit hours to receive a BS in nursing. Our program strongly emphasizes clinical experience. Courses include: Anatomy and Physiology, Pharmacology, Medical Terminology, Mental Health Nursing, Biology, Medical Surgical Nursing.

Become a Top-Tier Nurse

We provide advanced labs and equipment, but it’s the intense, personalized training that takes place in the labs that matters most.

Our nursing skills labs simulate a real hospital setting

Practice and refine basic skills like starting IVs, giving vaccinations, and inserting a catheter

Our high-fidelity simulation labs provide training for complex medical scenarios.

You’ll learn to practice independently and to work on inter-professional teams.

Join a student organization for professional development, networking, friendships, and the chance to travel to regional and national conferences. We have an active chapter of the and a Nursing Honorary Society based on academic performance. In addition, our nursing students founded NAMI on Campus () to educate, empower and spread awareness about mental illness.
Become part of our student humanitarian organization that travels to the Dominican Republic for one week every May on a medical mission trip. Throughout the year, you’ll solicit donations – medicines, medical supplies, vitamins, clothing, hygiene products – to make the trip successful. You’ll travel with licensed nurses & other professionals (registered nurses, physicians and pharmacists) to different barrios (neighborhoods) to set up and operate health clinics. You’ll also socialize and interact with the local people with softball games, religious services and more. Your nursing degree will teach you to care for people of a different culture, how to utilize a translator and how to provide care with limited resources.
Deliver educational and outreach health care services to support the health and wellness of our community. You can work with a multidisciplinary team of faculty and students under the supervision of a licensed professional to deliver a range of clinical and educational services, from vaccinations to blood pressure checks, diabetes screenings to nutrition counseling, bone density tests to cardiovascular health.

Practical Learning Experience via Interactive Anatomage Tables

Built upon real frozen cadaveric slices, Anatomage Bodies are the most accurate and advanced digitized real cadavers. Think of it as a giant iPad. They provide ultra-high-definition, life-size representations of human anatomy, physiology, and pathology, with detailed anatomical variations in male and female anatomy, pregnancy, geriatric anatomy, and more.

The Anatomage Table is interactive and provides vivid representations of the inside of the human body. Students can navigate through body layers by spreading out their fingers like they do on other touchscreen devices to enlarge certain areas.

Since the cadaver images are based on real people, students can observe the disease processes that impacted the individual. They can also learn to identify organs and other structures as a label pops up when they scroll over certain areas of the body.

I didn’t truly understand how well �ֲ��ý prepared me until I started working. I credit this primarily to �ֲ��ý Northern’s nursing faculty. They truly wanted us to succeed, and I feel with full confidence that I could not have picked a better school to attend for attaining my BSN degree.

Brenton Brock, BSN '24

Get Involved

Start making a difference--today! Here you’ll discover countless opportunities to expand your horizons and share your gifts.

Nursing student gives flu shot during �ֲ��ý benefit fair.

Nursing student shares her research.

Nursing without borders trip to the Dominican Republic

Nursing student works with a patient during health screenings in Hardin County.

Caring for patients is my true passion, and I am deeply grateful for the (�ֲ��ý) education, guidance, and clinical experiences that have shaped my nursing career.

Aline Kamatali, BSN `20

Accreditation

The BSN program at �ֲ��ý Northern University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), 655 K Street NW, Suite 750, Washington, D.C., 20001, phone 202-887-6791.

To receive this distinction, our program met four accreditation standards. The standards include three program quality areas: mission and governance, institutional commitment and resources, and curriculum and teaching learning practices. The fourth is a measure of program effectiveness in student performance and faculty accomplishments.

CCNE is recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education as a national accreditation agency. The accreditation process is designed to ensure the quality and integrity of baccalaureate and graduate education programs in preparing effective nurses. As a voluntary, self-regulatory process, CCNE accreditation supports and encourages continuing self-assessment by nursing education programs and the continuing growth and improvement of collegiate professional education.

The next on-site evaluation from CCNE will take place in spring 2033.

The nursing program and department received continued full approval from the �ֲ��ý Board of Nursing (OBN), 17 South High Street, Suite 660, Columbus, �ֲ��ý 43215-3466, phone 614-466-3947. Our last onsite evaluation from OBN took place February 7-8, 2024. We received a full five-year approval from the �ֲ��ý Board of Nursing on May 22nd, 2024. Our next site visit is expected in the Spring of 2029.

Annual Public Summary as required by the �ֲ��ý Board of Nursing
- 100% Job placement for the Class of 2026 (who graduated in May) by July 2026
- NCLEX First-Time Pass Rates
  - 2026: 29/30 (96.66%)
  - 2025: 28/30 (93.33%)
  - 2024: 16/16 (100%)
- �ֲ��ý Board of Nursing Approval Status: Full Approval awarded 5/22/2024
- Financial Aid Information
  - �ֲ��ý Financial Aid
Click to read the handbook.

End game: a fulfilling nursing career

Our graduates are in demand in the marketplace. They are finding their ideal jobs and being accepted into top-notch graduate schools.

Careers in nursing:
- Staff nurse
- Emergency nurse
- ICU nurse
- Nurse manager/director
- Pediatric nurse
- Travel nurse
- Nursing education
- Graduate school

The Sound of Science

Listen to the sounds you can make in a science-related field of study at �ֲ��ý.

Admission Requirements

PRE-LICENSURE BSN NURSING PROGRAM

Students must apply to the University, submit ACT or SAT scores (optional), and request that an official transcript be sent from the high school(s) of graduation; GED scores may take the place of the high school transcript. Applications are processed when all application materials, test scores, and transcripts have been received. On the application, students should list Nursing as their area of interest. Measures of academic performance (GPA, class rank, standardized tests), recommendations, participation in community and extra-curricular activity, hobbies, interests, honors, awards, and a personal statement are considered.
- Meet the general admission requirements of �ֲ��ý Northern University
- Have graduated from an accredited high school program with a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.30 on a scale of 4.00 or higher (or GED)
- Attain a minimum ACT score of 23 or a composite SAT score of 1130
- If a student does not take an ACT or SAT test, a high school cumulative GPA of 3.6 and a GPA of 3.3 in science and math courses will be required for admission to nursing.
- Pass a criminal background check before clinical nursing courses
The �ֲ��ý Revised Code states "A student shall not have impairment of the ability to practice according to acceptable and prevailing standards of safe nursing care because of physical or mental disability" (ORC Rule 4723-5-12 (16)). Thus, certain functional abilities and performance standards are necessary for the safe practice of professional nursing.

Essential functions include:
- The ability to see, hear, touch, smell, and distinguish colors
- The ability to speak and write with accuracy, clarity, and efficiency
- Manual dexterity (gross and fine movement)
- The ability to learn, think critically, analyze, assess, solve problems, and reach judgments
- Emotional stability and the ability to accept responsibility and accountability
Students will need to demonstrate satisfactory application of these functions and competencies during their course of study in nursing. Students should consider their ability to demonstrate these functions and competencies when applying for admission to the nursing program of �ֲ��ý Northern University.

-In addition, students will be routinely drug tested and must show proof of vaccinations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes! If you are admitted to the nursing program as a high school senior, you have a guaranteed spot. You won’t have to spend two years taking prerequisites and then "hope" you get into the nursing school later. This "direct entry" model allows you to focus on your education and build relationships with your faculty from day one.
We know that passing your boards is the ultimate goal. For the second year in a row, 100% of our nursing graduates passed the NCLEX-RN on their first attempt (Class of 2024 and 2025). This far exceeds both state and national averages. When you choose �ֲ��ý, you’re entering a program with a proven track record of preparing students to step confidently into their professional roles.
At many schools, you don’t see a hospital floor until your junior year. At �ֲ��ý, we believe in early immersion. You’ll begin hands-on learning in our state-of-the-art simulation labs and clinical settings as early as your first year. By the time you reach your senior year, you’ll have hundreds of hours of real-world experience under your belt.
Our students don't just stay in a classroom. You’ll have the chance to serve the local community through �ֲ��ý HealthWise, our mobile health clinic that provides screenings to rural, underserved areas. We also offer incredible global opportunities, such as medical mission trips with Northern Nurses without Borders to places like the Dominican Republic, where you can deliver vital care to those in need.
We look for students who are academically prepared for the rigors of nursing. Typically, we look for a high school GPA of 3.3 or higher. While we are test-optional, students who do not submit ACT/SAT scores generally need a 3.6 cumulative GPA with strong performance (3.3+) in science and math courses. We value well-rounded students who are active in their communities and passionate about care.
Absolutely. �ֲ��ý is committed to "affordable excellence." Every student is automatically considered for merit-based scholarships upon acceptance, which can cover a significant portion of tuition. These awards are guaranteed for all four years as long as you maintain your academic standing. You can even use our online Scholarship Calculator to see what you might qualify for right now.
Our graduates are highly recruited by top-tier hospitals and healthcare systems across the country. Whether your dream is to work in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), trauma surgery, or mental health, our high employment rate shows that an �ֲ��ý degree carries weight. Our alumni are currently serving as registered nurses, flight nurses, and nurse managers in world-class facilities.

Take the first step toward living the Polar Bear life

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Your health, safety and future are in good hands at Northern. We offer a host of services to keep you informed and meet your needs while you are on campus.

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Nursing Degree

Opportunities Abound

Discover nursing at �ֲ��ý Northern University

Solid Outcomes

Nursing Courses, Curriculum & Program Resources

Become a Top-Tier Nurse

Practical Learning Experience via Interactive Anatomage Tables

Get Involved

Accreditation

End game: a fulfilling nursing career

The Sound of Science

Admission Requirements

Frequently Asked Questions

Take the first step toward living the Polar Bear life

Information for:

�ֲ���ý

Nursing Degree

Opportunities Abound

Discover nursing at �ֲ���ý Northern University

Solid Outcomes

Nursing Courses, Curriculum & Program Resources

Become a Top-Tier Nurse

Student Organizations

Northern Nursing without Borders

�ֲ���ý Healthwise

Practical Learning Experience via Interactive Anatomage Tables

Get Involved

Accreditation

Annual Public Summary

Nursing Student Handbook 26-27

End game: a fulfilling nursing career

The Sound of Science

Admission Requirements

Application Components and Admission Criteria

Special Program Requirements

Frequently Asked Questions

Is �ֲ���ý a direct-entry nursing program?

What are the NCLEX pass rates for �ֲ���ý nursing graduates?

How soon will I start working with patients?

What kind of clinical opportunities are available?

What are the admission requirements for the nursing program?

Are there scholarships available specifically for nursing students?

What kind of jobs do �ֲ���ý nursing graduates get?

Take the first step toward living the Polar Bear life

Information for:

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Discover nursing at �ֲ��ý Northern University