Career Services » Career Exploration » Choose a Major » Nursing

Nursing

Goshen College Alumni

Here is a sampling of current positions held by nursing alumni:

Family Nurse Practitioner
Home Health & Hospice Nurse
Pediatric Nurse
Intensive Case Manager
Professor of Nursing
Massage Therapist
School Nurse
Medical Review Specialist
Missionary
Interior Designer
Librarian
Nurse Anesthetist
Physician
Nurse/Firefighter
Nurse Informaticist
Director of Regional Care Management
Medical Coding Specialist
Health Services Supervisor
Nursing Education Editor
Pharmaceutical Sales Specialist

What Can I Do with this Major?

Overview

According to the American Nurse’s Association:

“Florence Nightingale, in her Notes on Nursing: What It Is and What It Is Not, defined nursing as having ‘charge of the personal health of somebody … and what nursing has to do … is to put the patient in the best condition for nature to act upon him.’ The philosophy has been restated and refined since 1859, but the essence is the same.

In the words of nursing theorist Virginia Henderson, nurses help people, sick or well, to do those things needed for health or a peaceful death that people would do on their own if they had the strength, will, or knowledge.

The most current definition that reflects the evolution of professional nursing is from the 2003 edition of ANA’s Nursing’s Social Policy Statement: Nursing is the protection, promotion, and optimization of health and abilities, prevention of illness and injury, alleviation of suffering through the diagnosis and treatment of human response, and advocacy in the care of individuals, families, communities, and populations.”

About the Coursework

The nursing department is committed to excellence in nursing education and practice with an emphasis in liberal arts and the discipline of nursing. The nursing program provides opportunities for the student to gain knowledge and develop values for personal and professional growth and to prepare the student for entry into professional nursing practice as a generalist in settings where health care is provided.

The study of the practice of nursing is based on nursing and related theories, scientific principles, intercultural perspectives and Christian ethics. The program prepares graduates with a foundation for continuous intellectual inquiry, graduate study and/or eventual specialization in nursing.

Possible courses include:

Acute Care Nursing
Health Care Ethics
Nursing Care of the Child
Human Nutrition
Psychiatic/Mental Health Nursing
Developmental Psychology
Holistic Client Assessment
Pharmacology & Drug Administration

For a full list of requirements and courses, refer to the course catalog.

Upon completion of the degree, the student is eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination – RN (NCLEX-RN) for licensure as a registered professional nurse. The program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education and is approved by the Indiana State Board of Nursing.

A master’s degree program in nursing is also offered at GC. Visit the Master’s Degree page for more information.

Possible Career Paths

The possible career paths are broad for every major, and nursing alumni work successfully in many different careers. The list below provides several career options, but it is not exhaustive. Please note that some positions require additional education.