Nursing Careers

Goshen College Alumni

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

  • Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Home Health & Hospice Nurse
  • Pediatric Nurse
  • Professor of Nursing
  • School Nurse
  • Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist
  • Nurse Informaticist
  • Health Services Supervisor
  • Nursing Education Editor

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.

Some of the required 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.

  • Acute Care Nurse
  • Ambulatory Care Nurse
  • Camp Nurse
  • Case Manager
  • Certified Nurse Midwife
  • Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist
  • Child Birth Educator
  • Clinical Research Nurse
  • College Health Nurse
  • Community Health Professional
  • Correctional Health Nurse
  • Critical Care Nurse
  • Director of Nursing
  • Environmental Health Nurse
  • Forensic Nurse
  • Geriatric Nurse
  • Gynecological Nurse
  • Health Advocate
  • Health Educator
  • Health Editor
  • Health Informatics Specialist
  • Home Health Coordinator
  • Hospital Administrator
  • IV Therapist
  • Legal Nurse Consultant
  • Maternity Nursing
  • Nurse Administrator
  • Nurse Informacist
  • Nurse Practitioner
  • Occupational Health Nurse
  • Oncology Nurse
  • Patient Educator
  • Physician Assistant
  • Psychosocial Nursing
  • Public Health Specialist
  • Public Policy Advisor
  • Rehabilitation Specialist
  • Researcher
  • Risk Management Analyst/Auditor
  • Quality Assurance Coordinator
  • School Nurse
  • Staff Development/Educator
  • Staff nurse in a variety of patient care environments
  • Surgical Nurse
  • Technical Writer
  • Telenursing
  • Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner

Additional Resources