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Nursing Undergraduate Programs

College of Nursing
College of Nursing

Harding University’s nursing program, founded in 1975, holds a legacy of preparing highly skilled nurses who are in high demand across the U.S. and worldwide. Our Bachelor of Science in nursing program has been ranked No. 1 in the state of Arkansas since 2018. Our distinctiveness will interest the individual who likes a challenging and exciting profession and endless career and service opportunities. Our mission, “developing nurses as Christian servants,” is evident in the Christian heritage that permeates classroom and clinical instruction. Our graduate programs foster close teacher-student relationships and mentoring as well as providing a variety of clinical experiences including wellness and health promotion. Our health care missions program offers local as well as international experiences.

Traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Through this traditional track, which includes 50 credit hours of upper-level nursing courses, teaches students that nursing is an art and a science; it is a process of assessment, analysis, planning, implementation and evaluation that utilizes a systematic approach to the provision of evidence-based nursing care. The practice of safe, holistic care based upon the nursing process requires the utilization of research, critical thinking, leadership knowledge and Christian principles as well as the ability to communicate, the use of professional standards and clinical competence. In addition to in-class learning, students gain a number of clinical hours through area hospitals and within our state-of-the-art facilities.

An individualized track for students who hold a current unencumbered nursing license (registered nurses, licensed practical nurses) without a bachelor’s degree. A full-time or part-time individualized degree completion plan is collaboratively designed with the student to culminate in the awarding of a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree. In addition to the traditional program, we also offer an accelerated hybrid track at our learning site located in Rogers, AR.

Nursing program

Resources

Harding Carr College of Nursing Student Handbook (pdf)

Harding University Undergraduate Student Handbook (pdf)

The Dean and Faculty measure undergraduate program outcomes in order to foster continual quality improvement.

Selected program outcomes related to new graduate achievement include the first time pass rate on the national licensing exam, the program completion rate and the employment rate after graduation. The findings are presented below:

2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
NCLEX Pass Rate 98.1% 98% 97.9% 93.48% 98.36%
BSN Completion Rate 86.54% 84.91% 98.11% 95.24% 85.29%
BSN Job Rate at 9 months 100% 100% 100% 100% 100%

 

Other program outcomes are related to student learning. These student learning outcomes are measured in class and clinical activities. In the undergraduate program, student learning outcomes are summarized below:

Curriculum Strand Competencies/Outcomes
Nursing Process Uses the nursing process effectively as a basis for making evolving clinical judgments while intervening therapeutically with patients in various health states, and developmental levels to restore, maintain and promote health and to prevent illness.
Critical Thinking Demonstrates use of critical thinking in making clinical judgments and decisions relevant to patient and nursing problems in a variety of settings.
Research Uses clinical judgment to apply research findings in the provision of nursing care to enhance the quality of care.
Communication To facilitate clinical judgment, the student communicates and collaborates, and listens effectively with patients, peers and health team members to ensure quality patient nursing care, and to foster supportive, personal and professional growth.
Leadership Functions appropriately in leader and follower roles when using clinical judgment to provide safe, organized, and holistic nursing care, being a change agent, and serving as a patient advocate.
Teaching/Learning Demonstrates clinical judgment through the use of teaching/learning principles to provide patients in various health states with the knowledge and skills necessary for health living: physically, spiritually, psychologically and socially.
Christian Principles Demonstrates commitment to Christian principles, professional ethics and standards of practice and is accountable for using clinical judgment in nursing practice and professional growth.
Global Perspective Uses clinical judgment and global perspective to provide nursing care including cultural consideration, servant-leadership, and principles of resource conservation and stewardship.

A summary report of all program outcomes including student learning outcomes can be obtained by contacting Dr. Susan Kehl, Dean of Nursing at nursing@harding.edu.

Program outcomes of all nursing programs can be found here.

Honors College Recognition at Graduation:

Honors students in the Carr College of Nursing who meet the Honors College Graduate requirements will have the opportunity to be named an Honors College Graduate or an Honors College Graduate with Distinction. 

 Honors Contract Courses

The following courses are recommended for honors contracts.

Course Subject Credits
NURS 3450 OB and Women's Health 5
NURS 3510 Nursing Adults/Chronic Health 5
NURS 3540 Gerontological Nursing 2
NURS 3550 Pediatric/Child Health 5
NURS 3630 Pathophysiology 3
NURS 4120 Research 3
NURS 4200 Nursing Adults/Acute Care 5
NURS 4530 Community Health 5
NURS 4540 Advanced Med-Surgical 5
NURS 4550 Leadership and Management 4

 

Learn more about the Honors College

Registered Nurse Jobs: Search Thousands of Entry Level Jobs, Externships, & Scholarship Opportunities on CampusRN.

NSNA Scholarship Opportunities: Foundation of the National Student Nurses' Association (FNSNA)

F.A. Davis Scholarships: Scholarships are offered in Fall and Spring. Visit the F.A. Davis website to apply.

All students involved in the nursing degree program must have ready access to a laptop that can run our test software. Up-to-date computer requirements are found on the right panel of our Examsoft page. (Courses that require the student to regularly bring a laptop to class include all nursing courses numbered 3000 and above.)

The professional nursing programs seek to provide information regarding licensing for all US states and territories.

State or Territory Approved
Alabama Yes
Alaska Yes
American Samoa Yes
Arizona Yes
Arkansas Yes
California Yes
Colorado Yes
Connecticut Yes
Delaware Yes
District of Columbia Yes
Florida Yes
Georgia Yes
Guam Yes
Hawaii Yes
Idaho Yes
Illinois Yes
Indiana Yes
Iowa Yes
Kansas Yes
Kentucky Yes
Louisiana Yes
Maine Yes
Maryland Yes
Massachusetts Yes
Michigan Yes
Minnesota Yes
Mississippi Yes
Missouri Yes
Montana Yes
Nebraska Yes
Nevada Yes
New Hampshire Yes
New Jersey Yes
New Mexico Yes
New York Yes
North Carolina Yes
North Dakta Yes
Northern Mariana Islands Yes
Ohio Yes
Oklahoma Yes
Oregon Yes
Pennsylvania Yes
Puerto Rico Yes
Rhode Island Yes
South Carolina Yes
South Dakota Yes
Tennessee Yes
Texas Yes
Utah Yes
Vermont Yes
Virgin Islands Yes
Virginia Yes
Washington Yes
West Virginia Yes
Wisconsin Yes
Wyoming Yes

Learn more about the Federal Financial Aid Cost of Attendance and find a comprehensive listing of expenses that may be associated with enrollment.

Contact Information


Carr College of Nursing
501-279-4475
bsn@harding.edu

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