Pre-Nursing

Program Highlights

WHY STUDY PRE-NURSING AT CONCORDIA? 

At Concordia University, Nebraska, you will receive a liberal arts background in chemistry, biology and the physical sciences needed to succeed in nursing school. As a pre-nursing student at Concordia, you’ll get hands-on lab experience, cadaver dissection and mentoring from expert science faculty. You’ll also have the opportunity to intern and job-shadow with local nurses. 

Concordia Nebraska’s pre-nursing program is designed to prepare you to transfer to a BSN program elsewhere, or to provide you with a four-year degree in the science field of your choice, usually biology or chemistry that can prepare you for a health-related career. 

3+1 Nursing Program 
Concordia also offers a dual degree in biology from Concordia and in nursing from Creighton University which will prepare you for a career as a Registered Nurse (RN) and help you to improve individual, family and community health and wellness by applying evidence-based skills. 

Learn more about the 3+1 nursing degree 

 

Healthcare Paths at Concordia 

In addition to the pre-nursing track, Concordia offers a variety of additional pre-professional programs in healthcare, including

 

Pre-Physician Assistant 

Physician assistants are medical providers licensed to diagnose and treat illness and disease and prescribe medication to patients. They work with physicians to provide high-quality health care services to patients. 

Pre-Physician Assistant Courses 

 

Pre-Radiation Science Technology 

Radiologic technologists and radiologists use sophisticated imaging equipment and ionizing radiation to take medical images of patients’ bodies, perform diagnostic imaging examinations and administer radiation therapy treatments through X-rays, MRIs and CAT scans. 

Pre-Radiation Science Technology Courses 

 

Pre-Medical Laboratory Science 

Clinical laboratory scientists, also known as medical laboratory scientists or medical technologists, perform laboratory tests and interpret results, including chemical, microscopic and bacteriological analyses on blood, tissue and body fluids. 

Pre-Medical Laboratory Science Courses 

 

Pre-Clinical Perfusion Science 

Clinical perfusionists are skilled health professionals trained specifically as a member of an open-heart surgical team. They assist cardiac surgeons to ensure oxygen continues to reach the patient’s body through the blood while their lungs and heart are temporarily nonfunctioning. 

Per-Clinical Perfusion Science Courses 

 

Pre-Cytotechnology  

Cytotechnologists work in a lab to study cells and diagnose cancer, precancerous lesions, benign tumors, infectious agents and inflammatory processes. 

Pre-Cytotechnology Courses 

 

Pre-Osteopathic Medicine 

Osteopathic physicians practice a holistic approach to health care. Instead of treating patients’ specific symptoms, they treat the patient as a whole and use their understanding of the body’s interconnecting systems to diagnose and treat underlying problems, leading patients toward health and self-healing. 

Pre-Osteopathic Medicine Courses 

Accreditation

Concordia University, Nebraska is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, a regional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. 

Degree Goals

A pre-nursing program graduate from Concordia University, Nebraska will be able to:  

• Demonstrate comprehension of key scientific principles relating to required courses. 
• Analyze and evaluate information and identify the need for research to draw conclusions, formulate inferences, solve problems and make decisions. 
• Learn effective written and oral communication skills. 
• Demonstrate information literacy skills by locating, evaluating, selecting, organizing, synthesizing and ethically documenting information from multiple sources using both informal and formal formats, as appropriate for diverse writing situations. 

Career Outcomes

Registered Nurse (RN) 

• Perform patient assessments, collaborate with members of your healthcare team, administer medications and evaluate patient outcomes 
• Create care plans and provide education for your patients 

Nurse Practitioner 

• Train in a particular area, such as pediatrics or family practice 
• Write prescriptions, diagnose and treat diseases, infections and injuries and provide care and guidance to patients 

Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) 

• Provide basic care to patients and assist them with daily activities such as bathing or exercising 
• Serve as a link between patients and their doctor 

FAQs

What’s the difference between the pre-nursing program and the 3+1 nursing program?

Concordia Nebraska’s pre-nursing program is designed to prepare you to transfer to a BSN program elsewhere, or to provide you with a four-year degree in the science field of your choice, usually biology or chemistry that can prepare you for a health-related career. The pre-nursing program prepares you for further education in a dedicated nursing program or graduate program after graduation. 

In contrast, in the 3+1 partnership with Creighton University, your Concordia experience will last three years before you transfer to Creighton to enroll in their accelerated BSN program. Once at Creighton, your nursing courses will count as the credits needed to finish your B.A. in Biology degree from Concordia, allowing you to complete both degrees simultaneously in much less time than you would normally need. It is a much more rigorous program. 

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