Caring for the Future
Story: Danielle Luebbe
Photos: Courtesy Creighton University College of Nursing
Concordia is partnering with Creighton University to offer a dual biology and nursing degree in just four years.
The medical field is one of the most selfless vocations in which one can choose to serve. Medical practitioners use their skills to serve Christ and make a difference in the world.
Dr. Elizabeth Wooster-Pierson '10 chose Concordia University, Nebraska to study biology and pre-med, and Creighton University was her top choice when it came time for medical school. Both universities had the strong Christian community that she was looking for, as well as the rigorous science programs she knew she would need to become a medical professional.
“I think both universities do a great job of focusing on getting a solid base for your science,” Wooster-Pierson says. “But both have also prepared me to be a well-rounded physician in how I treat my patients. I pride myself on being able to listen to patients and take into consideration not just their symptoms but also other things that are going on in life. I think both programs helped prepare me for the super busy lifestyle required to be a rural family physician that does obstetrics.”
The 3+1 dual degree is designed to equip students to be servants of Christ, to nurse His people and use their God-given talents to heal. Now, more students will be able to experience an education from Concordia Nebraska and Creighton, as Wooster-Pierson did. The two universities are partnering to provide students an opportunity to receive both a Bachelor of Arts degree in biology and an accelerated Bachelor of Science degree in nursing (ABSN) while still finishing their college programs in a total of four years.
Through this partnership, students will spend the first three years of the program at Concordia. They can live on Concordia’s campus, participate in co-curricular activities, grow in their faith and be eligible for financial aid as they earn their Bachelor of Arts degree in biology. Each class at Concordia is intentionally designed from a Lutheran perspective to prepare students to enter their nursing career as a Christian leader. As with all of Concordia’s science programs, the biology degree integrates science and faith together, rather than treating them as opposing ideas. Courses and labs in the nursing prerequisite courses at Concordia Nebraska are taught by faculty who are committed to your academic, personal, spiritual and professional well-being.
This partnership will allow students to continue their Christ-centered education from two nationally-recognized Christian universities right here in Nebraska.
Students with a 3.75 or higher high school GPA can apply directly to Concordia for admission to the dual degree program. Completion of the fourth and final year of courses will take place at Creighton’s Grand Island campus, though students can choose to continue to stay in Concordia housing during their final year.
“This partnership with Creighton University will provide Concordia’s students with access to one of the most successful and longest-running accelerated nursing programs in the nation,” says Dr. Tim Preuss ’83, Concordia’s provost. “Nursing is already Concordia’s principal pre-health program. This partnership will allow students to continue their Christ-centered education from two nationally-recognized Christian universities right here in Nebraska.”
“I truly think Concordia Nebraska combining with Creighton to offer a nursing degree just makes sense,” agrees Wooster-Pierson. “They have the same goals of being a solid scientific community but also caring for the underserved and creating servant-leaders in the world.”
Concordia’s biology program is one of the university’s fastest-growing programs, with a student-to-faculty ratio of 15:1, ensuring students receive the personal attention needed to be successful. Each faculty member in the program has earned their terminal degree and 90 percent of recent biology graduates are either accepted into graduate school or employed within six months of graduation.
The Creighton nursing program was ranked the number 43 best ABSN nursing program in the nation by U.S. News & World Report in 2021-2022, partly due to its active learning classroom strategies and robust clinical requirements, meaning students focus on active learning and clinical decision making in the classroom and spend more time in the field gaining practical experience. The first-time pass rate average for graduates on the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX), the exam for the licensing of nurses, through the years 2016-2021 was 93.6%.
“We are thrilled to partner with Concordia University to produce highly-competent nurses, particularly for the rural areas of Nebraska,” says Dr. Catherine Todero, Dean of Nursing and Vice Provost for Health Sciences at Creighton University. “Our 3+1 dual degree program is a very student-friendly option. And Concordia’s strong academics and mission alignment make them an ideal partner for Creighton’s College of Nursing.”
The partnership between Concordia’s rigorous academic Lutheran education and Creighton’s world-class nursing program is the perfect combination to equip the next generation of ethical, compassion-compelled and empathetic nurses.
To learn more, visit cune.edu/nursing.