Belhaven University

What you'll study

The BSN at Belhaven combines core liberal-arts general education with progressive nursing theory, clinical skills and practicum experience. Students complete foundational courses in anatomy and physiology, microbiology, chemistry, human development and ethics before progressing to nursing-specific coursework and clinical rotations.

• Core nursing modules: Fundamentals of Nursing Practice, Health Assessment and Clinical Reasoning, Pharmacology for Nurses, Pathophysiology, Adult Health Nursing, Maternal–Newborn and Paediatric Nursing, Mental Health Nursing, and Gerontological Nursing.
• Clinical experiences: Supervised practicum placements in acute care, community health, maternal–child and mental health settings; simulation lab experiences to develop clinical decision-making and technical skills.
• Evidence and research: Nursing Research, Evidence-Based Practice and Statistics, preparing students to interpret research, apply evidence in practice and undertake a capstone project or practicum that demonstrates scholarly inquiry.
• Leadership and administration: Courses in Healthcare Systems, Nursing Leadership and Management, Quality Improvement and Healthcare Policy for students following the Nursing Administration pathway.
• Clinical specialisation: Advanced Assessment, Complex Care and Specialty Clinical Practicum for students who pursue the Clinical Nursing pathway.
• Research pathway: Additional coursework in research methods, data appraisal and a mentored research project for those who choose Nursing Research as a focus.

Students typically complete a culminating capstone or practicum that integrates clinical competency, leadership or research depending on the chosen pathway. Throughout the programme, instruction is grounded in professional standards, ethical practice and Belhaven’s Christian worldview.

Entry requirements

Applicants are expected to demonstrate academic readiness in science and college-level study as well as suitability for clinical practice. Typical entry expectations include:

• Academic qualifications: High school diploma or equivalent with prior coursework in biology and chemistry; college transfer applicants must provide transcripts from previous tertiary study.
• Prerequisite subjects: Courses such as anatomy and physiology (or a sequencing of A&P), biology, chemistry and college-level English and mathematics are normally required before clinical nursing coursework begins.
• GPA and assessment: A competitive cumulative GPA from previous study; many applicants will be asked to complete a standard pre-admission nursing assessment (for example, the TEAS or an equivalent) where required.
• Clinical readiness: Documentation of immunisations, current CPR certification and successful background and drug screening are required prior to clinical placements.
• Other requirements: Personal statement, references and an interview may be part of the selection process. International applicants must meet English language proficiency requirements.

Career prospects

Graduates of Belhaven’s BSN programme qualify to sit national licensure examinations for Registered Nurse status and enter practice across a wide range of healthcare settings. Typical roles and career pathways include:

• Staff Registered Nurse in acute hospitals, community clinics, primary care and long‑term care facilities.
• Clinical Nursing roles in specialty areas such as critical care, emergency, paediatrics, maternity, mental health and oncology.
• Nursing Administration and leadership positions, including charge nurse, unit manager and administrative roles in healthcare organisations.
• Nursing Research and quality improvement positions supporting evidence-based practice, data collection and clinical audit projects.
• Community and public health nursing, school nursing and outreach programmes.
• Further study opportunities leading to advanced practice, nurse education, nurse leadership (master’s or doctoral level) and clinical specialist roles.

Why study at Belhaven University

• Faith-informed education: Belhaven integrates a Christian perspective into its nursing curriculum, emphasising compassionate care, ethics and service to diverse communities.
• Strong clinical partnerships: The programme works with regional hospitals, clinics and community agencies to provide varied, supervised clinical placements and hands-on learning.
• Simulation and skills labs: Students benefit from simulation-based learning and skills lab practice that prepare them for real-world clinical situations and licensure requirements.
• Personalised support: Smaller class sizes and faculty mentorship support student development, clinical preparation and professional formation.
• Pathways and flexibility: Options to focus on Nursing Administration, Nursing Research or Clinical Nursing within the BSN framework give students clear routes to their professional interests and graduate study.