Cost & earnings at Pfeiffer University What students borrow here, and what they go on to earn
This Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Pfeiffer University is a four-year undergraduate programme that prepares students for professional registered nursing practice and for roles in nursing administration, research and clinical care. It suits students seeking a blend of hands-on clinical experience, evidence-based practice, leadership preparation and a liberal-arts foundation to advance into practice or graduate study.
The programme combines foundational science and liberal-arts coursework with progressive nursing theory and clinical practice. Early study covers human anatomy and physiology, microbiology, lifespan development and pharmacology, moving into core nursing subjects such as medical-surgical nursing, maternal-child nursing, paediatric nursing, mental health nursing and community/public health nursing.
Advanced modules focus on nursing research and evidence-based practice, nursing leadership and administration, quality improvement, informatics and healthcare policy. Clinical reasoning and assessment are emphasised across courses in pathophysiology, assessment and clinical decision-making. Students complete multiple supervised clinical rotations in acute care, outpatient, community and long-term care settings, and practicum work that integrates clinical skills with management and research concepts. The programme typically culminates in a capstone project or practicum that may include a clinical leadership placement or a research-focused evidence-based practice project.
Teaching methods include lectures, case-based learning, high-fidelity simulation, clinical placements and seminar-style research and leadership modules.
Applicants are normally expected to hold a secondary school diploma or equivalent with a suitable academic record. Typical prerequisites include college-level courses or demonstrated competence in biology (with human anatomy and physiology preferred), chemistry and college mathematics. Universities commonly expect a minimum cumulative GPA and may require completion of specific general-education courses before progression to upper-level nursing coursework.
The programme requires demonstration of readiness for collegiate-level study and clinical practice; many nursing schools use standardised admissions tests (such as the TEAS or similar) and structured interviews as part of the selection process. Conditional offers may be subject to satisfactory background checks, drug screening, immunisation and CPR/first-aid certification prior to clinical placements.
Graduates are prepared to sit for the national licensure examination for registered nurses (NCLEX-RN) and to begin work as RNs across healthcare settings. Early-career roles commonly include staff nurse positions on medical-surgical, critical care, emergency, maternal-child and community health units in hospitals, clinics and public-health organisations.
Those who follow the nursing administration strand can move into charge nurse, nurse manager or clinical coordinator roles. The research and evidence-based practice components prepare graduates for roles supporting clinical research, quality improvement and outcomes analysis or for positions in clinical education. Many graduates also pursue postgraduate study—such as a Master of Science in Nursing, nurse practitioner, nurse educator or healthcare administration—to advance into specialised clinical practice, advanced practice roles or senior leadership.
Pfeiffer offers a small-campus learning environment with personalised attention from faculty who bring clinical experience to teaching. The programme integrates liberal-arts perspectives with professional nursing education, supporting communication, critical thinking and ethical practice.
Students benefit from clinical partnerships with regional hospitals and community health providers that enable diverse practicum experiences, and from simulated learning facilities that reinforce hands-on skills before clinical placement. The curriculum is designed to prepare graduates for safe, competent nursing practice and to provide pathways into leadership, research and graduate-level study.
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