Why study Nursing at Thomas More?

Thomas More is a great place to learn about nursing. The faith-based institution stresses the liberal arts as a means to enhance critical and nuanced thinking in understanding the world; this broadened and deepened perspective will enhance the care provided to diverse populations with diverse needs.

Since nursing is a blend of scientific knowledge and compassion, Thomas More reinforces the importance of harnessing our talent and ability ethically and in service to humanity with its emphasis on the liberal arts.

At Thomas More, students will have the benefit of small classes and accessible faculty and staff. Student’s classmates will become their best study partners and friends with whom they will surely develop lasting relationships. Student’s professors will be available to mentor, not just instruct.

At Thomas More, we believe our students need human clinical experiences.  Many nursing programs substitute actual patient clinical time with simulation.  Although simulation is a great learning tool, it cannot replace human interaction; therefore, our students are always placed in a clinical setting with a patient population that corresponds with their unit of study.

Thomas More has a separate standing facility dedicated to the health sciences. The Center for Health Sciences, which opened in the fall, 2018 offers spacious, well-equipped classrooms and labs along with ample space for students to study and gather.

Nursing program completion rates

nursing program job placement rates

What will I be doing?

Students start the program as a pre-nursing student taking fundamental science and nursing courses.  Once students have met the first-year requirements of the pre-nursing student, they apply to the major.  As an official nursing major, they will begin hands-on and clinical experiences.  The practical experiences will expose students to the many aspects of nursing (i.e., critical and chronic care, medical-surgical, pediatrics, gerontology, obstetrics, mental and community health, and management) so that they will graduate as a generalist in the field.  Starting the second semester of the student’s sophomore year, they will perform two clinical rotations per semester, each one-half semester long.  The experiences will take place at a variety of hospitals, community centers, and school districts throughout the tristate providing the student with a wide and varied perspective of the nursing field.  Upon graduation, students may already be offered a nursing position or are highly likely to receive one shortly thereafter.  From then on, the student’s life as a professional nurse can take many exciting twists and turns as there is so much opportunity.  Students may even decide to specialize in the field as an educator or administrator, practitioner, mid-wife, or anesthetist.

Who will I be learning from?

Most of our professors are seasoned instructors with lengthy careers in the nursing profession. Many maintain employment within the profession so that they remain current about any new knowledge and techniques in health care. In addition, we have clinical adjuncts employed in the assigned clinical setting supervising our students who have a thorough understanding of the processes and procedures that are unique to their unit/institution. These clinical experiences are often helpful to the student in determining the area of nursing in which they would like to focus their employment search once graduation is on the horizon.

Where do alumni work or pursue advanced degrees?

Most of our graduates end up working in one of the very institutions in which they did their clinical experience. About half of our graduates pursue advanced degrees within 5 years of graduation, a majority of them within the Tri-State.

What careers will be open to me?

From hospitals to the military, private practices, schools, community centers, and corporations, it’s easy to find a job in a wide variety of professional settings and to virtually live and work anywhere. Salaries are competitive and benefits are excellent.

What experiential learning opportunities will I have?

Thomas More nursing students automatically have experiential exposure through their clinical experiences. Of course, they may complement their experiences with service learning trips such as Habitat for Humanity, Border Studies trips to Jamaica and El Paso, or study abroad. The study abroad opportunities are made possible through Global Ethics, a course taught in London and Dublin by philosophy professor, Kate Sherron; and a trip to Nicaragua in May sponsored by Lynnette Gizzino.

What are the degree requirements?

There are several health, academic, and other requirements outlined in detail in the “Nursing Student Handbook” that all nursing students must complete as required. The Department of Nursing Faculty reserves the right to limit the number of students in a clinical course to meet the requirements of the State Board of Nursing and requirements of the clinical specialty areas.

Students must earn a grade of “C” or above in all nursing and nursing support courses.

Students in the Department of Nursing meet the core requirement by self-evaluation and demonstration of skills in all required courses. Students requiring special instruction are directed to appropriate sources.

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING

• Nursing (52 hours): NUR 103, 104, 203, 204, 204L, 205, 206, 207, 208, 210, 305, 306, 307, 308, 309, 403, 404, 405, 406, 407, 408
• Supporting Courses (44 hours): BIO 211/211L, 212/212L, 216/216L, 255; CHE 103/103L, 104/104L, PSY 105, 214; SOC 105; MAT 205 or 208; ENG 150; HCM420; and any literature or advanced writing course at the 200 level or higher

What special requirements exist for admission?

Students must meet the minimum requirements of the university. If their composite ACT score is below 20, they are placed on a 5-year track. See complete requirements for admission here.