If you’re interested in a career that affords you the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of individuals, families and communities, consider nursing. Nurses play an integral role in providing direct patient care as well as educating patients and their families, so they are comfortable and knowledgeable about their health conditions.
As one of the most sought-after positions in healthcare, nurses have many career opportunities available to them, including roles in research, leadership and education. Carroll offers three entry points into a nursing career: associate degree, bachelor’s degree and master’s degree. Our programs are designed with the adult learner in mind.
We enroll both traditional high school graduates as well as nontraditional adults who may have started out in a different career and decided nursing is for them. At Carroll, there is a pathway for anyone who wants to become a nurse and for those who want to advance their education.
An Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) is also available, preference given to bilingual candidates.
Candidates that currently hold a bachelors degree, can consider the MSN-Direct Entry program to become a registered nurse.
About the Nursing Major
Forge your own path in the healthcare industry after you complete your bachelor’s degree in nursing at Carroll University. You’ll learn basic nursing skills, participate in simulation based education, and work in clinical settings to further your expertise to prepare for a rewarding career. As you move through the program you’ll choose to focus your end of program capstone experience in areas such as medical-surgical, pediatric, palliative care, psychiatric or intensive care.
You’ll begin nursing courses and participate in simulation based education and lab skill development, during your first year at Carroll. Nursing students are exposed to a supportive environment and develop close working relationships with faculty members and their peers throughout their time in the program. Although our nursing program is rigorous, students are encouraged to continue their outside interests and hobbies while pursuing their studies. We believe doing so keeps our students excited about becoming a nurse and allows them to contribute to their courses and clinical in a variety of ways.
The hands-on learning you’ll receive from your clinical placements exposes you to a variety of service areas and patients. Beginning your second year, you’ll work in Long Term Care facilities, caring primarily for geriatric clients, and in the third and fourth year, you will transition to the medical-surgical units in acute care hospitals under the supervision of faculty and professional nurses. During your course of study, you’ll observe patients and work toward direct responsibility for planning, managing and administering care for a two- to three-patient load. Your education culminates with a capstone experience where you’ll be required to work 120 hours in a healthcare setting at one of southeastern Wisconsin’s best health systems or one of your choosing. This provides you with the opportunity to advance your skills and network as you prepare to search for a professional position.
Cross-Cultural Experiences Contribute to Enhanced Learning Opportunities
Carroll offers a variety of ways to learn about other cultures. Whether you travel abroad or domestically, or stay right on campus, you'll learn to see the world through someone else's eyes and build understanding for people, places and ideas that are different from your own. The CCE Course is built into the general education requirements so you receive credit for studying another culture. cross-cultural experience component
Outcomes
Carroll University provides students with a rigorous curriculum, as well as academic support from course faculty, faculty advisors, peer mentors, and Library Learning Commons tutors. One measure of the success of Carroll's nursing program is reflected in the pass rate on the NCLEX RN licensure exam. The Carroll University Nursing BSN Program is ranked well above the national and state average for percentage of graduates passing the exam. In Wisconsin the 2024 NCLEX Pass rate was 98.11%.
Accreditation
NURSING TRADITIONS & SIGMA THETA TAU INFORMATION
Our nursing program proudly participates in two professional nursing traditions: our Pinning and White Coat Ceremony.
Pinning Ceremony
The Pinning Ceremony is a commitment to the hard work and dedication to their coursework, clinicals and the profession during their time at Carroll University. The pinning ceremony is offered to students who have completed their degree to become a registered nurse (RN). The transition marks the important transition from student to practitioner.
The Sigma Theta Tau Induction will be held in May 2026. The Nursing Pinning Ceremony will follow after.
White Coat Ceremony
We began the White Coat Ceremony tradition with the freshman class of 2014. The White Coat Ceremony matches the Carroll nursing program’s culture of welcoming and supporting one another in our work.
Senior nursing students cloak the junior nursing students with a white coat, a symbol of a healthcare professional, illustrating and affirming that yes, the educational path is challenging, but it is achievable. Each coat also includes a red pin from the Arnold P. Gold Foundation, which reads “Humanism and Excellence.”
Sigma membership supports an international community of nurses, dedicated to the advancement of knowledge, teaching, learning, and service through the cultivation of communities of practice, education, and research.
Sigma chapters provides you with an even greater ability to network with chapter members, upload photos, share documents, participate in chapter discussions, and learn about chapter events.
Internships
We help you build real world experience, explore careers and network with professionals through internship opportunities. Recent placements include the following companies:
- Mayo Clinic Health System – Franciscan Healthcare
- Veteran’s Affairs Learning Opportunities Residency (VALOR) Program
- Meriter Hospital Summer Externship
- Agrace Hospice in Madison, Summer Internship
Careers
College is a big investment in a bright future. Learn more about the industries and careers our majors pursue, and the workplaces and experiences of the alumni from our program.
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Faculty
