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Nursing Major

With our faith-based foundation, Bethany’s nursing program is focused on growing the next generation of nursing leaders. Our hands-on approach to nursing education prepares our students to apply the nursing process with an interprofessional perspective in health care settings across the lifespan and continuum of care. Bethany’s program will prepare you to lead with compassion and competence while developing necessary clinical judgment skills.

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing program at Bethany emphasizes patient centered care across diverse populations. Aspiring nurses gain values, knowledge and skills for safe and quality patient care. Bethany’s faculty members will support and guide you on your path to become a Christian servant-leader in professional nursing. Upon successful completion of our program, you will be eligible for the NCLEX-RN® exam.

Experience comes alive in our nursing applied learning laboratory, where you’ll practice nursing skills in a secure environment. You’ll continue to build on those skills through real-world experience in the healthcare facilities that serve the City of Mankato and surrounding region, including Mayo Clinic Health Systems. Join us in shaping the future of healthcare with faith and excellence.

Clinical practicum occurs in a variety of settings including:

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Nursing Accreditation

The baccalaureate degree program in nursing at Bethany Lutheran College is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791.

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100% Pass Rate

For six years in a row, Bethany Lutheran College nursing graduates achieved a first time pass rate of 100% on the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN).

Picture shows a Bethany nursing graduate.
Bethany Nursing Grad Tessa Chambers

The bachelor of science in nursing program at Bethany is producing exceptional graduates who are making immediate impacts at the health care facilities they are working for. Among those graduates is Tessa Chambers (’21).

Read Tessa's Story
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Registered Nurses work in a variety of areas:

  • Acute Care Specialty Areas — medical-surgical, burn, cardiac, emergency, critical, labor & delivery, oncology, orthopaedics, surgery
  • Home Health
  • Informatics
  • Long-term Care
  • Mental Health
  • Occupational Health
  • Pain Management
  • Parish Nursing
  • Pediatrics
  • Policy / Advocacy
  • Public Health
  • Transitional / Rehabilitation Care

And many more!

Application for admission to the nursing program is a separate process and in addition to being admitted to the College. Space is limited and not all qualified applicants are guaranteed admission.

Please see the Program Requirements Disclaimer when planning your coursework.

Requirements for application to enter the nursing program: 

A checklist of these requirements is available for download: 2025 BSN Application Checklist

    1.  Applications are accepted March 1–April 1 for admission to the fall cohort: 2025 BSN Application to Nursing Major. Applications received after April 1 will be reviewed at the discretion of the program director.
    2. Sophomore standing eligibility (at least 28 credits) by end of semester of application.
    3. Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 on all courses through fall of sophomore year; all courses taken through fall of sophomore year are GPA ranked for admission status.
    4. Minimum of “C+” in prerequisites (Must be completed or enrolled in at time of application):
    5. Minimum of “C+” in support courses (Must be completed to graduate from nursing program):
    6. Minimum of “C+” in NURS301 Fundamentals of Professional Nursing (Must be completed or enrolled in at time of application.)
    7. Required prerequisite and support courses may be repeated only once (1). A “C+” or higher must be earned on the repeated attempt of a prerequisite or support course to qualify for admission to or progression in the nursing program. No more than three (3) required prerequisite and support courses may be repeated. Failing a total of four (4) required prerequisite and/or support courses will result in denial of admission to or dismissal from the nursing program. All failed required courses will be counted towards the dismissal policy (e.g. if first attempt is failed and the course is successfully repeated, the first attempt will be counted as one (1) failure for the dismissal policy). Two (2) withdrawals (either withdrawal passing or withdrawal failing) from the same required pre-requisite, support, or nursing course will be considered as one (1) failure and will count towards the dismissal policy.
    8. At the time of application to the core nursing program, science credits, including transfer science credits and science credits taken at Bethany, cannot be older than six (6) years. This includes the following courses: BIOL101 Principles of Biology and Lab, BIOL151 General Biology I and Lab, CHEM107 General, Organic and Biochemistry and Lab, CHEM113 General Chemistry I and Lab, BIOL221 Human Anatomy and Lab, BIOL222 Human Physiology and Lab, and BIOL360 Microbiology and Lab. Students with science credits older than six (6) years will need to retake applicable science credits.
    9. Copy of unofficial transcript (BLC and other institutions for transfer courses).

    10. Two (2) Recommendations

    11. If requested by a clinical site, complete and successfully pass a national criminal background check and/or Drug Screen upon request.

    12. International Students: Must show proof of meeting international language requirements for Nursing at the time of application to the Nursing Program (see International Language requirements section).

    13. Completion of the HESI® Admission Assessment Exam. (exam arranged through nursing program). Results may be used to inform admission decisions.

    14. If requested, must complete a director/ faculty interview.

Acceptance status letters will be emailed on or before April 15. Letters will be emailed to the address on the application unless otherwise indicated by the applicant.

Bethany Lutheran College does not accept nursing credits on transfer.

Students not accepted for admission may be placed on a waitlist for that semester and will be notified by the end of the first week if a vacancy occurs.
Students not accepted for admission will be considered in the next pool of applicants and may need to provide updated information for admission.

Students desiring to transfer into the nursing program, whether from another institution, or from a different major at Bethany Lutheran College, are to follow the regular admission process and requirements of the nursing program. Transfer students from another institution must be admitted to Bethany before applying to the nursing program. Official transcripts from all other institutions must be submitted to the Bethany Registrar. International students who wish to be admitted with transfer credits must also provide proof of meeting the standards noted within the International Language requirement of the nursing student handbook.

Bethany Lutheran College does not accept core nursing credits on transfer due to the complex nature of nursing educational programs and the requirement to align student learning with institutional and national educational competencies for the purposes of Minnesota Board of Nursing approval and CCNE standards.

Due to the traditional design of the curriculum, Bethany Lutheran College does not provide advanced standing to or accept nursing credits on transfer from persons who currently hold licensure as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN). Any person holding LPN licensure desiring admission to the nursing program must follow the regular admission process and requirements of the nursing program.

Requirements Upon Acceptance and Before Starting the Nursing Program

Upon acceptance to the nursing program, students must provide additional requirements for clinical placement. The following requirements are due by August 1:

      • Attend the mandatory nursing program orientation session (held in early May)
      • Documentation of certification as a Certified Nursing Assistant OR documentation of satisfactory completion of a nursing assistant course within six years preceding acceptance to the nursing program (separate fees; provide copy of unofficial transcript, letter on facility letterhead with course instructor name and contact information, or nursing assistant registry certificate)
      • Current CPR/BLS for healthcare providers’ certification is required. Acceptable providers include the American Heart Association, American Red Cross, or Military Training Network. (Must maintain throughout the entire nursing program. Provide copy of certificate/card.)
      • Health Clearance Form with proof of required immunizations and medical insurance (See Health Requirements)

Additional information regarding these requirements will be provided to those admitted.

*A grade of “C+” or higher (per individual course scale) must be obtained in each of the prerequisite and support courses.

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Enrollment in the nursing core courses requires formal acceptance into the nursing major. Students must pass the nursing core courses with a grade of “C+” or higher (per nursing grade scale).

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In addition to college health requirements, students must meet clinical requirements needed to participate in clinical practicum. This includes obtaining a physical examination and providing official documentation (clinic, hospital, health care provider, lab reports, or state immunization record) of required immunizations. The physical exam must be completed within six (6) months of program start date. Students must complete the Health Clearance Form and provide official documentation of:

  • COVID-19 Vaccine: Two doses of Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccine OR one dose of Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Booster vaccines are recommended. Note: Religious and medical exemption requests are reviewed and determined by clinical agencies. Clinical agencies may not allow participation in clinical experiences at their site without COVID vaccination.
  • MMR (measles/rubeola, mumps, rubella/German measles): Two (2) MMR vaccinations or positive titer of each. If titer is negative, documentation of 1 “booster” dose and a repeat titer is required. Those who have a positive titer after the single “booster” dose are considered to be immune and no further testing or vaccination is needed. Those who have a negative titer after the “booster” dose must receive 1 additional dose
  • Tetanus/Diptheria (Td) or Tetanus/Diptheria/Pertussis (Tdap): One (1) adult dose Tdap vaccine within past 10 years or Tdap once with Td booster within past 10 years.
  • Varicella (Chicken pox): Two (2) vaccinations or positive varicella titer. If titer is negative, documentation of 1 “booster” dose and a repeat titer is required. Those who have a positive titer after the single “booster” dose are considered to be immune and no further testing or vaccination is needed. Those who have a negative titer after the “booster” dose must receive 1 additional dose.
  • Tuberculosis: Negative two-step TB skin test (Mantoux), or two negative consecutive annual tests, or QuantiFERON gold test or T-Spot titer test within 6 months of program start date. If skin test is positive, a chest x-ray is required with provider documentation of negative disease within 6 months of program start date. A one-step skin test must be completed annually while in the nursing program. Students who have a history of a positive TB skin test must complete an annual symptom screen instead of an annual TB skin test.
  • Hepatitis B vaccination or Hepatitis A/B combo vaccination: Three (3) vaccinations. Documentation of the first of three doses is required prior to the start of clinical. Documentation of the entire series of three doses within six months of starting the Hepatitis B series is required. Positive anti-HBs titer is also acceptable. If anti-HBs titer is negative, documentation of 1 “booster” dose and a repeat test for anti-HBs 1–2 months later is required. Those who test positive for anti-HBs after the single “booster” dose are considered to be immune and no further testing or vaccination is needed. Those who test negative for anti-HBs after the “booster” dose must receive 2 additional doses to complete a second 3-dose series. — OR — Complete Hepatitis B vaccination declination form. Note: Clinical agencies may not allow participation in clinical experiences at their site without Hepatitis B vaccination.
  • Influenza: Seasonal influenza vaccine required annually by October 1. — OR — Signed documentation from a physician or provider of medical exemption. Note: Clinical agencies may not allow participation in clinical experiences at their site without Influenza vaccination.
  • Medical health insurance coverage (self, through parents, Medical Assistance) is required. Student insurance may be purchased from a variety of companies such as: Nurses Service Organization, Aetna, United Healthcare, and Cigna.
  • The nursing program does not guarantee alternative facility placements in cases where students are not allowed at planned clinical sites due to personal or medical circumstances. Students with these circumstances may be unable to continue in the nursing program. Students with personal or medical circumstances that may limit their eligibility to participate in clinical are encouraged to meet with the program director in advance of any clinical courses. Students with questions about religious and medical exemption requests are encouraged to meet with the program director in advance of any clinical courses.

Compliance tracking of the Health Clearance Form, required immunizations, CPR Certification, nursing assistant course or CNA, and medial health insurance coverage is completed online through Castle Branch. Please contact the Director of Nursing for specific procedures.

In addition to the college tuition and fees, students who are admitted to the nursing program will be assessed a program fee each semester. The fee will pay for the following personal property and services:

    1. Official Uniforms (Scrub top x 2; Polo top; Pants or skirt x 2; Lab coat; Name badge)
    2. Nursing Practice Tools
    3. Nursing Skills Supply Lab Kit
    4. Malpractice/Liability Insurance
    5. Health Requirements Compliance Tracking
    6. MN Dept of Health and Human Services Background Study
    7. Clinical Placement
    8. Simulation Lab
    9. HESI® Exams
    10. Nursing Pin

To view the most recent course list and requirements for the Nursing major, please consult the Academic Catalog.

Academic Catalog

The Bethany Lutheran College Bachelor of Science in Nursing program will prepare its students to provide compassionate, safe, quality nursing care as Christian servant leaders by applying clinical reasoning and the nursing process within a collaborative interdisciplinary team model. The Nursing program will ensure that its students demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to provide evidence-based, patient-centered, professional nursing care to diverse populations across the lifespan and continuum of care.

Following Jesus’ commands, “Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16, ESV) and “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience” (Colossians 3:12, ESV), students acquire a foundation for professional nursing practice grounded in a Christian worldview and servant leadership. The program curriculum also embraces concepts, assumptions, and propositions from Madeline Leininger’s Culture Care Theory and Joanne R. Duffy’s Quality Caring Model as the framework for providing patient centered health care.

The academic goals of the Bethany Lutheran College Bachelor of Science in Nursing program are congruent with the mission and objectives of the college which include: spiritual development, critical thinking, intellectual and creative growth, responsible and productive citizenship, Christian stewardship, self-understanding, and competency in a major field of study. The Bachelor of Science in Nursing program goals are as follows:

Recognize that the historic Christian faith professes that God the Holy Trinity is the source of all knowledge and truth, and that His wisdom is most clearly revealed in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

  • Integrate God’s truths and word with concepts of professional nursing.
  • Foster the ability of nursing students to manage professional decisions through the application of Christian principles.

Demonstrate intellectual, creative, and problem-solving skills

  • Ensure an educational foundation in the biological, physical, and social sciences; arts; and humanities which are essential to professional nursing practice.
  • Promote an attitude of intellectual and critical inquiry necessary for critical thinking and clinical reasoning in professional nursing practice.
  • Develop an understanding of the nursing and health care research process to identify best practices in nursing.
  • Prepare the nursing student to exercise leadership and self-direction in planning, initiating, implementing, and evaluating current and emerging roles in nursing and the emerging needs of health care systems.

Demonstrate an understanding of personal and public responsibility

  • Provide a Christian faith based four-year college program leading to a baccalaureate degree in nursing as preparation for students to practice professional nursing and provide servant-leadership in health care.
  • Prepare the nursing student to sit for the NCLEX-RN® examination.

Develop habits of thinking that apply to a fulfilling life of learning

  • Encourage lifelong learning in the field of nursing toward the goal of advanced and terminal degrees in nursing.
  • Provide a foundation for graduate study.

At the completion of the program, the Bachelor of Science in Nursing student at Bethany Lutheran College will be able to meet each of the following outcomes (AACN 2008 Baccalaureate Essentials are noted in heading italics, but alignment with the Domains for each of the AACN 2021 Essentials are noted following each of the Program student learning outcomes in parentheses **):

I: Liberal Education for Baccalaureate Generalist Nursing Practice–A solid base in liberal education provides the cornerstone for the practice and education of nurses.

  1. Synthesize knowledge and evidence from the liberal arts and sciences to facilitate critical thinking and clinical decision making in professional nursing practice. (Domain 1)
  2. Acknowledge responsibility for self-directed lifelong learning, personal growth, and professional role development. (Domains 1, 10)

II: Basic Organizational and Systems Leadership for Quality Care and Patient Safety–Knowledge and skills in leadership, quality improvement, and patient safety are necessary to provide high quality health care.

  1. Exhibit nursing leadership behaviors in the provision of holistic, relationship-centered patient care for individuals, families, communities, and populations. (Domains 2, 9)
  2. Employ principles of quality improvement to enhance safe, quality health care delivery. (Domain 5)

III: Scholarship for Evidence-Based Practice–Professional nursing practice is grounded in the translation of current evidence into one’s practice.

  1. Analyze and use research to inform nursing care practices and make clinical judgments. (Domain 4)

IV: Information Management and Application of Patient Care Technology–Knowledge and skills in information management and patient care technology are critical in the delivery of quality patient care.

  1. Utilize technology and informatics across the continuum of care to enhance outcomes for individuals, families, communities, and populations. (Domain 8)

V: Healthcare Policy, Finance, and Regulatory Environments–Healthcare policies, including financial and regulatory, directly and indirectly influence the nature and functioning of the healthcare system and thereby are important considerations in professional nursing practice.

  1. Evaluate the influence of political, social, and economic policies on health care systems and patient care services. (Domains 3, 7)

VI: Interprofessional Communication and Collaboration for Improving Patient Health Outcomes– Communication and collaboration among healthcare professionals are critical to delivering high quality and safe patient care.

  1. Collaborate with patients, families, professional colleagues, and the community to promote health and wellness of individuals, families, communities, and populations. (Domain 6)
  2. Evaluate effectiveness of verbal and written communication in the achievement of health care outcomes for individuals, families, communities, and populations. (Domains 2, 3, 6, 8)

VII: Clinical Prevention and Population Health–Health promotion and disease prevention at the individual and population level are necessary to improve population health and are important components of baccalaureate generalist nursing practice

  1. Synthesize nursing and public health theory and practice to provide appropriate health and wellness nursing care for individuals, families, communities, and populations. (Domains 1, 3)

VIII: Professionalism and Professional Values–Professionalism and the inherent values of altruism, autonomy, human dignity, integrity, and social justice are fundamental to the discipline of nursing.

  1. Integrate a personal framework of faith, spirituality, and professional values within ethical and legal frameworks in nursing practice. (Domain 9, 10)
  2. Demonstrate the ability to assess and advocate for the spiritual and faith needs of individuals, families, communities, and populations. (Domains 2, 3, 6, 10)

IX: Baccalaureate Generalist Nursing Practice–The baccalaureate graduate nurse is prepared to practice with patients, including individuals, families, groups, communities, and populations across the lifespan and across the continuum of healthcare environments. The baccalaureate graduate understands and respects the variations of care, the increased complexity, and the increased use of healthcare resources inherent in caring for patients.

  1. Provide safe culturally congruent holistic nursing care for diverse individuals, families, communities, and populations. (Domains 2, 3, 4)
  2. Adapt to change within healthcare environments utilizing critical thinking and professional behaviors. (Domains 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)

**Please note that the nursing curriculum is undergoing its transition to the updated Baccalaureate Essentials throughout the 2024-2025 academic year.

AACN. (2008). The Essentials of Baccalaureate Education for Professional Nursing Practice.

AACN. (2021). The Essentials: Core competencies for Professional Nursing Practice.

Studying nursing in the United States offers an exciting and challenging career path for those persons who are passionate about caring for others. With a strong emphasis on evidence-based practice and critical thinking, nursing students prepare to care for patients in a variety of healthcare settings and roles.

Bethany’s Nursing Program is open to applicants residing outside of the United States. If you’re looking to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree and are entering directly from high school or an equivalent program, we encourage you to apply. To begin the application process, prospective students must first apply through the Bethany Admissions office in conjunction with our International Student Admissions Office. Once admitted to Bethany, students will be able to apply for entry into the nursing program after fulfilling all of the necessary prerequisite courses (typically Spring of Sophomore year). Please review our program course plan to understand the nursing program requirements for application into the program as well as prerequisite and general education courses that you will need to complete for graduation.

Language Verification Requirements

For applicants to the Bethany Lutheran College Nursing Program from non-English speaking countries, please read this section carefully.

There are two separate policies for you to consider as you determine if you wish to study nursing at Bethany. The College has a set of proficiency standards for general admission into the College, and it is possible to begin coursework here under those guidelines.

Demonstrating proficiency in speaking English is one key requirement for entry into the Nursing Program also, and these standards are higher than Bethany’s general admission policies. The Nursing program requirement ensures that students have the necessary language skills to excel in their nursing studies and clinical practice. To meet this requirement, we accept the following English proficiency tests:

  1. TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language):
    • Minimum composite score of 84.
    • Speaking score of 26 or higher.
  2. IELTS (International English Language Testing System):
    • Minimum overall band score of 6.5.
    • Speaking band score of 7.0 or higher.
    • Other band scores of 6.0 or higher.
  3. DET (Duolingo English Test):
    • Minimum score of 120.
    • Production score of 115 or higher.

It is possible for you to retest at any time until you apply for Nursing Program entry (typically sophomore year) to reach these standards at your own expense.

Please note that meeting these English proficiency requirements is essential for successful participation in lectures, discussions, and clinical practice during your nursing education at Bethany Lutheran College. We encourage you to review the specific requirements for international students on our admissions page and contact us with any questions you may have.

Contact for more information

Becca Vance
Becca Vance
Nursing Academic Support Specialist – Nursing
507-274-7180
OM 262
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Nursing Faculty

These faculty members teach many of the courses that comprise the Nursing Major. For more information, see the Nursing Department.

NameTitleOffice / PhoneCourses
Sue BeavisSue Beavis

Adjunct Faculty
Cheryl ClendeninCheryl Clendenin
HH 302
507-344-7786
Assistant Professor HH 302
507-344-7786
Deborah Matzke-LewisDeborah Matzke-Lewis
HH 304
507-344-7490
Director HH 304
507-344-7490
Beth StuckeyBeth Stuckey
HH 306
Associate Professor HH 306
Becca VanceBecca Vance
OM 262
507-274-7180
Nursing Academic Support Specialist OM 262
507-274-7180		 
Becca VanceBecca Vance
Nursing Academic Support Specialist
OM 262
507-274-7180

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Interested in studying at Bethany? Scheduling a campus visit is a great way to see what we have to offer. You can meet professors or sit in on a class too! Contact our admissions office to learn more.

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