Guide to Faith-Based Nursing Schools

The reason to attend a faith-based nursing school can be an easy choice when your religion has a college with a nursing program or a tough decision when the ideal university's faith is not your own. Faith-based nursing programs are offered across the U.S. and range in size from small and intimate to large and less personable. Those contemplating these programs have more than the religious factor to consider, as many of these institutions have additional requirements and expectations of their students.

Each section of this guide will provide deeper insight into the benefits and considerations when choosing a faith-based nursing program.

Nursing Programs in Faith-Based Institutions

Many hospitals and healthcare organizations have roots that are founded on religious principles. Although medicine has become increasingly privatized over the past 30 years, many prestigious institutions tout faith-based care. Therefore, it is no surprise that institutes of higher learning also have similar religious affiliations, and given that nursing was founded and professionalized as part of the spiritual care of the ill and wounded, nursing programs are ubiquitous to these institutions. For those potential nursing students seeking a faith-based program that aligns with their beliefs and values, the options and considerations of the institution's religion are less complicated. Potential nursing students who choose an institution whose doctrine differs from theirs will have more significant factors to consider.

How Can Nurses Benefit from a Religion-Focused Education?

There are numerous benefits to attending a faith-based nursing program. Nursing principles are based on the care of the holistic being, including the spiritual needs and considerations of patients and their families. Faith-based nursing programs focus the student on connecting with patients on a deeper level within an excellent clinical practice environment. Most students seek a religious program and want to infuse their values and beliefs with their practice.

Faith-based schools are often smaller and more personable, with a lower student-to-professor ratio. For example, the nursing student-to-instructor ratio is 14-1 at Pacific Union College near Napa, California. With a population of just over 1,200, this Seventh-Day Adventist liberal arts college can provide students with an environment that focuses on the individual student to prepare them for a successful career in nursing. Another Christian-based institution is Biola University in La Mirada, California, which has just over 6,000 students and provides a 15-1 student-to-faculty support rate. Another benefit of faith-based universities is the commonality of beliefs and values. Students who enroll in these institutions often report that they seek to align their values with those of the institution, specifically in nursing. Many nursing programs of faith-based schools emphasize spiritual care as an aspect of nursing, and many students reported the importance of integrating their faith into their chosen vocation. Baylor University in Waco, Texas, notes, “Our Christian faith is at the heart of nursing theory and practice. We believe that nurses have been called to make a difference. Few academic disciplines allow students to integrate faith and learning, faith with leadership, and faith with service."

Admission Requirements

Nursing schools generally have a list of requirements for admittance to their program. For the faith-based school, there are often additional requirements about conduct and personal responsibilities. Some Jesuit schools, such as Le Moyne College in Syracuse, NY, require letters of recommendation from numerous sources to gain admittance. The application process includes reflecting on the student’s academic success and making inquiries about the life of service for the community.

Most faith-based nursing programs, such as Pacific Union College, require a pre-admission interview, usually with a panel of interviewees from the institution. As there can be ten applicants for every nursing program opening, schools strive to select the most qualified and likely to succeed and thrive in the challenging nursing environment. Faith-based nursing school interviews consist of questions such as:

• Why are you choosing nursing as a career?
• What area of nursing appeals to you and why?
• What are your values and beliefs (related to the school’s faith)?
• What would you do if asked to do something as a nurse that did not align with your beliefs?
• Why did you choose this school?
• What qualities do you consider valuable as a nurse?
• What makes you stand out from the other applicants?
• Many tips and advice are available online for nursing school and interview preparation.

What Additional Costs Should I Consider for a Faith-Based Nursing School?

The costs associated with nursing school vary significantly from school to school. Most faith-based schools with nursing programs are private, so the price is generally higher than that of a public institution. Prospective students must consider that the overall costs include much more than tuition or price-per-unit.

Nursing schools, in general, often disclose the additional costs and requirements associated with the nursing program. While this may not be unique to faith-based nursing programs, prospective students should be aware of any expenses related to the religion-based courses that most schools require, such as books or reference materials. Another consideration should include the expectation of a certain caliber of dresses, slacks, or shoes for required church, chapel, or worship attendance. Students considering a faith-based nursing program should discuss these expectations and costs with the school's recruiter before committing to enroll.

Variance in Faiths

Most faith-based nursing programs have evolved to strive for inclusion and diversity in the student population. They will admit students who are non-religious or practice a doctrine that is different from the school’s. For example, Touro University, which is located just outside of San Francisco, CA, on Mare Island, while dedicated to the "Acceptance and appreciation of diversity and respect for the inherent value and dignity of the individual," still holds to its Judaic heritage. The school, located on a National Historic Landmark as the first west-coast naval installation, follows the Jewish calendar and observes the expectations of the Sabbath. Additionally, all of the food served on campus is kosher. Although welcome at the school, prospective nursing students of other faiths must be willing to adhere to Judaic values.

For example, Biola University's website states the cost per unit is $1,749 for a full-time student. The year’s tuition costs $41,976, but when you add $6,000 for housing and $4,926 for a meal plan, the year costs approximately $52,902. One must then consider the length of the program and the availability of classes to complete the nursing degree in the scheduled time. Scholarships or discounts could be applied if one attends a nursing program aligned with their faith. For example, at Pacific Union College, those who practice Seventh-Day Adventism are offered a small discount. Fortunately, there are many ways to pay for nursing school, including scholarships, grants, and student loans.

Do I Have to Be of the Same Religion to Attend a Faith-Based Nursing School?

No, you do not have to be of the same belief to attend a nursing program from a school with a religious affiliation. Most faith-based schools, however, require prospective students to sign a "statement of faith" and other contracts agreeing to the morals and values of the college.

Students considering a faith-based school should consider its values and principles to ensure they align with their personal beliefs. If the requirements of attending religious courses or worship services to earn a degree do not appeal to or go against one's viewpoints of religion, a faith-based school may not be the best choice for that student.

Living Waters: Campus Life of a Nursing Student

The so-called life of a nursing student can be described as organized chaos. Not much time is left from attending lectures, completing non-nursing courses, preparing care plans for clinical rounds, and studying. Does the day look any different for nurses attending a faith-based nursing program?

• Life as a Faith-Based Nursing Student

The Good Book: Policies and Expectations

There are many points to consider when choosing a faith-based nursing school. In addition to the nursing program itself, the school’s location, and the cost, one must consider the principles of responsibility that the institution expects. Many schools expect students to study and follow the school’s doctrine and sometimes the praxis. At a minimum, additional religious courses are required, and prospective students must be aware of these obligations and expectations before enrolling.

• Policies and Expectations of Nursing Students

The Next Life: Integrating into the Secular Workforce

Moving from a religious-focused nursing school into the secular world of nursing can come as a shock to some students. As the nursing school community absorbs most of the time and energy of the day, it is easy to be caught in, as Michael Tijerina MSN, RN-BC described, the "Biola Bubble." However, does the protective environment of a faith-based school make it harder for nurses to assimilate to the "real" world of healthcare, or does it give them more strength of character to rely upon when faced with challenging situations?

• Benefits and Challenges of Nurses Working in Secular Facilities

Would I Be Able to Enter the Mission Field After Attending a Faith-Based Nursing School?

For most nurses who choose to serve in the mission field, the role is a calling more than a job for income. Missionary Nurses work in a variety of locations and settings all over the globe, and while having earned a degree from a faith-based school is a plus, it certainly is not a requirement.

Missionary nurses serve in various roles, both in and out of the "field." Nurses can provide direct patient care and often work alongside a local healthcare provider, such as a nurse practitioner or physician.

Many churches offer medical missions where a team of providers travels to a third-world country to provide care, such as eye surgeries or cleft palate repair. Some nurses are assigned as healthcare promoters and teachers of health practices for groups of people in an indigent population. Whatever the focus of nursing or the location, missionary nurses are called to share their faith and health care knowledge authentically.

What Are Some Resources for Students of Faith-Based Nursing Schools?

Students searching for additional support or information outside of their institution can find many reputable sources by searching for their religious affiliation online. Nursing students wishing to expand their breadth of relatable networking, articles, and education can seek out organizations such as:

• Orthodox Jewish Nurses Association
• Nurses Christian Fellowship
• National Association of Catholic Nurses
• Nurses Christian Fellowship International

Nursing students can also seek out more personal connections on campus by joining small groups for bible studies, women's groups, or clubs associated with healthcare or nursing. Additionally, the campus chaplain or priest can offer students support during times of trial or challenge during the program.

2024 List of Faith Based Nursing Schools by State

We have conveniently compiled and listed faith-based nursing programs by state. Search or browse for your faith-based school of choice to see the nursing program options near you, and start your education today!

Are we missing your school's program or need to update information listed? Please contact us so we can make the necessary changes.

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Catherine Burger, MSOL, RN, NEA-BC, LNC

In her 34+ years as a Registered Nurse, Catherine Burger has worked in a myriad of patient care and leadership specialties across the continuum of healthcare, including labor and delivery, ICU, home health, ambulatory care, education, infection control, and clinical practice consulting.

Upon completing an ADN from Pacific Union College, Catherine worked in various bedside roles until her career evolved into nursing leadership for a large HMO in Northern California. She then completed a BSN at the University of Phoenix and a Masters in Organizational Leadership at Colorado State University.

In addition to her freelance writing, Catherine is the founder and CEO of Burger Legal Nurse Consulting, is an advanced board-certified nurse executive, and is the CNO & Media Response Specialist for RegisteredNursing.org.

Situated in the beautiful Idaho mountains, Catherine loves traveling and spending time with her husband and their five children.