Nurses have discovered that their intelligence, compassionate caring and desire to serve people have led to outstanding career choices and the opportunities for nurses continue to increase. As the health-care delivery system in the United States has changed, so has the practice of nursing. An integral and respected part of the new health care delivery system, the nursing profession has expanded beyond traditional acute care settings. In addition to their important niche in hospitals, nurses have taken on new responsibilities in the community. Thus, the career opportunities for nurses who hold the bachelor's degree in nursing or advanced degrees in nursing have expanded.
Educating nurses for the future, the College of Nursing at the University of Missouri-St. Louis prepares nurses to meet the exciting changes and challenges in the practice of nursing. It is important to us that our students graduate with the confidence, tools and knowledge necessary to succeed in their careers, so we ensure that our BSN graduates are prepared for the professional nurse licensure exam for registered nurses.
The College of Nursing at UMSL believes in a well-rounded, diverse and rigorous academic program. Nursing students at UMSL are exposed to a broad liberal arts education, with required courses in composition, humanities, science and social and behavioral science. The nursing curriculum includes theory and practice settings. Students will participate in classes in pharmacology, pathophysiology, nutrition, health assessment and research, among others. Clinical practice in a variety of community and hospital settings offers experience in the areas of critical care, mental health, pediatric and maternity nursing.