Undergraduate Program (BSN)
Nursing
First, the prognosis: the demand for skilled, well-trained nurses is expected to increase at a nearly 20% level through 2022. Plus nurses continue to be the largest single component of hospital staff as the primary providers of patient care. But beyond the numbers, our unique Jesuit philosophy of caring for the whole person not only develops your intellect but also your sense of empathy—a quality that goes beyond a resumé.
Sample Four-Year Nursing Course Sequence
First Year
First Semester | Semester Hours |
---|---|
BIOLOGY 140 Human Anatomy & Physiology I* | 3 |
BIOLOGY 141 Anatomy & Physiology Lab I* | 1 |
FOREIGN LANGUAGE Elective | 3 |
SOCIOLOGY 101 Introduction to Sociology OR SOCIAL WORK 167 Survey of Society Social Work | 3 |
CORE 100 First Year Seminar OR THEOLOGY 111 - Theological Foundations | 3 |
CORE 101 First Yr Co-Curriculum Program I | 0 |
NURSING 130 Ways of Knowing | 3 |
Second Semester | Semester Hours |
---|---|
BIOLOGY 142 Anatomy & Physiology II* | 3 |
BIOLOGY 143 Anatomy & Physiology Lab II* | 1 |
FOREIGN LANGUAGE Elective | 3 |
MATH Elective* | 3 |
CORE 100 First Year Seminar OR THEOLOGY 111 - Theological Foundations | 3 |
CORE 102 First Year Co-Curriculum Program II | 0 |
NURSING 132 Health & Culture I | 3 |
This is a sample course sequence to illustrate class offerings for this major.
Consult the official Xavier University catalog for detailed registration and advising information.
Sophomore
First Semester | Semester Hours |
---|---|
CHEMISTRY 150 Physiological Chemistry* | 3 |
CHEMISTRY 151 Physiological Chemistry Lab* | 1 |
ENGLISH 101 English Composition OR ENGLISH 115 English Rhetoric | 3 |
PHILOSOPHY 100 Ethics as Introduction to Philosophy | 3 |
NURSING 224 Nursing Therapeutics I | 4 |
NURSING 225 Nursing Therapeutics I Practicum | 2 |
Second Semester | Semester Hours |
---|---|
NURSING 364 Pathophysiology | 3 |
BIOLOGY 200 Microbiology* | 3 |
BIOLOGY 201 Microbiology Lab* | 1 |
Historical Perspectives Elective | 3 |
NURSING 230 Nursing Therapeutics II | 4 |
NURSING 231 Nursing Therapeutics II Practicum | 2 |
This is a sample course sequence to illustrate class offerings for this major.
Consult the official Xavier University catalog for detailed registration and advising information.
Junior
First Semester | Semester Hours |
---|---|
Theological Perspectives Elective | 3 |
ENGLISH 205 Literature and the Moral Imagination (see catalog for other choices) | 3 |
MATH 116 OR MATH 156 Statistics* | 3 |
NURSING 360 Adult in Transitions | 4 |
NURSING 361 Adult in Transitions Practicum | 4 |
Second Semester | Semester Hours |
---|---|
PHILOSOPHY 200 Philosophical Perspectives | 3 |
PSYCHOLOGY 277 Abnormal Psychology* | 3 |
NURSING 370 Nursing Research | 3 |
NURSING 372 Families in Transitions | 4 |
NURSING 373 Families in Transitions Practicum | 4 |
This is a sample course sequence to illustrate class offerings for this major.
Consult the official Xavier University catalog for detailed registration and advising information.
Senior
First Semester | Semester Hours |
---|---|
Humanities Elective | 3 |
Creative Perspectives Elective | 3 |
NURSING 450 Mental Health Nursing | 1 |
NURSING 451 Mental Health Nursing Practicum | 1 |
NURSING 470 Community Health Nursing | 3 |
NURSING 471 Community Health Nursing Practicum | 3 |
Second Semester | Semester Hours |
---|---|
NURSING 472 Care of the Complex Client | 4 |
NURSING 473 Care of the Complex Client Practicum | 4 |
NURSING 498 Nursing Senior Seminar | 3 |
Nursing Elective | 3 |
This is a sample course sequence to illustrate class offerings for this major.
Consult the official Xavier University catalog for detailed registration and advising information.
Sample Courses
Xavier is known for providing an education that’s both challenging and personal. Here are some courses that are part of the Nursing major at Xavier:
Ways of Knowing (NURS 130) - Introduces the student to nursing as a profession.
Pathophysiology (NURS 364) - Covers general concepts of disease processes in order to provide rationale for diagnosis and health-illness transitions.
Families in Transitions (NURS 372) - Helps focus on facilitating holistic health outcomes for families experiencing transitions.
Care of the Complex Client (NURS 472) - This course prepares the student to integrate knowledge from all previous courses in emphasizing the interrelatedness of the mind, body, and spirit in order to assess, plan, implement, and evaluate care of the complex client.
1 of 12 Programs in the nation endorsed by the American Holistic Nurses Credentialing Corporation. Study with expert nursing faculty with specialties ranging from epidemiology and natural health to gerontology and occupational health.
1 of 12
Programs in the nation endorsed by the American Holistic Nurses Credentialing Corporation. Study with expert nursing faculty with specialties ranging from epidemiology and natural health to gerontology and occupational health.
STAND OUT THAT'S THE XAVIER DIFFERENCE

REAL WORLD LEARNING
At Xavier, you work with local nurses and doctors, volunteer for medical mission trips and advocate for the people in our community. It makes you a better nurse and it makes your resume look good, too.

HOLISTIC APPROACH
A patient is more than a medical diagnosis. During your our years here, you'll learn a holistic approach to nursing that's focused on a patient's overall health and wellness.

HISPANIC FOCUS
The Hispanic population is the fastest-growing group in the country, and the need for nurses who speak Spanish and understand their needs is unmatched. Gain a competitive edge in our exclusive program that specializes in medical care for Hispanic peoples.
Xavier by the numbers
20
Average size of classes
10
HOSPITALS WITHIN 10 MILES OF CAMPUS
75,000+
XAVIER GRADUATES ACROSS THE GLOBE
100%
FRESHMEN NURSING MAJORS IN A NURSING COURSE FIRST SEMESTER

The Xavier Experience. There's Nothing Like It.
Play Video
Nursing Focus: Hispanic Culture and Health
On the last day of class for the fall semester, Jackie Clippinger and Mary Beth Doyle sat back and let their students take charge of NURS 484, Hispanic Focus Elective. One after another, the nursing students presented group projects that all had one common theme: Health issues in Hispanic countries.

Medical Service Trip: Changing Lives in Guatemala
On her last day in Guatemala, pre-med student Zenab Saeed was assigned to work in the part of the clinic where they dispensed glasses. She never expected how emotionally impactful it would be for her when, after several tries, she was able to help an old man, partially blind since birth, find just the right pair.

Becoming Experienced: Nursing beyond The Classroom
Experiential learning has always been a key element of a Xavier education. For senior Marisa Pike, the clinical experiences have been the most valuable of her nursing education.
AFTER GRADUATION
You'll be ready to pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) and the Holistic Certification Examination. Graduates of the program go on to work at:
- Hospitals
- Insurance companies
- Pharmaceutical
- Long-term care facilities
- Rehabilitation services
- Armedforces
- Federal health agencies
- State health agencies
- Local health agencies
Nursing Entry Points
We offer several entry points to help you find the right program:

Undergraduate Program
First, the prognosis: the demand for skilled, well-trained nurses is expected to increase at a nearly 20% level through 2022. Plus nurses continue to be the largest single component of hospital staff as the primary providers of patient care. But beyond the numbers, our unique Jesuit philosophy of caring for the whole person not only develops your intellect but also your sense of empathy—a quality that goes beyond a resumé.
» Go to the Undergraduate Program

MSN Entry Points for RN's

Non-nurses with a Bachelor's Degree
MSN: Direct Entry as Second Degree - MIDAS Program - This is a 20-month full-time pre-licensure MSN program offered onsite at the main campus.
Accelerated BSN - Connect with your true calling in as little as 16 months.

Doctor of Nursing Practice in Population Health Leadership
Graduates are prepared to be leaders in addressing the complexity of 21st-century health care and health care outcomes.

Post-master's Certificate Options for RN's with MSN
Offered at main campus and video-conferencing at partner sites for:
Xavier is in the heart of Cincinnati
Los Angeles, New York or Chicago