Nursing majors are dedicated to improving health care outcomes and seek to make a positive impact on people’s lives. To prepare for a career in nursing, students develop critical thinking skills to better inform their decisions, build compassion through service opportunities, and gain real-life experience by applying what they’ve learned in the classroom during clinicals.
The Nursing Program at Carthage features a curriculum designed to incorporate best practices in the education of professional nurses. We are dedicated to providing socially responsible and responsive nurse education that is rooted in compassion.
Grounded in the liberal arts, humanities, and sciences, the program facilitates students’ understanding of clinical reasoning processes, how to apply those processes to concepts important in delivering nursing care, and how to address healthcare needs across the lifespan and continuum of care to improve healthcare outcomes.
Carthage nursing majors graduate as competent entry-level clinicians, scholars, and leaders in nursing and are prepared to take the National Council Licensing Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). See registered nurse state licensing information.
“People should consider nursing because it is a gratifying career. As a nurse, every day will always be different. You’ll treat patients with unique health situations and at varying stages of life. There are also so many different things that you can do that fit your personality.”
“I love how the faculty are so easy to reach out to. I love how close people are here with one another. And I love the atmosphere in general.”
“I chose Carthage because of the Nursing Program and the faculty-to-student ratio.”
“I have never felt as welcomed or accepted as I have here.”
“I chose to come to Carthage because of its nursing program and small class sizes, which helped me get more one-on-one attention in the classroom.”
“The faculty at Carthage have helped prepare me for future leadership roles in nursing.”
Direct-entry admission: Start your nursing education right away!
Carthage’s freshman direct-entry admission option is a unique opportunity for students pursuing a nursing career. High school seniors who meet specific, pre-established criteria are guaranteed admission into Carthage’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing.
Why freshman direct-entry at Carthage? You don’t have to wait two years to see if you’re accepted into the Nursing Program. As a direct-entry student, you will be part of the nursing major on your first day on campus!
You don’t have to wait until your sophomore year to apply.
You will receive support and guidance right away from the nursing faculty.
You can work toward achieving your goals from your first day on campus, so you can focus on advancing your nursing career.
Develop your skills through three years of clinical experience
Clinicals allow students to gain hands-on experience caring for patients in different settings: hospitals, homes, schools, and the community. At Carthage, nursing majors begin clinical work their sophomore year — a year earlier than at most other colleges. Because we work with more than 50+ clinical partners, students have the opportunity to network with a variety of nurse professionals.
Our clinical partners include:
Advocate Aurora Health
Advocate Condell Medical Center
Ascension Health System
Brookside Care Center
Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin
Froedtert South / Froedert & the Medical College of Wisconsin
Hospice Alliance
Hospitality House Crossroads Care Center
Kenosha Fire Department
Kenosha Visiting Nurses Association
Lutheran General Hospital
Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital
Racine Unified School District
Veterans’ Administration Hospital of Milwaukee
Prepare for a nursing job with our career development program
100%
of 2023 nursing graduates were hired!
Carthage’s comprehensive career development sequence, The Aspire Program, helps students prepare for the workforce by assisting them in creating resumes, developing interview strategies, searching for open positions, and more. Our nursing graduates leave college prepared for a range of careers in the nursing field.
Carthage nursing graduates have been hired for positions at:
Advocate Aurora Health
Ascension
Ascension Columbia St. Mary’s Hospital
Chicago Behavioral Hospital
Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin
Froedtert South
Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago
Mayo Clinic
Northwestern Medicine
Shirley Ryan AbilityLab
St. Louis Children’s Hospital
Apply for a full-tuition nursing scholarship
Nursing scholarships Carthage offers a full-tuition Nursing Scholarship that will be awarded to one incoming student in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program. This scholarship will be awarded to a promising student who exhibits a desire for excellence in the field and compassionate, quality patient care.
Learn in state-of-the-art nursing facilities and with cutting-edge equipment
The Nursing Learning Laboratories houses a welcome center, a debriefing room, a psychomotor skills laboratory, and a simulation laboratory. The simulation laboratory has four high-fidelity human simulators (adult, child, infant, and birthing mother). Our Health Assessment Laboratory houses four examination tables, a conference table, a whiteboard, and TV monitor.
Carthage Nursing Department’s virtual reality simulation program includes 10 Meta Quest 3 headsets packed with over 145 simulated clinical scenarios. All junior and senior nursing students engage in the VR program, which bridges theory to practice with immersive simulated patient care encounters, faculty-led debriefing, and reflection activities.
Provide medical care abroad through study tours
Because so much of human behavior is determined by culture, nurses must strive to understand their clients, families, and communities within the context of culture. At Carthage, nursing students have the opportunity to study abroad, experience other cultures first-hand, and learn more about medical care in other countries. Opportunities include participating in Carthage’s medical mission trip to Nicaragua or Honduras, where students volunteer in medical clinics.
Get mentoring from faculty and upperclassmen
Benefit from an assigned student mentor
Carthage recognizes the importance of a supportive and enriching environment for our nursing students. To demonstrate our commitment to their success, we have established a student mentoring program. All freshmen nursing majors are assigned an upperclassman mentor through their sophomore year. Students can ask their mentors for help with navigating college, managing their coursework, making friends, and so much more.
Learn from experienced nursing professors
With an average of 17 students in every class, Carthage provides students with an environment to form close relationships with their professors. Our nurse educators are not only experts in their field, but they also provide personalized guidance and support to students through one-on-one mentoring sessions, assisting in academic planning, and goal setting. They leverage their extensive networks within the healthcare industry to help students connect with professionals and organizations that align with their career goals.
Participate in nursing program traditions
The Nursing Program at Carthage has grown many great traditions over the years to celebrate our students.
White Coat Ceremony
Each year, we hold a White Coat Ceremony for junior students. This ceremony formally admits students to their clinical education and emphasizes their commitment to providing compassionate and excellent nursing care.
Nurse Pinning Ceremony
As senior students near graduation time, we hold an Honors and Pinning Ceremony. This ceremony recognizes individual student excellence in academic and clinical endeavors, as well as excellence in teaching among the faculty. The faculty then bestow upon the students the Carthage Nursing Pin, a symbol of their successful completion of the program and admission to the nursing profession as colleagues.
Give back to the community
Our nursing students are encouraged to be socially responsible. The Carthage Association for Nursing Students (CANS) engages students in various community service opportunities, such as producing Blessing Bags at Christmas for Kenosha’s homeless community, collecting clothing donations for those in need, and fundraising for school supplies.
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