The Columbia College of Nursing-Mount Mary College Nursing Program offers several advantages to those seeking a BSN degree:

• Guaranteed placement in a variety of clinical settings for students who maintain satisfactory academic progression
• Safe, convenient campus locations, in Milwaukee WI.
  • Mount Mary is located on 80 wooded acres in a residential area of Milwaukee (Freshman and Sophomore students).
  • Columbia College of Nursing is located in a residential neighborhood near Lake Michigan and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee on the city's east side.
• Academic scholarships and financial assistance to qualified students
• Career counseling and job placement assistance
• Student/faculty clinical ratio of 10:1 or lower

The principal objective of the nursing program is to provide students with an understanding and appreciation of professional nursing. To accomplish this, nursing courses build on the knowledge gained from the humanities, fine arts, social and natural sciences. Typically, students complete all nursing and non-nursing requirements for the BSN Degree within a four year time period. Nursing courses commence during the freshman year. This early introduction to nursing encourages student identification with the profession. Students complete the liberal arts core and electives through Mount Mary College. Nursing courses and clinical experiences (a total of 60 credits) are completed through Columbia College of Nursing. As a result, Columbia College of Nursing-Mount Mary College nursing students spend their freshman and sophomore years on the Mount Mary College campus and their junior and senior years on the Columbia College campus. Effort is made for students to attend activities on both campuses throughout the four years. During the junior and senior years, Mount Mary College brings liberal arts courses to the Columbia campus.

Here is a sample of the traditional curriculum sequence:

The Columbia College of Nursing - Mount Mary College Nursing Program also offers advantages to those RNs seeking a BSN degree. RNs meeting admission requirements who have graduated from an accredited associate degree or diploma program benefit from:

• Credit for previous education
• Advance placement opportunities
• Convenient evening, day, summer class and clinical offerings
• Full-time or part-time study options
• A flexible completion schedule (1.5 to 7 years)
• Affordable tuition
• The enhanced career mobility and economic security of a BSN degree

Curricular Modifications for the
Student Who is a Registered Nurse

Students who are registered nurses and have an associate degree or diploma in nursing will follow the regular degree requirements with the following curricular modifications:

BSN Completion students may earn 32 nursing credits from previous nursing course work upon successful completion of Columbia College of Nursing courses: NUR206, Pathophysiology, and NUR302, Health Assessment for the Registered Nurse, with a C or better. The Nursing Program reserves the right, in special circumstances, to require the student to successfully complete the NLN Mobility Profile II. Special circumstances include, but are not limited to, a GPA below 2.80 and/or no recent work history as a registered nurse.

Progression students must take a minimum of 16 credits at Mount Mary College in the general education and liberal studies offerings. If the student has 16 credits or fewer to take in the aforementioned areas, then all remaining coursework must be taken at Mount Mary College.

Please view the complete 2007-2008 Academic Catalog for information on admission requirements, course descriptions, fees, and other information on the BSN Completion Program.

Students who maintain satisfactory academic progression receive guaranteed placement in a variety of clinical settings. Students receive hands-on experience at area:

• Community health agencies
• Clinics
• Schools

• Acute-care hospitals, such as all Columbia-St. Mary's Hospitals and clincis, Aurora Health Care Hospital, Community Memorial Hospital, Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, Waukesha Memorial, Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital
• Long-term care facilities

El Centro de Salud

Columbia College of Nursing has established and operates El Centro de Salud, a nurse-managed health center within the United Community Center on Milwaukee's near south side. The site offers health screenings and exams, basic treatments, evaluations, and health information free of charge to the neighborhood's predominantly Hispanic population. While helping staff this unique center, Columbia-Mount Mary students are provided with a cultural immersion experience while focusing on illness prevention and health promotion. This program has been featured on WTMJ TV's "Positively Milwaukee", other local news broadcasts and in a variety of print media stories.

Madison University High School Wellness Center

Columbia College of Nursing operates a wellness center at Madison University High School on Milwaukee's northwest side. CCON students provide assistance with health education, illness prevention, chronic illness support, and first aid. They also serve as role models to the high school students interested in careers in health care fields. CCON students gain firsthand experience with managing a community-based health care facility.