General Catalog 2026-2027
School of Nursing
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About the Department
Kathi Rindahl, DNP, FNP-C, Director & Chair
McLane Hall, Room 194
559.278.3491
chhs.fresnostate.edu/nursing/
School of Nursing Mission
The mission of the School of Nursing is to prepare professional nurses for safe and competent practice.
School of Nursing Philosophy
Our philosophy includes faculty’s beliefs about person (humanity); art and science of nursing; nursing education, including the following individual differences among students: cultural milieu, ethnic background, learning styles, support systems.
- Person (humanity)
- The faculty believe all people are deserving of excellent care, administered with respect, dignity, and compassion. Nursing embodies the uniqueness of each person by developing a relationship that is person-centered, honest, transparent, and accountable.
- The faculty believe all people are deserving of health: physical, mental, social and emotional well-being.
- Art and science of nursing
- The faculty believe that nursing is an art and science promoting health for diverse individuals and populations using an approach that is collaborative, comprehensive, multidimensional, and holistic.
- The core competencies are the basis of the nurse’s ability to provide, design, manage and coordinate caring practices, including: clinical judgment, advocacy, caring practices, systems thinking, response to diversity, facilitation of learning, clinical inquiry and collaboration.
- The faculty believe that technology will continue to play an important role in a dynamic healthcare environment. The use of technology is assessed and incorporated into student learning. An appropriate balance between technology and aspects of human caring is emphasized.
- Nursing education, including the following individual differences among students: cultural milieu, ethnic background, learning styles, and support systems.
- The faculty believe that nursing students are transformed, through their educational and clinical experiences, from lay people into professionals who come into contact with people during their most vulnerable times. Nurses have an intimacy with patients that is unique, even within healthcare professions. Therefore, nursing education involves transformation; which includes role taking, affective learning, clinical decision making, and professional acculturation. Therefore, faculty believe that student-centered learning is the preferred pedagogy when the goal is transformation.
- The faculty believe that together we enhance the students’ transition to professional nursing practice through strong role modeling behaviors. The faculty is dedicated to cultivating a sense of professional empowerment, a desire for lifelong learning, and a passion for social justice as a way of being in our school and as an integral part of our school community. An evidence-based curriculum is integral to the commitment of the faculty to students’ learning and development.
- The faculty view students as a community of learners in which all function at a high level of accountability, flexibility and integrity. In that way, a true learning environment can be created that fosters the exchange of diverse ideas and opinions and advances collaboration.
- The faculty believe that each student has unique learning needs and through the provision of multiple teaching modalities, students with different learning needs will achieve success. The faculty support student success through referral to various student-centered initiatives and programs across the campus, as well as individual consultation.
This education prepares nurses with clinical decision-making skills based on evidence-based practice (EBP). Additionally, the School seeks to establish an academic foundation for Advanced Practice Nursing and Doctoral preparation. As life-long learners, graduates are prepared to deliver holistic health care to diverse populations across health care settings. The Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing (BSN) requires a minimum of 120 semester units, and the nursing curriculum sequence covers five semesters. For more information, see the school’s website.
The scope of nursing practice is changing significantly. The professional nurse uses theory and research-based knowledge to provide direct and indirect care to individuals, families, groups, and communities.
In the role as designer, manager, and coordinator of care, nurses collaborate with patients and interdisciplinary care teams.
High school students preparing for a career in nursing should take biology, chemistry, and additional college preparatory courses required for CSU admission.
Interesting Classes You Might Take
- Nursing of the Childrearing Family
- Critical Care Assessment
- Concepts of Community Health Nursing
- Health Appraisal
What You Can Learn
- An understanding of the principles underlying the techniques, procedures, and activities required while caring for clients with common health conditions
- A knowledge of health assessment, communication skills, and noninvasive nursing procedures in the care of elderly patients in the health care setting
- The nurse’s’ role as a teacher in the health care setting
Career Opportunities
Upon completion of the program, students are eligible for the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) and the California Public Health Nurse Certificate. The program is accredited by the California Board of Registered Nursing and the National League for Nursing Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
What You Can Earn
- Nurse Practitioner, $93,652 (in our region)
- Registered Nurse, $68,040 (in our region)
Source: HR Reported data from salary.com as of December 2012
ProgramsCertificatesBachelorMasterDoctoralCredentialCoursesNursing
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