Nursing graduate from Commonwealth University-Bloomsburg, formerly Bloomsburg University, Breiner School of Nursing

Breiner School of Nursing

Recognized as a leading accredited undergraduate and graduate level nursing program, Commonwealth University prepares future nurses for a wide range of careers in critical care, obstetrics, pediatrics, rehabilitation, trauma, home care, and other clinical specialties and case management. If you're ready to prepare for a challenging, fulfilling career in nursing, the Breiner School of Nursing at Commonwealth University can help you go further with your education.

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Illustration of Mountain

The Breiner School of Nursing has an excellent reputation for preparing outstanding nurses by educating students to meet the ever-changing health care needs across the nation and globally. 

A common goal of our faculty is to graduate outstanding students who are ready and able to provide excellent nursing care and services using theory and evidence based practice. The programs prepare our students to make judgments and carry out nursing care based on critical thinking and research based knowledge for health promotion and maintenance, prevention of disease, and rehabilitation.

The Breiner School of Nursing is committed to providing excellent, accessible, affordable high quality nursing education and promoting the development of qualified students. The department values intellectual challenge, supportive learning environment, student success, ethical behavior and civility, civic responsibility, stewardship and service. Through real-world experiences and close interactions with faculty, students apply their knowledge from the liberal arts and sciences and nursing courses in a variety of clinical settings helping the student to gain diverse experiences and perspectives. The Breiner School of Nursing encourages students to participate in a variety of co-curriculum activities to develop teamwork, leadership and interpersonal skills.

Nursing Program Options

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Nursing is a vital healthcare profession dedicated to the care and well-being of individuals across the lifespan. Nurses play a central role in providing medical care, offering emotional support, and promoting health and wellness. They collaborate with other healthcare professionals providing high quality patient care in multiple settings. They can work in various healthcare settings, including hospitals, clinics, long-term care facilities, and even community outreach programs. 

The B.S.N. Program at Commonwealth University teaches a variety of concepts, theories, and skills that are utilized in contemporary nursing practice. 

Undergraduate Nursing

Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) Course Delivery

  Bloomsburg

  Face-to-Face
  Online
  Hybrid

  Lock Haven

 Face-to-Face
  Online
  Hybrid

  Mansfield

  Face-to-Face
  Online
  Hybrid

  Clearfield

 Face-to-Face
  Online
  Hybrid

This is an innovative, fast-paced, two-year program leading to an Associate of Science in Nursing degree. It is designed to give you the hands-on clinical experiences needed to become an excellent nurse. In addition to your coursework, you will rotate through quality healthcare facilities, all within a reasonable distance from the Lock Haven campus.

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The BSN Program at Commonwealth University teaches a variety of concepts, theories, and skills that are utilized in contemporary nursing practice.

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RN-BSN Course Delivery

  Bloomsburg

  Face-to-Face
 Online
  Hybrid

  Lock Haven

  Face-to-Face
 Online
  Hybrid

  Mansfield

  Face-to-Face
  Online
  Hybrid

  Clearfield

  Face-to-Face
  Online
  Hybrid

Our nursing program is a nationally recognized leader in nursing education with a strong history of academic excellence, as well as the reputation of facilitating the adult learner to achieve their professional goals, making the online RN-BSN concentration a perfect fit for registered nurses interested in pursuing a BSN.

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Our Master of Science in Nursing is recognized as a leading accredited program known for academic excellence and facilitating the adult learner to achieve their professional goals. 

Commonwealth University's progressive, challenging curricula — along with distinguished experienced faculty — provide vital knowledge and skills to develop competence in the multifaceted roles of advanced nursing practice. Graduates are prepared to pursue a career as an Advanced Practice Nurse, to assume leadership roles, and the opportunity to specialize in areas like population health, administration, nursing informatics, or school health. 

Master of Science in Nursing

Nurse Practitioner (MSN) Course Delivery

  Bloomsburg

  Face-to-Face
  Online
  Hybrid

  Lock Haven

  Face-to-Face
  Online
  Hybrid

  Mansfield

  Face-to-Face
  Online
  Hybrid

  Clearfield

  Face-to-Face
  Online
  Hybrid

Whether you choose to specialize in Adult-Gerontology Primary Care or Family Primary Care, earning your Nurse Practitioner MSN degree from Commonwealth University's nationally recognized nursing program will prepare you to be a leader in healthcare across the lifespan of your patients.

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Public Health Nursing (MSN) Course Delivery

  Bloomsburg

  Face-to-Face
 Online
  Hybrid

  Lock Haven

  Face-to-Face
  Online
  Hybrid

  Mansfield

  Face-to-Face
  Online
  Hybrid

  Clearfield

  Face-to-Face
  Online
  Hybrid

Commonwealth University's MSN in Public Health nursing prepares students with advanced knowledge for a multifaceted role and innovative problem solving to improve the delivery of health care, health education, and prevention either in a community or school health setting.

Specializations
  • Public Health Nursing
  • School Health Nursing

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Nursing Informatics (MSN) Course Delivery

  Bloomsburg

  Face-to-Face
 Online
  Hybrid

  Lock Haven

  Face-to-Face
  Online
  Hybrid

  Mansfield

  Face-to-Face
  Online
  Hybrid

  Clearfield

  Face-to-Face
  Online
  Hybrid

Take your nursing career to the next level with the 100% online MSN Nursing Informatics program. You’ll gain the advanced skills you need to meet the growing demands of today’s complex healthcare environment and provide superior patient care.

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Nursing Administration Dual Degree (MSN/MBA) Course Delivery

  Bloomsburg

  Face-to-Face
 Online
  Hybrid

  Lock Haven

  Face-to-Face
  Online
  Hybrid

  Mansfield

  Face-to-Face
  Online
  Hybrid

  Clearfield

  Face-to-Face
  Online
  Hybrid

Our 100% online, dual-degree Nursing Administration MSN/MBA program prepares you for a direct role in impacting the delivery of health care for specific populations. Social, ethical and political actions are emphasized to initiate and affect change regarding the development of health care policy.

Our MBA program is AACSB accredited — the gold standard for MBA programs. It's the hallmark of excellence in business education and has been earned by less than five percent of the world's business programs.

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Commonwealth University's Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program prepares nurse leaders to apply advanced practice skills at the highest level of clinical practice. We offer both a Past Master’s DNP and a Nurse Anesthesia BSN to DNP program to help you attain your goals. 

Doctor of Nursing Practice

Post-Master's DNP Course Delivery

  Bloomsburg

  Face-to-Face
 Online
  Hybrid

  Lock Haven

  Face-to-Face
  Online
  Hybrid

  Mansfield

  Face-to-Face
  Online
  Hybrid

  Clearfield

  Face-to-Face
  Online
  Hybrid

 

Pursuing a Post-Master's DNP program offers several valuable benefits for experienced nurse practitioners (NPs) and other advanced practice nurses such as clinical expertise, leadership and management skills, improved patient outcomes, higher earning potential, expanded scope of practice, teaching opportunities, and personal growth.

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Nurse Anesthesia Course Delivery

  Bloomsburg

  Face-to-Face
 Online
  Hybrid

  Lock Haven

  Face-to-Face
  Online
  Hybrid

  Mansfield

  Face-to-Face
  Online
  Hybrid

  Clearfield

  Face-to-Face
  Online
  Hybrid

 

In partnership with Geisinger, our Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Nurse Anesthesia program will prepare you as a nurse leader to apply advanced practice skills at the highest level of clinical practice to become a certified registered nurse anesthetist.

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Explore Nursing at CU

Departmental Mission Statement

The Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania Breiner School of Nursing mission is to promote excellence, value diversity, and provide education to meet the various and changing health care needs. The educational process which integrates the concepts from the liberal arts and sciences prepares professional nurses at the associate, baccalaureate, master's, and doctoral levels emphasizing critical thinking, clinical judgment, and disparate experiences and perspectives.

Approved: 12/13/22 Faculty Assembly

Departmental Philosophy

The philosophy of the Breiner School of Nursing at Commonwealth University reflects the values and beliefs of faculty which provide a strong foundation for each nursing program, associate to doctoral, and contributes to excellence in professional nursing practice. Our program will prepare the graduate to be proficient in nursing competencies for clinical practice.  Our philosophy is based on the belief that nursing is a unique and valuable profession that requires a commitment to caring, career-lifelong learning, innovation, and professional development. We believe that nurses should be competent, compassionate, and provide person-centered holistic care. Faculty believe in fostering a supportive and collaborative learning environment that equips students with the necessary cognitive, affective, and psychomotor skills, critical thinking, clinical reasoning, clinical judgement, and commitment to the values of the profession to function as effective nurse leaders. The faculty recognize diverse, equitable, and inclusive learning experiences based on the students’ individual learning needs, learning styles, and readiness. Learning is a continuous, career-life-long process that occurs throughout domains enhanced by an environment that encompasses critical thinking, clinical reasoning, clinical judgment, evidence-based practice, clinical simulation, and person-centered holistic care. In a developmental manner, students will progress from knowledge to proficiency in the eight core concepts. We are committed to providing our students with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes they need to succeed as competent, compassionate, and person-centered professional nurses.    

Core Concepts
  • Clinical Judgment  
  • Communication  
  • Compassionate Care  
  • Diversity, equity, inclusion  
  • Evidence-based practice  
  • Ethics  
  • Health policy  
  • Social determinates of Health  

Your support of the academic community is critical for its continued success. Gifts from our alumni and friends allow our faculty to mentor students in their research projects throughout the year and put our students in the best position to succeed by helping provide availability of the latest technology, research and teaching methods.

Your support makes a difference

Everyone needs a nurse at some point in their life, so please consider supporting the Commonwealth University Breiner School of Nursing with a monetary gift to help ensure that high quality nurses are there when you need them. Our nursing program is recognized as a leading accredited program, and it is also ranked as one of the most affordable in PA. Your donation can help increase funding for equipment, supplies, educational trips, and research opportunities that will enhance the critical thinking and technical skills of our students.

The Simulated Learning Lab (SLL) provides a learning environment for students to practice skills and critical thinking. The SLL contains numerous medium and high-fidelity adult and pediatric simulation manikins that allow students to critically assess and respond to varying patient situations they may not see in the clinical setting. The SLL also contains a simulated electronic patient record system for documentation practice and an automated medication dispensing system. The SLL is a vitally important environment for building confident nurses who can think critically.

Senior level students expand their political advocacy awareness by explaining the importance of being politically active and be competent in advocacy for patients and the profession in this ever-changing health care arena.  Additionally, Commonwealth University nursing students participate in community and public health fairs and programs providing education to various population aggregates, and your donation can assist in obtaining the materials needed for these educational projects.

Commonwealth University’s Simulated Learning Lab’s (SLL) purpose is to provide our nursing students with a safe and controlled environment to learn and practice the skills necessary to excel not only during their clinical experiences at BU but throughout their nursing careers. The SLL, located on the fourth floor of Old Science Hall, is equipped with hospital beds, various injection and task trainer models, numerous manikins of differing fidelities from newborn to adult, and computerized medication dispensing systems.

Students have access to a computer program that allows for practice in reading and documenting in an electronic medical record during simulated clinical scenarios. Students engage in skills demonstrations, practice sessions, and clinical simulations during their sophomore, junior, and senior years.

 

The SLL employs numerous undergraduate managers who are proficient at nursing skills and leaders within the program. Managers must maintain a high GPA, receive faculty endorsement, and remain satisfactory in clinical courses for employment in the SLL. The SLL additionally employs a varying number of graduate assistants who are current and exemplary in their own clinical practice.

The SLL Director and Assistant Director has nursing experience in fields ranging from home health to the emergency department and are available Monday through Friday to oversee and expertly assist our nursing students.

Skills Testing

Demonstrations of select, course specific skills are provided at the sophomore and part of the junior years. As the student progresses in their junior and through their senior year, skills will transition to independent learning. Students are required to complete readings within their skills book, watch assigned videos, and take an online quiz prior to most skills demonstrations. Students will then have free time throughout the week to practice prior to a designated testing time.

Students are responsible for reviewing the BSN handbook and D2L Brightspace for specific requirements related to dress, lab coats, and nurse packs when coming to the SLL for practice or demonstration. While the SLL remains a safe place to learn and make mistakes, point reduction policies are in place in order to foster student accountability, professional behaviors, and efficient use of SLL resources.

Simulation

As part of the clinical curricular thread, undergraduate students complete simulated clinical scenarios during their sophomore, junior, and senior years.

Through the use of medium and high-fidelity manikins, and in some cases the use of standardized patients, pairs of students’ complete cases that include acute and chronic med-surg conditions, home health, school health, and prison or occupational nursing. Simulations are created around the psychomotor skills learned within the lab. The objective of simulation is to critically think about these acquired skills in order to safely apply them to their ‘patient’ in a safe and controlled setting. This process grows confidence in the nursing student as they continue and progress in a live clinical setting. Students will be provided with background information on their scenario prior to their simulation experience and will take part in a debriefing exercise following simulation.

SLL Resources

Nursing students may borrow various resources from the SLL including posters and models for health fairs, blood pressure cuffs, and various other client education materials for teaching projects. Additionally, nursing students have access to current course textbooks and small meeting rooms for group projects.

Contacts

  • SLL Director, Gail Jasman, MSN, RN
  • Nurse Instructor, Mary Anthony, BSN, RN

The Commonwealth Difference

CCNE Accredited logo
The baccalaureate, master's, and doctoral degree in nursing programs at Commonwealth University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K St. NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791.
COA Accreditation Logo
Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA), 10275 W. Higgins Rd., Suite 906, Rosemont, IL 60018-5603; Phone: 224-275-9130.
ACEN Seal
Commonwealth University Associate Degree program, located on the Lock Haven and Clearfield Campuses, is fully accredited by ACEN through Spring 2030.