Inside Cornerstone’s Nursing Program: Real World Training, Christ-centered Care
It’s one thing to study nursing. It’s another thing to practice it in real time – making decisions, adapting under pressure, and connecting with patients. On May 10, the 2025 cohort of nurses will cross the stage ready to bring those skills to hospitals, clinics, and communities across the region. They follow in the footsteps of the inaugural 2024 cohort, whose members have been working, leading and serving with excellence, having passed the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) with a 100% success rate. Cornerstone is proud of these groundbreaking graduates who are putting their Christ-centered faith into action to bring healing hope.
Let’s take a look inside this distinctive, CCNE-accredited program.
At Cornerstone University, nursing students don’t wait until their first job to think like nurses. From their earliest semesters, they’re immersed in a learning environment that mirrors the complexity—and the humanity—of real-world care.
Dr. Misty Emmons, Dean of the School of Health, Science & Technology and Chief Nursing Administrator, says hands-on experience is at the heart of the program.
“We prepare students every semester with hands-on experiences, whether it’s in our labs or with our clinical partners,” Emmons shares. “They’re not just learning content—they’re learning how to apply it when it counts.”
That preparation happens in a setting intentionally designed to promote learning through practice and reflection. Simulation labs give students the space to process high-pressure scenarios and grow in both skill and confidence.
“This is a safe place to make mistakes,” Emmons explains. “That’s critical. We’re all here with the goal of preparing students to provide safe, compassionate care.”
Graduates like Emma Walker (‘24, BSN) say this approach shaped more than just clinical capabilities. It helped form their mindset as caregivers and leaders—grounded in both clinical excellence and a deep sense of spiritual purpose.
“Cornerstone’s nursing program is phenomenal,” says Walker. “They do such a good job intertwining faith with nursing practice. We’re reminded every day that every patient is a child of God—and that changes the way you care.”
Emmons believes Cornerstone’s Christ-centered integration brings essential value to the nursing program and it influences all aspects of patient care.
“They’re really showing the love of Christ through the difference that they bring in just their attitudes and behaviors, even from the very beginning of their nursing careers.”
Students are equipped to think critically, communicate clearly, and make wise decisions.
“We were constantly in the lab doing simulations,” Walker adds. “It helped us apply what we were learning right away and gave us the confidence to face real-world challenges.”
She continues, “We have that chance to critically think through some of the situations and scenarios and really help shape our nursing practice.”
By the time they graduate, Cornerstone nursing students are more than ready to enter the workforce—they’re prepared to make a highly-qualified, spiritually formed impact wherever they go.
Meet Emma Walker (‘24) and Dean Emmons in this inspiring video that brings Cornerstone’s Nursing experience to life.
Explore Cornerstone’s CCNE-accredited Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) or our wide range of healthcare and pre-medical programs by contacting admissions counselors at 616.222.1426.
