Your work is more than a job — it’s a sacred calling. You meet people in their weakest, most vulnerable, and joyful moments. Your patients need more than your skills and technology alone; they need your compassion, humble strength, and spiritual understanding.
At PLNU, we believe nursing is sacred work. That’s why we provide you with the best knowledge and practices while also focusing on the spiritual and emotional side of caring for patients. We challenge you to make nursing care the best it can be for patients because this is work that deeply matters. If you have an MSN degree, earning your clinical nurse specialist (CNS) certification can prepare you to do even more in the field you love.
Faithfully serve others — and fulfill your purpose.
A Strong Impact
When you become a clinical nurse specialist (CNS), you will be prepared to advance the standard of care in your area of specialization. When you earn your CNS from PLNU, you will focus on the physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects of nursing and your specialty, preparing you to make a big impact on patients’ holistic care.
Close-Knit Collaboration
Move through the program together with a small, diverse cohort of peers for continued encouragement and supportive friendships. Small classes allow for in-depth discussion and quality interactions with professors. You will also learn to care for yourself to better serve your patients.
A Healthy Future
The hands-on, evidence-based instruction, clinical hours, mentoring, and networking opportunities through an extensive alumni group, as well as PLNU’s strong nursing reputation in San Diego, set the stage for your continued career success after graduation.
State Authorization
State authorization is a formal determination by a state or U.S. Territory that PLNU is approved to conduct activities regulated by that state or U.S. Territory. PLNU is not required to obtain state authorization in every state or U.S. Territory, and the university has opted at this time not to seek authorization in some states. Additionally, PLNU meets the criteria for exemption from authorization in certain states.
At this time, PLNU does not have authorization in Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Georgia, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, New York, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin, which means residents of these states cannot enroll in any PLNU online program or course.
Authorizations in specific states and U.S. Territories may change periodically. PLNU recommends individuals contact PLNU admissions at (800) 733-7770 for the latest information.
Professional Licensure or Certification
This program is approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing and meets the requirements for licensure or certification in the state of California, where Point Loma Nazarene University is physically located. PLNU cannot confirm whether or not specific programs meet out-of-state requirements for Professional Licensure or Certification. Information about out-of-state requirements in Nursing are available on the National Council of State Boards of Nursing website.
For more information on State Authorization and Program Licensure, please refer to our disclosures page.