Nursing, B.S.N.

Program of Studies

• CHEM 121 - Introductory Chemistry or equivalent

Admissions Requirements

A point system is used to evaluate applications of qualified candidates in order to accept applicants into the program as either pre-nursing or nursing majors. The point system used by the Nursing Program Admissions Committee will be provided to an applicant upon request. 

Traditional Students (up to age 24) 

• Graduate from an accredited high school. 
• Have a 2.7 grade point average on a 4.0 scale. 
• Earn a Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) re-centered score of 1000 or above or an American College Test (ACT) composite score of 21 or above. (Optional) 
• Have successfully completed (“C” or better) one year of high school algebra, biology and one year of high school chemistry with a “C” or better. 
• Have completed TEAS (Test of Essential Academic Skills). 

Adult Students (25 years & older) 

• Graduate from an accredited high school. 
• Have a 2.7 grade point average on a 4.0 scale. 
• Have Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) or American College Test (ACT) scores from high school that would be equivalent to the current requirement of 1000 SAT or 21 ACT. (Optional) 
• Have successfully completed (“C” or better) one year of high school algebra, biology and one year of high school chemistry with a “C” or better. 
• Have completed TEAS (Test of Essential Academic Skills). 
• Students who did not graduate from high school must have completed the General Education Development (GED) tests, with a composite score of at least 600 and no sub score below 145, or the High School Equivalency test (HSE) with a score of at least 75 with no sub score below 8.

Transfer Students 

• Meet university entrance requirements for transfer students. 
• Have a minimum transfer cumulative GPA of 2.7. 
• Have successfully completed one year of high school algebra and biology with a grade of “C” or better and one year of high school chemistry with a grade of “C” or better or one semester of college level algebra, chemistry and biology with a grade of “C” or better. 
• Have completed TEAS (Test of Essential Academic Skills). 
• Only nursing courses with a grade of “B-” or better can be considered for transfer credit. 
• A minimum of 32 credit hours in nursing must be taken at the University of Saint Francis to be awarded a bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of Saint Francis. 

Students who do not meet the nursing admission criteria may be admitted to the university as pre-nursing major. Each applicant is reviewed on an individual basis. 

The following criteria must be met before a pre-nursing student can request a change of status to be considered for admission to the nursing major. 

1. Completion of all courses required by placement testing. 
2. Completion of a minimum of 12 hours at USF. Students must have a biological science course (BIOL 221, BIOL 222, BIOL 223, or BIOL 270) as part of the required 12 credit hours at USF.) 
3. CHEM 121, Introductory Chemistry, if required 
4. MATH 131, College Algebra 
5. A grade of C or above in all required courses 
6. Cumulative GPA of 2.7 or above earned at USF 
7. TEAS (Test of Essential Academic Skills) entrance examination 

Entry into the clinical sequence is based on availability of enrollment openings for the course. When necessary to form a waiting list for clinical courses the following criteria are used for prioritizing students to begin the clinical sequence: 

1. GPA earned at the University of Saint Francis. 
2. Date of entry into the nursing program. 
3. Number of credit hours completed toward the degree, including transfer credit. 
4. Grades in non-nursing courses, especially science and math courses. 

Once admitted to the nursing major, students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.7, achieve a “B-” or better in all nursing courses and earn a grade of “C” or better in all required non-nursing courses. 

To participate in clinical experiences, clinical requirements as set by the Division of Nursing and clinical agencies must be met including, but not limited to, criminal background checks and drug testing. 

Progression Requirements

Each level of nursing courses builds on the knowledge and skills of the level preceding it. Nursing process skills of assessing, interpreting, analyzing, and synthesizing begin in the first semester and are progressively developed in succeeding semesters. To progress in the nursing sequence, students must meet the prerequisites and co-requisites for each course in the BSN curriculum. The following criteria must be met to progress in the nursing sequence. 

1. Maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.7. 
2. Must achieve a “B-” or better in all required nursing theory courses and achieve a “P” in all nursing clinical courses. 
3. Must receive a minimum of “C” in the following required, non-nursing courses: 

• All required biology courses
  • BIOL 221  
  • BIOL 222  
  • BIOL 223  
  • BIOL 270  
• All required chemistry courses
  • CHEM 121  (if taken)
• All required psychology courses
  • PSYC 121  
• All required math courses
  • MATH 131  
• Other required courses
  • Sociology related course
  • ENGL 101 , ENGL 104 , COMM 121  

4. Failure to maintain the academic standards for progression will result in academic probation or dismissal. A change of major from a pre-nursing to nursing major does not provide an additional opportunity for academic probation. Only one academic probation is allowed during enrollment as a nursing student. 
5. Nursing majors will be placed on Academic Probation for failure to: 

• Earn a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.7 
• Earn a minimum grade of “B-” in a required nursing theory course and a “P” in a nursing clinical course. 
• Earn a minimum grade of “C” in a required non-nursing course.  
• The probation period will be one semester in length. A second probation period will result in dismissal from the nursing major. A student may repeat only one nursing course one time. When repeating a nursing course, a student who receives less than a “B-” will be dismissed from the nursing major. If a nursing course must be repeated for either clinical failure or for a theory grade below “B-“, both the theory course and the concurrent clinical course must be repeated at the same time. A student who earns less than a “B-” in a nursing course may not take additional nursing courses until the failed course is successfully completed. If the cumulative GPA has not reached the minimum requirement of 2.7 by the end of the probation period, the student will be dismissed from the nursing major. If a student earns less than a “C” in a required non-nursing course, the non-nursing course may be repeated only once. Upon a second attempt, if the student does not earn a minimum grade of “C” the student will be dismissed from the nursing major. 

6. All Nursing Division academic standards will be applied to Academic Exploration, Healthcare Exploration, and other USF majors seeking a change of status. Students who fail to meet nursing academic standards will not be eligible for consideration as a nursing major. 
7. During the duration of the student’s enrollment as a nursing or pre-nursing major a student may have a maximum of two “withdraw passing” after midterm from nursing courses. Upon a third “withdrawal passing” the student will be dismissed from the nursing program. A nursing course that includes both theory and clinical represents one course withdrawal. 
8. The Division of Nursing uses a system of external assessment and remediation for pre-licensure students. All pre-licensure students purchase a designated testing package upon enrollment in the first nursing course. The primary purpose is to help prepare students for NCLEX-RN success. Students are required to complete designated assessments including content mastery assessments at specified points in the curriculum. Additionally, a nationally-normed comprehensive examination designed to predict success on the NCLEX-RN will be administered during the final clinical nursing course. Students must achieve a designated satisfactory score on the comprehensive examination to meet course requirements. 
9. A student who is dismissed from the nursing major may reapply no sooner than two years from the date of dismissal and must follow University and Division of Nursing admission criteria. A student seeking readmission to the nursing major must provide evidence of improving one’s potential for success. Readmission is not guaranteed. 

Graduation Requirements

To earn the Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree the student must meet the following criteria: 

1. Completion of a minimum of 120 credit hours. Total credit hours completed will depend on placement exams. Transfer students must complete a minimum of 32 credit hours in nursing courses. 
2. Completion of all required nursing and non-nursing courses. 
3. Meet the requirements for academic standards (see BSN Progression, Probation and Dismissal sections of the BSN Student Handbook). 
4. Payment of all financial obligations to the university. 
5. Complete requirements for university graduation no more than twelve (12) semesters after starting their nursing clinical course work. 

Courses described in the BSN curriculum are representative of the requirements to complete the stated major. Requirements are subject to change. Students should consult with their division advisor to determine the exact requirements needed to complete the degree.