RN to BSN Program
The RN to BSN degree program at Saint Peter’s University is designed for registered nurses who hold a nursing diploma or an associate’s degree in nursing from an accredited program. The program prepares students for generalist professional practice and leadership in a variety of settings and can be completed within 21 months.
Application Processing
Applications are processed on a rolling basis. The selection process is completed within one week of Graduate Admissions receipt of all required documentation.
Requirements for Nursing Major
Degree of Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Nine of the required credits for the major count towards the Core Curriculum Requirements.
The following required courses are typically transferred from pre-licensure program.
| PS-151 | Introduction to Psychology 1 | 3 |
| PS-235 | Life Span Development | 3 |
| PS-200 | Statistics and Research Methods 2 | 3 |
| or SO-448 | Statistics in the Social Sciences | |
| BI-161 | Basic Microbiology | 4 |
| BI-161L | Basic Microbiology Lab | 0 |
| BI-171 | Anatomy and Physiology I 1 | 4 |
| BI-171L | Anatomy and Physiology I Lab | 0 |
| BI-172 | Anatomy and Physiology II | 4 |
| BI-172L | Anatomy and Physiology II Lab | 0 |
| SO-121 | Introduction to Sociology 3 | 3 |
| Transfer credit for lower-division nursion courses | 30 | |
| Upper division nursing courses (31 credits) | ||
| NU-302 | Seminar in Professional Nursing | 2 |
| NU-303 | Seminar in APA Writing for Health Science | 2 |
| NU-304 | Pathophysiology | 3 |
| NU-310 | Health Assessment | 4 |
| NU-330 | Care of Families and Aggregates | 4 |
| NU-350 | Trends and Issues in Nursing | 2 |
| NU-390 | Introduction to Nursing Research | 3 |
| NU-420 | Community Health Nursing | 4 |
| NU-440 | Leadership and Management in Nursing | 4 |
| NU-450 | Nurse/Client Educator (elective) | 2 |
| NU-452 | Women's Health Issues (elective) | 3 |
| NU-495 | Special Projects in Nursing RN-BSN (elective) | 1 |
| Total Credits | 87 | |
| 1 | May count towards the Core Natural Science Requirement. |
| 2 | May count towards the Core Mathematics Requirement. |
| 3 | May count towards the Core Social Science Requirement. |
Special Note on Core Requirements
The Mathematics and Natural Science Core Requirements are satisfied as indicated above. The remainder of the Core Requirements are satisfied by the following courses or transfer credit:
| AR-127 | Introduction to the Visual Arts | 3 |
| or AR-128 | Introduction to Music | |
| CM-120 | English Composition (or equivalent English Composition II) | 3 |
| Take two approved EL courses | 6 | |
| HS-121 | The Western Tradition | 3 |
| HS-200 | World Perspectives | 3 |
| Modern Language | 3 | |
| PL-130 | Introduction to Philosophy | 3 |
| PL-140 | Introduction to Ethics | 3 |
| TH-110 | Religious Faith in the Modern World | 3 |
| TH-120 | Introduction to the Study of Christianity | 3 |
| Select one of the following | 3 | |
EC-101 | Macroeconomic Principles | |
PO-100 | Perspectives on Politics | |
UR-151 | The Contemporary City | |
| Total Credits | 36 | |
Special Notes on Major Requirements
| 1 | Applicants wanting to major in nursing will have up to 30 credits in basic nursing transferred in to satisfy the lower division nursing requirement. These credits will be transferred in from diploma and associate degree nursing programs accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission or CCNE upon successful matriculation into the Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program. |
| 2 | Applicants who have earned their nursing diploma and/or degree from institutions outside the United States must submit official course by course Degree Evaluations (with an English translation). The BSN program will only accept evaluations prepared by the World Education Service, Inc. (WES). The 30 credits in basic nursing will be transferred in upon successful matriculation into the BSN Program |
| 3 | The required science courses, regardless of date taken, may be transferred as long as they were taken for college credit and grades of at least a C earned for these courses. |
| 4 | A grade of 78 is required in all nursing courses. Any nursing course in which the grade is below 78 must be repeated. If the course is repeated and the grade is below 78, this will be considered a failure for the course and the student will be dismissed from the program. Failure of a second nursing course will result in dismissal from the program. The clinical practica of nursing courses are graded on a Pass/Fail basis. If the student fails the clinical component, he or she fails the entire course regardless of the grade average in the didactic component and a grade of C- will be recorded on the student’s transcript. |
| 5 | If a student enrolls in a nursing course and withdraws, this will count as the first attempt in the nursing course and the student must achieve a grade of 78 or higher the next time the student enrolls for that same course. |
| 6 | The theoretical application for upper division nursing courses have assignments that are incorporated into the grading for the course. Assignments may include but are not limited to: change projects for the specific unit following an assessment of that environment; observation of family dynamics with resulting diagnoses and plan for appropriate interventions with evaluation; and windshield survey with community education project and followup to name just a few examples. |
Clinical Requirements
All clinical requirements must be satisfactorily completed before students will be allowed into any application / observation setting. At present, they include the following but are subject to change depending on regulations mandated by the agencies and/or their accrediting bodies. All documents must be uploaded into the student's TAbb, Inc account.
| 1 | Current NJ Nursing License or license in state of residence for online students |
| 2 | Actual titer reports for rubella, rubeola, varicella, mumps showing immunity. |
| 3 | Proof of Hepatitis B immunity, vaccine (strongly recommended), or signed waiver. |
| 4 | Negative 2 step negative tuberculosis test within the past 6 months or if positive Mantoux history, chest x-ray negative for tuberculosis within one (1) year. |
| 5 | Health Examination - All nursing students must submit a completed copy of the BSN Health Profile. Applicants to the nursing major must be aware that health clearance will be required prior to the start of every clinical nursing course. Health Profiles are valid for one year. The Health Profile form is available in the School of Nursing Office. |
| 6 | Liability Insurance - All students enrolled in clinical nursing courses must also provide evidence of liability insurance. Application forms and information can be obtained from the School of Nursing. Coverage in the amount of $1,000,000.00/$6,000,000.00 required. |
| 7 | CPR Certification - All students enrolled in clinical nursing courses must provide evidence of American Heart Association CPR Certification for infant, child and adult, BLS for Health Care Providers. |
| 8 | Criminal Background Checks - Clinical agencies mandate criminal history background checks for all individuals engaged in patient care and all students must undergo these checks. (Nursing students with a valid NJ Nursing License are not required to undergo additional drug testing.) These checks are conducted by a consumer reporting agency and the information is sent to the University and to clinical agencies. Agency personnel will evaluate the information they receive and, in their sole discretion, make the final determination as to each student’s ability to continue to engage in patient care in their agency. If a student is denied clinical placement by any clinical agency due to criminal history that student will be dismissed from the program. |
| 9 | Annual flu shot. |
| 10 | Clinical Experiences - The time, place, and nature of theoretical application varies depending on the learning outcomes of the specific class and student interest. Students are expected to arrange their own transportation for these learning experiences. Some may be scheduled as a result of external determinants and students may need to be flexible with their own time commitments. |
The baccalaureate degree program in nursing/master’s degree program in nursing/Doctor of Nursing Practice program and/or post-graduate APRN certificate program at Saint Peter’s University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org).