Nursing

Chair: Dr. Rita Trofino; Vice-Chair: Ms. Cindy Drenning

The Nursing Program prepares generalists in nursing to assist individuals, families, and aggregates toward the goal of health throughout life. A baccalaureate education in nursing provides each student with the knowledge base for practicing professional nursing. The curriculum is based on a liberal arts foundation in the Judeo-Christian tradition and utilizes a caring perspective for its organizing framework. Professional nursing is an art and a science which involves a commitment to human caring. Nursing is an interpersonal process that includes promoting, protecting, and restoring wellness, and helping persons to die a peaceful death, as well as caring for individuals and groups who are experiencing illness. Upon completion of the curriculum, the graduate possesses a foundation for graduate study. The baccalaureate nursing program at Saint Francis University has full approval by the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing and is fully accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, One Dupont Circle, NW Suite 530, Washington, DC. 20036, (202) 887-6791. A graduate is eligible to sit for the R.N. licensure exam, NCLEX-RN.

Students enroll as freshman in the nursing major. In addition to general education requirements, incoming freshman nursing students should have a minimum of a 1000 SAT score (not including written portion) and a high school QPA of 3.0 or greater (based on a 4.0 scale). A strong background in the sciences and math is highly recommended, including Biology, Chemistry and Algebra. A limited number of transfer students are admitted to the program based on available space, and additional admission criteria. Please refer to the Department of Nursing website and catalog for descriptions of the requirements.

Progression and continuance in the Nursing program are based upon scholastic achievement, health maintenance, and adherence to Saint Francis University policies. In addition, nursing majors must adhere to the Nursing Department policies as stated in the current Department of Nursing Student Handbook. Transfer students are required to have an interview with a faculty member from the Nursing Department.

A minimum grade of “C” in the prerequisite social and natural science courses must be earned by Nursing majors. Nursing students must achieve a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 before taking the first laboratory/clinical nursing course (NURS 300). The student must maintain a minimum of 2.6 in the natural sciences, pass the math proficiency exam in NURS 200, and must meet all other requirements stated in the current Department of Nursing Student Handbook.

Progression within the Nursing major requires the Nursing student to earn a minimum of a “C” grade in each of the Nursing courses. The grading scale for the Nursing Department is as follows: A=92-100; B=86-91; C=80-85; D=75-79, and F=0-74.

Students must provide their own transportation to clinical sites.