Nursing Traditional Four-Year Program, BS
Program Requirements Major in Nursing
The department of nursing offers two undergraduate degree programs:
- A four-year, full-time prelicensure undergraduate program that prepares students to sit for the NCLEX-RN Exam.
- A flexible RN to BS program created specifically for working nurses. This program is open only to qualified transfer students with a valid New York State R.N. license.
Traditional BS Program (BS-RN)
Admission to the Nursing Program is extremely competitive. In selecting students, the Department of Nursing & College’s Admission Committees have adopted a holistic review of applications for admission, ensuring that all aspects of candidates’ applications are carefully considered The traditional BS program offers a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in nursing to qualified high school graduates and transfer students interested in preparing for the NCLEX-RN exam. This pre-licensure nursing program is open to applicants with good moral character and demonstrated academic ability who are interested in full-time study. This is a day program. In addition to the nursing curriculum, students gain valuable knowledge and skills in liberal arts and sciences through courses focused on mathematics, natural sciences, social sciences, writing, and oral communication. Freshmen students are directly admitted into the nursing major from high school.
Additionally, students who have fulfilled nursing pre-requisite courses are transferred directly into the nursing major as second semester sophomores. Admission decisions are based on a comprehensive evaluation of an applicant’s previous academic work and other relevant information. Decisions are made on a competitive basis; meeting minimum criteria does not guarantee admission into the major. Applicants are expected to meet the following criteria:
Freshmen (Fall Entry)
To be considered for direct entry into the Nursing Program for Fall 2022, students must meet the following criteria:
• Submit official scores for one of the following tests: o SAT: 1050 or higher (super score) o ACT: 21 or higher
• Cumulative high school GPA of 85 (3.0) or higher
• Exception for Fall 2022 Freshmen candidates: Students who do not meet the standardized test score and are unable to retake the SAT or who have not taken the SAT due to COVID can have the exam component waived if they have the following:
o Early Decision: 95+ GPA
o Regular Decision: 90+ GPA
Important Dates and Deadlines: Early Decision: Nursing applicants who have a GPA of 90+ and an SAT Score of 1200+ or an ACT Score of 25+ are eligible to apply for Early Decision. Early Decision students will sign a binding contract stating that upon acceptance they will be required to enroll at St. Francis College. Early Decision students will submit a $500 commitment deposit by December 1st and this deposit will be non-refundable.
• Application Deadline: November 15th
• Student Notification Date: December 1st
• Student to Commit with a deposit: December 15th
Early Decision Agreement: If you are accepted under an Early Decision plan, you must promptly withdraw the applications to other colleges and universities and make no additional applications to any university in any country. If you are an Early Decision candidate and are seeking financial aid, you need not withdraw other applications until you have received notification about financial aid from the admitted Early Decision institution.
Any Early Decision candidate who does not receive acceptance to our Direct Entry Nursing Program will be placed into our Regular Decision Program and will have the opportunity to submit updated test scores and transcripts to be reviewed before a final decision is made.
Regular Decision:
Nursing applicants who have a GPA of 85+ and an SAT score of 1050+ or an ACT Score of 21+ are eligible to apply for Regular Decision. These students will not be required to enroll at St. Francis College.
- Application Deadline: April 1st
- Student Notification Date: April 15th
- Student to Commit with a deposit : May 1st
Students who do not meet these eligibility requirements for entry into the prelicensure BS in Nursing Program are encouraged to select one of our other majors in the health and science field:
- Biology
- Exercise and Movement Science
- Health Care Management
- Health Promotions and Science
- Radiological Science
Freshmen Transfer Students (Spring Entry)
The Department of Nursing will consider students who have completed their first semester of college and would like to transfer in the spring semester. To become a candidate for direct entry into the Nursing Program for spring entry, students must meet the following criteria:
• Submit official scores for one of the following tests:
- SAT: 1050 or higher (super score)
- ACT: 21 or higher
- Cumulative college GPA of 3.0 or higher
- Must earn a grade of "C" or higher in BIO-1140, BIO-1141 and MAT-1105 prior to the fall semester
Transfer Students with Prerequisites (Spring Entry)
To become a candidate for entry into the Nursing Program for the semester, students must meet the following criteria:
- Submit official scores for one of the following tests: o SAT: 1050 or higher (super score) o ACT: 21 or higher
- Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher
- Grade of C or higher in all required math and science classes:
- BIO-1140 (Anatomy & Physiology I)
- BIO-1141 (Anatomy & Physiology II)
- MAT-1105 (College Algebra)
- MAT-2301 (Statistics)
- CHE-1105 (Chemistry for the Health Sciences)
- BIO-3300 (Microbiology)
- At least 35 credits toward General Education Program requirements Exception for Fall 2022 transfer student candidates: Given the SAT and ACT cancellations due to COVID, the Department of Nursing will consider students who do not meet the standardized test score requirement but have a transfer GPA of 3.5 or higher and meet all other requirements.
Transfer Students with Prerequisites (Fall Entry)
To become a candidate for entry into the Nursing Program for the Fall semester, transfer students must meet the following criteria:
- Earn and submit official scores for one of the following tests:
- SAT: 1050 or higher (super score)
- ACT: 21 or higher
- Cumulative college GPA of 3.0 or higher
- Grade of C or higher in all required math and science classes:
o BIO-1140 (Anatomy & Physiology I)
o BIO-1141 (Anatomy & Physiology II)
o MAT-1105 (College Algebra)
• At least 29 credits toward General Education Program requirements
Transfer applicants to the prelicensure nursing program who do not meet all the prereq course requirements posted above will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Students in the prelicensure nursing program will be required to complete an annual physical exam, lab work & immunization, background check, and toxicology screen for placement in clinical coursework. Additional information is available in the Department of Nursing, Nursing Student Handbook.
Technical Standards for Nursing (Functional Abilities Essential for Nursing Practice)
The St. Francis College (SFC) Undergraduate Professional Nursing Programs comply with the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 and consistent with the ADA, as well as state and local laws which prohibit institutions of higher education from discriminating against students with disabilities.
St. Francis College, Department of Nursing has a responsibility to the public that its graduates are competent and caring capable of doing work that benefits and does not harm their clients. For safe nursing practice to occur and for applicants & students to be qualified to participate in and complete the program, all must be able to perform functional abilities essential for nursing practice. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) and the National Council of State Boards (NCSBN) have defined a thorough list of competencies necessary for the professional practice of nursing All applicants and students are held to the same technical and academic standards, reasonable accommodations are provided to qualified individuals with a disability. An overview of the Functional Abilities/Core Performance Standards required of nurses & nursing students is listed below.
Technical Standards for Core Professional Nursing Competency Performance (“Technical Standards”) are an integral component of the St. Francis College’s Nursing programs’ academic requirements that identify core professional nursing competencies in five specific domains – Communication, Observation, Cognitive, Motor, and Behavioral and Social Attributes. All applicants & nursing students must meet all the requirements of the Technical Standards, with or without reasonable accommodations, to successfully matriculate (enroll), progress through and graduate from their respective curricula. These requirements pertain to all student conduct regardless of setting (e.g., classroom/didactic, office, on-campus simulation, or off-campus clinical, email communication, etc.). Individuals interested in applying for admission to SFC nursing programs are encouraged to review the Technical Standards to become familiar with the skills, abilities, and behavioral characteristics required to complete the programs.
Students who require technological support or other accommodations must be able to perform in a reasonably independent and timely manner that does not affect the quality of care, the safety of patients or other individuals, and in a manner that does not impose undue hardship on the Department of Nursing or other members of the health care team.
Use of trained intermediaries to carry out functions described in technical standards is not permitted. A student’s judgment and skills may not be mediated by reliance upon someone else’s power of selection, observation, or clinical ability.
The program will provide qualified disabled students with reasonable accommodations that are necessary to enable them to meet the nursing care standards required of them. The process of accommodating student needs begins with self-identification. If you have a documented disability that necessitates special arrangements for any aspect of your work for this course, please contact Ms. Caitlin McGuire, Assistant Director of St. Francis College Office of Accessibility and Accommodations at (718) 489-2047 or cmcguire@sfc.edu. Students may not receive accommodations if not registered with this office.
A more inclusive the Technical Standards for Nursing Practice are found in the SFC Nursing Student Handbook and webpage.
Academic Progression Policy
Progression in the Nursing major requires a minimum GPA of 2.75, a minimum grade of “C” in all nursing courses, and a minimum grade of “C” in all supporting biology, chemistry, math, and psychology courses, including:
- MAT-1101 (Quantitative Reasoning)
- MAT-1105 (College Algebra)
- MAT-2301 (Statistics)
- BIO-1140 (Anatomy & Physiology I)
- BIO-1141 (Anatomy & Physiology II)
- PSY-1108 (Lifespan Development)
- BIO-3300 (Microbiology)
- CHE-1105 (Chemistry for the Health Sciences)
- BIO-4450 (Pharmacology)
A grade of “C-” or lower in any nursing or supporting course, may interrupt progression in the major.
The course must be repeated with a grade of “C” or higher prior to advancement to the next semester in the Nursing sequence.
- Students who receive a grade of C- or lower in a nursing or supporting course as listed above will be allowed to repeat the course only once.
- Students cannot withdraw with a “W” from a second attempt in a nursing or supporting course. The grade earned on the second attempt will stand.
- Students who earn a grade of C- or lower upon repeating a nursing or supporting course are ineligible to continue in the Nursing major.
- The number of repeated courses is limited to one nursing course and two supporting courses.
- Students who fail a second required nursing course or a third required supporting course will not be eligible to continue in the Nursing major. This policy applies even if a grade appeal is in progress.
- Students who fail the clinical portion of a course will fail the entire course, regardless of the corresponding theory grade. Both components must be repeated.
A student may be dismissed from the Nursing program at any time, if, by consensus of the Nursing faculty, the performance of the student is considered unsafe.
Nursing Academic Probation
Cumulative GPA
- Nursing students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.75 or higher.
- Students unable to maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.75 will be put on Nursing academic probation for a period of up to one year, while working to raise their GPA.
- Failure to remove probationary status within the specified time frame will result in dismissal from the Nursing program.
- Course Failure
- Students who receive a grade of C- or lower in a Nursing or supporting math or science course will be placed on Nursing academic probation.
- Students must pass the course on the second attempt with a grade of “C” or higher to have their probationary status removed.
- Students who earn a grade of C- or lower upon repeating a Nursing or supporting course are ineligible to continue in the major and will be dismissed from the Nursing program.
Maintenance of Matriculation
A matriculated student is expected to complete the curricular requirements in sequence without interruption. Students who need to interrupt their course of study are referred to the chair of the Department of Nursing and the Nursing academic advisor for assistance.
Under the following circumstances, a student may temporarily interrupt work toward a degree without forfeiting matriculation status if the student previously in good standing has:
- Failed a nursing course
- Failed a liberal arts course that is a prerequisite to the next nursing course
- Officially withdrawn from a nursing course
- Been granted a leave of absence
RETURNING FROM A LEAVE
Students who have not taken sequential nursing courses due to a leave or repeating a nursing course that was failed will notify the Nursing Department Academic Advisor. Once notified the student MUST complete an in-person head to toe assessment, Medication Calculation Exam, and clinical competencies prior to enrolling in the next semester containing a Nursing Clinical Course. Reentry requirements are individualized. A health providers clearance is needed to return if the leave was related to a health concern.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Program | ||
| Understanding College (FS) | 1 | |
| Writing and Presentation (WRI1 & OC1) | 6 | |
| Mathematics (QR1) | 3-4 | |
| College Algebra | ||
| Information Literacy, Media, and Research (ITML) | 3 | |
| Creative Voices across Cultures (HCE) | 6 | |
| Science at Work (NPW) | 8 | |
| Anatomy and Physiology 1 | ||
| Anatomy and Physiology 2 | ||
| Ethics, Reality and Logic (PEM) | 6 | |
| Individual and Societies (SEH) | 6 | |
| Principles of Sociology | ||
| Life-Span Development | ||
| Our World, Past and Present (WHG) | 6 | |
| Personal Wellness (FH) | 2-3 | |
| Religion and Culture (RS) | 3 | |
| Survey of the World's Religions | ||
| Nursing Major | ||
| NUR-2221 | Introduction to Nursing Therapeutic Skills | 3 |
| NUR-3001 | Nursing Informatics | 3 |
| NUR-3311 | Introduction to Geriatric Nursing | 3 |
| NUR-3322 | Nursing Issues | 3 |
| NUR-3323 | Physical Assessment | 4 |
| NUR-3334 | Nursing Care of the Adult-Lecture | 5 |
| NUR-3335 | Nursing Care of the Adult-Clinical | 3 |
| NUR-3336 | Nursing Pathophysiology | 3 |
| NUR-3423 | Leadership and Management | 3 |
| NUR-3450 | Nursing Pharmacology | 3 |
| NUR-3501 | Nursing Seminar I | 1 |
| NUR-4423 | Community Health Nursing (clinical) | 4 |
| NUR-4424 | Community Health Nursing (lecture) | 3 |
| NUR-4440 | Critical Care Medical Surgical Nursing Lecture | 4 |
| NUR-4444 | End of Life Care | 3 |
| NUR-4446 | Psychiatric Nursing | 3 |
| NUR-4447 | Nursing Care of Child & Family Clinical | 3 |
| NUR-4448 | Nursing Care of Child & Family Lecture | 4 |
| NUR-4449 | Critical Care Medical Surgical Nursing Clincial | 4 |
| NUR-4502 | Nursing Seminar II | 1 |
| NUR-4600 | Nursing Research | 3 |
| MAT-2301 | Statistics | 3 |
| BIO-3300 | Microbiology | 3 |
| BIO-3300L | Microbiology Laboratory | 1 |
| CHE-1105 | Chemistry for Health Sciences | 3 |
| CHE-1105L | Chemistry for Health Science Laboratory | 1 |
| Total Hours | 127-129 | |
In keeping with our mission at St. Francis College, the courses you take courses across the liberal arts ensure that you are well-rounded, able to engage in meaningful thought and conversation both within and outside of your area of expertise, and building a foundation for future success by deepening and broadening your knowledge. Building on First Year Foundations and augmenting your major field of study, the combination of courses in the Bodies of Knowledge prepares you to meet the challenges the world presents to you with intelligence, clarity, and empathy. They will equip you to solve complex problems, contribute to your community, and improve the world you inhabit.
Institutional Learning Outcomes:
- Demonstrate sensitivity to creative expression
- Communicate ideas and information through written, oral, visual and digital media
- Employ critical and analytical skills
- Value diverse perspectives of the human experience
- Implement information, technology and media literacy
- Demonstrate quantitative literacy
Foundation Courses- First Year College (13-14 credits)
St. Francis College’s mission, emphasizing Franciscan education, highlights access and opportunities for all students. In your first year at SFC, you will combine key skill development with courses in the liberal arts and in your areas of interest. Each of these courses and categories is essential to your success in college and beyond. Our First Year Foundations program ensures that all students will be equitably prepared to excel and achieve their goals.
Bodies of Knowledge (35 credits)
At St. Francis College, our Franciscan mission states that we “educate the whole person for a full, relational life.” This means that we strive, by making certain you take courses across the liberal arts, to ensure that you are well-rounded, able to engage in meaningful thought and conversation both within and outside of your area of expertise, and create success by deepening and broadening your knowledge. Building on First Year Foundations and augmenting your major field of study, the combination of courses in the Bodies of Knowledge prepare you to meet the challenges the world presents to you with intelligence, clarity, and empathy. They will equip you to solve complex problems, contribute to your community, and improve the world you inhabit.