College for Adults: Nursing

Nursing

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING | COLLEGE FOR ADULTS

About the program

Are you interested in becoming a registered nurse (RN) in an innovative learning environment designed for adult students that embraces multicultural and social justice perspectives on health and healing?

Consider the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program from St. Catherine University's College for Adults

Note: Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) track

For licensed practical nurses, a special track is available within this BSN program. LPNs will have some credits of the nursing major waived. Contact your admission counselor for details.

What can I do with a BSN degree?

Graduates will be prepared to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) exam and begin careers as registered nurses. BSN graduates will benefit from learning in one of the region's largest and most respected nursing education programs, with close connections to many leading healthcare employers in the region.

Students also learn in a program that integrates a holistic approach into the practice of nursing an approach increasingly valued by healthcare employers and patients.

What will I study?

Students enroll in a 50-credit major that blends a rigorous nursing education with holistic healing perspectives.

Holistic nursing embraces multicultural healing perspectives alongside Western medicine to advance health and healing for all and focus on the whole person, family, and community. Students also take core liberal arts courses to build skills in communication, decision making and critical thinking key elements for the professional success of St. Kate's nurses.

Class scheduling / time to completion

Nursing didactic courses meet online in a synchronous format in the evenings. Students will come to the St. Paul Campus on weekday evenings for labs and simulations. Clinical rotations meet weekdays, evenings and weekends at leading hospitals, clinics and care facilities in the Twin Cities area.

Although courses for the program meet on an evening/weekend schedule and are designed for adults with work and other commitments, this is an intensive program. Students should not plan on working full time.

After gaining admission into the nursing major you may complete the degree in only 21 months. You'll study year-round, including summer. The nursing major courses begin each fall and spring

How to apply

To be eligible to apply for the 21-month nursing major, you must first enroll as a pre-nursing student in the College for Adults to take prerequisite and other courses required for the BSN degree. After enrolling in prerequisite courses some of which are only offered at St. Catherine University you’ll complete a second application to start the nursing major in the fall. Apply to start pre-nursing in fall, spring or summer.

Note: Admission as a pre-nursing student does not guarantee admission into the nursing major. A limited number of spaces are available in the nursing major. Admission is based on academic readiness, successful completion of prerequisite course requirements, and fit with the program's holistic, multicultural perspective.

Program accreditation

St. Catherine University's baccalaureate nursing program is fully accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) 3343 Peachtree Road NE, Ste 850, Atlanta, GA 30326. Phone: 404-975-5000 | acenursing.org

The program is approved by the Minnesota Board of Nursing (MBN) and meets specific MBN standards.

This program is endorsed by the American Holistic Nurses Credentialing Corporation (AHNCC); ahncc.org. Upon graduation, students can take the certification exam to become a Holistic Nurse.

Graduate study: MSN and DNP options

After completing your BSN degree, consider building on your experiences in one of St. Catherine’s graduate programs, where you may prepare for advanced roles as a nurse educator, nurse practitioner or in holistic nursing through St. Kate's master’s and doctoral programs

Your program of study

PHASE ONE: COURSES TO BE COMPLETED BEFORE STARTING NURSING

To meet requirements for your 120-credit Nursing bachelor's degree, you'll complete a 50-credit Nursing major and 70 credits of core liberal arts and elective courses. Some courses must be completed before gaining admission and enrolling in the Nursing major. Some courses taken at other colleges may be considered for transfer. Ask your admission counselor for a transfer evaluation.

Prerequisite Courses: Must be completed before starting the nursing major

• BIOL 2400: General Anatomy and Physiology* (4 credits)

• BIOL 2410: Advanced Anatomy and Physiology* (4 credits)

• BIOL 2200: Microbiology with Lab* (4 credits)

• SOCI 1000: Principles & Concepts of Sociology (4 credits)

• CHEM 1010: General Chemistry for Health Sciences* (4 credits) or CHEM 1110: General Chemistry I* (4 credits)

• IPE 1020: Medical Terminology (1 credit)

• FSNU 2300: Nutritional Foundations (4 credits)

• ECON 1080: Statistical Analysis for the Social Sciences* (4 credits) or STAT 1090: Statistical Analysis* (4 credits)

• PSYC 1000: General Psychology (4 credits) or PSYC 2025: Lifespan Developmental Psychology (4 credits)

Core Liberal Arts Courses: Must be completed before starting the nursing major

• CORE 1000W: The Reflective Woman (4 credits)

• Critical Studies of Race and Ethnicity/Women’s Studies (4 credits)

• Two courses from different disciplines in: philosophy (except PHIL 2150), literature, history, foreign language, studio art, art history, creative writing, classics (8 credits)

• Choose one: THEO 1000 or any 2000-level theology course (except 2994 Topics) (4 credits)

*These courses may be considered for transfer if completed within five years prior to entering the BSN major.

School of Nursing

Nursing is a major in the University’s School of Nursing, offering certificate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programs through St. Kate’s College for Adults, College for Women and Graduate College.

All information is subject to change

The information in this document applies to students entering the College for Adults in Fall 2023 or later. Provisions of this document are subject to change at any time. Consult the St. Catherine University Undergraduate Academic Catalog for official requirements.

Electives

Additional courses, as needed, to reach the minimum of 120 semester credits required for graduation.

PHASE

TWO: NURSING AND OTHER COURSES

After gaining admission into the Nursing major, you'll take a 21-month series of nursing courses, as well as IPE 4200W and CORE 3990W

Nursing major sequence (50 credits)

Fall Semester: Year 1

• NURS 2000: Foundations of Nursing & Holistic Care (6 credits)

• NURS 2020: Holistic Nursing: Professional Role and Culture (4 credits)

• NURS 3403: Holistic Care of Older Adults (3 credits)

Spring Semester: Year 1

• NURS 3220: Pathophysiology and Pharmacology I: Application in Nursing (4 credits)

• NURS 3221: Acute Care I: Holistic Nursing Across Lifespan (4 credits)

• NURS 3224: Behavioral Health Nursing (4 credits)

Summer Term: Year 1

• NURS 3222: Pathophysiology and Pharmacology II: Application in Nursing (4 credits)

• NURS 3223: Acute Care II: Holistic Nursing Across Lifespan (4 credits)

• IPE 4200W: Healthcare Teams – Evidence-Based Practice (4 credits)

Fall Semester: Year 2

• NURS 3225: Population and Global Health Nursing (4 credits)

• NURS 4221: Holistic Nursing Care of Children and Childbearing Families (4 credits)

• NURS 4222: Complex Holistic Nursing Care (4 credits)

Spring Semester: Year 2

• NURS 4220: Transformational Leadership (3 credits)

• NURS 4223: Holistic Nursing Preceptorship (4 credits)

• NURS 4224: Prep for Nursing Practice (1 credit)

Next steps:

• Contact your admission counselor before applying

• Attend an information session

• Apply to start in Fall, Spring or Summer