Nursing students pose with dog and poster presentation
Undergraduate

Nursing LPN to BSN

Are you a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) looking for a pathway to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) while continuing to work? The Saint Martin’s LPN to BSN program will offer you the ability to complete your BSN over two academic years by attending class one day a week and one day a week of clinical practicums.

Why Saint Martin's University?

  • Small class sizes to foster your learning 
  • Clinical sites and experiences in the community and acute care settings designed to meet your learning needs and help you grow as a nurse 
  • Faculty who practice as nurses and who are current on nursing practice  
  • Scholarships available for all students 

Program highlights

  • Complete your BSN in two academic years  
  • One semester (15 credits) of coursework credited for your LPN license  
  • Attend class one day a week and one day of clinical per week 
  • Hybrid (traditional/online) learning model 
  • Scholarships available for all students  
  • Cohort model offers support of your LPN to BSN classmates  
  • Located in the South Puget Sound region of Washington 
  • NCLEX pass rate: 92%

ACCREDITATION

The baccalaureate degree program in nursing at Saint Martin's University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

APPROVALS

The LPN to BSN program at Saint Martin's University is fully approved by the Washington Board of Nursing.

Important dates for applications and admission

  • Aug. 1, 2024: Application opens for first-year, transfer, and LPN-BSN applications for 2025
  • Feb. 1, 2025: Application deadline for first-year, transfer, and LPN-BSN applications for 2025

Application process

 Transfer student applicants to the Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program must meet the transfer admission requirements of the University as outlined in the university catalog and on the Transfer (undergrad) webpage.

Prerequisites for admission to the LPN to BSN Nursing Program 

  • Unrestricted Washington State Practical Nurse license.  
  • A cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above. Transfer student GPA is computed from all college-level coursework taken.
  • A minimum of 3.0 GPA in all required prerequisite science courses. 
  • Students may repeat one pre-requisite science course one time if they receive a grade of lower than a B. 
  • Satisfactory completion of all clinical entry requirements, including background clearance, drug screen and immunizations. 
  • Associate Degree or DTA not required but highly encouraged to decrease the number of non-nursing courses required for your BSN.

Nursing LPN to BSN Requirements

Core curriculum requirements

Information about core curriculum requirements, most of which may be satisfied by transfer credit, is found in the Academic Policies and Procedures section of the academic catalog. LPN to BSN students will be required to take COR 110: Religious Studies (3) and COR 340W: Ethics, Human Dignity, and Reason (4).

LPN to BSN requirements

All students must meet the university’s graduation requirement of 120 total semester hours, which includes accepted transfer credit. A maximum of 90 semester hours (135 quarter hours) will be accepted in transfer toward fulfillment of requirements for the baccalaureate degree. Fifteen (15) semester hours of upper division credit will be awarded, based on verification of successful completion of the NCLEX- PN examination.  

  • BSN Prerequisite Courses  
  • BIO 121: Human Biology 
  • BIO 228/328: Human Anatomy & Physiology I 
  • BIO 229/329: Human Anatomy & Physiology II 
  • BIO 251: Microbiology for Applied Health  
  • CHM 121: Introduction to Chemistry  
  • MTH 101: Intermediate Algebra  
  • MTH 201: Introduction to Statistics  
  • NUR 203: Human Nutrition 
  • PSY 101: Introduction to Psychology 
  • PSY 215: Lifespan Development

The curriculum plan for the LPN to BSN student is as follows: 

Junior I semester   

  • NUR 305: Foundations of Professional Nursing Practice/LPN Skills Review Lab (3) 
  • NUR 305C: Foundations of Professional Nursing: LPN to BSN Clinical Practicum (1)
  • NUR 306: Complex Pathophysiology/ Pharmacology (3) 
  • NUR 350: Translating Research into EBP (3) 
  • NUR 450: Care Coordination & Interprofessional Collaboration (3)

Junior II Semester  

  • NUR 310: Health Policy (3) 
  • NUR 314: LPN to BSN Skills and Simulation Lab (2)
  • NUR 410: Promoting Population Health in the Community (3)
  • NUR 415: Promoting Population Health in the Community Practicum for the LPN to BSN student (1) 
  • NUR 422: Advanced Nursing Management of Childbearing and Childrearing families (2) 
  • NUR 423: Childbearing Family clinical practicum: LPN to BSN (1) 

Senior I Semester   

  • NUR 405: Nursing Management of Complex Chronic or Acutely Ill Patients: LPN to BSN (4) 
  • NUR 406: Nursing Management of Complex Chronic or Acutely Ill Patients practicum (2) 
  • NUR 413: Advanced skills lab and simulation:  LPN to BSN (1) 
  • NUR 430: Nursing Leadership (3) 
  • COR 110: Religious Studies (online) (3)

Senior II Semester   

  • NUR 480: Synthesis Practicum for LPN to BSN students (3) 
  • NUR 481: Transition to RN Practice/NCLEX Prep for RN to BSN students (3) 
  • NUR 490: Capstone (2)
  • COR 340W: Ethics (online) (4)

Nursing LPN to BSN at a Glance

Degree
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Program Type
Major
Campus
Main (Lacey)
Type of Instruction
In Person
School
College of Arts and Sciences
Resources
Nursing programs
Nursing: Director's welcome

Academic excellence

Nursing College of Distinction 2024-25 badge

Nursing College of Distinction

Saint Martin's was named a Nursing College of Distinction for 2024-25.

Dedication wall in Nursing wing to Bruno and Evelyne Betti Foundation

$3.5 million donated for nursing labs and scholarships

Generous gifts have fully funded our 2,000 square feet remodel of Old Main to create an eight-bed nursing learning lab, two-bed simulation suite, classroom, faculty offices and equipment storage rooms.

Saint Martin's nursing program receives $2.22 million HRSA Nursing Workforce Diversity grant

Saint Martin's nursing program receives $2.22 million HRSA nursing workforce diversity grant

Saint Martin’s nursing program has been awarded a $2.22 million four-year Nursing Workforce Diversity (NWD) grant from the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).

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College of Arts and Sciences

Spanning the arts, humanities, natural sciences and social sciences, and characterized by an educational environment that is both rigorous and supportive, the College of Arts and Sciences offers 20 undergraduate major programs and 20 minor programs.

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