Nursing BSN

Looking for a career where you can make a positive difference in the lives of others by caring for the suffering, addressing social injustice, and helping fill the gaps in healthcare? Nursing may be the best major for you.

Why Saint Martin's University

Saint Martin’s is building a BSN program that will prepare nurses to practice in the 21st century.

Healthcare is dynamic and complex, therefore BSN students will develop critical thinking skills in the Saint Martin’s liberal arts core, and layer on the knowledge and skills of the rigorous nursing program to be prepared to practice in an ever-changing care environment.

To meet the challenges of preparing the 21st century nurse, Saint Martin’s has:

A newly constructed science building, classrooms and labs for pre-requisite courses
New state-of-the-art wing dedicated to nursing studies, including a dedicated simulation lab
Dedicated nursing student study lounge near nursing learning labs
Clinical experiences at local acute care facilities, including Providence St. Peter’s hospital and Capital Medical Center, as well as community sites including skilled nursing facilities, schools, home health, hospice and public health.

Important dates for applications and admission

First year applications will be accepted until Feb. 1
Transfer applications will be accepted until Jan. 15
Upper-division transfer students will be admitted starting fall 2020

Ready to learn more about nursing at Saint Martin's?

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program prepares you for a career as a professional registered nurse. The coursework in the BSN program enables you to take the NCLEX-RN exam in any state in the US, and prepares you for life-long learning including graduate education. BSN graduates are prepared to work across the care continuum, in hospitals, community agencies, home health care, hospice, skilled nursing facilities, mental health facilities and more.

Saint Martin’s nursing students and BSN graduates will live out the university core values of faith, reason, service and community, by being committed to making a positive difference in the lives of others by alleviating suffering, addressing social inequities and eliminating health disparities.

$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.

Admission criteria

First-Year direct admission to Nursing
First-year undergraduate Bachelor of Science in Nursing applicants must meet the general entrance requirements of the University as outlined in the university catalog and at the first-year admissions website.
Applicants seeking admission to the nursing program are required to have 3 years of high school or higher science courses, including one year of laboratory science and mathematics including college preparatory algebra, with grades of “B” (3.0) or higher.
Progression into the upper division nursing courses are dependent on the following:
1. A cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher at the end of the second (sophomore) year at Saint Martin’s.
2. A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher in the prerequisite sciences taken at Saint Martin’s University.
3. All pre-requisite courses must be passed with a grade of B- or higher.
4. Students may repeat one pre-requisite science course one time if they receive a grade of lower than a B-.

Transfer application and admission requirements
Transfer student applicants to the upper division of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program must meet the transfer admission requirements of the University as outlined in the university catalog and at the Transfer (undergrad) website. Transfer applicants may state their preference for fall or spring entry into the upper division nursing program.
Application materials needed:
- Completed Saint Martin’s application form
- Personal essay attached to Saint Martin's application
- Complete nursing-specific questions found on the Saint Martin’s application
- Transcripts from ALL previously attended colleges
- Resume
- Two letters of recommendation, preferably both from a current or past professor
Acceptance into the upper division nursing program for the Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree is dependent on the following:
- 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.
- Completion of all nursing prerequisite courses. Prerequisite courses may be taken at any accredited college or university.
- 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.
- Transfer applications to the BSN program are due Jan. 15. Students will be notified of admission, wait list or denial for the BSN program in March.

BSN pre-requisite 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 (may be waived if student tests into higher level math)
- MTH 201 Introduction to Statistics
- NUR/EXS 203 Human Nutrition
- PSY 101 Psychology
- PSY 215 Lifespan Development

Internal transfers

Current Saint Martin’s student requests for internal transfer to the nursing major will be considered on a space available basis. Qualified applicants who wish to change their major to nursing must meet the freshman admission criteria outlined above and have a cumulative 3.0 GPA or higher in courses taken at Saint Martin’s. Students wishing to transfer to the BSN major must meet with the Director of Nursing to apply for transfer into the major and to develop a plan of study.

Technical standards

All nursing students must meet the Technical Standards of the nursing program, with or without reasonable accommodation to successfully complete the nursing program. Students interested in applying to the nursing program are encouraged to review the Technical Standards to be familiar with the performance abilities required to be successful in a clinically based nursing program.

BSN courses

Sophomore year or pre-requisites

Course number	Course name, credits and description
NUR203	Human Nutrition (Cross-listed with EXS 203) 3 credits An introduction to the fundamentals of human nutrition as they relate to the individual across the lifespan and the community. Includes an exploration of nutrient identity, acquisition and utilization. The links between nutrition, diseases, environment and social context are examined. Students apply concepts to real-world circumstances. Equivalent to BIO303 and EXS303. Prerequisites: BIO121 or BIO141

Course number

Course name, credits and description

NUR203

Human Nutrition (Cross-listed with EXS 203)
3 credits

An introduction to the fundamentals of human nutrition as they relate to the individual across the lifespan and the community. Includes an exploration of nutrient identity, acquisition and utilization. The links between nutrition, diseases, environment and social context are examined. Students apply concepts to real-world circumstances. Equivalent to BIO303 and EXS303.

Prerequisites: BIO121 or BIO141

Junior I

Course number	Course name, credits and description
NUR301	Introduction to Professional Nursing 3 credits An introduction to the discipline of nursing, nursing theories, professional values, standards, nursing history and culture, health care delivery systems, the scientific basis for nursing, and the role of nursing in the delivery of health. Critical thinking and active inquiry into healthcare issues are introduced. Students will examine health from different perspectives, social justice in healthcare, care of self and the practice of nursing from a holistic, caring framework.
NUR302	Foundations of Nursing Practice: Prevention and Promotion of Health 5 credits Foundational knowledge, skills and attitudes in preparation for reflective nursing practice to promote and protect health across the lifespan. Includes 2 credits didactic, 2 credits lab and 1 credit (50 hours) of clinical experience. Prerequisites: All nursing prerequisite courses
NUR303	Health Assessment 3 credits Foundational knowledge, skills and attitudes about health assessment across the lifespan, respecting diverse cultures, ethnicities and social backgrounds. Includes 1 credit didactic and 2 credits lab.
NUR304	Pathophysiology and Pharmacology for Nursing Practice 3 credits Concepts of pathophysiology and pharmacology essential to nursing practice.

Junior II

Course number	Course name, credits and description
NUR311	Nursing Management of Chronic Diseases 4 credits Nursing management of common chronic diseases across the lifespan. Includes nursing assessment, diagnosis, care planning, nursing interventions and symptom management, and evaluation of care. Emphasis on principles of safe and effective care for patients with chronic disease, injury or disability. Taken concurrently with NUR 312. Prerequisite courses: NUR 302, NUR 303, NUR 304
NUR312	Nursing Management of Chronic Disease Practicum 3 credits Clinical experience in the nursing management of common chronic diseases across the lifespan. Taken concurrently with NUR 311. Includes 3 credits clinical practicum (150 hours).
NUR313	Nursing Skills and Simulation Lab 2 credits Skills and procedures associated with managing patients with chronic disease in the community. Lab simulation of selected clinical nursing skills.
Core340	Ethics Co-designed core class to focus on healthcare ethics.

Senior I

Course number	Course name, credits and description
NUR401	Nursing Management of Acute or Complex Conditions 4 credits Nursing management of common, complex, or exacerbations of chronic conditions seen in acute care settings. Prerequisite: NUR 311
NUR402	Nursing Management of Acute or Complex Conditions Practicum 3 credits Clinical experience in the nursing management of common or complex conditions seen in acute care settings. Includes 3 credits clinical practicum (150 hours). Co- or prerequisite: NUR 401
NUR403	Advanced Nursing Skills and Simulation Lab 2 credits Advanced nursing skills and procedures utilized in caring for complex patients, including maternal-child patients. Lab simulation of selected advanced nursing skills.
NUR420	Nursing Management of Childbearing and Childrearing Families 4 credits Family-focused nursing management of the normal physiological and developmental changes, and disease processes encountered when caring for childbearing and childrearing families. Taken concurrently with NUR 421.
NUR421	Childbearing Family Clinical Practicum 1 credit Clinical experience in the nursing management of childbearing families. Taken concurrently with NUR 420. Includes 50 hours of clinical practicum.
NUR310	Health Policy 3 credits Examination of health policy and its significance to practice. Overview of policy analysis, legislative and regulatory processes and issues such as health care reform, health care costs, Medicare and Medicaid, and health insurance. Principles of access, equity, affordability, and social justice in health care delivery. Students participate in the legislative, regulatory and political processes.

Senior II

Course number	Course name, credits and description
NUR430	Nursing Leadership 3 credits Application of leadership theories to develop skills, competencies and a personal leadership style required to advance health and the nursing profession. Strategies for collaboration with healthcare professionals to redesign healthcare systems and diffuse change.
NUR410	Promoting Population Health in the Community 3 credits Examination of population health and community health nursing concepts for the promotion of individual, family, group, community and population health through the lens of social justice. Must be taken concurrently with NUR 411 (RN to BSN student) or NUR 412 (traditional BSN student).
NUR412	Promoting Population Health in the Community Practicum 2 credits Application of population health and community health nursing concepts for the promotion of individual, family, group, community and population health through the lens of social justice. Partnerships with community members, agencies and health systems are emphasized. Must be taken concurrently with NURS 410. Includes 100 hours of practicum for traditional BSN students.
NUR495	Transition to Professional Nursing Practice 2 credits Students will reflect on successful completion of all Nursing Program Outcomes, and role transition to professional nursing practice.
NUR499	Capstone & Synthesis Clinical Practicum 5 credits Students in this course will realize the full scope of baccalaureate nursing practice working with multiple clients or a population typical of those that would be assigned to a beginning professional nurse. Students select a practice or policy problem, design a project to remedy the problem and, when possible implement the project. Includes 150 hours of clinical practicum. Prerequisites: NUR 401, NUR 402, NUR 420, NUR 421