Nursing, B.S.N.

The baccalaureate degree program in nursing is pursuing initial accreditation by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org). Applying for accreditation does not guarantee that accreditation will be granted.

The Commission on College Nursing Education

655 K Street NW, Suite 750

Washington, DC 20001

202-887-6791

Admission Requirements

The selection process for admission to the Department of Nursing in the College of Education and Allied Health Professions at Fontbonne University is based upon a review of applicants’ personal and academic records.
Undergraduate applications are reviewed as they are received, and admission decisions are made as each review is completed.
- Early application is recommended since admissions are closed when each class is filled.
- Applicants who are not eligible for direct admission to the program are encouraged to pursue appropriate preparatory classes, including College Algebra (MTH 105), Statistics (MTH 115 ), Anatomy and Physiology I & II (BIO 220 and BIO 222 ), Microbiology/Lab for Health Professions (BIO 240 /BIO 250 and BIO 245 ), Developmental Psychology (PSY 200 ), Chemistry (CHM 106 or CHM 128 ) and Professional Nursing Practice (NUR 210 ).
Fontbonne University maintains a strong commitment to diversity to increase the number of faculty, staff and students from all backgrounds and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law in employment or in the administration of its educational policies, admission policies, educational programs, scholarship and loan programs, or athletic and other programs and activities.
Fontbonne University adheres to the principles of a holistic admission process in which selection criteria are broad-based and linked to our mission and philosophy. While we do recognize academic metrics, we also consider applicant experiences, attributes, potential for success, and how applicants may contribute to the university’s learning environment and to the nursing profession. The Department of Nursing uses a holistic admission rubric to evaluate candidates with less than a 3.0 grade point average. Experiences such as healthcare experience, volunteer or leadership experience, science GPA, and ability to contribute to the diversity of the nursing department and nursing profession are evaluated.

Freshman

All qualified applicants are directly admitted to the program through the Office of Admissions.
Students interested in pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Fontbonne University must fulfill the following requirements for consideration:
- High school GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale OR high school GPA of >2.75 with >2.5 GPA in science courses (behavioral, biological, chemical, and physical).
- High school or college entry-level chemistry and biology courses with a grade of C or better.
- An official high school transcript must be submitted. Students must earn a high school diploma from an accredited school or have an acceptable score on the General Education Development Test (GED) prior to starting classes. Extracurricular activities are considered in the admission decision.

External Transfer Students

Entry into the traditional nursing program for external transfer students is extremely limited and is wholly dependent upon space availability within the program, which in some years results in no external transfer students being admitted. In years where space is available, there may be more applicants than spots available, so entry is not guaranteed.
All undergraduate students with college credit may be eligible to apply and must fulfill the following requirements for consideration:
- Transfer GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale OR transfer GPA of >2.75 with >2.5 GPA in science courses (behavioral, biological, chemical, and physical).
- Students must complete Human Anatomy and Physiology 1 and 2, Microbiology, College Algebra, Statistics, General or Organic Chemistry, Principles of Nutrition and Lifespan Human Growth and Development, General Chemistry, and Intro to Professional Nursing Practice with a grade of a C or better prior to entry into the junior year of the nursing program. Transfer students may have completed some or all these courses at time of entry to Fontbonne. Transferring courses must have been taken within the last 5 years with only one repeat total of all math and science courses allowed. If extenuating circumstances caused the student to repeat more than one math or science course, the student may request a waiver of this requirement by submitting a letter of explanation with his/her application.
- Extracurricular activities are considered in admission decisions.
- The Department of Nursing uses a holistic admission rubric to evaluate candidates with less than a 3.0 grade point average. Experiences such as healthcare experience, volunteer or leadership experience, science GPA, and ability to contribute to the diversity of the nursing department and nursing profession are evaluated.

Current Students & Internal Transfer Students

Students who enroll as new freshmen at Fontbonne University in a department other than nursing and wish to change their major to nursing will be the second group considered for admission after the students who enrolled as new freshmen in the Department of Nursing in the College of Education and Allied Health Professions at Fontbonne University and must fulfill the following requirements for consideration:
- Minimum 2.75 cumulative undergraduate GPA AND minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA on core science prerequisite courses (Human Anatomy and Physiology 1 and 2, Microbiology, General or Organic Chemistry, and Lifespan Human Growth and Development)
- Students must complete Human Anatomy and Physiology 1 and 2, Microbiology, College Algebra, Statistics, General or Organic Chemistry, Principles of Nutrition and Lifespan Human Growth and Development, General Chemistry, and Intro to Professional Nursing Practice with a grade of a C or better prior to entry into the junior year of the nursing program.
- Ability to demonstrate successful completion of math and science courses, preferably at Fontbonne University within the last 5 years with only one repeat total of all math and science courses allowed. If extenuating circumstances caused the student to repeat more than one course, the student may request a waiver of this requirement by submitting a letter of explanation with his/her application.
- The Department of Nursing uses a holistic admission rubric to evaluate candidates with less than a 3.0 grade point average. Experiences such as healthcare experience, volunteer or leadership experience, science GPA, and ability to contribute to the diversity of the nursing department and nursing profession are evaluated.

Program Learning Outcomes

PLO-1: Incorporate and synthesize theoretical and empirical knowledge, skills, and attitudes from the liberal arts and sciences into professional nursing education and practice.
PLO-2: Apply knowledge and skills of organizational and systems leadership, quality improvement, and patient safety in promoting safe, high-quality care for diverse patients across healthcare systems and environments.
PLO-3: Use current research findings, evidence-based practices, critical thinking skills, health literacy and teaching, and the nursing process to ensure optimum health and wellness.
PLO-4: Incorporate knowledge and skills in using information systems and a range of patient-care technologies to promote and facilitate delivery of safe and effective patient care.
PLO-5: Act as a patient advocate in promoting health, minimizing risk, and preventing adverse patient outcomes by delegating nursing care to members of the health care team based upon their scope of practice and ability and in identifying and influencing factors that affect health care delivery.
PLO-6: Advocate for financial and regulatory healthcare policies, processes, and environments that improve the nature and functioning of the healthcare delivery system and professional nursing practice.
PLO-7: Collaborate and communicate effectively with patients, families, interdisciplinary healthcare teams, and healthcare professionals to promote positive working relationships, improve patient health outcomes, and deliver appropriate patient care.
PLO-8: Use the nursing process to promote individual and population health by assessing factors that influence health and by applying principles and culturally appropriate health promotion and disease-prevention strategies. 
PLO-9: Demonstrate consistent application of the core values of the discipline of nursing and the professional standards of moral, ethical, and legal conduct.
PLO-10: Integrate the knowledge, skills, and attitudes expected of baccalaureate-prepared nurses by providing competent, entry-level, professional nursing care to diverse patients and populations across the lifespan, healthcare settings, and multicultural environments.

Program Requirements

General Education Requirements

The 42 credit hours of general education requirements are presented in the undergraduate academic information section of the catalog. A course that meets a general education requirement may also meet a course requirement in the major or a course requirement in another discipline. The following specific general education courses must be chosen to meet the requirements of this major.