RN-BSN Degree Completion Program for Associate Degree Nurses

Students will be admitted to the RN-BSN Degree Completion program after they have completed the Associates Degree in Nursing, and any prerequisites or admission requirements (per current policy). The Associate Degree in Nursing must consist of at least 65 semester hours in order to grant credit toward the BSN degree.

The RN-BSN Degree Completion requires 63 semester hours through a combination of transfer (for courses taken beyond the ADN), enrollment, and challenge examinations (CLEP, DANTES, NLN, SJC). Thirty-two semester hours must be earned through SJC and at least twenty-one of those must be in nursing. 

E=Enroll T=Transfer C=Challenge

RN-BSN Degree Completion Program for Diploma Nurses

Students enrolled in the RN to BSN program must complete 128 semester hour credits through a combination of transfer (for courses taken beyond the Diploma program), enrollment, and challenge examinations (CLEP, DANTES, NLN, SJC). Thirty-two semester hours must be earned through SJC and at least twenty-one of those must be in nursing.

Diploma nurses are granted 30 transfer credits for prior nursing knowledge. A full transcript evaluation will be done to determine all possible transfer credit.

E=Enroll T=Transfer C=Challenge

Progression

Students enrolled in the nursing major must follow the prescribed curriculum sequence. All 200 and 300 level nursing courses and health assessment must be completed before enrolling in 400-level courses. Students who receive less than a C+ grade (78) in a nursing course, or less than a C- (70) in related science, sociology, or psychology courses, may not progress to subsequent courses until a passing grade is achieved (78 or above). Students may take a required nursing or science course or challenge twice. Students who receive less than a C+ grade (78) twice for the same nursing course, or less than a C- (70) twice for the same required science course, or who have not received an acceptable transfer grade, will be required to withdraw from the nursing major.

Additional Admission Requirements

In addition to the general admissions requirements nursing students must:

• Applicants are required to hold an active, unrestricted RN license.  RNs are to provide their license number to Saint Joseph’s College for verification, at no cost to the college. Note: Applicants who have had license sanctions must be without restrictions during the two years prior to Saint Joseph’s application.
• Possess the functional abilities to perform the skills and behaviors required of a professional nurse. Thus, nursing students must demonstrate the following functional abilities:
  1. Ability to see, hear, touch, smell and distinguish colors.
  2. Communicate orally and in writing with clarity, accuracy and efficiency.
  3. Manual dexterity with gross and fine movements.
  4. Think critically, analyze, assess, solve problems, and make judgments.
  5. Emotional stability and ability to accept responsibility and accountability. American Association of Colleges of Nursing. (2000). Guidelines for Accommodating Students with Disabilities in Schools of Nursing. Washington, DC: American Association of Colleges of Nursing. (Detailed statements relative to these abilities can be obtained from the Nursing Department.)

International applicants educated in countries other than the United States and Canada must contact the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (COGFNS) for credentialing at: Commission of Foreign Nursing Schools, 3600 Market Street, Suite 400, Philadelphia, PA 19104-2651 USA. Applicant Inquiries: 215-349-8767. Graduates of foreign nursing schools must submit an official report from the COGFNS. Canadian applicants will be managed on a case by case basis.