All students admitted to Franciscan University of Steubenville stating a preference for a major in Nursing are admitted according to the University admission criteria. These students are placed in pre-nursing and receive academic advising in the Department of Nursing. Students in pre-nursing will be an integral part of Franciscan University of Steubenville’s campus community.
Admission to pre-nursing does not guarantee admission to the nursing program. Pre-nursing students must apply in writing to be admitted to the nursing program during the spring term freshman year at a time designated by the nursing department. Characteristics of academics (minimum QPA 2.5 and completion of required course work) and personal commitment to the nursing profession are considered as part of the admission process for the major. Those students wishing to transfer to the nursing major at the sophomore level from anther school must be admitted to Franciscan University. These applicants will be evaluated for admission by the same characteristics as students in pre-nursing at Franciscan University. Students applying to the nursing major will be notified in writing of their admission status prior to the beginning of the fall term of their sophomore year. Once students are admitted to the nursing major, they must maintain a 2.0 (C) or better in all nursing courses and in the required sciences. An overall QPA of 2.0 is required to remain in and to progress in the nursing major.
The Department of Nursing will admit as many qualified students as the faculty, resources, and facilities can reasonably serve without detriment to the quality of professional nursing education. All students admitted to the nursing major are assured of clinical placement in continuous semesters in order to complete the baccalaureate degree requirements.
Successful completion of the nursing program at Franciscan University and receipt of the degree no way ensures that a student will be granted a nursing license by individual state authorities. Each state has various requirements for licensing, including but not limited to, requiring licensing applicants to undergo a background check. Each student has the responsibility to ascertain the Registered Nurse licensing requirements of the state (s) to which he or she wishes to apply for a license.
Once a student is admitted to the nursing major, the student may expect to progress toward graduation in a timely manner when:
- The student follows the prescribed program.
- The student maintains a cumulative quality point average of 2.0.
- The student earns a C or above in all nursing courses and in required science courses.
- The student does not earn less than a C in two nursing courses.*
- The student adheres to the Department of Nursing professional standards and behavioral policy as outlined in the Department of Nursing policy manual and the University policies.
- The student meets Health and Legal Requirements for the Department of Nursing and for clinical placement.
*A student who earns less than a C in two nursing courses is subject to dismissal from the Nursing major even if a nursing course has been repeated in which a grade lower than a C originally was earned and a grade of C or better has replaced the original grade. Please see the Undergraduate Nursing Handbook for a full description of the policies and procedures of the nursing department, including how they pertain to admission to and progression through the nursing major.
ADVANCED STANDING
Registered nurse applicants must be graduates of accredited schools of nursing and present evidence of current licensure to practice nursing. Credit is granted by transfer, according to the University transfer policy, from other accredited institutions of higher education for comparable courses completed with a grade of at least a C.
Registered nurse students follow the RN to BSN or RN to MSN articulation program as published by the Department of Nursing.
Licensed Practical Nurses should seek advice from Department of Nursing relative to their advanced standing.