LATROBE, PA—Saint Vincent College announced today that it has received approval from the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing to offer a new Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program starting in the fall of 2024. The BSN program will prepare students to provide comprehensive care in a variety of acute, community and rehabilitative settings, as well as to assume leadership roles in the nursing profession.
The BSN program will be offered in a traditional four-year format, with students taking general education, science and nursing courses concurrently. The program also will include clinical experiences in diverse healthcare settings, such as hospitals, ambulatory settings, outpatient clinics, skilled nursing facilities and schools.
"The BSN program is a significant addition to our academic offerings and reflects our commitment to providing our students with relevant and rigorous programs that prepare them for successful careers and meaningful lives,” added Rev. Paul R. Taylor, O.S.B., president of the College. “We are grateful to the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing for their approval and support, and we look forward to welcoming our first cohort of BSN students in fall of 2024."
The program will apply for accreditation from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), the national accrediting agency for baccalaureate and graduate nursing programs.
Dr. Helen K. Burns, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN, the Rev. Owen Roth, O.S.B., Inaugural Chair of the Department of Nursing at Saint Vincent College, will lead the program. "We are very excited to launch this new program that will provide our students with a high-quality education that integrates the Benedictine values of community, hospitality, respect and love of learning,” remarked Dr. Burns. “Our graduates will be well-prepared as professionals, clinicians and leaders to meet the future demands and challenges of the ever-evolving healthcare industry and to serve their patients with compassion and excellence."
Dr. Stephen Jodis, dean of the Herbert W. Boyer School of Natural Sciences, Mathematics and Computing, expressed excitement over the program’s addition to the College’s current offerings. “We are thrilled to welcome the Department of Nursing and Dr. Burns to the Boyer School. The addition of this program builds upon and enhances our longstanding tradition of student preparation for careers in health and medical fields.”
Saint Vincent College is now accepting applications for the BSN program for the fall 2024 semester. Interested students can visit the college website or contact the Office of Admission at (724) 532-6600 or admission@stvincent.edu for more information.
PHOTO: Saint Vincent students in one of the College’s nursing simulation labs, located in the Sis and Herman Dupré Science Pavilion