A passion for service. A commitment to learning. Your trajectory to a nursing career begins at Saint Vincent College.
There has never been a better time to become a nurse. And there is no better place to earn your BSN than Saint Vincent College. Our forward-thinking, clinically-immersive curriculum prepares you for nursing practice grounded in compassion for all, ethical behaviors, scientific rigor and spiritual and self-awareness. Guided by Benedictine values and wisdom, you will embrace a life-long personal and professional journey into the rewarding nursing profession.
A BSN is the entry degree into professional nursing practice. The demand for bachelor’s-prepared nurses is growing rapidly in Pennsylvania, the United States and globally. Having a bachelor’s degree from Saint Vincent College prepares you for a wide range of career opportunities in roles such as:
A bachelor’s degree from Saint Vincent College also provides graduates with a strong foundation for graduate education in nursing, including:
Nursing students have access to the extensive educational and career support services offered at Saint Vincent College. Students receive one-on-one academic guidance, access to health and wellness services, and more. The Saint Vincent College Career and Professional Development Center helps with résumé and cover letter writing, career planning, job searching, internship programs, graduate school preparation, and interviewing techniques.
Our four-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree program is designed for high-school graduates who are ready to apply themselves to the rigors, demands, and responsibilities of professional nursing. Guided by experienced faculty, our students pursue academic and clinical excellence in state-of-the-art science and simulation labs, highly recognized health care systems, and community-based agencies.
At Saint Vincent College, you will enter the BSN degree program directly, putting you on a structured education path. Upon graduation, you will be eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX). Successful completion of the examination earns you a license to practice as a Registered Nurse (RN).
First-year nursing students will have the option to live together in a Living Learning Community (LLC), which is intentionally designed to support the transition to college while gaining connections within the campus and local community. Students living in LLCs have higher average GPAs, attempt and complete more credit hours, and are more likely to stay in college than their peers.
Located in the freshman residence Saint Benedict Hall, the nursing LLC allows our students to form study groups, share interests, and explore common academic aspirations which will augment the regular academic program and provide enriching experiences not normally found in the conventional classroom or residence hall. Details include:
Our 124-credit BSN nursing curriculum prepares you for a professional nursing career and personal transformation that opens you to realizing your values and life purpose in service to others through the lens of Benedictine wisdom. Alongside core clinical skills, our students learn how to practice nursing grounded in compassion for all, ethical behaviors, scientific rigor and spiritual and self-awareness.
Students will participate in the Listening, Learning, and Loving core curriculum, humanities and science courses, and nursing didactic and clinical courses. Unique to the program is the incorporation of micro-credentials integrated within existing courses that offer specialty training acknowledged on the student’s official transcript. Click the drop-down for courses that comprise the nursing curriculum:
Course Number |
Course Title |
Credits |
|
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Core Courses |
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CORE 1400 |
Listening Seminar: Health, Wellness, and Self-Care |
3 |
CORE 1500 |
Core Writing |
3 |
CORE 1100 |
Elective |
3 |
CORE 2500/CA120 |
Public Speaking |
3 |
CORE 1203 |
Introductions to Sociology |
3 |
CORE 2600/AN 285 |
Foundations of Public Health |
3 |
CORE 11600/PL 218 |
Bioethics |
3 |
CORE 2400 |
Learning Seminar |
3 |
CORE 2100 |
Elective |
3 |
CORE 2200 |
Health Policy and Social Justice |
3 |
CORE 1507 |
Science Writing |
3 |
CORE 3400 |
Loving Seminar |
3 |
|
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Humanities and Science Courses |
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PY 218 |
Life Span Development |
3 |
MA 107 |
Quantitative Reasoning |
3 |
CH 125 |
Introduction to General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry |
3 |
CH 127 |
Introduction to General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry Lab |
1 |
MA 121 |
Basic Applied Statistics |
3 |
HSCI 222 |
Human Anatomy and Physiology I |
3 |
HSCI 223 |
Human Anatomy and Physiology I Lab |
1 |
BL 295 |
Fundamentals of Microbiology |
3 |
BL 296 |
Fundamentals of Microbiology Lab |
1 |
HSCI 224 |
Human Anatomy and Physiology II |
3 |
HSCI 225 |
Human Anatomy and Physiology II Lab |
1 |
BL 299 |
Pharmacology |
3 |
BL 297 |
Pathophysiology Across the Lifespan I |
2 |
BL 298 |
Pathophysiology Across the Lifespan II |
2 |
|
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Nursing Courses |
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NUR 110 |
Principles of Applied Nutrition |
3 |
NUR 211 |
Introduction to Clinical Reasoning in Nursing Practice I: Health Assessment |
2 |
NUR 221 |
Introduction to Clinical Reasoning in Nursing Practice I: Practicum |
1 |
NUR 212 |
Perspectives on Nursing |
2 |
NUR 213 |
Introduction to Clinical Reasoning in Nursing Practice II: Fundamentals of Assessment, Nursing Care, and Clinical Practice |
2 |
NUR 223 |
Introduction to Clinical Reasoning in Nursing Practice II: Practicum |
1 |
NUR 214 |
Introduction to Evidence Based Practice and Nursing Science |
2 |
NUR 311 |
Nursing Care of Adults with Acute and Chronic Disorders |
3 |
NUR 321 |
Clinical Reasoning and Personalized Care in the Nursing Care of Adults with Acute and Chronic Disorders: Practicum |
3 |
NUR 312 |
Nursing Care of Women, Newborns, and Families |
2 |
NUR 322 |
Clinical Reasoning and Personalized Care in the Nursing Care of Women, Newborns, and Families: Practicum |
2 |
NUR 313 |
Genetics and Precision Health |
2 |
NUR 314 |
Nursing Care of Vulnerable Populations |
2 |
NUR 324 |
Clinical Reasoning and Personalized Nursing Care in the Nursing Care of Vulnerable Populations: Practicum |
2 |
NUR 315 |
Nursing Care of Children, Adolescents, and Families |
2 |
NUR 325 |
Clinical Reasoning and Personalized Nursing Care of Children, Adolescents, and Families: Practicum |
2 |
NUR 316 |
Applied Epidemiology in Nursing |
1 |
NUR 411 |
Nursing Care of Individuals with Psychiatric, Behavioral, and Mental Health Conditions |
2 |
NUR 421 |
Clinical Reasoning and Personalized Care of Individuals with Psychiatric, Behavioral, and Mental Health Conditions: Practicum |
2 |
NUR 412 |
Nursing Care of Populations |
2 |
NUR 422 |
Clinical Reasoning that Addresses Population Health: Practicum |
2 |
NUR 413 |
Leadership in Systems of Care |
2 |
NUR 414 |
Nursing Care of Adults and Populations with Multiple and Complex Health Disorders |
2 |
NUR 423 |
Professional Nursing Immersion - Leadership in Systems of Care |
8 |
NUR 415 |
Application of Data Analytics, Informatics, and Healthcare Technology |
1 |
NUR 416 |
Senior Capstone |
1 |
Total Credits= 124; Total Clinical Credits = 23/1035 hours |
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Micro-credentials/Seminars |
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Seminar |
Exploring the Nursing Profession |
0 |
Micro-credential |
Medication Mathematics |
0 |
Micro-credential |
Medical Terminology |
0 |
Micro-credential |
Professional Development for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion |
0 |
Micro-credential |
TeamSTEPPS (Patient Safety) |
0 |
Micro-credential |
Palliative and End-of-Life Care |
0 |
Micro-credential |
Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Nursing |
0 |
Micro-credential |
Organizational Excellence in Quality and Safety |
0 |
Saint Vincent College nursing graduates, whose practice is grounded in Benedictine wisdom, are welcomed as members of health care teams in agencies across Western Pennsylvania and beyond. Our learning outcomes are based on the American Association of Colleges of Nursing Essentials: Core Competencies for Professional Nursing [BSN] Education, designed to help our students succeed:
Admission to the SVC bachelor’s degree in nursing is highly selective and competitive. We will review and accept students who match the following criteria in addition to fulfilling Saint Vincent College’s general acceptance criteria:
High school graduates:
Internal transfer applicants (students transferring from other schools within the College):
External transfer applicants (students transferring from colleges and universities other than Saint Vincent College):
Test Optional Applicants:
Submit your application or schedule a visit today!
Applicants are advised that clinical agencies utilized by the Department of Nursing require criminal background checks and/or drug testing prior to acceptance of the student into clinical facilities. Upon enrollment, Act 33/34 (Criminal Record Check/Child Abuse History) Clearances, FBI Fingerprinting, a drug screen and/or additional testing will be required by clinical facilities. Students who do not pass the criminal background and/or drug test will not be able to attend clinical courses and therefore will be unable to complete their program of study, resulting in course failure or withdrawal from the Program. Any fees or costs associated with background checks and/or drug testing are the responsibility of the student.
Accommodation Requests
Students requesting accommodation should contact the Saint Vincent College Office of Disability Support at (724) 805-2062 or academicsupport@stvincent.edu.
PA State Board of Nursing Licensure Information
Please note that the PA State Board of Nursing reserves the right to deny a license to any candidate who has been convicted of any felonious act. Conviction includes a judgment, an admission of guilt or a plea of nolo contendere, probation without verdict, or incomplete Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD). Further, the Board shall not issue a license to any applicant who had been:
The Program meets the requirements set forth by the PA State Board of Nursing and the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) Essentials: Core Competencies for Professional Nursing [BSN] Education as a fully approved program within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The Program is seeking national program accreditation by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).