Why Earn Your Nursing Degree at Saint Leo University?

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing is a highly competitive program designed for a student seeking a professional advantage in their role as a provider of care and leader in practice across today’s complex healthcare systems.

Through a critical combination of generalist nursing practice and applied clinical judgement, Saint Leo University’s limited-access nursing program goes one step further. We provide students with a contemporary program that delivers best practices and current innovations within a Culture of Health framework that emphasizes inter-professional communication, as well as the health and well-being of people and clinicians. Our nursing program is inspired by a “simple to complex” curriculum that educates students on the foundations of professional nursing and then advances to coursework in areas such as acute care, population and global health, and chronic care and End-of-Life-Care (ELNEC) and palliative nursing concepts, as well as research to assure life-long focus on evidence-based nursing practice. Students become immersed in lab, simulation, preceptorships, and clinical in healthcare and community settings.

As a graduate with a Saint Leo nursing degree, students will be eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN, the National Council of State Boards of Nursing Licensure Exam for Registered Nurses.

The four-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing program on University Campus begins with a concentration in arts and sciences courses in the first two years, followed by nursing major courses in years three and four. Upper-level nursing courses will commence in Fall Semester 2023 and the first group of students will complete their studies in Spring Semester 2025.

Join a community of Saint Leo Lions who are highly sought-after by employers in the sciences and healthcare industries throughout Florida and the Southeast.

The BSN degree program begins with a concentration in arts and sciences courses in the first two years, followed by nursing major courses in years three and four.

Learning Experience:

 Campus

Est. Time to Complete:

4 years

Credit Hours:

120 hours

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Undergraduate Nursing Program Details

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree program is inspired by a “simple to complex” course curriculum, educating students on the foundations of professional nursing and then advancing to coursework in acute care, population and global health, and chronic care and End-of-Life-Care (ELNEC) and palliative nursing concepts, as well as research to assure life-long focus on evidence-based nursing practice.

View BS Nursing Curriculum Plan

View BS Nursing Course Descriptions

 

View in Course Catalog

Admission Requirements

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing is a limited-access program. Freshmen are admitted to Saint Leo as Pre-Nursing students. Admission as a Pre-Nursing major requires a 3.0 or better high school grade point average (GPA) and an acceptable background check. Students can be admitted into the Pre-Nursing program during both the Fall and Spring Semesters.

To be considered for admission to the Saint Leo Bachelor of Science in Nursing program, applicants must submit an application the semester prior to the junior year and must meet minimum admission requirements for consideration. The strongest applicants will be selected; meeting minimum requirements to apply does not guarantee selection.

The Saint Leo University Explorations requirements and BS Nursing program prerequisite/support courses may be completed through the A.A. degree from a Florida College System institution only if the required BSN prerequisites and support courses are included. If a student wishes to transfer without an A.A. degree and has fewer than 60 semester hours of acceptable credit, the student must meet the university’s entering freshman requirements for Pre-Nursing status which includes a 3.0 or better GPA and an acceptable background check. Catalog course descriptions and a copy of the course syllabus are required for review to determine if the prerequisite courses requested for transfer satisfy the prerequisite requirements. Transfer students may not apply to the BS Nursing program if they are not in good standing with their previous nursing program.

Only students who have formal, written unconditional acceptance into the BS Nursing program will be allowed to register for nursing courses and complete work for the major.

To be considered for admission to the Saint Leo University nursing program, applicants must meet the following minimum conditional admission requirements:

• Earn a grade point average of 3.30 or better for all coursework taken by the end of the semester prior to the semester for which application is made.
• Complete all required non-nursing courses for a total of 60 credits prior to beginning nursing program courses. Earn a grade of ‘C’ or better for all courses except MAT 151, BIO 140 and BIO 140 Lab and BIO 150 and BIO 150 Lab which require a B or better. Prerequisite courses may be repeated only one time.
• Take all parts of the ATI Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) exam and send the official TEAS score report from ATI testing to Saint Leo. To be considered competitive, a composite score of 78 or greater is recommended. The most current version of the TEAS exam may be attempted three times in a calendar year with 30 days in between attempts.
• Matriculation into the nursing courses is contingent upon receipt of a satisfactory history and physical signed by a provider and completion of required immunizations and other health requirements, including drug screening, completion of American Heart Association Healthcare Provider CPR certification, and completion of an acceptable background check and fingerprints within seven days of receiving the conditional admission email.

Unconditional admission is granted when students have been selected for admission to the BS Nursing program and all admission criteria have been successfully completed.

Admission is extremely competitive and successful applicants may present much higher credentials for admission

Learn Your Way: On Campus Experience

• What are the on-campus facilities like?

  Students who pursue their degrees at Saint Leo’s main campus near sunny Tampa Bay, Florida, join a community of enthusiastic learners just like them. 

  Nursing students enjoy plenty of engaging learning opportunities both inside and outside the classroom, as well as exciting departmental events.

  Learn about the Campus Experience

Career Outlook

No matter which learning experience you choose, you will receive plenty of professional development opportunities, industry knowledge from expert professors, and support from the Saint Leo community. All this together means that you will be ready for a successful career or continued studies upon graduation.

What skills you will learn?

• Apply knowledge from nursing and other disciplines in forming the basis for clinical judgement and nursing practice.
• Demonstrate communication and collaboration skills to support achievement of positive health outcomes.
  Apply current evidence in nursing practice and principles of safety and quality in health care in care delivery.
• Demonstrate knowledge of nursing interventions supportive of a Culture of Health in delivery of holistic, person-centered care that supports achievement of positive health outcomes.
• Demonstrate professionalism consistent with the ANA Code of Ethics and the role of the BSN-prepared nurse in accordance with best practice, professional and regulatory standards, and the Saint Leo University Core Values.
• Apply organizational and leadership skills in systems-based practice to improve health.
• Engage in population health partnerships to support and improve population health outcomes which emphasize promotion of health and well-being/disease prevention, chronic disease care, regenerative or restorative care, and hospice/palliative/supportive care

• How will you gain real experience?

  The BSN degree program builds on arts and sciences course content to extend prior learning. In addition, nursing coursework goes from simple to complex which positions students to learn more complex content.

  Experiential learning in lab, simulation, and clinical settings is emphasized to prepare students for a successful transition into a meaningful role as a registered nurse with their future employer.

What can you do with an undergraduate nursing degree?

The bachelor of science in nursing program positions graduates for entry level employment in a variety of settings following completion of the national licensing exam, NCLEX-RN, and supports career advancement into leadership positions and graduate nursing degree programs.

College of Health Professions

• In Saint Leo University’s College of Health Professions, health-minded students can earn a degree that prepares them for a variety of roles in health care fields that impact the health and well-being of our communities. Students can choose from our selection of bachelor’s degree programs in Nursing, Respiratory Therapy, and Health Education and Health Promotion. Taught by highly experienced faculty, these programs help prepare students to improve the health and wellness of those around them through a variety of in-demand and rewarding roles.

  Our innovative degree programs infuse a Culture of Health framework, emphasizing a holistic approach to patient care and a focus on the mental health of those working in the field. Through interdisciplinary coursework, students gain the flexibility they need to explore different degree programs within the health profession before choosing their career path. This allows students to find the area of study that best meets their professional goals.