First Professional Degree (FPD) BSN Program
First Professional Degree Nursing Program
The BS in Nursing program provides a first professional degree for entry into the nursing profession. At the conclusion of four years of study, students are eligible to take the National Certification Licensure Examination (NCLEX) developed by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) in the United States.
Qualified applicants are admitted into the First Professional Degree Program in the Davis & Henley College of Nursing. Students must successfully meet the First Professional Degree Program progression requirements to remain in the nursing program. Upon successful completion of freshman prerequisite coursework with an overall GPA of 2.8 or higher and grades no lower than C+ in science and math courses, students enroll in nursing coursework in the fall semester of the sophomore year. The course sequence is outlined in the Plan of Study. To receive a BS in Nursing, First Professional Degree Program students must successfully complete 120–122 credit hours, 55 of which are the Nursing major requirements. Students must maintain the overall GPA and course grade requirements and must demonstrate safe and competent practice in all nursing clinical and laboratory settings while adhering to the published professional standards of conduct (see Nursing Student Guide on the Davis & Henley College of Nursing website).
Admission to the First Professional Degree Nursing Major
- Incoming freshmen applicants to Sacred Heart University who meet admission criteria established by the Davis & Henley College of Nursing will be notified of their acceptance by Undergraduate Admissions.
- Acceptance into Nursing is competitive and predominately based on scholarly achievement during the last three years of high school (particularly in science and advanced placement courses). Admission essays and evidence of community service and other extracurricular contributions will also be taken into account.
- Students are accepted directly into the Nursing program.
- All freshman nursing students must successfully complete the prerequisite courses and achieve a cumulative GPA of 2.8 or higher and a grade of C+ or higher in science and math coursework.
- Students who do not successfully complete prerequisite requirements, including the GPA requirement, will be recommended for dismissal from the Nursing program.
- Students with an adverse criminal background check may be deemed ineligible to sit for the NCLEX and/or obtain a professional license to practice Nursing. It is the student’s sole responsibility to discuss this issue directly with the State Board of Nursing where he/she intends to take the NCLEX.
Differential Tuition
Sacred Heart University has implemented a differential tuition for the First Professional Degree Nursing Program. The cost of nursing education is increased relative to other majors due to intensive clinical laboratory courses and clinical supervision required to maintain the professional standards of nursing education in addition to the associated expenses of clinical education. This charge will be reflected as a program fee each semester in addition to undergraduate tuition and fees. The fee will be initiated for nursing students beginning in their sophomore year.
Special Clinical Agency Requests/Criminal Background Checks/Drug Screenings
All students must satisfactorily complete an initial criminal background check 30 days prior to the start of spring semester of sophomore year. Clinical sites vary with time requirements, from one month to twelve months prior to the start of the clinical rotation. Updated background checks are necessary 30 days prior to the start of the spring semester (first day of class) annually until the completion of the program. Additional checks may be required in order to be compliant with certain clinical agencies and students are expected to repeat as necessary.
Please note, the Davis & Henley College of Nursing has the responsibility to disclose results of the background check to our clinical agency partners for placement. If a result precludes the student from being placed with our clinical agencies, the student will be unable to progress in the clinical course and ultimately the program.
The majority of the clinical sites require students to undergo drug screening prior to participating in clinical rotations. To be in compliance with the requirements as outlined in the affiliation agreements with these clinical agencies, nursing students are required to complete a drug screen. The Drug Screening procedure is outlined in the Nursing Student Guide on the Davis & Henley College of Nursing website.
Student Learning Outcomes
At the end of the program, the student will be able to:
- Apply knowledge that integrates nursing science and the liberal arts to support ethical decision-making and inform clinical judgment. (Domain 1)
- Contribute as an integral member of the interprofessional team in formulation and implementation of plans of care with evidence-based, person-centered care principles that promote quality and safety outcomes. (Domain 2, 5, & 6)
- Apply principles and practices of population health across the healthcare delivery continuum while caring and advocating for diverse individuals, families, and communities. (Domain 3)
Integrate best evidence into nursing practice and participate in evaluation of outcomes. (Domain 4)
- Recognize system policies and processes that impact quality health outcomes considering cost, access, social determinants, and care disparities. (Domain 5 & 7)
- Incorporate best practices of informatics and communication technologies in accordance with legal, regulatory, and professional practices to deliver safe nursing care. (Domain 8)
- Integrate concepts of professionalism including ethics, compassion, diversity, equity, and inclusion into one’s professional nursing identity and demonstrate consistent professional behaviors. (Domain 9)
- Formulate a personal and professional leadership style that embraces self-care, reflection, life-long learning, advocacy, mentoring, and service to others. (Domain 10)
Domain = AACN The Essentials: Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education (2021)
Freshman Prerequisite Courses for Matriculation to the BS in Nursing Program
Fall Freshman Year: 14 or 16 credits
Spring Freshman Year: 14 or 16 credits
| BI 126 | Nursing Anatomy & Physiology I | 3 |
| BI 127 | Nursing Anatomy & Physiology I Laboratory | 1 |
| BI 128 | Nursing Anatomy & Physiology II | 3 |
| BI 129 | Nursing Anatomy & Physiology II Laboratory | 1 |
| CH 117 | General Organic & Biochemistry: An Overview | 3 |
| CH 119 | General Organic & Biochemistry Lab | 1 |
| FYWS 125 | First Year Writing Seminar | 3 |
| MA 105 | Mathematics for Nursing | 3 |
| PS 110 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| Foundational Core Course/Thematic Liberal Arts Course (3 credits each) | |
| Foundational Core Course/Thematic Liberal Arts Course (3 credits each) | |
| Foundational Core Course/Thematic Liberal Arts Course (3 credits each) | |
See Undergraduate Catalog Degrees and Curricula for course information.
Foundational Core courses can be taken Year 1 Semester 1 or Year 1 Semester 2.
Foundational Core subject areas include: Natural/Physical Science, Literature, History, Arts/Design/Communication, Philosophy, Theology/Religion, and Social/Behavioral Science.
CH 117/CH 119 can be taken Year 1 Semester 1 or Year 1 Semester 2
PS 110 can be taken in Year 1 Semester 1 or Year 1 Semester 2
Additional Required Courses for the BS in Nursing Program
Fall Sophomore Year: 15 or 16 credits
Spring Sophomore Year: 15 or 16 credits
| NU 205 | Foundations of Professional Nursing | 3 |
| NU 205L | Foundations of Professional Nursing Lab | 0 |
| NU 215 | Health Assessment | 3 |
| NU 220 | Pharmacology & Nursing Implications | 3 |
| NU 220L | Pharmacology & Nursing Implications Lab | 0 Credit |
| NU 310 | Pathophysiology | 3 |
| NU 296 | Sophomore Seminar | 0 |
| BI 161 | Introduction to Microbiology | 3 |
| BI 162 | Introduction to Microbiology Laboratory | 1 |
| CIT 201 | Human Journey CIT Seminar I | 3 |
| CIT 202 | Human Journey CIT Seminar II | 3 |
| Foundational Core Course | 3 |
| Foundational Core Course | 3 |
| SO 110 | Sociological Imagination | 3 |
| or | |
| SO 239 | Diversity & Oppression in Contemporary Society | 3 |
| or | |
| AN 110 | Human Cultural Diversity | 3 |
Fall Junior Year: 16 credits
Spring Junior Year: 14 credits
| NU 210 | Health, Wellness and Cultural Diversity | 2 |
| NU 300 | Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing | 4 |
| NU 330 | Care of the Childbearing Family | 4 |
| NU 340 | Introduction to Adult Nursing | 5 |
| NU 365 | Evidence Based Nursing Practice | 3 |
| or | |
| NU 374 | Concepts in Child Health Nursing | 4 |
| NU 396 | Junior Seminar | 0 |
| MA 131 | Elementary Statistics | 3 |
| PS 251 | Life Span Development Psychology | 3 |
| 3-credit Elective | 3 |
| 3-credit Elective | 3 |
Fall Senior Year: 16 credits
Spring Senior Year: 13-15 credits
| NU 360 | Adult Nursing II | 6 |
| NU 365 | Evidence Based Nursing Practice | 3 |
| or | |
| NU 374 | Concepts in Child Health Nursing | 4 |
| NU 370 | Nursing Leadership | 3 |
| NU 381 | Public Health Nursing | 5 |
| NU 390 | Senior Synthesis Seminar | 3 |
| NU 395 | Transitions into Professional Nursing Practice | 4 |
| NU 496 | Senior Seminar | 0 |
| TRS 251 | Bioethics: Religious Approaches | 3 |
| or | |
| PH 271 | Bioethics: Philosophical Approaches | 3 |
| 3-credit Elective | 3 |
NU 496 is taken in the Fall semester only.