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Nursing Major

Our nursing program emphasizes critical thinking, clinical judgment and service to others. A nursing student can expect to be engaged in both theoretical and practical learning. You will spend time in the classroom studying the sciences, humanities and the fundamentals of nursing and health care delivery, and you will also apply this knowledge in the lab and during clinicals. Direct patient care experience is an essential component of a Stritch nursing degree that prepares students for career success.  

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) pre-licensure program offers direct admission and is designed for students seeking a nursing degree with a liberal arts foundation in a university environment. The program is delivered in a semester format with classes meeting in the daytime. Students are admitted directly to the program if selected after completing admission requirements. Once admitted, students are guaranteed required program courses so that they may complete the degree in four years if academic requirements are met. The curriculum includes foundation courses in the arts and sciences as well as nursing courses designed to guide students in achieving expected student outcomes.

Students receive classroom, lab and clinical learning experiences which emphasize evidence-based decision-making and application of knowledge. Students who complete the BSN program are eligible to write the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses.

Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education Re-Accreditation

Dear Nursing Education Community:

The Department of Nursing at Cardinal Stritch University will be reviewed for re-accreditation of its BSN program and accreditation of its MSN program October 24-26, 2022 by the Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). In accordance with CCNE’s procedures, the Commission provides the opportunity for program constituents and other interested parties to submit, in writing, third-party comments concerning our programs’ qualifications for accreditation. We invite you to submit comments to CCNE at:

Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Attn: Third-Party Comments
 655 K Street NW, Suite 750
Washington, DC 20001

or thirdpartycomments@ccneaccreditation.org

Comments must be received by September 23, 2022, 21 business days prior to the first day of the on-site evaluation. Third-party comments must relate to the CCNE Standards for Accreditation of Baccalaureate and Graduate Nursing Programs. All third-party comments must be written in English.

Please note that comments are shared only with the CCNE evaluation team appointed to review our programs. At no time during the review process are these comments shared with the program, the Accreditation Review Committee, or the Board.

If you have any questions regarding the third-party comment process or any aspect of the accreditation process, please contact Priya Lorenzen at (202) 887-6791 ext. 276 or at plorenzen@ccneaccreditation.org

Sincerely,
Vincent Salyers, EdD, RN, ANEF, FAAN
Dean and Professor College of Nursing & Health Sciences

Liberal Arts Core

The Liberal Arts Core Curriculum is rooted in the Liberal Arts and our Franciscan heritage. It is designed to create a framework to develop knowledge, skills, and responsibilities necessary to educate students so that they will be prepared to contribute to the world guided by a concern for issues of justice and ethical behavior.

LEADERSHIP:  4 credits
  • Freshman Seminar (1 cr.)
  • Spiritual & Ethical Literacy (3 cr.) 
FOUNDATIONAL LITERACIES/SKILLS:  12 credits
*For ‘Writing for the 21st Century’ (English) and ‘Quantitative Problem Solving’ (Math), you may need additional courses depending on your placement.
  • Personal Branding Communication (3 cr.)
  • Writing for the 21st Century (3 cr.)
  • Quantitative Problem Solving (3 cr.)
  • Language & Culture (3 cr.)
CORE LITERACIES:  16 credits – Choose one (1) course from each broad theme. Course options can be found in the course catalog or on the academic advising page.
  • Narratives of Identity  (3 cr.) - PL 102: Bioethics
  • Science, Environment & Culture (4 cr.) - BL 111: Anatomy & Physiology I
  • Social Tensions (3 cr.) - PS 190: Life Span Human Development  
  • The American Experience (3 cr.)*             
  • Approving the Better Things (3 cr.)*
 
*Course options can be found in the course catalog or on the academic advising page.
 

Freshmen Admission Requirements

Direct Entry

  • minimum 2.75 (based upon 4.00 scale) cumulative high school grade point average
  • completion of high school biology and chemistry classes with a minimum grade of C
  • completion of a minimum of two years of mathematics including advanced algebra with a minimum grade of C
  • minimum ACT score of 21
  • submission of a one-page double spaced essay addressing the applicant’s reasons for pursuing a career in nursing and describing the actions the applicant will take to ensure success at Cardinal Stritch University
  • ATI TEAS V test recommended (although not required)
The College of Nursing and Health Sciences may offer selected freshman applicants who do not meet all direct entry requirements an opportunity to enroll in the following courses during Fall Semester I to demonstrate their ability to be considered for enrollment in the BSN Program:
  • SEM 110 Stritch Seminar
  • BL 111 Anatomy and Physiology I
  • CH 107 Fundamental Chemistry
  • CA 108 Personal Branding
  • EN102 Research Writing
Students must earn a minimum of a B- in BL 111, CH 107 and EN 102 and have a semester GPA no less than 2.75 to progress into the BSN program.
 

Transfer Admission Requirements

There are multiple ways to successful transfer and earn entry into Cardinal Stritch University’s BSN program. Transfer applicants are reviewed on an onging, individual basis following general holistic guidelines for admission.
 
Option 1 – Direct Entry (Recommended):
 
Required Prior to Admission Review:
  • Have earned a 2.75/4.0 cumulative GPA from all prior coursework with a minimum of 12 completed hours
  • Achieve a score of “Proficient” or higher on the ATI TEAS V (Test of Essential Academic Skills)
  • Submission of a one-page double spaced essay addressing the applicant’s reasons for pursuing a career in nursing and describing the actions the applicant will take to ensure success at Cardinal Stritch University
  • Submission of a letter of good standing from the current Nursing program the applicant is enrolled in (if applicable).
Supplemental (may be provided prior or requested as part of the Admission Review):
  • Submission of two professional and/or academic letters of recommendation
  • Interview with the College
  • Additional testing documentation
 
Option 2 – Direct Entry Holistic Review
 
Required Prior to Admission Review:
  • Have earned a 2.75/4.0 cumulative GPA from all prior coursework with a minimum of 12 completed hours
  • Submission of a one-page double spaced essay addressing the applicant’s reasons for pursuing a career in nursing and describing the actions the applicant will take to ensure success at Cardinal Stritch University
  • Submission of two professional and/or academic letters of recommendation
  • Submission of a letter of good standing from the current Nursing program the applicant is enrolled in (if applicable).
  • F1Visa students where English is a second language are also required to submit a TOEFL (minimum score of 79) or IELTS (minimum score of 6.5) if they have not taken the TEAS V
Supplemental (may be provided prior to or requested as part of the Admission Review)
  • Interview with the College (strong recommended)
  • Additional testing documentation – the TEAS V is highly recommended, but may also accept/recommend prior Nursing entrance exam scores, ACT/SAT scores, University placement test, etc.

Learn more

Find details about the BSN curriculum by downloading the document at this link:

Nursing_COHS_CurriculumDesign_2022

Why Stritch Nursing

Hear from two Stritch students.

Tiffany Santoro, '22

Nursing Major

Being able to learn in the hospital setting taught me how to be successful as a nurse in the real world. There is difference between a simulation and the actual hospital and this was a big learning curve for most people. 

Brandyn Cullen

Nursing Major

A unique experience I have had in the Nursing program would have been witnessing a live childbirth in my maternal newborn clinical. It was one of the craziest, most eye opening, and beautiful experiences I have had as a nursing student.

Yasmeen Almokhariq, '22

Nursing Major

Stritch has one of the top nursing programs in Wisconsin. Following graduation I'll be working as a medical/surgical nurse. I have gained clinical knowledge and perfected my nursing skills with which I can assume to have more responsibilities and opportunities when present. 

Why now is a great time to earn your BSN

With more than three times as many RNs in the United States as physicians, nurses deliver an extended array of healthcare services. Primary and preventive care is provided by nurses and nurse practitioners with specialized training or education in areas including emergency departments, pediatrics, family health, women's health and gerontological care. The scope of the profession also includes cardiac, oncology, neonatal, neurological and obstetric/gynecological nursing and other advanced clinical specialties.

A shortage of registered nurses is projected to grow throughout the United States through 2030, according to the United States Registered Nurse Workforce Report Card and Shortage Forecast: A Revisit published in the May/June 2018 issue of the American Journal of Medical Quality.

Source: American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN)

Learn more about becoming a nurse, industry information and great scholarship opportunities at the AACN website.
Learn more about becoming a nurse
Stritch Service Day

October 13, 2022

Students, faculty and staff volunteer at local organizations for Stritch Service Day

May 13, 2022

Nursing graduates recognized at pinning ceremony

A Nurse's Prayer

Give to my heart, O Lord… Compassion and understanding. Give to my hands, skill and tenderness. Give to my ears, the ability to listen. Give to my lips, words of comfort.

Give to me, O Lord… Strength for this selfless service. And enable me to give hope To those I am called to serve.

AMEN

For additional information contact admissions or program faculty.

Professional Licensure Disclosure Information
Bachelor of Science in Nursing