St. Elizabeth School of Nursing Program Review

St. Elizabeth School of Nursing, in Lafayette, Indiana, began its diploma program in nursing in 1897. It was founded by the Sisters of St. Francis, a Roman Catholic order of nuns, in order to train members of their order for service. While the school has long since opened its doors to students of all faiths, it continues to operate under the direction and mission of the Sisters of St. Francis.

Saint Elizabeth School of Nursing, which is part of Saint Elizabeth Regional Health, offers the only diploma nursing program in Indiana. The program is accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) and is approved by the Indiana State Board of Nursing.

Diploma in Nursing/Bachelor of Science in Nursing Consortium Program – Track 1

St. Elizabeth School of Nursing cooperates closely with Saint Joseph’s College in Rensselaer, Indiana in order to offer its Diploma in Nursing and Bachelor of Science in Nursing Consortium (Diploma/BSN) program. Students complete the upper-level nursing courses and clinical experiences and several of the science classes through St. Elizabeth School of Nursing, and take the lower-level nursing courses, some of the science courses, and all of the liberal arts classes through Saint Joseph’s College. In total, to earn a Diploma/BSN, a student must complete 132 credits. This includes seventy-four credits of nursing courses, nineteen credits of science courses, and thirty-nine credits of liberal arts courses. The curriculum emphasizes hands-on experience; students must complete 1136 hours of clinical practice in order to graduate. Students on the Track 1 option of the Diploma/BSN program begin in the fall semester and study for 30 consecutive months. This includes three academic years and two summer semesters. After completing the necessary classes, a student earns both a Diploma in Nursing from St. Elizabeth School of Nursing and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree from Saint Joseph’s College. She is then eligible to take the National Council Licensing Exam for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) and begin her career as a Registered Nurse (RN).

Diploma in Nursing/Bachelor of Science in Nursing Consortium Program – Track 2

While the curriculum of the Track 2 option of the Diploma/BSN program is exactly the same as the curriculum of the Track 1 option, it takes longer to complete and is therefore slightly less intense. The course of study is spread out over four academic years. The program begins in the fall, and does not require students to study in the summer.

Diploma in Nursing/Bachelor of Science in Nursing Consortium Program – Track 3

Track 3 of the Diploma/BSN program is designed as an accelerated program for students who have already earned a bachelor’s degree. Provided that an incoming student has met all the general education requirements, he can complete the curriculum in twenty-one months. The program starts in the fall, and requires two summer semesters. Students graduate from the program at the end of the second summer semester. The curriculum includes science classes and nursing classes, as well as one class in theology. Like graduates of the Track 1 and Track 2 options of the Diploma/BSN program, a graduate of the Track 3 option will earn a Diploma in Nursing and a BSN degree and be ready to take the NCLEX-RN.

Contact:
St. Elizabeth School of Nursing

1508 Tippecanoe Street

Lafayette, IN 47904

[wpgmza id=”379″]