Benedictine University Nursing School Review

Benedictine University, a Catholic college that was founded and is still run by Benedictine monks, is part of the Association of Benedictine Colleges and Universities. In addition to its main campus in Lisle, Illinois, Benedictine University (BU, BenU, Ben-U, or Ben) offers classes in over forty other locations in Illinois, as well as through its overseas campuses in China and Vietnam.

Through its many locations, Benedictine University offers undergraduate, graduate, and continuing education programs to over 10,000 students. Included among its programs are two in nursing: one for undergraduate students and one for graduate students. Both are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. Here is a review of the two available programs at Benedictine University:

Bachelor of Science in Nursing – RN to BSN Degree Completion Program

As an accelerated program for adults, Benedictine University offers a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program. This program is not intended for traditional undergraduate students; it is intended for licensed Registered Nurses (RN) who wish to earn a full baccalaureate degree. Classes are offered at the main campus in Lisle, and also through the College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn, through Triton College in River Grove, and through Benedictine University in Springfield.

In order to be eligible for admission, an RN must have at least fifty-five credit hours that she can transfer, have a GPA of at least 2.5, and hold an active nursing license. If accepted, she will take thirty-one credits of nursing courses (ten classes total) over the course of a year. Classes meet online in the evenings or Saturday mornings. Additional clinical hours are required. Successful completion of the RN-BSN degree completion program program will set an RN up for advancement in the nursing field, and prepare her for further graduate education in the nursing field.

Master of Science in Nursing

An RN who has earned a BSN is eligible to enroll in Benedictine University’s Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program. In order to accommodate working professionals, the program is entirely online. Typically, a student in the program will take one course every eight weeks; the program has six sessions per year, so an RN can complete the required thirty-six credit hours in as little as sixteen months. In order to be considered for admission, an RN must have a BSN with a GPA of 3.0 and have an active nursing license. Once enrolled, he will complete eight core nursing requirements (for a total of twenty-four credit hours) and then four more classes (for a total of twelve credit hours) in a special area of focus.

A student may choose one of six available areas of focus: public health, health education, administration, leadership, disaster management, and health policy. Alternatively, a student can create his own unique area of focus by mixing classes from different nursing areas, or even by mixing nursing classes with classes from other disciplines. While a thesis is not required for the MSN program, all students must complete a capstone project which includes at least 125 hours of hands-on work.

Contact:
Benedictine University
5700 College Road
Lisle, IL 60532

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