University of Saint Francis Nursing School Review
The University of Saint Francis (USF), which was originally located in Lafayette, Indiana, was established in 1890. In its present location in Fort Wayne, as well as at its health sciences campus in Crown Point, The University of St. Francis serves approximately 2300 students. Healthcare education is a major area of focus for the university; in addition to its programs for training physical therapist assistants, physician assistants, radiologic technicians, and surgical technicians, the University of Saint Francis has a number of programs for nursing students.
The nursing programs are accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
Associate of Science in Nursing
The Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) program takes two years to complete. The curriculum includes a combination of general education classes and nursing classes, and is worth sixty-eight credits in total. Clinical rotations are an important part of the ASN program; they begin in the very first semester. The University of St. Francis offers the ASN program on its main campus in Fort Wayne and on its campus in Crown Point. A graduate of the ASN program is prepared for a career as a Registered Nurse (RN), as long as he passes the National Council Licensing Exam for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN).
Associate of Science in Nursing – LPN to ASN
A graduate of a diploma in nursing program, called a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), can start the ASN program with advanced standing. On the basis of her previous nursing coursework, she will receive ten credits toward three nursing classes: Fundamentals of Nursing, Medical Surgical Nursing I, and Maternity Nursing. Instead of these classes, she must take a two-credit LPN transition class and a three-credit LPN transition Maternity Nursing class. She must complete the remainder of the ASN program along with the traditional ASN students. If she doesn’t have any general education classes to complete, she can finish the LPN to ASN program in just three semesters. The LPN to ASN program is available in Fort Wayne and Crown Point.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program prepares students for the NCLEX-RN and careers as RNs. It takes four years to complete on a full-time basis. Students spend the first year of the program focusing on general education requirements. They start nursing courses in their second year. In total, a BSN student must earn at least 128 credits in order to graduate. The BSN program is available on the main campus in Fort Wayne; it is not offered in Crown Point.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing – RN to BSN
Each fall, the University of St. Francis accepts another group of students into its online RN to BSN program. Like the students in the traditional, four-year BSN program, students in the RN to BSN program must earn 128 credits in order to graduate. The University of St. Francis awards them thirty-eight advanced placement credits for their previous nursing classes. In addition to these credits, RN to BSN students must transfer in thirty credits of general education requirements. Once these are complete, they can begin the twenty-month-long RN to BSN course sequence. The curriculum includes twenty-four credits of nursing classes and thirty-six credits of general education classes. As this program is offered online, students arrange clinical rotations in a location that is convenient for them.
Master of Science in Nursing – Family Nurse Practitioner
The University of St. Francis offers a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program with one area of specialization: Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP). The curriculum consists of forty-five credits and includes 645 hours of clinical practice. Students may enroll on a full-time or part-time basis. On a full-time basis, the program takes five semesters (including two summer semesters) to complete. On a part-time basis, a student can take up to nine semesters (including three summer semesters) to complete the program. The MSN program is open to students who have a BSN degree. It is offered on both the Fort Wayne and Crown Point campuses.
Master of Science in Nursing – RN to MSN Transition Sequence
While the MSN program is designed for graduates of a bachelor’s-degree program, the University of St. Francis does offer the RN to MSN Transition Sequence for nurses who hold an associate degree or diploma. After completing the transition sequence, a nurse with an associate degree or diploma may begin the MSN program. Before beginning the RN to MSN Transition Sequence, a student must complete prerequisites in pharmacology, pathophysiology, English, psychology, anatomy and physiology, and microbiology. Once these are complete, she may begin the two-semester RN to MSN Transition Sequence. This includes three nursing classes, a statistics class, and an English class, worth a total of sixteen credits. The RN to MSN Transition Sequence begins in the fall and is offered on the Fort Wayne and Crown Point campuses.
Post-master’s Certificate – Family Nurse Practitioner
An MSN-prepared nurse can also enroll in the FNP program. He does not need to take the introductory graduate nursing classes. Instead of forty-five credits, he only needs to earn thirty-nine credits in order to complete the FNP course sequence. Like the students on the traditional MSN track, he needs to complete 645 hours of clinical practice.
Contact:
University of St. Francis
2701 Spring Street
Fort Wayne, IN 46808
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University of St. Francis – Crown Point Campus
12800 Mississippi Parkway, Pavilion U
Crown Point, IN 46307
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