University of New England Nursing School Review

The University of New England (UNE) was established in 1939 as College Séraphique, a high school and junior college started by the Franciscan Order in Montreal, Canada. In 1952 it became St. Francis College, a four-year, liberal arts college. The high school was phased out in the late 1950s, and by 1961 it was strictly a four-year, post-secondary school.

In the late 1960s, the Franciscans withdrew from the college and turned over the administration to lay people. The institution began to redefine itself, eventually becoming the University of New England in 1978 when it merged with the New England Osteopathic College. In 1996, it merged with Westbrook College in Portland, one of Maine’s oldest institutions of higher learning.

UNE enrolls over 7000 students each semester in undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs. It has two campuses, one in Biddeford, and one in Portland.

Nursing Programs

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)

This program is for students beginning their career in nursing. The first four semesters of this program are taught at the Biddeford campus, and the last four semesters are at the Portland campus. Graduates of the program are eligible to take the Registered Nurse (RN) licensing exam.

Students applying to this program will need to submit their official high school transcripts and their official ACT or SAT scores.

Once admitted into the program, students will need to maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0 in the core classes during their first two years. They will also need to earn a C or higher in Statistics, Principles of Chemistry, General Biology, Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology I and II, Pathophysiology, Applied Microbiology, Nutrition, and Introduction to Nursing.

During their last two years, students need to maintain a core GPA of 2.5, and earn a C+ or better in all nursing classes.

Accelerated Second Degree BSN

This program is designed for students who have a bachelor’s degree in another field. This program is 17 months long, and is offered at the Portland campus.

To apply to this program, students will need to use the Centralized Application Service for Nursing Programs (NursingCAS). They will need to have completed the prerequisite courses of Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology I and II with lab, Applied Microbiology with lab, Principles of Chemistry with lab, Statistics, Nutrition, and Growth and Development. They must also have a 3.0 GPA or better in their science courses.

RN to BSN

This program is offered for RNs that wish to earn their BSN degree. It is designed for the working nurse, with classes offered one or two days a week. Depending on the schedule, this program takes between one and four years to complete. Classes are offered at the Portland campus.

To be eligible to apply, students must have a current RN license, and have graduated from an accredited diploma or associate degree nursing program with a GPA of at least 2.5. They must also be CPR certified, have a completed health form, and be up to date on immunizations. Students will receive at least 60 credits for prior nursing coursework and experience.

Master’s of Nurse Anesthesia (MSNA)

This program allows nurses to earn their Masters degree and take the National Certifying Exam to become Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs). This program is 27 months long and requires 50 credits of classes. It has two phases: the first phase is eight months of classroom study and research ending with a capstone project, and the second phase is a 19 month clinical based program.

To apply, students need to have a BSN degree, or have graduated from an accredited diploma or associate degree in nursing program and have a bachelor’s in another field. The will need to have a current RN license and a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. They also need to have at least one year of experience in critical care, submit their GRE scores, have three references, and have current Advanced Cardiac Life Support and Pediatric Advanced Life Support Certification.

Students’ grades in Anatomy and Physiology I and II, Chemistry, Biology, Biochemistry or Organic Chemistry, Microbiology, and Pharmacology will also be used by the Admissions Committee.

Contact:
University of New England
11 Hills Beach Road,
Biddeford, ME 04005

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