Southern Adventist University Nursing School Review

Southern Adventist University (SAU) in Tennessee began as Graysville Academy in 1892. It moved to its current location in Collegedale in 1916, and gained its current name in 1996. It is a Seventh-Day Adventist school, and currently enrolls over 3000 students each semester.

Nursing Programs

Associate Degree (AS) in Nursing

Students interested in the AS in Nursing are encouraged to enroll in the BS in nursing program. After four semesters plus a summer semester, they may exit the BS program with an AS in nursing degree, and be eligible to take the RN licensing exam (NCLEX).

This program has limited enrollment and is highly competitive. To apply to the program, students must be high school graduates or equivalent and be accepted into Southern Adventist University.

Students will also need to take Survey of Chemistry I and Anatomy and Physiology I with a C grade or higher, have ACT scores of at least 16 in Math and 18 in English, and have a current GPA of at least 2.8. They may be asked to take a standardized nursing admission test.

In addition, students that have completed the Associate Nurse Perspectives course may go directly into the second semester of the nursing program and receive eight credit hours.

For LPNs transferring into the program, the ACT-PEP exams for Anatomy and Physiology and Microbiology will be accepted in lieu of taking the courses at Southern Adventist, provided they are already on the student’s transcript from their prior nursing program.

Once selected, students will need to have and maintain an American Heart Association Healthcare Provider CPR certification, a background check, drug screening, and a health verification form.

Baccalaureate Degree (BS) in Nursing

This program is a four year degree program for students to become Registered Nurses (RNs). Students will complete the first two years of study and be eligible for an AS in nursing degree. At that point, they may take the degree and leave the program, or continue on to the BS in nursing program.

To apply, students will need to have a current RN license, at least a 2.5 GPA, and a recommendation from nursing faculty or employer. They will also need documentation of their clinical experience.

Students that are transferring from an approved diploma or associate nursing program will earn 37 credit hours after they complete ten hours of the BS in nursing program.

To remain in the program, students will need to maintain a GPA of 2.5, and earn at least a C in all nursing courses.

Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)

The MSN program offers the following specialties: Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (Adult/Gerontology), Adult/Gerontology Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner, and Nurse Educator. The Nurse Educator specialty is available online, as well as in the classroom.

In addition, the School of Nursing offers a joint Masters of Science in Nursing/Masters in Business Administration (Dual MSN/MBA) degree program with the School of Business and Management. This program is available online or in the classroom.

To apply to the MSN program, students need to have a bachelor’s degree in nursing from an accredited program. They also need to be a licensed RN, have a 3.0 GPA or higher, have taken at least three credits of statistics, have an interview, submit references, and have at least one year of full time nursing experience.

Southern Adventist University School of Nursing also offers post-master’s certificates in the same specialties as the MSN program.

Accelerated RN to MSN Degree

The Accelerated RN to MSN program allows students with an RN license and an associate degree to complete their MSN degree at a faster pace. Students will not earn a BS degree in this course of study. They must meet the same criteria as the regular MSN program, except they will need to have a 3.25 GPA.

This program offers the same specialties and joint MSN/MBA degree as the regular MSN program.

RN/Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) Update

This is a program offered by the School of Nursing to allow RNs and LPNs with inactive nursing licenses to reactivate their licenses and return to nursing. This program consists of 40 hours of class time and 40 hours of clinical experience. It is offered in the Fall, Winter, and Summer semesters.

Contact:
Southern Adventist University
4881 Taylor Circle,
Collegedale, TN 37315