Lander University Nursing School Review
Lander University (LU) in western South Carolina, originally named Williamston Female College, was founded in 1872. It is now a public, co-educational school, offering undergraduate programs in the liberal arts, sciences, business, education, and nursing, as well as graduate programs in education. Lander University prides itself on the small-school atmosphere; the student population is relatively small (around 3000 students) and the ratio of students to faculty is seventeen to one.
As part of its College of Science and Mathematics, the Lander University Department of Nursing offers undergraduate programs for prospective nurses and for Registered Nurses (RN) who wish to continue their education. It does not offer any graduate-level nursing programs. Lander University’s nursing programs are accredited by both the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), and approved by the State Board for Nursing for South Carolina. Here is a review of the available programs:
Bachelor of Science in Nursing – Pre-licensure Track
An incoming freshman can pursue a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree through the pre-licensure track. This requires four years of full-time study. A student will spend the first year completing general education requirements. At the end of the first year, she is eligible to apply to the Department of Nursing for admission to the BSN program. Through the next three years, then, she will take general education courses and nursing courses. Clinical rotations in local healthcare facilities begin in the third year of the BSN program. In total, over the course of four years, she will earn 126 credits. After graduating, she is eligible to take the National Council Licensing Exam for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). Lander University boasts a high rate of success for its BSN graduates; 95 percent of BSN graduates pass the NCLEX-RN on the first try. Those who are successful with the licensing exam earn the title of RN.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing – Honors Program
By invitation only, some students in the BSN pre-licensure track may participate in Lander University’s honor program. The honors program grooms nursing students to transition to graduate-level research and advanced clinical practice by providing opportunities for research, presentations, and publication.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing – Online RN to BSN Degree Option
An RN who wishes to pursue graduate-level nursing education and advanced certification will need to earn a full BSN. Lander University offers an online option for RNs who are graduates of Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) programs or diploma programs to earn the full BSN degree. Before enrolling in the RN to BSN program, an RN must complete courses in English, anatomy, physiology, microbiology, and statistics. Like the traditional BSN students, students in the RN to BSN program must earn a total of 126 credits to graduate. However, an incoming RN can earn up to thirty-nine advanced placement credits toward the first nursing courses. He can complete the remainder of the nursing courses and the general education courses online, and he can arrange to complete clinical rotations in a location that is convenient for him. RNs may begin the RN to BSN program at any time, and can study on a full-time basis or on a part-time basis.
Contact:
Lander University
320 Stanley Avenue,
Greenwood, SC 29649