St. Ambrose University Nursing School Review

St. Ambrose University (SAU), founded in 1882, serves over 3000 undergraduate and graduate students. The school’s main area of focus is undergraduate studies, and undergraduate students account for nearly two-thirds of the student population. Undergraduate students can choose from among seventy possible majors and minors, including nursing. Saint Ambrose University, through its Center for Health Sciences Education, offers three undergraduate programs in nursing.

In addition, it has one graduate program for nurses who want to continue their education. St Ambrose University’s nursing program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and approved by the Iowa State Board of Nursing.

Bachelor of Science in Nursing – Prelicensure

A prospective Registered Nurse (RN) must earn at least 121 credits in order to complete St Ambrose University’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program. These credits include fifty-four credits of nursing coursework, and sixty-seven credits of general education classes. The first three semesters of the program are devoted to general education requirements; nursing coursework begins in the second semester of the BSN student’s second year. In total, a student in the prelicensure BSN program must commit to four years of full-time study. After completing the BSN course sequence, she may take the National Council Licensing Exam for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN).

Bachelor of Science in Nursing – Second Degree

Saint Ambrose University offers a special BSN track for students who have already earned a bachelor’s degree. Like the students in the BSN prelicensure program, these students must earn fifty-four credits of nursing coursework. However, they do not have to complete the full general education requirement. In addition to the nursing coursework, a student on the second-degree BSN track must take four science classes (nineteen credits) and six nursing support classes (twelve credits).

The required classes include biology, anatomy and physiology, microbiology, human genetics, psychology, sociology, life span development, nutrition, biomedical ethics, and pharmacology. Students can begin the second-degree BSN program in the spring semester. After graduating, they are eligible to take the NCLEX-RN.

Bachelor of Science in Nursing – RN to BSN

RNs can complete a full BSN degree through St Ambrose University’s Adult College Curriculum for Education and Leadership (ACCEL) program. The ACCEL program is designed to accommodate working adults, so classes are usually offered one day a week. Some courses may be available in the evenings, on the weekends, and in an online format. In order to complete the RN to BSN program, an RN has to earn twenty-six credits of nursing coursework. In addition to these nursing credits, he must fulfill any missing general education requirements. An RN is free to enroll on either a full-time or part-time basis. The RN to BSN course sequence begins in the fall.

Master of Science in Nursing – Nursing Administration

Each fall, St Ambrose University enrolls a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) class. The MSN program focuses on nursing administration, preparing nurses to become nursing managers at healthcare facilities. The program takes three years to complete on a part-time basis, and is open to RNs who have completed a BSN program. The MSN curriculum requires forty credits in total.

Contact:
St. Ambrose University
518 West Locust Street
Davenport, IA 52803

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