100% of SFU Nursing Grads Pass Licensure Exam

07/17/2017

Saint Francis University’s Class of 2017 Nursing graduates, who earned their Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing this past May, have already gone on to pass National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN).

The Nursing Department received word this month that all 15 of the new graduates had passed the exam on their first try. The Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing will release the official results in October.

2017 Nurses

“We are so grateful for all of the time and effort that the faculty and students have put forth in achieving such outstanding outcomes. This is our fourth graduating class in a row to achieve this success." said Dr. Rita Trofino, DNP, MNEd, RN, who serves as the nursing Department Chair and Associate Dean in the School of Health Sciences.

According to Dr. Trofino, job placement has been excellent, as 100% of graduates who seek professional employment within 3 months of graduation have jobs in the profession. Most have jobs within two months of graduation.

Areas of employment for the 2017 graduates include: UPMC Children’s, ICU; the Mayo Clinic, Oncology Unit; Conemaugh Health System, PCU and 7 Ashman; Cleveland Clinic, Medical ICU; Geisinger Medical Center, one at Adult ICU, and another graduate at Cardiac ICU; Pinnacle West Shore; Latrobe Excela, ER; UPMC Mercy, Cardio Progressive Unit; Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia; Medstar Franklin Square Medical Center, Baltimore, MD, Stoke/Med Surg unit.

Saint Francis has been providing quality undergraduate nursing education for more than 30 years and has recently built upon that foundation with the new Master of  Science in Nursing (MSN), Leadership/Education Track  (L/E) which opened in fall of 2016. Dr. Camille Wendekier is the Program Director of the MSN, L/E Program, and can be reached at cwendekier@francis.edu , or at 814-472-2843. This degree provides BSN graduates with a new option to pursue administrative/leadership or teaching roles, according to Dr. Trofino.

Dr. Lenore Resick, CRNP, FNP-BC, FAANP, FAAN, was recently hired as the Program Director for the Master of  Science in Nursing (MSN), Family Nurse Practitioner Track  (FNP). The proposal for this new program was submitted to the PA State Board of Nursing in December of 2016. We are currently awaiting word on approval of this program. Dr. Resick can be reached lresick@francis.edu or at 814-472-3027.

Students interested in nursing options at Saint Francis University may visit www.francis.edu/nursing.

The baccalaureate nursing program at Saint Francis University has full approval by the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing and is fully accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Application for accreditation of the graduate programs has been submitted, and CCNE will make an accreditation site visit in March of 2018. Saint Francis University remains accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

Row 1: Emily McCafferty, Madison Fiaschetti, Cassidy Merrifield, Father Malachi, Brittini Jentz, Margaret Lallemand, Shianne Witherow.

Row 2: Noah Overman, Heather McKee, Leah Skedel, Shelby Derr, Kelly Quealy, Erika Stephanides, Daniel Hoover, Kierstyn Reddecliff, Ty Geesey