Students enroll as a freshman in the nursing major. In addition to
general education requirements, incoming freshman nursing students
should earn a minimum SAT score as described below and a high school GPA of 3.0 or greater (based on a 4.0 scale).
A strong background in the sciences and math is required, including
Biology, Chemistry, and Algebra. A limited number of transfer students
are admitted to the program based on available space, and additional
admission criteria. Transfer students are required to have a
pre-admission interview with a faculty member from the Nursing
Department.
Admission Criteria for a Recent High School Graduate
- Completed work equal to a standard academic high school coursework
with a minimum of 16 units with a grade of “B” or better (“C-“ is not
acceptable in any course) to meet the pre-professional requirements of
the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing and Saint Francis University.
- Have earned a 3.0 high school GPA or higher.
- Successfully completed four units of English.
- Successfully completed three units of Social Studies.
- Completed a minimum of two units Math (one must be algebra) with a grade of “B” or higher.
- If a student has less than a “B” math average, he/she may take
Algebra I and II (for a “B” or better grade) at a local technology
center, vocational school, or community college course and submit course
grade(s) with admission forms.
- Completed a minimum of three units of Natural Science with a grade
of “B” or better (within the last five years). One year of each,
Biology (with labs), Chemistry (with labs), and one unit in an advanced
science.
- Earned minimum SAT scores as outlined below
- Earn a minimum score of 1000 (in math and critical reading combined) if SAT was taken before March 2016
- Earn a minimum score of 1080 if SAT was taken after March 2016
- High school extracurricular activities, community service, and service learning projects are strongly recommended.
Admission Criteria for a Transfer Student
Students requesting transfer from other universities will be reviewed
and placed on a space available basis. Nursing courses taken at other
universities may be assessed for transfer of credits. Preference will
be given to students who have taken the majority of their prerequisite
courses at Saint Francis University. Decisions regarding the admission
of a transfer student will be made on an individual basis for the
nursing program. Transfer students requesting admission into Saint
Francis University’s nursing program must meet the following criteria:
- If transferring from another nursing program, the applicant must be
in good standing to progress in his/her current nursing program and
he/she must submit the SFU Nursing Evaluation Form signed by the
department chair of his/her current school.
- The applicant must have a 3.0 cumulative GPA.
- Transfer applicants with less than 28 earned college credits have a
recent (within five years) minimum SAT score of 1000, in math and
critical reading combined, or a minimum ACT score of 21.
- If an applicant did not take the SAT or ACT within five years of the
application date, he/she must take an admission test, as determined by
the nursing program.
- The following sciences courses (with a lab) will be considered for
transfer of credits: Biology I (equivalent to BIOL 111), Human Chemistry
(equivalent to CHEM 103), and Microbiology.
- The transfer applicant must have a Natural Science GPA of 2.6 or greater.
- Transfer applicants can only have one repeated nursing course. Any
further failures of an SFU nursing course would result in dismissal from
the program.
- Any student applying for transfer into Saint Francis University’s
nursing program can only have two or less non-nursing and nursing
repeated courses.
- This includes repeating prerequisite courses and/or one of the aforementioned science courses for a higher grade.
- Withdrawals from any prerequisite-nursing course (equivalents to
MATH 107, SOC 101, PSYC 101, BIOL 111, BIOL 205, BIOL 206, BIOL 214, or
CHEM 103) count as a repeated course.
- Pre-professional transfer students admitted into Saint Francis
University’s nursing program will be required to take Anatomy and
Physiology I and II (BIOL 205 and BIOL 206) at Saint Francis University.
Provisional Acceptance
If a first year applicant or transfer applicant does not meet minimum
requirements for entrance into the nursing program, he/she could be
considered as a provisional nursing major. As a provisional nursing
major, first year applicants (less than 28 earned college credits) must
have a minimum high school GPA of 3.0 and a minimum SAT of 900/ACT of
19. Transfer students must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 and
must meet program progression standards. Upon successful completion of
the required math, science, and social science requirements with a
natural science GPA of 2.6 and a cumulative GPA of 2.75, and an earned
80% in pre-nursing courses, the student will progress into the
professional phase of the nursing curriculum on a space available basis.
*Pre-nursing courses (with a lab) are: NURS 100, NURS 200, NURS 201.
*Required math, science, social science: MATH 107, SOC 101, PSYCH 101, CHEM 103, BIO 111, BIO 214, BIO 205, BIO 206
*Provisionally accepted students (as well as nursing and transfer students) can only have three or less repeated courses.
- This includes repeating one of the aforementioned math, social science, or science courses for a higher grade.
- Withdrawals from any prerequisite/nursing courses (MATH 107, SOC
101, PSYC 101, BIOL 205, BIOL 206, BIOL 111, BIOL 214, or CHEM 103)
count as a repeated course.
- A student may repeat only one NURS course.
All Students Must Meet the Minimum Functional Requirements Policy
Nursing practice requires that a person have certain functional
abilities to provide safe and competent care. These are physical and
mental activities and attributes needed by a nurse to practice safely in
terms of essential nursing functions, with or without accommodations.
Therefore, all nursing students must satisfactorily meet the health
requirements listed on the student health form obtained in the Student
Health Center. Essential physical abilities include gross and fine motor
skills, mobility, physical strength and endurance, ability to use
senses (tactile, visual, auditory, olfactory) and ability to be
interactive, communicative, and interpersonal (National Council of State
Boards of Nursing, 1999). If a student does not meet minimum functional
requirements, the student will not be able to fulfill clinical
requirements and must withdraw from the program. Reasonable
accommodations may be needed to allow the student to perform essential
nursing functions (e.g., enhanced stethoscope for slight hearing
impairment); however, all adaptive equipment and associated costs are
the responsibility of the student.
Admission and continuance in the nursing major depends on the
maintenance of satisfactory physical and mental health. Students are
required to notify the Nursing Department Chairperson and clinical
instructor immediately of any change in physical or mental health
status, including pregnancies, so that clinical assignments may be
adjusted accordingly.
A student who develops a serious or extended illness while enrolled
in the nursing major must be under the ongoing care of a health care
provider. Upon identification of possible physical or psychological
illness by a faculty person, the student must seek evaluation and
treatment as required. The student must submit documentation from the
health care provider indicating the student’s ability to perform the
functions of a student nurse. A student with a communicable disease must
adhere to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
guidelines and policies of the affiliating agencies regarding measures
to prevent transmission of the illness to others. A student may be asked
to withdraw from the nursing program if there is evidence to suggest
that the student is not in complete compliance with the CDC guidelines
or that the health of the student or the safety of clients in the
clinical area may be threatened by the continuation of the student in
the program. Every effort will be made to accommodate the specific needs
of the individual student resulting from the illness. Clinical
objectives must be met despite pre-existing or existing health
conditions.
Falsification or omission of information required on the student’s
health record is grounds for dismissal of a student from the nursing
program. Student health records and medical information will be
maintained in separate locked files in the Student Health Center. All
information will be kept strictly confidential and will not be released
without written consent from the student. Students are responsible for
any costs incurred relating to treatment for illness or injuries
occurring at the clinical site. Saint Francis University and the
affiliating agencies do not assume responsibility for any costs incurred
for treatment of students.
Preparation for Entrance
If I am in high school, what courses should I be taking now?
You should enroll in the academic curriculum and complete at least
three years of science courses, including chemistry and biology, and
earn a minimum grade of a B. Enrollment in four years of natural
science courses would be the best way to prepare for becoming a nursing
student. You need to complete at least 2 years of math (one must be
algebra) and earn a minimum grade of a B.
If I am an adult just looking into the nursing field, how can I prepare?
High school graduates who have been out of school for five or more
years must successfully complete a nursing entrance test (as determined
by the nursing program). They are also advised to enroll in two college
courses to become oriented to college study and learn good study and
time management skills. For assistance in choosing courses, please
contact the Admissions’ office or the Nursing Department at: