Program Overview

Overview of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) Program

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program at Xavier University is a community-based, holistic program focused on a health and wellness model. This program educates future nurses in the skills of communication, coordination, and cooperation with other healthcare professionals.

Program Description

The BSN program offers a four-year, on-campus nursing education that builds a solid science-based foundation and equips students with robust clinical competencies through experiential learning and essential hands-on practicums. With a firm commitment to upholding Jesuit values, the program helps students adopt a holistic approach to nursing, conduct themselves with integrity and compassion, and serve their community with excellence.

Curriculum

The curriculum for the BSN program is as follows:

• First Year:
  • Fall:
    • BIOLOGY 140 Human Anatomy & Physiology
    • BIOLOGY 141 Anatomy & Physiology Lab
    • Second Language Elective
    • SOCIOLOGY 101 Introduction to Sociology or SOCW 167 Survey of SW
    • CORE 100 First Year Seminar OR THEO 111 - Theological Foundations
    • CORE 101 First Yr Co-Curriculum Program I
    • PHIL 100 Ethics as Intro to Philosophy
  • Spring:
    • BIOLOGY 142 Anatomy & Physiology II
    • BIOLOGY 143 Anatomy & Physiology Lab II
    • Second Language Elective II
    • ENGL 101 Composition or ENGL 115 Rhetoric
    • CORE 100 First Yr. Seminar or THEO 111 Theo. Found
    • CORE 102 First Year Co-Curriculum Program I
    • NURSING 130 Ways of Knowing
• Sophomore Year:
  • Fall:
    • CHEMISTRY 150 Physiological Chemistry
    • CHEMISTRY 151 Physiological Chemistry Lab
    • ENG/CLAS/SPAN/FREN 205: Literature and the Moral Imagination
    • NURSING 266 Pharmacology
    • NURSING 226 Nursing Communication and Assessment
    • NURSING 227 Nursing Communication and Assessment Practicum
  • Spring:
    • BIOLOGY 200 Microbiology
    • BIOLOGY 201 Microbiology Lab
    • NURSING 364 Pathophysiology
    • Historical Perspectives Elective
    • NURSING 232 Nursing Fundamentals
    • NURSING 233 Nursing Fundamentals Practicum
• Junior Year:
  • Fall:
    • Theological Perspectives Elective
    • MATH 116 OR MATH 156 Statistics
    • NURSING 362 Adult in Transitions
    • NURSING 363 Adult in Transitions Practicum
    • NURSING 384 Childbearing Health Transitions
    • NURSING 383 Childbearing Health Transitions Practicum
  • Spring:
    • PSYCHOLOGY 277 Psychological Disorders
    • NURSING 370 Nursing Research (Prerequisite: statistics)
    • NURSING 382 Health Transitions in Children and Families
    • NURSING 381 Health Transitions in Child/Families Practicum
    • NURSING 366 Adults in Transitions II
    • NURSING 367 Adults in Transitions II Practicum
• Senior Year:
  • Fall:
    • Humanities Elective
    • NURSING 452 Mental Health Nursing
    • NURSING 451 Mental Health Nursing Practicum
    • NURSING 470 Community/Public Health Nursing
    • NURSING 471 Community/Public Health Nursing Practicum
    • PHIL 200 Philosophical Perspectives
  • Spring:
    • ERS Flag must be fulfilled
    • NURSING 472 Care of the Complex Client
    • NURSING 473 Care of Complex Client Practicum
    • NURSING 498 Senior Seminar
    • Creative Perspectives Elective
    • Nursing Elective
    • CORE 400 Core Capstone

Outcomes

With a bachelor’s in nursing degree from Xavier, students stand out among their peers for their quality of care, breadth of knowledge, and passion for their work — and employers actively seek these qualities. In fact, 98% of Xavier students, including those in the nursing program, are employed or in grad school within six months of graduating.

Sample Courses

• Pathophysiology (NURS 364): This course covers general concepts of disease processes and provides the rationale for diagnosis and health-illness transitions.
• Care of the Complex Client (NURS 472): This course prepares the student to integrate knowledge from all previous courses by emphasizing the interrelatedness of the mind, body, and spirit to assess, plan, implement, and evaluate the care of the complex client.
• Childbearing Health Transitions (NURS 384): Explore issues surrounding health-illness transitions in women and childbearing families.
• Mental Health Nursing (NURS 452): Enhance holistic health outcomes in patients experiencing alterations in psychiatric mental health.

Clubs

• Student Nurse Organization: Working in the healthcare industry requires collaboration and teamwork. While in the B.S.N. program, students can participate in the Student Nurse Organization, which strives to enhance the development of student nurses as professionals.

Related Programs

• Related Majors:
  • BS in Biomedical Sciences
  • BS in Exercise Science
  • BS in Health, Science and Wellness
  • BA in Medical and Health Humanities
  • BS in Psychology
  • BSW in Social Work
• Related Minors:
  • Deaf Studies
  • Spanish
  • Gender & Diversity Studies
  • Peace Studies
  • Psychology
• Related Graduate Programs:
  • Master of Science in Nursing
  • Doctor of Nursing Practice in Population Health Leadership
  • MSN: Direct Entry as Second Degree—MIDAS Program

Accreditation

Xavier University's Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). The program is also endorsed by the American Holistic Nurses Credentialing Corporation (AHNCC) and approved by the Ohio Board of Nursing (OBN).

NCLEX-RN Exam Pass Rate

The NCLEX-RN exam pass rate for Xavier University’s class of 2023 is 82%.

Honors Program

Yes, the University Scholars Honors Program offers nursing students a more challenging curriculum within their chosen major, alongside close support from professors. Acceptance into the program is highly selective and includes a $2000 travel grant.

Transfer Students

While Xavier accepts transfer applications for nursing, please note that it's highly competitive with limited openings. Transfer students must have completed at least 24 credit hours, including Anatomy & Physiology I and II, and either Introduction to Sociology or Introduction to Social Work, with a minimum grade of B in each course. Transfers are eligible to enter only the second year of the program. Students dismissed from another nursing program are ineligible for transfer.