The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) pre-licensure degree program offers an academically and technically rigorous curriculum that balances core nursing competencies with Loyola's exceptional liberal arts education in the Catholic intellectual tradition to prepare future graduates for extensive and comprehensive duties and sensibilities. Students acquire the complex skills for nursing competency, clinical judgment, cultural sensitivity, teamwork, and commitment to life-long learning that ensure a successful profession as a registered nurse. The major includes a wide range of clinical rotations at Loyola's nursing education partner institution, Mercy Medical Center, a hospital recognized nationally for nursing excellence.

The major is comprised of 61 credits of nursing theory and clinicals, 42 credits of courses in other natural sciences, psychology, and statistics, and 30 credits of Loyola's liberal arts-based core curriculum. The BSN students' liberal arts core is the same as for other Loyola students. 

Academic Progression Policies

The following academic policies are unique to students in Loyola's BSN program and are detailed in the Nursing Student Handbook. Students are expected to review and acknowledge their understanding of the policies in the Nursing Student Handbook at the start of their program.

GPA Requirement

To remain in good academic standing, all Loyola BSN Program undergraduates must maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average (QPA) of 2.750.

Minimum Grade Requirement

Nursing students must achieve a grade of C or higher in all required Nursing (NUR) and Nursing prerequisite courses in the program, including BL 362  and BL 370 . If a student does not meet the minimum of a C in any NUR or prerequisite course, they will be required to retake the course at Loyola before continuing with the Nursing curriculum.

Students not meeting the minimum grade requirement in a Nursing course or a Nursing prerequisite course may impact their ability to complete the Nursing program in four years.

Restrictions on Withdrawal and Replacement Courses

A student may repeat only one NUR or Nursing prerequisite course, one time, due to withdrawing from it or not achieving a C. Students will be dismissed from the Nursing program after two course failures (grades of C- or lower) and/or withdrawals in Nursing courses.

Didactic and Clinical Course Repeats and Failures

Course failure (grades of C- or below) in a NUR clinical course requires the student to retake both the didactic and clinical portions of the course for a second time. Conversely, failure (grades of C- or below) in a didactic course requires the student to also retake both the didactic and clinical course on their second attempt.

Dismissal from the Nursing Major

A student is dismissed from the nursing program when:

• a second grade less than 'C' in a Nursing course or a Nursing prerequisite is earned, and/or
• a cumulative QPA of 2.750 is not achieved by the end of their academic notice semester.

Students have one semester to raise their QPA to 2.750. If a student is unable to raise their QPA after the academic notice semester, they will be dismissed from the nursing major.

A student may be dismissed from the nursing program when she/he commits any violation of the ANA Code of Ethics for Nurses (https://codeofethics.ana.org/home), in addition to any violation of the Nursing Program Standards for Professionalism and Patient Safety outlined in the Nursing Student Handbook. Students who violate ethical codes or who engage in unprofessional behavior, particularly in clinical experiences, will be subject to a Professional Assessment Review (PAR) and may be dismissed from the Nursing Program. PAR processes are outlined in the Nursing Student Handbook.

Appeals Process

Should a student be dismissed from the Nursing major, they have the right to appeal for reinstatement into the BSN program. Students should follow the Appeal of Dismissal from the Nursing Major policy outlined in the Nursing Student Handbook.