The School of Nursing offers a Bachelor's of Science Degree in Nursing (BSN) for students seeking initial entry into the professional practice of nursing. The curriculum consists of 120 credit hours that are distributed among the natural sciences, social sciences, general education requirements, and nursing courses. Clinical experiences are obtained in a variety of health centers, acute care facilities (hospitals), and community health agencies in the Louisville metropolitan area.

There are two tracks available for students: Traditional students and Second Degree/Accelerated students who already hold a bachelor's degree. Students admitted to the BSN program complete all general education and support course work prior to entering the clinical component of the program. Upon degree conferral, graduates of these programs are eligible to write the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) for licensure as a registered nurse.

Admission to the Nursing Major

Admission to Spalding University does not guarantee admission of a student to the nursing program. Students must make a formal application and be accepted into the nursing major by the BSN Admission and Progression Committee. Student may not take nursing courses unless officially admitted to the nursing program.

Admission Requirements to the Pre-licensure Nursing Program

1. Acceptance to Spalding University.
2. A completed application for admission to the Spalding University School of Nursing.
3. A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale of the science courses. The GPA is based on all earned academic credits earned at Spalding and other colleges and/or universities for the four (4) following courses and labs:
   • BIO251 – Anatomy & Physiology 1 and BIO253 – Anatomy & Physiology 1 Lab
   • BIO252 – Anatomy & Physiology 2 and BIO254 – Anatomy & Physiology 2 Lab
   • BIO256 – Microbiology and BIO257 – Microbiology Lab
   • BIO301 – Pathophysiology

If the cumulative pre-requisite science core GPA is between 2.5 and 2.74, a student may be considered for admission if the following criteria are met:

• Cumulative GPA of 3.0 and
• The following pre-requisite courses are completed with a grade of “C” or higher:
  
  • Accelerated & Traditional students: PSY 103, NURS 322 or HS 350
  • Traditional Students: PHIL 154

Science courses must have been completed within the last five (5) years. No science courses greater than 10 years will be accepted.

4. A student is not eligible for admission to the nursing major if he/she earns two or more unsatisfactory final course grades in the same course or any combination of the science courses (as listed above). An unsatisfactory grade is defined as one grade lower than C, or two withdrawals from any single course or combination of the courses listed.
5. A completed TEAS (Reading & Math) Entrance Exam within one-year of application to the School of Nursing. Minimum required score of 60% on each section.
6. Personal interview (if requested).
7. Prerequisite courses must be completed prior to official acceptance into the nursing program.
8. Completion of CNA course or be listed on the Nurse Aide Registry. Licensure is not required.

• The CNA requirement is waived for LPNs or Certified Medical Assistants or Persons with recent experience as a nursing assistant. A completed waiver must be submitted prior to admission

9. International Students – International applicants interested in completing their education at Spalding should contact the Admissions Office for an International Student Application. It is strongly recommended that the prospective student requests this preliminary application a year before the term in which he/she wishes to enter. In addition to the application, an application fee of $100 must be submitted. Criteria for automatic admission of international applicants include the following:

• TOFEL score of 535 (paper version), 203 (computer version), or 75 (Internet-based version) for students whose language of instruction is not English;
• Minimum composite score of 20 on their ACT and a minimum English subscore of 18;
• Minimum composite score of 1030 on the SAT and a minimum of 450 on the English portion;
• A cumulative GPA of 2.5 or equivalent of a C+;
• Certified copies of “O” and/or “A” National Level Examination certification (if applicable)
  
  

Transfer students from other nursing programs are accepted on a case-by-case evaluation by the BSN faculty. Students with only one (1) withdrawal or failure in a nursing course may be considered. Students dismissed from another nursing program are not eligible for admission to the Spalding School of Nursing.

Upon conditional admission, the following additional requirements must be complete by required deadline: CastleBranch Account Activation and uploading of required Immunizations, Certifications and Screenings.

RN to BSN Program 
The School of Nursing offers an RN to BSN Program for Registered Nurses that hold an active and unrestricted nursing license. Courses are offered through the FLEX Program in a six-week session format.

Admission
Students may be admitted to the RN to BSN Program at any time throughout the year and, once accepted, may begin the program in the next-occurring session. Admission to Spalding University does not guarantee admission to the Nursing Program.

Admission to the RN to BSN Program requires the following:

1. Admission to Spalding University.
2. An active and unrestricted license as a Registered Nurse (licensure is required to be maintained throughout the program).
3. A graduate of a regionally or non-regionally accredited Associate Degree, Diploma Nursing Program, or nationally accredited college's Associate Degree Nursing Program.

University Requirements for the Bachelor’s Degree
Complete a minimum of 120 prescribed and elective college credits, including 28 to 33 credits in the nursing major. At least 30 of these hours must be completed at Spalding. Transfer credit will be given for the courses meeting University Studies requirements. Transcripts will be reviewed on an individual basis. Students in the RN to BSN program must maintain a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 2.00 in the total course work to graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing.

Procedure for Admission
To apply, students must submit a fully completed Spalding University Application for Admission and have official transcripts sent to Spalding from all colleges attended (official transcripts are transcripts sent directly from the college to Spalding’s Admissions Department). Applications are available from the student's academic counselor, FLEX admissions counselor, or online. Review of applications occurs on an ongoing basis throughout the academic year. Based on available space, students may be accepted into the program up until the forty-eight hours before the first day of classes. Students are notified in writing of their admission status.

Contact the School of Nursing for detailed information on the program of studies, policies on admission, enrollment, academic achievement, transfer credits, withdrawal, dismissal, residency, and graduation requirements.

Program Sheets
Bachelor of Science in Nursing: Pre-Licensure Program: Accelerated Second Degree
Bachelor of Science in Nursing: Pre-Licensure Traditional Program
Bachelor of Science in Nursing: RN to BSN Program