The Nursing Major:

• The curriculum is structured around the AACN Essentials for Baccalaureate Nursing Education.
• Students are expected to integrate the liberal arts and sciences in holistic care for people of all ages, families, and communities.
• Admission to the major occurs after the first year. The program involves 2 semesters of prerequisite coursework and 6 semesters in the nursing major.
• We offer an Early Admission Program for High School Seniors with an ACT composite score of 27 or above.

Program Highlights

• The baccalaureate program at the College of Saint Benedict/Saint John's University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, One Dupont Circle, NW, Suite 530, Washington DC 20036, (202)887-6791. The program is approved by the Minnesota Board of Nursing (2009).
• Pass rates on the national licensing exam (NCLEX) customarily exceed national pass rates for baccalaureate graduates.  94% of CSB/SJU nursing graduates successfully passed this exam in 2015.
• In December 2015, the nursing department completed a $2.5 million renovation of the simulation lab and classrooms and unveiled the Guy and Barbara Schoenecker Nursing Education Suite. This renovation allows nursing faculty to utilize state-of-the-art technology to enhance student learning and prepares students to practice in an ever-changing healthcare environment.
• In 2015, the CSB/SJU nursing program was ranked as one of the top 50 nursing schools in the Plains States by the Nursing Schools Almanac. Over 300 hundred schools were reviewed on prestige and value, breadth and depth of programs offered and student success.
• A senior-level intensive capstone provides an excellent forum for entry to practice; every nursing course integrates liberal learning concepts and Catholic principles/Benedictine values.
• All students will complete a cultural immersion experience either locally or internationally in places such as Belize, South Africa and the Dominican Republic.
• Students participate in the Minnesota Student Nurse Association (MSNA) and also have opportunities on campus for professional development such as resume/interview workshops and a student mentorship program.
• Nursing Club maintains an active program of service and fundraising including participation in the arthritis walk, on-campus recycling, and a highway clean-up program.
• The Nursing Department is active in Sigma Theta Tau International, a renowned honor society emphasizing leadership and scholarship in nursing.