Nursing: BSN
Enter a rewarding, in-demand profession sooner than you think.
Why Earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)?
Healthcare employers are increasingly looking to hire RNs with bachelor’s degrees; as demand for nurses rises, earning a BSN could boost your opportunities and earning potential. Coursework and clinical experiences in a BSN program prepare you to work as a nurse generalist with clients, families and communities across the lifespan and in a variety of settings.
Graduating from an accredited Bachelor of Science in Nursing program can also help you meet the requirements to apply for RN licensure through the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses.
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Request InformationCareer Outlook & Success
100%
of BSN graduates are hired within a year of graduation (2020)
12%
expected demand for RNs through 2028 -- much faster than the average occupation (BLS.gov)
$66,560
median annual salary for RNs in Indiana in 2020 (incrediblehealth.com)
Why USF for Your Bachelor of Science in Nursing?
The University of Saint Francis is synonymous with excellence in nursing education. Our BSN students are highly sought for employment, and they lead, serve and succeed in their careers throughout the state and region.
USF’s accredited nursing program offers a foundation in holistic health and nursing and introduces you to patient-centered care in areas such as medical and surgical, maternity, psychiatric and mental health, community health, older adults and children and adolescents. You’ll develop assessment and communication abilities and build nursing leadership skills.
You will learn from expert faculty mentors, many of whom are active healthcare practitioners. With a strong liberal arts foundation and an education rooted in Franciscan values, you will leave USF ready to serve society as a compassionate, ethical nursing professional.
High-Tech, High-Touch Learning Hands-On
You’ll put your classroom learning into action as you practice skills and participate in real-world learning scenarios in state-of-the-art facilities, like our simulation lab and nursing resource center.
Our facilities are home to exam rooms, patient units, and top-notch equipment, including high-fidelity infant, child and adult patient simulators — all professionally designed to prepare you for exactly what you’ll find in the workplace today.
Hands-On Healthcare Experience
Earning your Bachelor of Science in Nursing at USF means graduating with more than 900 hours of supervised experience with diverse populations in a variety of clinical and community settings:
Clinical Nursing Experiences
USF’s accredited nursing program takes you into real-world healthcare settings where you will continue to develop your nursing skills. These clinical placements allow you to explore multiple aspects of patient care and experience working with various members of a caregiving team. Recent field sites have included:
- Dupont Hospital
- Lutheran Life Villages
- Parkview Behavioral Health
- Parkview Regional Medical Center
- Saint Anne’s Communities
- St. Joseph Hospital
- Lutheran Hospital
At the start of my senior year, I already had a nursing job lined up at Lutheran Pediatric Hospital for when I graduate.
Chandler Stevens, ’18
Nursing
Community Nursing Experiences
Experience with diverse populations in urban and rural settings is important for future nurses, so our accredited nursing program also gives you community nursing experience at places like:
- Allen County Board of Health
- Allen County Jail
- Charis House
- East Allen Community Schools
- Fort Wayne Community Schools
- Heartland Home Health and Hospice
- Matthew 25 Health and Dental Clinic
- Neighborhood Health Clinic
Campus and Community Involvement
As you prepare to enter a helping profession, you’ll be glad to know USF offers plenty of ways for you to serve others through campus ministries, student groups and service-learning projects.
Where You’ll Find Our Graduates
After earning their bachelor’s of science in nursing from USF, our graduates start and grow their nursing careers at employers such as:
- Community Health Network
- DeKalb Health
- Eskenazi Health
- Franciscan Health
- Goshen Health
- IU Health
- Lutheran Health Network
- Marion General Hospital
- Mercy Health Ohio
- Methodist Hospitals
- Parkview Health
- St. Vincent Health
- University of Louisville Hospital
- Witham Health Services
Nursing Career Advancement
As you progress through your nursing career, you might consider earning an advanced degree, either for professional development or career advancement, or both. A Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing could serve as your stepping stone to a master’s degree in nursing or healthcare administration, or related degree. USF nursing graduates have advanced their education at institutions such as:
- Chamberlain College of Nursing
- Indiana Wesleyan University
- Loyola University Chicago
- Purdue University
- University of Saint Francis
- Western Governors University
Accreditation
The Bachelor of Science in Nursing program at USF is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
Our Mission
Rooted in Franciscan Values, faculty engage a diverse community of learners to serve society holistically as compassionate, professional nurse leaders.
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