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Nursing, B.S.

(66 credits)

The LPN-to-BSN program at Albertus Magnus College enables licensed/vocational nurses to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing while considering prior work experience, education, and training. With a critical shortage in caregivers, this program is the first program of its kind in the state of Connecticut.

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing, under the department of Nursing, is designed to provide learners with the foundations of nursing practice and leadership with emphasis on problem-solving and clinical judgment.

Our Bachelor of Science in Nursing consists of 126 credit hours, which includes general education classes, nursing classes and clinical experience.

Upon completing the program of study in Nursing, students will:

Integrate evidence-based nursing knowledge and a liberal arts educational foundation to provide safe, effective, and patient-centered care for individuals, families, communities, and populations across the human lifespan.
Apply scientific knowledge, clinical judgment, and culturally responsive nursing practices to promote health, reduce risk, prevent disease, and address the healthcare needs of diverse populations.
Collaborate effectively and communicate respectfully with patients, families, communities, and interprofessional healthcare teams to optimize patient outcomes and enhance care coordination.
Utilize healthcare technology, informatics, and patient care technologies to support clinical decision-making, communication, patient education, and the delivery of quality healthcare.
Apply quality improvement and patient safety principles to minimize risk and contribute to the continuous improvement of healthcare systems and patient outcomes.
Demonstrate professionalism, ethical practice, leadership, service, and a commitment to lifelong learning consistent with the Dominican values of study, community, service, and the pursuit of truth to advocate for patients and advance the nursing profession.

Admission Requirements

New nursing cohorts begin twice per year in the fall and spring.

To be eligible for admission into the LPN-to-BSN program, students must meet the following criteria:

Connecticut LPN License

Hold a current Connecticut Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) license in good standing.

LPN Program Completion

Graduate from an accredited LPN program with a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher (semester-hour scale or 74 on a quarter hour scale).* For more information, refer to Albertus Magnus College’s Definition of a Credit Hour Policy.

NACE PN-RN Examinations

To ensure timely admissions decisions and allow sufficient time for onboarding and course registration, NACE PN-RN examination completion deadlines are as follows:

Fall start: May 15
Spring start: November 1

Students must complete the following NACE PN-RN examinations with minimum required scores:

Foundations of Nursing: 71% or higher
Nursing Care of Childbearing Families: 62% or higher
Nursing Care of Childrearing Families: 62% or higher

Additional examination requirements:

An examination may not be retaken more than once in the same semester
A maximum of two attempts is permitted within a two-year period
Examination scores remain valid for two years

The National League for Nursing (NLN) provides suggested minimum passing scores for the Nursing Acceptance Challenging Exams (NACE) examinations. These recommendations are subject to change at the discretion of the NLN.

Transfer and College Coursework Standards

Coursework must be completed at a U.S. Department of Education (USDE) or Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) accredited institution. Coursework from non-USDE/CHEA institutions may be accepted through approved articulation agreements.

All courses must be completed with a minimum grade of C (2.0) or Pass (P) equivalent.

Science coursework used for program requirements must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher and must have been completed within the past five years.

Transfer and Albertus Magnus College coursework are both included in GPA calculations.

Minimum GPA Requirements for Nursing Program Application

At the time of application to the nursing program, students must meet the following minimum GPA requirements:

3.0 cumulative GPA in all prerequisite coursework
3.0 cumulative GPA in all college-level coursework

*Applicants who received their practical nurse training through the U.S. Armed Forces are exempt from the GPA requirement provided that training is documented on an official Joint-Services Transcript (JST). The JST must be submitted at the time of application for review.

**The NLN suggests minimum passing scores for the NACE examinations. The NLN reserves the right to modify these recommendations at any time.

Transfer Credits

Refer to the Transfer Credits section for specific information on Albertus Magnus College's transfer credit policy. For students entering the Nursing program, coursework will be evaluated for transferability to satisfy general education requirements.

Acceptance of transfer and substitute credits in nursing to meet prerequisite coursework and curriculum requirements is determined by the Director of Nursing. Science coursework used to satisfy nursing program requirements must have been completed within the previous five years. A student who transfers into the nursing program at Albertus Magnus College will be required to repeat any nursing or other required courses that are not considered comparable to the Albertus Magnus College Nursing curriculum or for which the grade earned does not meet the minimum requirement. No advanced standing in nursing will be granted. Transfer students must meet the same academic and progression standards as all other students in the program.

Questions should be submitted to nursing@albertus.edu.

Accreditation

Albertus Magnus College is fully accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE).

Effective August 12, 2025, this nursing program is a candidate for initial accreditation by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing. This candidacy status expires in Fall 2027.

Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400
Atlanta, GA 30326
(404) 975-5000
acenursing.org

Note: Upon granting of initial accreditation by the ACEN Board of Commissioners, the effective date of initial accreditation is the date on which the nursing program was approved by the ACEN as a candidate program that concluded in the Board of Commissioners granting initial accreditation.

Program Format

Courses are offered in a blended format which enables students to complete their studies through a combination of 16-week in-person evening courses and 8-week online courses. Practical lab sessions will take place in the nursing skills lab and high fidelity simulation scenarios will take place in the simulation lab. Hands-on clinical experience will take place in various healthcare settings, such as hospitals, clinical, nursing homes, and community health centers.

The anticipated time for students to complete the program is 36 months.

Good Standing

To remain a nursing student in good academic standing, all students must earn a grade 77 or above in all required nursing courses and meet the College's Good Standing policy. Nursing students cannot pass/fail any nursing courses. The Registrar notifies the Director of the Nursing Program of the students who earned less than a 77 or who received a grade such as a WA, W, WP, WF, UF or I in any required nursing course. This notification occurs within 24 hours of receipt of the official grade being submitted by faculty.

A nursing student must repeat, at the next available opportunity, any nursing courses with a final failing grade of 76 or less. Nursing students are allowed no more than 2 attempts for any nursing course and a maximum of 2 failing grades in nursing courses. Failure to meet these requirements will lead to dismissal from the nursing program.

Good Professional and Clinical Standing

Clinical hours are reported to our accrediting body and are required of all students. Each nursing clinical course has a prescribed number of contact hours. It is expected that students will complete all nursing clinical course hours. Certification to the Connecticut Department of Public Health for taking the NCLEX requires the verification that students have met the prescribed clinical hours.

PROGRAM OF STUDY

The College will recognize credit for prior learning (CPL) via the award of 21 college credits after the LPN successfully passes the NACE exams. The awarded credit will account for the following courses:

Prerequisite CPL (3 credits)

PY 111 - Introduction to Psychology

Major CPL (18 credits)

NR 223 - Foundational Nursing
NR 223C - Foundational Nursing Clinical
NR 226L - Nursing Skills Laboratory
NR 261 - Nursing Pathophysiology
NR 327 - Maternal Child Nursing Care
NR 327C - Maternal Child Nursing Care Clinical

Prerequisite and Correlative Requirements (28 credits)

YEAR ONE

BI 206 - Human Anatomy & Physiology I
BI 206L - Human Anatomy & Physiology I Laboratory
BI 207 - Human Anatomy & Physiology II
BI 207L - Human Anatomy & Physiology II Laboratory
BI 215 - Microbiology
BI 215L - Microbiology Laboratory
CH 231 - General Organic Biochemistry
CH 231L - General Organic Biochemistry Laboratory
EN 106 - Written Expression I
EN 107 - Written Expression II
MA 117 - Biostatistics: Math for Healthcare
SC 114 - Nutrition for Health and Fitness: The Science of Wellness

Major Requirements (48 credits)