Pre-Licensure Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)

FranU’s pre-licensure BSN program goals include:

1. At least 80% of graduates who test will pass the NCLEX-RN licensure exam on the first attempt.

2. At least 50% of students admitted to the pre-licensure BSN program will complete the program within 100% of the program length (5 semesters).

3. At least 90% of graduates will be employed within 12 months of graduation.

Upon completion of the Pre-Licensure Bachelor of Science in Nursing program, graduates can:

• Provide holistic nursing care to individuals, families, communities and populations across the lifespan, the health continuum and healthcare contexts.

• Integrate knowledge from the arts, sciences and nursing in the delivery of high-quality nursing care.

• Translate existing evidence into safe nursing practice.

• Communicate and collaborate in respectful partnerships to optimize health.

• Function as a leader and change agent within dynamic healthcare systems using knowledge of health policies and legal principles.

• Apply ethical principles while serving as an advocate and a caring healthcare provider.

• Demonstrate reflective practice to support continuous personal and professional growth.

For admission to FranU’s pre-licensure BSN program, students must:

1. Be in good academic standing at Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University.

2. Complete the prerequisite courses with a grade of C or better before applying to the program, and the courses must appear on the transcript (a grade of B or better in BIOL 2310 and BIOL 2311 is preferred). See the Prerequisite Course Requirements section for more details.

3. Have completed, with a grade of C or better, or have in progress the following pre-nursing courses:

   1. BIOL 2320, MATH 2315, PSYC 2330, Ethics elective (PHIL 2320 or THEO 3345) and NURS 2510 (to be considered for admission, students must earn a grade of C or better within three years of admission; Students may only attempt NURS 2510 twice within a three-year period; any grade, including a W, constitutes an attempt).

4. Have earned a grade point average of 2.75 or higher on pre-nursing courses in the BSN curriculum.

5. Have achieved the category of proficient or higher on the TEAS Admission Assessment. The TEAS must include all content (Reading, Math, Science, English and Language usage) and must have been taken within the last five years.

6. Additional factors may influence acceptance into the BSN program.

Final program acceptance is contingent on approval from the Louisiana State Board of Nursing (LSBN).

Admission After Dismissal

Students who were dismissed from a previous pre-licensure nursing program must wait to apply to the FranU nursing program until at least six months from the date of dismissal.

There are two paths for guaranteed admission into the pre-licensure bachelor’s in nursing program:

1. A student who enters the University as a freshman is guaranteed admission into the BSN program when:

   • All prerequisite courses toward the BSN degree are taken at FranU with at least a grade point average of 3.0 on all prerequisite coursework.

   • All other minimum admission requirements are met.

2. A transfer student is guaranteed admission to the BSN program when:

   • More than 30 hours of required coursework in the BSN program (including courses that are in progress at the time of application to the University) are transferred in with at least a grade point average of 3.2 in these courses.

   • A grade point average of at least 3.0 is maintained while completing the remaining prerequisite courses at the University.

   • All other minimum admission requirements are met.

   • NOTE: Students transferring in less than 30 hours of coursework may be considered for guaranteed admission. Students falling into this category should contact the Admissions Office.

Upon entry into the clinical portion of the program, ALL students must have attained a score of proficient or higher on the TEAS Exam and successfully completed all required prerequisite nursing courses with a grade of C or better.

Students requesting transfer into the pre-licensure BSN degree program from an accredited nursing program must:

1. Be in good academic standing and eligible to re-enter the previous nursing program.

2. Meet the established admission criteria for the BSN program.

3. Have earned a grade of C or better on all transfer courses in the BSN curriculum.

Process for transfer from an accredited nursing program:

• Apply for general admission to the University.

• Submit a clinical application for the pre-licensure BSN Program to the Office of Admissions by August 30 for the January class and by January 30 for the August class;

  • A letter of good standing from the previous nursing program must be submitted in support of the application and mailed to the Office of Admissions at the time of application.

• Submit the following documents to the School of Nursing by the published nursing application deadline:

  • Letter indicating intent to transfer from another nursing program.

  • Transcript of all previous coursework.

  • Course descriptions and course content for completed nursing courses.

  • Letter of good standing from prior nursing program(s).

• Schedule a meeting with the School of Nursing’s Associate Dean of Undergraduate Nursing to discuss transfer credits and placement in the curriculum. This meeting can only be scheduled after the School of Nursing has received all required documents.

Following the meeting with the applicant, Nursing Administration will review the applicant’s request and make a recommendation to the Admissions Workgroup regarding eligibility and transfer of courses. The Admissions Workgroup will make the final decision regarding admission to the program and transfer of nursing courses.

Upon admission, an evaluation of a student’s academic record is performed by the FranU Office of Admissions. To find out which courses will transfer in from another program, contact the Office of Admissions.

Applicants must complete the following prerequisite courses with a grade of C or better before applying to the program.

The Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS Exam) is a 170-question, three-hour-long assessment of a student’s preparedness to enter the health science field and is linked to predicted future academic success. FranU requires that students complete the TEAS exam.

Learn more about TEAS by downloading theATI TEAS Student Flyer. You can also utilize our guide on how to create a new TEAS account or how to register for the TEAS assessment.

FranU is proud to be one of the most affordable Catholic universities. We offer financial aid opportunities through grants, scholarships and loans, operating with the utmost care and respect for helping students and their families find financial aid options that work for them. Visit the Office of Financial Aid website to learn more.

Contact the Office of Admissions. Upon admission to the university, an evaluation of a student’s academic record is performed by the Office of Admissions.

Dual enrollment in high school does not make a student ineligible for pre-licensure BSN admission.

The Pre-Licensure Bachelor of Science in Nursing program has a competitive selection process for admissions. Applicants to the program must meet the minimum admission criteria; however, meeting minimum academic requirements does not guarantee admission. If you have specific questions about admissions, please contact The Office of Admissions.

Nurses are an integral part of the healthcare system, providing personal care and assistance to patients and working to maintain health and safety standards. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), careers in nursing are expected togrow at a rate of 6% over the next ten years. BSN-prepared registered nurses in Louisiana can expect an average annual salary of $80,760, as reported by the BLS.

Download the Nursing Student Handbook for more information about the pre-licensure nursing program.

Students who were dismissed from a previous pre-licensure nursing program must wait to apply to the FranU nursing program until at least 6 months from the date of dismissal