Nursing
Contact: Dara Wegman-Geedey, Professor (Biology)
Augustana's pre-nursing program is designed to prepare students for several types of nursing degree programs. Augustana graduates have been accepted into a variety of accelerated BSN programs, second-degree BSN programs, and direct-entry MSN programs, some of which feed into nurse practitioner programs. Acceptance into any post-baccalaureate nursing program is dependent upon under-graduate performance, clinical shadowing experience, letters of evaluation, interview results and successful completion of all entrance requirements.
While requirements vary among different schools, Augustanaís pre-nursing program satisfies the general education and science prerequisites for nearly all nursing schools in the country. The program requirements include Biology 200, 210, 255, 343, 362, 370; Chemistry 121-122-123; Psychology 100, 216, 240; Sociology 100 and one of Religion 326 or Philosophy 203 or 205. Recommended supporting courses include Anthropology 220, Biology 263, Chemistry 311, upper-level communication and composition courses, and additional social science coursework.
The Augustana nursing program is not a graduation major, so a departmental major must be completed if the student intends to graduate with a Bachelor of Arts degree. The choice of graduation major is not critical for acceptance by a school of nursing, but the majority of students matriculating in advanced nursing programs have a major in the biological sciences or psychology.
Augustana College has a BA/BSN articulation agreement with Trinity College of Nursing & Health Sciences. Students may be accepted to the program during the spring of their first or sophomore year at Augustana and must then maintain a minimum grade-point average and complete all required coursework. Through this articulation, students are granted limited acceptance to Trinity to take nursing skills coursework during the summer following their third year at Augustana.
After the summer nursing skills course, students return to Augustana for their senior year to complete a bachelor's degree in biology and a minor in either anthro-pology, psychology or sociology. During senior year, students may work as part-time CNAs or patient care technicians at local facilities which provides them with additional clinical experience.
After graduation from Augustana, they are granted complete acceptance to Trinity and finish the remaining year of nursing school, graduating with a BSN degree and an RN license pending adequate performance on the NCLEX-RN (National Council Licensure Exam for RNs). The Augustana/Trinity College program (five years total) is not restricted to Illinois residents.
Students interested in nursing should confer with the advisor early in the first year of study.
