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group of nursing students in simulation lab practicing listening to mannequin's heartbeat

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (Bolivar)

Pre-Licensure Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) Degree
(Bolivar Campus)

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The Pre-Licensure BSN program will accept applications for the 2021 cohort beginning January 2, 2020. View the admissions criteria and degree plan for pre-requisite requirements and application instructions.

SBU has received initial approval from the Missouri State Board of Nursing for our pre-licensure BSN program. This is a traditional pre-licensure BSN degree program for students who do not already have a nursing degree (or LPN or RN certification). If you have an ASN degree and would like to earn a bachelor's degree, please read about our degree completion BSN nursing program.

Earn a BSN at SBU-BOlivar

Studying nursing at the Don and Carrie Babb Department of Nursing at SBU will enable you to experience traditional college life while also receiving a quality nursing education. You will graduate with a bachelor's degree, preparing you for the NCLEX-RN to become a Registered Nurse (RN).* 

A combination of seated and online nursing course formats, together with a strong liberal arts and sciences curriculum, will prepare you to practice in a variety of health care settings — critical care, outpatient care, public health, and mental health.

*Completion of the nursing bachelor's program does not guarantee eligibility to take the licensure examination.

Our communities need more nurses

Demand is growing for highly qualified nurses. Our communities need registered nurses and the need is growing! SBU is helping address the nursing shortage issue by preparing professional nursing graduates.

  • By 2030, Missouri is projected to have a shortage ratio of 27 RNs per 100,000 people (American Journal of Medical Quality, 2012)
  • More RN jobs will be available through 2022 than any other profession in the U.S. (American Nurses Association, 2018)
  • 1.1 million more nurses are needed to avoid a further nurse shortage (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2018)
  • Employment opportunities for nurses are projected to grow at a faster rate (15%) than all other occupations from 2016 through 2026 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2018)

Value of a bachelor's degree in nursing

A two-year study by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and Institute of Medicine (IOM) concluded that the nursing industry needs to move toward a more highly educated workforce. The IOM recommends that 80% of nurses have at least a BSN degree by 2020 — currently, only 55% of the national nursing workforce has a BSN.

SBU's bachelor of science in nursing degree will equip you with the education, skills training and leadership preparation you need to be a successful nurse in today's society.

Learn More

State-of-the-Art Facilities

Admissions Criteria

Degree Plan

Major Map

Resources

Information PACKET

Program Application

Submit application materials

2021
Year of
First Graduating
Class

(Job placement rate information for this program will be available with the graduation of the first program cohort in 2021.)

Program Outcomes

Student Learning Outcomes

Nursing faculty responds to student in simulation lab exercise

The SBU Advantage

  • Study at a nursing college that is accredited by ACEN (Accrediting Commission for Education in Nursing) and is under the University's accreditation by HLC (Higher Learning Commission).
  • Receive a Christian liberal arts education that will prepare you in leadership, critical thinking skills and clinical reasoning abilities.
  • Experience college life on our main campus in Bolivar and benefit from the many activities, events, clubs and organizations.
  • Learn at a school that has been offering quality nursing degrees and producing successful nursing graduates since 1996.

Faith Integration

At SBU, the integration of faith and academics is at the heart of what we do. As a BSN graduate from SBU, you will be prepared to be an effective servant leader in the healthcare profession. You will learn how to integrate knowledge obtained from a Christ-centered liberal arts curriculum to guide your nurse practice, professional development and lifelong learning.

Integration of faith is woven into all curriculum and courses, but you also will have the opportunity to take courses specifically designed to help you consider how your faith is an important part of your career as a compassionate nurse. Courses such as "Spirituality in Healthcare" will equip you to approach your nursing career with a Christ-centered perspective. All SBU students also take courses in Old Testament and New Testament history.

State-of-the-art facilities

A capital fundraising campaign raised more than $1.1 million for renovation of a state-of-the-art simulation lab and learning resource center for SBU's pre-licensure bachelor of science in nursing program.

The renovated space includes the simulation lab with current technology, Learning Resource Center, classrooms, computer labs, and faculty office space.

“Our Simulation Center will provide students with real-life experiences in a safe learning environment to prepare them for practice in a complex healthcare environment,” said Nancy Delmont, chair of the Don and Carrie Babb Department of Nursing.

The SBU Nursing faculty and staff have helped me not only learn how to be a caring and loving nurse, but a nurse that shines the light of Jesus through everything I do.

Esther Loser, nursing student
Esther Loser, nursing student

Admissions criteria

For full acceptance into the BSN program, prerequisite courses must be completed. Conditional admission is possible for students within one semester of completed required science courses. The pre-licensure BSN program degree plan lists required courses. Additionally, you must complete an admissions exam.

Applicants must satisfy all admissions criteria, which includes:

  • BIO 2204, BIO 3304, and BIO 2213 must be completed within five years of admission into the pre-licensure BSN program
  • Cumulative GPA of 2.7+
  • Science courses (biology, chemistry, microbiology, anatomy & physiology) GPA of 2.7+ 
  • Pass background check and drug screen

A full list of admissions criteria is available in the application packet.

Acceptance into the BSN program is based on satisfactory completion on the admission criteria and space availability. When applicants meet minimum qualifications, an admission selection criteria worksheet will be used if the number of qualified applicants exceeds space availability. Applicants with the top scores will be offered first choice for the seats in the cohort.

Application process

TAKE THE NEXT STEP

Apply to SBU today to begin your journey to your nursing career! Upon your admission to SBU, you will begin as a pre-nursing student and work on your three semesters of prerequisite courses to prepare for admission into the nursing degree program.

QUESTIONS?

Contact Nancy Delmont, program chair, at (417) 328-1553 or ndelmont@SBUniv.edu to learn more about the BSN program on SBU's Bolivar campus.

Full-Time Faculty

Nancy Delmont

Nancy Delmont, Program Chair
Blair Stockton

Blair Stockton, Instructor
Heather Daulton

Heather Daulton, Instructor
Julie Wilken

Julie Wilken, Learning Resource and Simulation Coordinator
Tori O'Brien

Tori O'Brien, Instructor

 

nursing (bolivar) Program Four-Year Plan

Freshman

Fall Semester

MAT 1243 Algebraic Reasoning and Modeling 3
ENG 1113 English Composition I 3
CHE 1004* Chemistry for Allied Health 4
BIO 1004* Principles of Biology 4
UNI 1111 University Seminar 1
Total hours 15

Spring Semester

ENG 2213 English Composition II 3
PSY 1013* General Psychology 3
BIO 2204* Anatomy and Physiology I or  
BIO 3304* Anatomy and Physiology II 4
POL 1113 American Government & Politics 3
BIO 2213* Introduction to Microbiology 3
UNI 1121 Introduction to Critical Thinking 1
Total hours 17
 

Sophomore

Fall Semester

BIB 1013 Old Testament History 3
HIS 2213/2223 U.S. History I or II 3
CIS 1103* Computer & Information Management 3
BIO 2243* Nutrition 3
BIO 2204* Anatomy and Physiology I or  
BIO 3304* Anatomy and Physiology II 4
Total hours 16

Spring Semester (Nursing semester 1)

BIO 4404 Pathophysiology 4
NRS/NUR 3010 BSN New Student Orientation 0
NRS 3117 Fundamentals of Nursing Practice 7
NRS/NUR 3453 Spirituality in Healthcare 3
KIN 1162 Physical Fitness and Wellness 2
Total hours 16
 

Junior

Fall Semester (Nursing semester 2)

PSY 3063 Human Growth and Development 3
COM 1103 Fundamentals of Speech Communication or  
COM 2393 Interpersonal Communication 3
NRS 3217 Medical Surgical I - Adult and Elderly Care 7
NRS 3233 Pharmacology for Nursing Practice 3
Total hours 16

Spring Semester (Nursing semester 3)

ECO 2003 L.I.F.E. Economics 3
BEH 3243 Elementary Statistics 3
NRS 3317 Medical Surgical II Complex Adult and Elderly Care 7
NRS/NUR 3563 Health Care Informatics 3
Total hours 16
 

Senior

Fall Semester (Nursing semester 4)

NRS 4114 Maternal Child & Family Health 4
NRS/NUR 4013 Healthcare in Culturally Diverse Populations 3
NRS/NUR 4404 Community Health 4
NRS/NUR 4333 Research and Evidence Based Practice 3
BIB 1023 New Testament History 3
Total hours 17

Spring Semester (Nursing semester 5)

NRS 4403 Advanced Health Assessment & Critical Care 3
NRS/NUR 4434 Administration and Leadership 4
NRS 4544 Transition to Nursing Practice Preceptorship 4
NRS 4501 NCLEX Review 1
FAR 10_3 Intro. to Art, Fine Arts, Music or Theatre 3
Total hours 15

* Required pre-requisite courses; students may apply for the BSN program when these pre-requisite courses are completed or within one semester of completion.
Acceptance into the BSN program will be based upon selection criteria that include cumulative GPA, science GPA and entry test scores.

Download in PDF format:
NURSING (BOLIVAR) PLAN