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Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program Resources

The following information will facilitate your progression through Saint Louis University's Bachelor of Science in Nursing program.

We strongly encourage you to refer to the student handbook for this program. Please note that general student rules and regulations in place at Saint Louis University apply unless superseded by policies of the Trudy Busch Valentine School of Nursing.

Bachelor of Science in Nursing Contacts

Associate Dean and Option Coordinators

Academic Advisors (Traditional Four-Year B.S.N. Students Only)

Retention Specialist

Student Learning Outcomes

At the end of completion of SLU's nursing program, you will be a generalist who is able to:

  • Relate to people as unique individuals possessing worth, dignity, and potential for self-actualization.
  • Synthesize theoretical and empirical knowledge from the humanities and natural, social, behavioral, and nursing sciences to provide safe, effective nursing care.
  • Establish relationships based on understanding of self and others, and of interpersonal and group dynamics.
  • Practice in a variety of settings with clients of all ages and diverse sociocultural backgrounds.
  • Utilize critical thinking and problem solving skills, in application of the nursing process, to maintain client adaptation.
  • Assist clients, at any point on the health-illness continuum, to mobilize and use adaptive resources for promotion, maintenance and restoration of health.
  • Collaborate with interprofessional colleagues, community representatives, and consumers to enhance health care.
  • Apply evidence-based knowledge as the basis for safe, effective, nursing practice.
  • Apply the professional code of ethics and professional standards to clinical practice.
  • Demonstrate personal and professional responsibility, accountability, and self-direction.
  • Demonstrate leadership principles in professional and interprofessional practice.
  • Demonstrate understanding of health care policy issues, trends and strategies as they influence accessibility, accountability and affordability in health care delivery.
  • Utilize appropriate information and health care technologies to enhance the delivery of client care.

Computer Requirements

Computer requirements for the Trudy Busch Valentine School of Nursing are listed in the student handbook. 

Competencies/Standards

A nursing student must possess certain physical and mental attributes in order to provide safe and effective client care. The following competencies have been identified as essential to practice safely, with or without reasonable accommodations.

Competencies and Performance Standards Examples (not all-inclusive)
Physical Competence
Gross and fine motor skills, strength, mobility, and endurance sufficient to provide safe and effective nursing care.		 Maneuver within confined spaces, move quickly, move and position clients, operate large and small equipment, lift objects up to 50 pounds, work entire 8-12 hour shifts.
Sensory Perception
Hearing, vision and tactile function sufficient to assess and monitor health status and provide a safe environment.		 Hear alarms, hear blood pressure and heart sounds, observe client responses, read monitors and charts, feel body surface characteristics and pulses.
Critical and Analytical Thinking
Critical and analytical thinking abilities sufficient for sound clinical judgment.		 Identify cause-effect, synthesize knowledge, transfer knowledge, process information, prioritize, problem solve, plan, implement and evaluate nursing care.
Emotional Stability
Emotional stability sufficient to maintain accountability and responsibility in a high-stress environment.		 Adjust positively to stress/changing environment, keep attention focused, deal with unexpected, provide emotional support.
Interpersonal Skills
Interpersonal skills/abilities sufficient to interact positively with others.		 Establish rapport with clients and colleagues, respect differences, negotiate conflicts.
Communication Skills
Communication abilities sufficient for interacting with others in verbal and written form.		 Sharing information, teaching, explaining procedures, documenting, giving reports.
 

Tuition and Additional Costs

For information regarding the upcoming academic year’s tuition rate, fees and financial aid, please visit SLU Financial Services.

Traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing

All students in the traditional B.S.N. program have the following additional costs:

  • CastleBranch Service Fee: $35
  • CastleBranch Drug Screen: $39
  • Background Check: $105
  • ATI fees: $562.50 per semester in Sophomore and Junior years

Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing

All students in the A.B.S.N. program have the following additional costs:

  • ATI fees: $534 per term
  • Saunders Online NCLEX Review:  $80
  • CastleBranch Service:  $35
  • Background Check:  $105
  • Drug Screen: $35

Note:  This is not a comprehensive list of possible fees for the TBSN/ABSN nursing program. Other costs include uniforms for clinicals and labs, stethoscopes, etc.

National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX)

The NCLEX-RN is administered via computerized adaptive testing. The examination is assembled interactively as the candidate answers the questions creating an examination tailored to each candidate's skill level. 

Candidates do not need computer experience to take the CAT examination; all candidates will receive the same training prior to taking the examination. The examination will be administered at designated sites around the state and the U.S. 
 
There is no minimum amount of examination time; however, the successful candidate will answer a predetermined minimum number of 75 questions through a predetermined maximum of 145 throughout a five-hour testing period. 
 
The chair of the baccalaureate program will provide more specific information when it is time to apply to take the NCLEX examination. Application to sit for the exam in Missouri will include fingerprinting and criminal background checks. Information regarding eligibility to write the examination is found in the MO Nurse Practice Act.
 
Additional Information about the NCLEX


Students must have successfully completed the prescribed course of study as required by the Saint Louis University Trudy Busch Valentine School of Nursing in order to apply to write the state board examination for licensure. Application to sit for the exam in Missouri will include fingerprinting and a criminal background check.

Applicants should be aware that completion of the program of study does not guarantee eligibility to write the licensure examination and that the Missouri State Board of Nursing may refuse to issue a nursing license for the following causes:

The board may refuse to issue any certificate of registration or authority, permit or license required pursuant to Sections 335.011 to 335.096 for one or any combination of causes stated in subsection 2 of this section. The board shall notify the applicant in writing of the reasons for the refusal and shall advise the applicant of his rights to file a complaint with the administrative hearing commission as provided by chapter 621 RSMo.

The board may cause a complaint to be filed with the administrative hearing commission as provided by chapter 621 RSMo against any holder of any certificate of registration or authority, permit or license required by Section 335.011 to 335.096 or any person who has failed to renew or has surrendered his certificate of registration or authority, permit or license for any one or any combination of the following causes:

(1.) Use of unlawful possession of any controlled substance, as defined in 195 ROMs, or alcoholic beverage to an extent that such use impairs a person's ability to perform the work of any profession licensed or regulated by 335.011 to 335.096;

(2.) The person has been finally adjudicated and found guilty, or entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere, in a criminal prosecution under the laws of any state or of the United States, for any offense reasonably related to the qualifications, functions, or duties of any profession licensed or regulated under Sections 335.01 to 335.096 for any offense; an essential element of which is fraud, dishonesty or an act of violence, or for any offense involving moral turpitude, whether or not sentence is imposed;

(3.) Use of fraud, deception, misrepresentation or bribery in securing any certificate of registration or authority, permit or license issued pursuant to Sections 335.011 to 335.096 or in obtaining permission to take any examination given or required pursuant to Sections 335.011 to 335.096;

(4.) Obtaining or attempting to obtain any fee, charge, tuition or other compensation by fraud, deception or misrepresentation;

(5.) Incompetency, misconduct, gross negligence, fraud, misrepresentation or dishonesty in the performance of the functions or duties of any profession licensed or regulated by Sections 335.011 to 335.096;

(6.) Violation of or assisting or enabling any person to violate, any provision of Sections 335.011 or 335.096 or of any lawful rule or regulation adopted pursuant to Sections 335.011 or 335.096;

(7.) Impersonation of any person holding a certificate of registration or authority, permit or license or allowing any person to use his or her certificate of registration or authority, permit, license or diploma from any school;

(8.) Disciplinary action against the holder of a license or other right to practice any profession regulated by Sections 335.011 to 335.096 granted by another state, territory, federal agency or country upon grounds for which revocation or suspension is authorized in this state;

(9.) A person is finally adjudged insane or incompetent by a court of competent jurisdiction;

(10.) Assisting or enabling any person to practice or offer to practice any profession licensed or regulated by Sections 335.011 or 335.096 who is not registered and currently eligible to practice pursuant to Sections 335.011 to 335.096;

(11.) Issuance of a certificate of registration or authority, permit or license based upon a material mistake of fact;

(12.) Violation of any professional trust or confidence;

(13.) Use of any advertisement or solicitation which is false, misleading or deceptive to the general public or persons to whom the advertisement or solicitation is primarily directed;

(14.) Violation of the drug laws or rules and regulations of this state, any other state, or the federal government;

(15.) Placement on an employee disqualification list or other related restriction or finding pertaining to employment within a health-related profession issued by any state or federal government or agency following final disposition by such state or federal government or agency.

The Missouri State Board of Nursing has adopted the following rule:

An applicant for licensure by examination who answers yes to one or more of the questions on the application which relate to possible grounds for denial of licensure under section 335.066, RSMo, shall submit copies of appropriate documents related to that answer before his/her application will be considered complete. The copies shall be certified if they are records of a court or administrative government agency.

This means that, in addition to the separate notarized statement, the applicant must provide the State Board of Nursing office with supporting documents. This information need not accompany the application but must be provided before a decision can be made regarding eligibility to take the licensure examination.

Examples of court documents related to a conviction or convictions could be Information Complaint or Indictment Sheets, the Judgment or other documents showing the disposition of the case. This can also be referred to as the Order of Probation. The court documents MUST BE CERTIFIED.

Examples of documents related to drug and/or alcohol addiction could be medical records from an inpatient treatment program, a discharge summary, a current evaluation from a counselor, records of attendance at AA or NA, or other aftercare program.

It is the responsibility of the applicant to provide this information. Students for which this section is applicable should contact the Chair of Baccalaureate Programs for further information and assistance.

For more information, visit the Missouri State Board of Nursing website.