Saint Leo University BSN Programs

Saint Leo University launched its Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program in Fall 2021. The program helps address Florida and the nation’s critical nursing shortage. Florida expects to need about 59,000 nurses by 2035, while the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a national demand for more than 200,000 registered nurses through 2031.

The BSN program marks a major milestone in Saint Leo’s history. The university celebrated its first nursing graduates in May 2024. The program earned Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) accreditation that same month, receiving the maximum allowable accreditation term of five years.

Students follow a well-laid-out four-year format in this limited-access program. They spend their first two years completing arts and sciences prerequisites. These include anatomy, microbiology, math, writing, ethics, and psychology. Students can apply to the nursing major for their junior and senior years after maintaining a minimum 3.3 GPA and passing the standardized ATI Test of Essential Academic Skills.

Saint Leo’s nursing curriculum stands out with its modern, progressive approach that focuses on integrated, person-centered care. The program uses a “simple to complex” teaching framework. Students progress from basic nursing concepts to advanced studies in acute care, population health, and chronic care management. The program also emphasizes clinician well-being. Future nurses learn resilience and stress management skills that help them build lasting careers.

Students learn through hands-on experiences:

• State-of-the-art simulation labs in the renovated Benedictine Hall
• Clinical rotations at partner healthcare facilities
• An innovative Dedicated Education Unit at AdventHealth that provides clinical experience with nurse mentors

The program has strong financial backing. It received $740,000 from Florida’s Legislature’s 2023-2024 budget and over $750,000 from private donors. Saint Leo’s Nursing Housing Award helps qualifying students by providing up to $7,680 yearly for on-campus housing costs.

Graduates can take the National Council of State Boards of Nursing Licensure Exam for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) after completing the program. They start with salaries between $60,000 and $65,000 and find work in a variety of settings. These include hospitals, long-term care facilities, schools, community agencies, and corporate environments.

Available Program Tracks

Saint Leo University’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program provides a well-laid-out path to becoming a registered nurse with its modern curriculum design. Students build their nursing knowledge step by step over four years through a unique “simple to complex” approach.

The traditional four-year BSN track runs at the University Campus. Students spend their first two years completing basic prerequisites in arts and sciences. These include anatomy, microbiology, mathematics, writing, ethics, and psychology. The junior year marks the start of core nursing coursework. Students learn about nursing practice foundations, acute care, mental health nursing, and pharmacology.

Saint Leo makes it easy for transfer students and second-degree seekers to finish their BSN quickly. Students with previous college credits or degrees can join the program at different stages if they meet the prerequisites.

The program becomes more challenging in junior and senior years with detailed nursing courses:

Junior Year Curriculum:

• Professional Nursing and Culture of Health
• Foundations of Nursing Practice
• Nutrition and Health
• Pharmacology in Nursing
• Professional Nursing Scholarship
• Acute Care Nursing
• Mental Health Nursing

Senior Year Curriculum:

• Nursing Care of Women, Children, and Families
• Chronic Care Nursing
• Population Health Nursing
• Complex Care Nursing
• Personal, Professional, and Leadership Development

Students participate in many clinical experiences throughout their studies. They practice in laboratories, work with simulations, complete preceptorships, and rotate through healthcare facilities. This hands-on training prepares them for the NCLEX-RN licensing examination after graduation.

BSN graduates can choose from several rewarding career paths in healthcare:

• Staff Nursing in hospitals and recovery centers
• Emergency Room (ER) Nursing for those who excel in ever-changing environments
• Critical Care Nursing with severely ill patients
• Pediatric Nursing for children’s healthcare
• Psychiatric Nursing in mental health treatment
• Public Health Nursing to address community health needs

The first cohort of Saint Leo nursing students started their upper-level nursing courses in Fall 2023 and will graduate in Spring 2025.

Flexible Learning Formats

Saint Leo University’s BSN program makes flexibility its core by offering multiple pathways that fit diverse student needs and schedules. Students can attend the nursing program at the University Campus in Saint Leo, Florida, in the Tampa Bay area.

In spite of that, each student’s experience at Saint Leo is unique. The university offers various learning formats to make education accessible without quality compromise. “Learn your way at Saint Leo University with flexible options—online, campus, or at an education center. Each program has its own modality to fit your needs”.

Saint Leo runs six education centers across two states with options that working professionals need:

• Eight-week academic terms starting six times per year
• Evening and weekend classes
• Online and distance-learning opportunities

Students learn through both synchronous and asynchronous methods. Synchronous learning happens in real-time, either on-campus or through scheduled online sessions using platforms like Zoom or Microsoft Teams. Asynchronous components let students progress through course materials at their own pace, which works well with work or personal commitments.

Saint Leo’s online learning environment supports nursing students from any location. “Our online degree programs at Saint Leo University are at the forefront of cutting-edge virtual university experiences”. Students benefit from user-friendly technology and strong support systems.

Online formats create genuine connections: “As an online learner, you will be surrounded by a welcoming virtual community that shares your passion to be more and do more”. This community focus helps remote students build valuable professional networks.

Saint Leo delivers rigorous academic coursework in every learning format. The university promises that “regardless of where you live or how you need to take your classes, our Education Centers provide the same quality academic programs across all degree programs and learning formats”.

Entry Criteria & Prerequisites

Saint Leo University’s BSN program follows a two-step admission process. Students start with pre-nursing status, and the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program accepts only top candidates due to limited space.

New students begin their journey as pre-nursing students. This path requires a minimum high school GPA of 2.7 and students must acknowledge background check requirements. The program welcomes new students in fall and spring semesters.

Students can apply to the nursing major during their sophomore year. The requirements include:

• A cumulative GPA of 3.30 or higher for all coursework
• Completion of 60 credits of prerequisite coursework with ‘C’ grades or better in most courses
• ‘B’ grades or better in crucial courses: Anatomy and Physiology I with lab, Anatomy and Physiology II with lab, and College Algebra
• A score of 72 or higher on the ATI Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) exam
• Application submission through NursingCAS the semester before junior year

Students who receive conditional acceptance must complete these requirements before final enrollment:

• A satisfactory health history and physical examination
• All required immunizations
• Drug screening
• American Heart Association Healthcare Provider Basic Life Support CPR certification
• Background check and fingerprinting

Transfer students with fewer than 60 semester hours and no A.A. degree must meet the same pre-nursing requirements. The program will stop accepting transfer credit from StraighterLine or Sophia Learning for Anatomy and Physiology courses starting May 1, 2025.

Applications open about six months before program entry. Students who want to join Fall 2026 can apply from August 7, 2025, until March 1, 2026.

What Sets the BSN Programs Apart at Saint Leo University

Saint Leo University’s BSN program excels with its fresh take on BSN education. Students learn to care for patients as complete individuals, not just their medical conditions. This comprehensive, patient-focused approach sets the program apart.

The curriculum puts special emphasis on nurses’ mental health and wellbeing. Students learn essential stress management and resilience skills that many traditional programs don’t cover. These tools help nurses build lasting careers in this challenging field.

Students get valuable hands-on experience through the program’s connections with healthcare facilities. The Dedicated Education Unit at AdventHealth matches students with experienced nurse mentors. This setup creates a supportive environment for real-life learning.

The renovated Benedictine Hall houses cutting-edge simulation facilities where students practice clinical skills in realistic scenarios. This hands-on experience with advanced technology helps graduates step into clinical settings with confidence.

The program receives strong financial support, including $740,000 from the Florida Legislature and more than $750,000 from private donors. Students who qualify can receive up to $7,680 yearly through the Nursing Housing Award to cover on-campus housing costs.

The program’s recent CCNE accreditation confirms its high standards. Saint Leo’s BSN program blends rigorous academics with practical training to prepare graduates who meet critical healthcare needs in Florida and beyond.