PATRICIA MARSHALL, M.S.N., R.N., CCRN, Undergraduate Program Director
SUSAN CLAVANO, M.S.N., R.N., Advisor
The Villa Maria School of Nursing, in agreement with the Pennsylvania Nursing Articulation Model, believes that a common core of knowledge exists between accredited basic nursing programs and should be recognized without the requirements of special testing. The goal of the Pennsylvania Nursing Articulation Model is to provide an appropriate path of articulation between RN and BSN programs, which eliminates duplication of content. Villa Maria School of Nursing has created an option including the use of transfer credits, articulation credits, challenge exams and validation by portfolio which all aid in eliminating duplication of content. Transfer credits are awarded in accordance with the University guidelines and policies. Villa Maria School of Nursing provides articulation credits for basic nursing knowledge gained from an accredited RN program. Up to thirty-two (32) credits of nursing are granted, during the final semester of study, for articulation credit.
Nursing knowledge gained through professional experience, which demonstrates attainment of professional nursing course outcomes may be validated through portfolio. Students admitted to the RN to BSN Option may choose to create a portfolio for qualifying professional nursing courses. The process for creation of and validation of course outcomes by portfolio is presented, practiced and refined in the Transition to Professional Nursing course (NURS 203).
The student, who believes that specific required courses would involve repetitive learning, may have an opportunity to challenge the course by examination. Students may also earn credits through the College Level Examination Program (CLEP). Students must receive academic advisement regarding course credits approved for challenge examinations and CLEP exams from their advisor.
NLN Achievement testing may demonstrate a student's knowledge in specific subjects, such as nutrition.
NLN Achievement testing may be required for students who have not graduated from an accredited nursing program.
All RN to BSN Option students must earn 128 credits to graduate with the BSN.
Registered Nurses with an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) may qualify to obtain the BSN through the next-step program.
Next-Step Program
BSN Option for Graduates of Two Year Colleges (ADN)
(Numerals in front of courses indicate credits)
| 3 | Sacred Scripture/LTHE 121 or Theology II Series/LTHE |
| 3 | Invitation to Philosophy/LPHI 231 or Philosophy II Series/LPHI |
| 3 | Literature Series/LENG |
| 3 | Fine Arts Series/LFIN |
| 3 | Theo/Phil III Series/LTHE or LPHI |
| 3 | Capstone Seminar/NURS 404* |
| 18 | Credits |
*NURS 404 as the approved Liberal Studies capstone course for
the nursing major. If achieved through portfolio, the student must attend a
scheduled seminar to fulfill the LBST 383 requirements.
| 8 | Human Anatomy & Physiology I and II/ BIOL 115, 116, 117, 118 |
| 4 | Physiologic Chemistry and lab/CHEM 105 and 108 |
| 4 | Microbiology/BIOL 106 & 107 |
| 3 | Human Growth and Development/PSYC 222 |
| 3 | Nutrition/DIET 202 |
| 3 | Statistics/PSYC 211 or SOCI 351 |
| 25 | Credits |
| 5 | Transition to Professional Nursing/NURS 203 (required) |
| 3 | Nursing Research/NURS 308 (required) |
| 3 | Nurse Power Politics/*NURS 404 (validation by Portfolio available) |
| 5 | Promoting Healthy Communities/NURS 414(validation by Portfolio available) |
| 3 | Management and Leadership in Nursing/NURS 408 (validation by Portfolio available) |
| 19 | Credits |
*If achieved through portfolio, the student must attend a
scheduled seminar to fulfill the LBST 383 requirements.
| 14 | Free electives |
| 9 | Nursing electives |
| 23 | Credits |
The student must earn 128 credits to complete the Baccalaureate of Science in Nursing degree. The RN to BSN student will have a total of 60 credits in nursing through the combination of articulation credits and those nursing courses taken at Gannon in pursuit of the BSN.
Registered Nurses with a hospital diploma in nursing may qualify to obtain the BSN through the completion of the following courses.
| 3 | College Composition/LENG 111 |
| 3 | Critical Analysis and Comp/LENG 112 |
| 3 | English Literature Series/LENG |
| 3 | Sacred Scriptures/LTHE 121 |
| 3 | Theology II Series/LTHE |
| 3 | Introduction toPhilosophy I/LTHE 231 |
| 3 | Philosophy II Series/LPHI |
| 3 | Theo/Phil III Series/LTHE or LPHI |
| 3 | Intro Psychology/PSYC 111 |
| 3 | Basic Sociology/SOCI 110 |
| 3 | Fine Arts Series/LFIN |
| 3 | Hist of West & World/LHST 111 |
| 3 | Capstone Seminar/NURS 404 (LBST 383)* |
| 39 | Credits |
*NURS 404 fulfills LBST 383 if taken in person. If NURS 404 is achieved through portfolio, the student must attend a scheduled seminar to fulfill the LBST 383 requirements.
| 8 | Human Anatomy & Physiology I and II/BIOL 115, 116, 117, 118 |
| 4 | Physiologic Chemistry and lab/CHEM 105 and 108 |
| 4 | Microbiology/BIOL 106 & 107 |
| 3 | Human Growth and Development/PSYC 222 |
| 3 | Nutrition/DIET 202 |
| 3 | Statistics/PSYC 211 or SOCI 351 |
| 25 | Credits |
| 5 | Transition to Professional Nursing/NURS 203 (required) |
| 4 | Nursing Research/ NURS 308 (required) |
| 3 | Nurse Power Politics/*NURS 404 (validation by Portfolio available) |
| 5 | Promoting Healthy Communities/ NURS 414 (validation by Portfolio available) |
| 3 | Management and Leadership in Nursing/ NURS 408 (validation by Portfolio available) |
| 19 | Credits |
*If achieved through portfolio, the student must attend a scheduled seminar to fulfill the LBST 383 requirements.
| 10 | Free electives |
| 9 | Nursing electives |
| 19 | Credits |
The student must earn 128 credits to complete the Baccalaureate of Science in Nursing degree. The RN to BSN student will have a total of 60 credits in nursing through a combination of articulation credits and those nursing courses taken at Gannon in pursuit of the BSN.