Become a high-tech leader managing patient care in a fast-paced environment.
Lewis University’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing program was ranked among the Top Ten Nursing Programs in Illinois by online nursing education and career site RegisteredNursing.Org.
Nursing students at Lewis experience more than just a “technical training” program – they develop a holistic approach to patient care and an ethical framework for effective decision making. Upon completion of the program, students are uniquely prepared to excel in all situations they encounter in the field and eligible to apply for the NCLEX-RN national exam for licensure as a Registered Professional Nurse.
The baccalaureate degree program in nursing/master’s degree program in nursing/Doctor of Nursing Practice program and post-graduate APRN certificate program at Lewis University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org).
Sample Courses
- Anatomy and Physiology
- Microbiology
- Lifespan Development
- Fundamentals of Safety and Quality in Patient-Centered Care
- Evidence Based Practice and Nursing Research
- Childbearing Families
- Community Health Nursing
Career Options:
- Critical Care Nurse
- Emergency Room Nurse
- Pediatric Nurse
- Medical/Surgical Nurse
- Behavioral Health Nurse
Lewis NCLEX pass rates (# passed/total candidates)
2015 | 131/138 | 95% |
2016 | 136/144 | 94% |
2017 | 109/116 | 94% |
2018 | 124/129 | 96% |
2019 | 124/130 | 95% |
2020 | 96/99 | 97% |
2021 | 97/100 | 97% |
2022 | 95/103 | 92% |
2023 | 88/90 | 98% |
Nursing Clinical Sites
Nursing students will select from 50 different affiliating agencies in the region to obtain a diverse clinical experience. See the most recent list of clinical sites.
On Campus Opportunities
Admission Requirements
First-Year Applicants:
- Must have graduated from an approved high school with a combination of grade point average, and SAT or ACT score which indicates a strong likelihood of success in university studies.
- Official high school transcripts from all institutions previously attended.
- Must have accumulated 18 high school units
- Three (3) units must be in English
- Fifteen (15) units should be chosen from a college preparatory curriculum
- Veterans must submit a DD214.
- Submitted application.
Transfer Student Applicants:
A transfer student applicant is defined as a degree-seeking student who has earned a minimum of 12 semester hours of transferable credit at a regionally accredited post-secondary institution. Credits earned through Prior Learning Assessment cannot be used to meet the minimum credit hour requirement for admission.
- Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 based upon all transferable courses. Transfer students may be required to submit SAT or ACT scores or high school transcript(s).
- Official transcripts from all institutions previously attended.
An evaluation of transfer credit will be forwarded with the acceptance letter, showing courses accepted in transfer and courses/hours that still need to be completed at Lewis.
Additional Requirements for Nursing Students:
- First-year applicants to the nursing program are strongly advised to have completed the following:
- One (1) year of high school chemistry
- Two (2) years of high school mathematics
- Grade of “C” or above in each class
- First-year applicants who plan to major in nursing should contact the Office of Admission for the current minimum SAT or ACT composite score.
- Students must receive a grade of “C” or better in required science courses to progress to the next semester in the program. Students who received only one failing grade (C-, D, F, or W) in a science course will be allowed to repeat that course once. Science theory and science labs are counted as separate classes.
- Upon a second failed science course, or if the student fails or withdraws from both theory and lab during the semester, the student will be notified that they have been academically dismissed from the nursing major. Dismissal from the College of Nursing and Health Sciences (CoNHS) does not necessarily result in dismissal from the University.
- Prior to entering clinical courses, every pre-licensure CoNHS student must complete a disclosure form, similar to the disclosure required by the Illinois Department of Finance and Professional Regulations in the application for licensure as an RN and meet requirements of clinical agency.
- Must complete a physical examination form and receive the required immunizations. Yearly drug screenings, background checks and flu shots must be completed every consecutive fall semester and prior to entering Sophomore II clinical courses.
- Every CONHS student is subject to the college’s Chemical Impairment Policy.
Admission, progression, curriculum and graduation policies of the pre-licensure track are subject to change in order to comply with the requirements of the current Illinois Nursing and Advanced Practice Nursing Act, Rules for the Administration of Nursing and Advanced Practice Nursing Act, and The Essentials of Baccalaureate Education for Professional Nursing Practice (Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 2008).
Please refer to the Office of Admission for application requirements and specific next steps.
For more information contact the Office of Admission at admission@lewisu.edu or call (815)836-5250.
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