Accredited nursing degree programs in Indiana turn students interested in helping others in to professionals with the skills to assist patients in all types of medical facilities. Nurses who graduate from the top programs in the state later work in rehabilitation clinics, doctors’ offices, hospitals and hundreds of other medical facilities both in Indiana and in other states across the country. They learn all the knowledge they need to take and pass the nursing examination that awards them a nursing license, and they also gain practical skills from working directly with patients as part of their studies and from their professors. To see more accredited nursing degree programs in Indiana, visit Nursing Degree Programs in Indiana (A-K).
Marian University
Leighton School of Nursing
Marian University has one of the lowest student to professor ratios in the country. For every 15 students enrolled in a class, there is one professor working directly with those students. That low ratio is especially helpful in regards to nursing classes because students gain individualized help and support. Founded in 1851, Marian University originally opened as a small teaching college established by the Sisters of Saint Francis. As the enrollment grew, the school moved to its current campus in Indianapolis. Though not nationally ranked, it has a good reputation as one of the state’s top schools.
Bachelors of Science in Nursing
The Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Marian University is available through its Leighton School of Nursing. Also known as the BSN program, it requires that students spend at least four years working in classrooms and in the field. The program consists of two different stages. Students enrolling the program must first take general education courses and a few nursing classes, and they must receive high grades in those nurses classes to continue. Those who score lower will take the class over, but those who continue receiving low grades may face dismissal from the nursing program. During the second stage of the program, students will complete clinical rotations in the field. Marian University has its headquarters downtown, which makes it easy for students to find placements in local hospitals and facilities. The program incorporates elements of traditional liberal arts education with training and experience in the nursing profession.
Accreditation
- Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Contact
Marian University
3200 Cold Spring Road
Indianapolis, Indiana 46222
(317) 955-6000
admissions@marian.edu
http://www.marian.edu/academics/marian’s-adult-programs/academics/nursing
Purdue University
School of Nursing
Purdue University has one of the strongest reputations of all colleges in the state. Famous alumni include astronauts Neil Armstrong and Gus Grissom, NASCAR driver Ryan Newman and several Pulitzer Prize winners. Established in 1869, Purdue has a total student population of nearly 39,000 students, and many students choose the school because of its high rankings. Washington Monthly and U.S. News and World Report both ranked Purdue among the top 100 American colleges, and Forbes listed it as the 199th best college in the nation. Purdue also made three separate lists as one of the best colleges in the world.
BSN
Though best known for its math, science, technology and engineering programs, Purdue University also offers a BSN program designed for students who have little to no nursing experience. While other programs allow students to apply and enter at any time, Purdue requires that all nursing students apply and receive acceptance before the start of the fall semester. Students who attended other colleges in the past will need to submit transcripts and talk with counselors about transferring any of those credits. Purdue changed its program requirements in 2013 to include more intensive practical experience. This 120 credit hour nursing program requires the completion of 23 credit hours of core nursing classes that students must finish with a grade of “C” or higher. Students will also complete a clinical capstone project that lets them work for a local hospital or healthcare facility and gain valuable hands on experience before graduating.
Accreditation
- Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Contact
610 Purdue Mall,
West Lafayette, IN 47907
(765) 494-4600
admissions@purdue.edu
http://www.nursing.purdue.edu/
St. Joseph’s College
Division of Nursing
Located in northwest Indiana, St. Joseph’s College is a small private college with less than 1,200 students that is affiliated with the Catholic Church. Founded by a group of missionaries in 1889, the school initially taught children of local Native Americans skills that would help them find work. As the population of Native American students in the region dropped, the college shifted its focus to the education of any student and moved from a secondary school to an institution of higher learning. U.S. News and World Report and The Princeton Review named St. Joseph’s College as the best college in the Midwest.
BSN in Nursing
Through its Division of Nursing, St. Joseph’s College offers a unique BSN in Nursing program designed to give students more experience in the field than any other program of its type. The first year students enter the program, they take classes on campus and learn from instructors who actually worked or currently work as doctors and nurses. Students must maintain a high grade point average and receive a minimum grade of a “C” in all nurses classes. After completing the first year, students will spend their remaining years taking classes on the SJC campus in Lafayette. The last three years they remain enrolled in the program is when they complete their fieldwork. Students typically work in the same facility one year and then have the chance to work in multiple facilities in and around campus. Any work they do in the field earns them credit towards a BSN degree.
Accreditation
- Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Contact
PO Box 870
Rensselaer, IN 47978
(219) 866-6000
anitar@saintjoe.edu
http://www.saintjoe.edu/nursing
Saint Mary’s College
Department of Nursing
Saint Mary’s College is a liberal arts school located in Notre Dame, Indiana and is within close proximity to the University of Notre Dame. Established in the late 19th century as a secondary school for female students, it later became a boarding school and offered both high school and college classes. Though plans came up over the years to merge ND and SMC, the schools remained separate. Citing the need for diversity, the college allowed male students to enroll starting in the early 1970s. More than 1,600 students now take classes on the Roman Catholic affiliated campus every year.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
As one of the top accredited nursing degree programs in Indiana, the program at Saint Mary’s College strives to educate students on all aspects of the nursing industry. Students must learn how to cite information using APA citations, and they must demonstrate a strong understanding of medical terminology and medical writing. The most important test that a nurse will ever take is the NCLEX examination. Only those who score above a certain percentage receive a nursing license. Saint Mary’s College offers all students the chance to take a practice exam that gives them an idea about the type of questions they might find on the real test. The Bachelor of Science in Nursing program also focuses on interactive learning. Students begin their clinical rotations and fieldwork just one year after enrolling. SMC offers internships and externships that students can apply for to gain experience working in specific medical fields too.
Accreditation
- Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Contact
Saint Mary’s College
Notre Dame, IN 46556
(574) 284-4000
admissions@saintmarys.edu
https://www.saintmarys.edu/majors/nursing
University of Indianapolis
School of Nursing
Known as UIndy among students, professors and fans, the University of Indianapolis is the largest private university in the city and one of the largest private schools in the entire state. Founded in 1902, the school opened its doors three years later with just a small number of classes. Most of its first students earned certificates and gained experience needed for working as teachers across the Midwest. Affiliated with the United Methodist Church, UIndy went through several name changes over the years before becoming the University of Indianapolis. It now educates more than 5,000 students every year on its main campus.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
The Bachelor of Science in Nursing program at the University of Indianapolis consists of four years of study and specific requirements that students must meet each year. Incoming freshmen spend their first year working in classrooms and training under licensed professors and other instructors. Students must maintain a minimum grade point average of 2.85 and receive “C” grades or higher in all introductory and basic math and science classes. Students will take additional classes in English, psychology and other topics before taking courses on nursing. Required nursing classes focus on teaching students how to make medical histories and work with patients. Sophomore and junior students will split their time between working in classrooms on campus and working in the field. Senior nursing students spend the majority of their time completing clinical rotations working in hospitals and clinics in and around Indianapolis under the guidance of licensed and trained nurses and doctors.
Accreditation
- Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Contact
1400 East Hanna Avenue
Indianapolis, Indiana 46227
(317) 788-3368
nursing@uindy.edu
http://www.uindy.edu/nursing/bsn
University of Saint Francis
School of Health Sciences
Foreseeing the need for higher education in northwest Indiana, a group of Roman Catholic Sisters came together to establish the University of Saint Francis. As enrollment grew and the campus could no longer keep up with demand, the Sisters moved the campus to its current location. It changed names a few times before eventually becoming the University of Saint Francis again. All students taking classes on campus must take religious courses and agree to follow any rules or standards imposed by the school. Since moving to Fort Wayne, the college saw its population grow to more than 2,000 students.
Nursing (Traditional BSN)
The University of Saint Francis is one of the only colleges in the state that offers a BSN degree program online. Designed for students who cannot attend classes on the Fort Wayne campus, this program allows them to find clinical experiences in their own cities and seek approval from the school before beginning fieldwork. In addition to online learning, USF also offers a traditional BSN program designed for students who start as freshmen. Its RN to BSN program is shorter and only open to those who have a nursing degree already. The traditional BSN program requires one year of full time study and the completion of classes like ethics of nursing, nursing law and nursing professions. Students spend their remaining years in the program working with professors in their classes and working off campus to complete clinical rotations. Those rotations allow them to work directly with patients.
Accreditation
- Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Contact
2701 Spring Street
Fort Wayne, Indiana 46808
(260) 399-7700
webmaster@sf.edu
http://www.sf.edu/sohs/
University of Southern Indiana
College of Nursing & Health Professions
Indiana State University founded a small satellite campus in Terre Haute that offered multiple classes and degree programs for students and encouraged students to transfer to its main campus. Founded in 1965, the college experienced a number of problems during its early years. After a group of locals pointed out the flaws in the partnership between the two schools, ISU withdraw its support. Its former campus became the University of Southern Indiana. After adding new housing for students and increasing its degree offerings, USI saw its population increase from a few thousand students to more than 9,000 students.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
From its early days, the University of Southern Indiana worked hard to offer programs that would help students find work not long after leaving campus. One of the earliest programs that it offered was one designed to help students complete a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Also known as a BSN program, it allows high school graduates and GED holders enter college and immediately begin studying nursing. USI offers similar programs for registered nurses and others who attended college or graduated with a degree in another field in the past. The BSN program consists of both classroom and practical experience. Students first gain a strong understanding of the nursing field and the skills that nurses need while working on their studies as freshmen. After finishing that first year, they can enroll in higher level classes and complete clinical rotations. Students typically spend 600 hours or more working in medical facilities before graduating.
Accreditation
- Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Contact
8600 University Blvd.
Evansville, IN 47712
(812) 464-8600
http://www.usi.edu/health/
Valparaiso University
College of Nursing and Health Professions
Valparaiso University is one of Indiana’s largest private colleges. Located approximately one hour from Chicago, it’s a popular choice for students across the Midwest. Originally opened as a coeducational school, the college initially kept male and female students separate. The college lasted from 1859 to 1873 before being acquired by a group who turned it into a business school. It later became Valparaiso College before the Lutheran Church acquired the campus and renamed it Valparaiso University. Forbes, Washington Monthly, U.S. News and World Report and other leading publications frequently name Valparaiso as one of the top private colleges in the United States.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Valparaiso University takes a unique approach in regards to the education of future nurses. Its Bachelor of Science in Nursing, or BSN, is one of the only programs in the country that covers holistic healing in addition to traditional western medicine. This gives students a broader look at the medical field and may help them in assisting their patients with treating themselves at home and in a medical setting. This four year program requires a deep commitment on the part of its students. They must agree to take all required general education and nursing courses as a freshman or sophomore, and they must also agree to do their best in those courses. Students who fall below 2.8 GPA may lose a spot in the program. After gaining more education in the classroom, students can complete fieldwork during their later years. Students typically work in clinics, doctors’ offices and local hospitals.
Accreditation
- Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Contact
Valparaiso University
Valparaiso, IN 46383
(219) 464-5000
undergrad.admissions@valpo.edu
http://www.valpo.edu/nursing/
Earning a nursing degree is just one step that students take before working as nurses. They must also pass the licensing examination that shows they have the necessary skills and pass a criminal background check too. Accredited nursing degree programs in Indiana prepare students for taking that exam and working in the field.
