At Bellarmine, you’ll learn from the best nursing instructors in the region, who will put you on the path toward a rewarding career in nursing. You’ll also benefit from the renowned Bellarmine undergraduate program, which teaches critical-thinking and leadership skills. Our small class sizes ensure your professors will be there to support you, and you’ll learn the highest standards of moral, ethical, and legal conduct. And you’ll benefit from our location in Louisville, Kentucky, which has some of the best clinical settings and major healthcare employers in the nation.
Our BSN program prepares you to function independently or in collaboration with other health care providers to serve individuals and families in hospitals and community settings. We’ve designed our program to encourage your active participation in achieving program outcomes. Upon completion of the program, you will have a recognition of and desire for continuing professional development and a sound foundation for pursuing graduate education in nursing.
Graduates of the BSN program will be able to:
“Everyone within the nursing program at Bellarmine takes great pride in developing the best nurses possible. I will never forget Lori Minton, my first instructor in my sophomore year clinicals. She provided me with the basic skills and knowledge I needed to build a great foundation as a nurse. Whatever your passion is, you can pursue it at Bellarmine.”
Stephanie Wilson Oeswein FNP, APRNBaptist Health CBC GroupBSN '11, MSN '14
No. As long as you meet the admission criteria, you will be accepted into the nursing program.
Clinicals begin your first semester, sophomore year.
Bellarmine graduates consistently surpass the national, regional, and local first-time pass rates, and over the last 5 years they have averaged a 91.4% First Time Pass Rate. (Kentucky Board of Nursing data)
Clinicals take place in medical surgical, community, pediatric, psychiatric, maternal-child, and critical care settings. Students also complete a leadership clinical where they work with a nurse leader in a hospital setting.
100% of our new graduates find employment upon graduation. Most have jobs secured in their last semester of the program.
As a graduate of our Bachelor of Science in Nursing program, you’ll be qualified for many roles in the field of nursing. Our alumni have gone on to rewarding careers in acute care hospitals, primary care outpatient clinics, community heath settings, school health and as nurse educators. You’ll also be qualified to pursue a higher degree, such as a master of science in nursing (MSN), a doctorate in nursing practice (DNP), or a doctoral degree in nursing (PhD). This may include many tracks such as a nurse practitioner, nursing leadership, or nursing education, among others.
Nursing students enjoy many experiences on campus. The Bellarmine Association of Nursing Students (BANS) organizes, represents and mentors nursing students to convey professionalism in nursing practice, promote networking and serve the local community through service projects.
The Galileo Learning Community is designed for first-year students interested in careers in health and medical sciences.
Sigma Theta Tau is an honor society for nursing.
Students also have the opportunity to study abroad.
Nursing students who qualify may participate in the Honors Program at Bellarmine.
Here is a quick snapshot of a few of our faculty members. Read profiles of all of our distinguished faculty.
Kim Hawkins, PhD, APRN, FNP-CInterests: Family Nurse Practitioner issues; simulation in healthcare education; interprofessional simulation education; quantitative evaluation; instrumentation
Kelly Ruppel, PhD, RN, CNEInterests: Evidence-based teaching strategies in nursing education; health behaviors of women; population health; leadership & management.
Carol Smith, PhD, APRN, FNP-CInterests: Cardiac (MI signs and symptoms); women’s health; critical care
To be admitted to the BSN program you must first be admitted to Bellarmine University. Upon completion of all courses designated in the BSN curriculum for the freshman year, you must apply for admission into the BSN program. For a comprehensive list of admission requirements, please visit our Admission Requirements page.
The Baccalaureate degree program in nursing, Master's degree program in nursing, and Doctor of Nursing Practice program at Bellarmine University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org).
The BSN program is approved by the Kentucky Board of Nursing.