Nursing (BSN)

BSN PROGRAM (Pre-licensure)

The NEW Nursing Program at Chestnut Hill College offers students an intellectually rigorous program of study to become skilled and compassionate providers of nursing care through a transformative holistic nursing curriculum rooted in the charism of the Sisters of Saint Joseph and devoted to the College mission and service of the needs of the “Dear Neighbor.”

The 4-year, 120 credit program is designed for traditional undergraduate students. It features a modern, hands-on curriculum delivered in beautiful, state-of-the-art facilities, designed with the flexibility to meet the needs of a wide range of both traditional and non-traditional students. Upon graduation, students will receive a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and will be eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN).

Resilience and self-care serve as integral, unique components of the CHC program, providing nurses with tools and strategies to care for themselves so that they may effectively take care of others—a key differentiator from other programs in the market today.

Having experienced a multi-faceted approach to holistic care, Chestnut Hill College nursing graduates will be able to:

• INITIATE and adapt to change
• ENGAGE in critical thinking in health care innovation
• PRACTICE bold leadership in pursuit of individual, family, community, and environmental and professional advocacy
• SEEK knowledge wherever it presents itself in pursuit of a global culture of health

• Immersion-Based Baccalaureate Nursing Education
  The CHC nursing curriculum adopts an immersion-based approach to clinical Baccalaureate nursing education. Unlike the traditional model, where students spend most of their time in classrooms, this program condenses classroom instruction into an intensive 3-4-day format within the first 6 weeks of the semester; after which students can then engage in consecutive days of patient care for the rest of the semester. This aligns with the AACN recommendation for immersive nursing education, which emphasizes hands-on experience and diverse patient care scenarios to build nursing proficiency. Chestnut Hill is collaborating with Saint Joseph’s Villa on their immersive program.
• Holistic Healthcare Education in Response to Pandemic Realities
  In response to the profound changes brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, the CHC nursing curriculum stands out by prioritizing the holistic preparation of future healthcare professionals. The program goes beyond traditional nursing education by recognizing the unprecedented challenges faced by today’s healthcare providers, and subsequently leveraging the services of CHC’s Counseling Center, curating appropriate courses in its marquis Master’s and Doctoral Psychology program, and integrating current research on nursing resilience and coping mechanisms to produce nursing students equipped with the skills not only to handle the demands of the profession, but also to identify and manage stressors while practicing self-care.
• Intentional Focus on Current and Emerging Health Needs Specific to Adults As They Age
  The US 2020 census revealed that the population under the age of 18 is in decline, while the 65 and older population is growing “rapidly.”  This CHC Nursing Program includes coursework that specifically and intentionally addresses social, economic and lifestyle issues of the over 65 population. This instruction will educate students on the specific needs of the senior population, as well as the health promotion and pathology unique to senior citizens.