Saint Anthony College of Nursing

Nursing Programs Offered

RN to BSN Program Details

The BSN degree prepares the professional nurse for leadership roles in patient care in health care agencies of all types. Graduates function with baccalaureate competencies in the delivery of nursing care, and assisting in the improvement of health care delivery systems. They use their background in the liberal arts and sciences as integral aspects of nursing, and are prepared to enter graduate programs that will further increase their nursing competencies and skills.

Saint Anthony College of Nursing provides options for Registered Nurses to pursue their Bachelor of Science in Nursing while continuing to work. Those students who hold an RN license in Illinois and wish to pursue a bachelor degree should contact the Admissions for information about BSN completion.

BSN Program Details

Saint Anthony College of Nursing pairs academic excellence with extensive real life experiences. Located on the campus of OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center, the region's pioneer in cardiac, cancer, trauma and orthopedic care, Saint Anthony College of Nursing provides BSN students with abundant clinical experiences. With over 20 clinical sites in the Rockford area, Saint Anthony College of Nursing BSN students have the opportunity to gain experience in ambulatory, home health and other specialty care centers.

Our newly opened skills lab with SIM man at Guilford Square and the fully equipped Health Assessment lab at the main campus will introduce students to clinical concepts, safety and procedures. With an 8/1 student to teacher ratio, each student has the opportunity to interact directly with nursing faculty who are specialists in their area of the curriculum.

There are several ways to attain the BSN degree. Traditional BSN students at SACN complete 64 college credits in liberal arts and nursing prerequisites at another accredited college or university, then transfer to SACN to take their nursing program. RNs that hold an associate degree may also attain their BSN at Saint Anthony College of Nursing. High school seniors may apply for early entry into the nursing program. Students at Large may take courses with the college, but are not yet fully accepted students.

Whatever route a student takes to their BSN, the opportunities for personal and professional growth are enhanced by the diverse and rigorous curriculum of the SACN Bachelor of Science in Nursing.

MSN Program Details

On February 26, 2005 the Board granted approval to proceed with the development of a graduate program in nursing at the College. On April 18, 2005 the OSF Healthcare System Board of Directors granted approval for a Master of Science in Nursing program. In fall 2006 the College admitted its first class of 15 MSN students with an expected graduation date of May 2009. This first class of 15 students exceeded the program’s admission goal of 10 students. The fall 2008 class has 17 students admitted. Societal, economic, and technological forces affecting nursing practice and nursing education directed administration, Board, and faculty to plan changes to meet current and future needs in health care. Both the baccalaureate and graduate programs are outcomes of futuristic thinking and a desire to meet societal and professional needs.

Students entering the master’s program must enter with a bachelor’s degree. Students may present with a baccalaureate degree in nursing (BSN) or a baccalaureate in a field other than nursing. Licensure as a registered nurse is required for the state in which they will partake of their clinical practicum. If the student’s baccalaureate degree is not in nursing, the student must successfully complete an undergraduate nursing concepts course and nursing research course from a regionally accredited college or university prior to enrolling in the master level nursing concepts course or nursing research course.