Apr 30, 2025  
2025-2026 Undergraduate Academic Catalog *DRAFT* 
    
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2025-2026 Undergraduate Academic Catalog *DRAFT*

Nursing

“In the months preceding the fall of 2025 Saint Mary’s College is enthusiastically seeking the California Board of Registered Nursing’s approval to start a nursing program.  That process is now well underway, and the Board has granted us formal permission to proceed with this process.  This webpage will be finalized, including the removal of this banner language, pending final approval.” [Updated 1/31/2025]

The Saint Mary’s College Nursing Program offers a transformative educational experience rooted in the Lasallian, Catholic, and liberal arts traditions. This program is uniquely designed to prepare nursing professionals who are both compassionate caregivers and innovative leaders. Emphasizing student-centered education, cultural diversity, and critical thinking, the program instills a deep commitment to advocacy, equity, and social justice. By integrating Dr. Maria O’Rourke’s Professional Role Model and leveraging a holistic framework centered on the principle of “Do No Harm,” the program fosters role clarity, accountability, and empowered leadership. Students graduate as skilled clinicians equipped with the knowledge and confidence to excel in complex, dynamic healthcare environments while serving diverse populations.

What sets this program apart is its emphasis on preparing students for the global stage, combining theoretical foundations with practical, role-driven applications. Through robust partnerships with clinical communities, service-learning opportunities in underserved areas, and a strong focus on interdisciplinary collaboration, students gain unparalleled exposure to real-world challenges and solutions. Guided by expert faculty and the CCNE 2021 Essentials, the program ensures graduates are well-rounded professionals, ready to lead, innovate, and advocate for high-quality, ethical care across a spectrum of healthcare settings. At Saint Mary’s, nursing education transcends the classroom, empowering students to make a lasting impact on their communities and the world.

Faculty

Pamela Stanley, DNP, Director of Nursing

Lucinda Allen, MSN, Simulation Director

Nora Chavez, MSN, Academic Director

Daniel Doolan, PhD, Academic Director

Nino Flores, DNP,  Instructor

Kate Forrest, MSN, Instructor

Haesook Kim, RN, PhD, Instructor

Emelyn Lacayo, MSN, Instructor

Jin Lee RN, MSN, Instructor

Glenn Morimoto, MSN, Instructor

Learning Outcomes

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program has eight expected core learning outcome competencies: Strong Clinical Reasoning, Transfer of Knowledge, Accountable, Empowered Leaders, Role-Driven Practice, Strong Advocates, Critical Thinkers, and Global Citizens. 

  • Strong Clinical Reasoning: Strong Clinical Reasoning: Apply nursing practice knowledge focused on “do no harm” that generates safe, effective, quality care using professional role, standards and ethics driven practice. 

  • Transfer of Knowledge: Transfer of Knowledge: Transfer knowledge incorporating the understanding of interprofessional collaboration and engagement in activity that disseminates and generates critical analysis of practice.

  • Accountable: Accountable: Demonstrate role obligations of accountability, autonomy, and decision-making authority.

  • Empowered Leaders: Empowered Leaders: Demonstrate leadership in the use of nursing science to underpin professional role decision making authority and practices.

  • Role-Driven Practice: Role-Driven Practice: Incorporate role-driven practice to improve patient outcomes, safety, and quality.

  • Strong Advocates: Strong Advocates: Advocate for high quality care, equity in care, social justice, diversity, and inclusion.

  • Critical Thinkers: Critical Thinkers: Engage in critical analysis of healthcare including proper use of technology, informatics, and artificial intelligence as a means of improving health and healthcare.

  • Global Citizens: Global Citizens: Incorporate understanding of global and local issues around inequity and lack of resources in planning care.

Nursing Program Admission Policy and Process

For the full policy and process, please see the Nursing Program website.

The American Association of the Colleges of Nursing (AACN) identifies Diversity and Inclusion as one of its strategic goals. To actively incorporate this goal into our nursing program at Saint Mary’s College, we have taken a holistic approach to our admission process.

Purpose 

“Health inequities persist in underserved communities where access to care is limited and where social determinants impact health outcomes. These areas tend to be poorer and more diverse than communities that are well-served. Currently, health care providers who come from more diverse backgrounds provide the bulk of care for this population of patients in the United States. Language and cultural barriers limit providers’ ability to serve the needs of minority patients in ways that are linguistically and culturally relevant. 

Diversity benefits all students - not just those who are underrepresented minorities. Educating students in environments that value diversity and inclusion produces graduates better prepared to practice in underserved communities and whose understanding of the cultural needs of patients improves patient satisfaction and trust. 

Nursing students should possess the background, qualities and skills to provide culturally effective care and meet the needs of a rapidly diversifying patient population. These skills cannot be detected from grades and test scores alone. Holistic review can help schools identify key applicant experiences and attributes that will contribute to a more diverse class and a more effective nursing workforce.” 

- American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN)

Principles

  1. At Saint Mary’s College, the selection criteria for admission to the nursing program align with the Lasallian Mission of the College and are focused on promoting diversity as an essential component in achieving excellence. 

  2. The selection process uses a variety of criteria as part of the process. The intent of creating a richly diverse candidate pool and cohort; is applied equitably across the entire candidate pool. Admission is not solely on academic standing.

  3. Faculty and staff who participate in the admissions process examine all the students’ attributes and examine how each applicant would contribute to the class experience and the profession. 

Nursing Prerequisites

Applicants to the BSN program must have a minimum 2.8 GPA calculated from all prerequisite coursework. 

Pre-Nursing - Lower-Division

In addition: 

  • Minimum grade of B or higher in Anatomy and Physiology, Nutrition, Sociology, and Psychology.

  • Minimum grade of C or higher Chemistry, Microbiology, Statistics, and Writing as Inquiry.

  • All prerequisite courses must have a letter grade (with the exception of 1 unit P/F or L graded courses).

  • Science courses must have been completed in the last 7 years.

  • Passing a diagnostic entrance exam (ATI-TEAS Test) with 70% or higher within 2 attempts

If you did not achieve 70% you may still apply for consideration by submitting a letter requesting consideration rationally. All of your application and grades will be evaluated for determination if you will move forward to the interview process. See grading rubric for more information on points awarded.

Transfer/challenge/advanced placement into the undergraduate Nursing Program

For the full transfer/challenge/advanced placement into the undergraduate Nursing Program Information, please see the Nursing Program website.

Under certain circumstances, academic credit earned in regionally accredited institutions of education for comparable pre-licensure courses will be accepted for transfer.  See above department link for policy details.  

  • Transfer Credit may be granted for related previous education in the following courses.

    • Accredited registered nursing courses

    • Other courses determined by the school to be equivalent to courses in the undergraduate nursing program

  • Equivalency is determined based on catalog course descriptions. This includes hours, number of units and the syllabus content in comparison to the classes offered at SMC

  • Applicants must meet all general admission requirements of the SMC undergraduate nursing program.

  • Acceptance of transfer students is based on current space availability.

  • Who is eligible for advanced placement

    • Individuals who have successfully completed, within one year the following

      • Nursing courses from and accredited RN school of nursing

      • Or other courses which the school has determined as an equivalent to current courses in the undergraduate program

For more information, please see the Nursing Program website.

Challenge/advanced placement for military and trained healthcare professionals

Saint Mary College (SMC) offers advanced placement for military healthcare professionals (e.g., Basic Technician Corpsman, Army Healthcare Specialist, Air Force Independent Duty Medical Technician). Eligible individuals can challenge first-semester NURS courses through exams and earn advanced placement based on their military education and experience. For more information, please see the Nursing Program website.

LVN 30-unit option 

The LVN 30-unit option program at Saint Mary College is a specialized pathway for Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVNs) in California who aim to transition into Registered Nursing (RN) without obtaining a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in Nursing. Below is an overview of the program based on the information provided:

Program Overview

  • Purpose:

    • Prepares California-licensed LVNs for Registered Nurse (RN) licensure.

    • Does not lead to a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in Nursing.

    • Licensure obtained through this option may not be valid in all states outside of California.

  • Eligibility:

    • Open only to LVNs currently licensed in California.

    • Admission is based on space availability.

For more information, please see the Nursing Program website.

 

Programs

    Bachelor of Science

    Courses

      Nursing - Upper Division