Nursing Degrees Online

The potential RN/BS student first completes a Transfer Application for admission to St. John Fisher College. Second, the potential student requests official college transcripts from all colleges attended to be sent directly to the Transfer Admissions Office. An individualized evaluation of the applicant’s academic transcripts during the transfer admission process by the Registrar’s Office will assist the student in determining a plan of study to meet the liberal arts requirements of the baccalaureate degree in nursing. The RN who graduated from an accredited school of nursing with an Associate’s Degree and has achieved a grade of “C” or higher in each nursing course will be awarded at least 26 credits in nursing for previous coursework. Likewise, an RN who graduated from an accredited hospital-based diploma program and has active RN licensure will also be awarded 26 credits in nursing for previous coursework.

Potentially 40 liberal arts credits can be transferred from the Associate’s Degree program in addition to the 26 nursing credits for a total of 66 credits. Additional liberal arts credits may be transferred from bachelor’s level courses at other schools that meet St. John Fisher College core or elective requirements. The Registrar’s individualized evaluation of transfer courses and credits will determine the additional liberal arts courses required for the BS degree at St. John Fisher.

Criteria for admission to the nursing program include a preferred minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 for all previous college/university work and a valid New York State RN license with current registration.

In addition, the student must provide a record of physical examination within the past year, required immunizations and annual PPD, a current CPR card, and a passing score on a medication administration competency examination, such as the CNET test.

The BS to MS and the RN/BS to MS Fast-Track Programs provide an accelerated approach for qualified traditional and RN baccalaureate students to obtain the Master of Science degree in Advanced Practice Nursing. The programs allow graduate level courses to fulfill undergraduate requirements. This will shorten graduate degree requirements without compromising didactic and clinical learning experiences.

Students in the traditional program apply to the graduate program after all 300-level undergraduate courses have been completed. The application deadline for graduate study is August 1st for fall admission. Students interested in the fast-track program should consult with their advisor and the graduate program director during their junior year at the Wegmans School of Nursing.

RN/BS students apply to the graduate program after completing four undergraduate RN/BS courses. Application deadlines are August 1 for fall admission, November 15 for spring and April 15 for summer admission. Students interested in the fast-track program should consult with their advisor and the graduate program director.

The student in these accelerated programs may take up to six or seven credits of graduate courses at the undergraduate tuition rate. All liberal arts and science requirements for the baccalaureate degree must be met.
If you are beginning your study of nursing and you are enrolled at Fisher, you will follow the curriculum of the traditional BS Program and substitute two graduate courses for undergraduate courses in your senior year.
If you are a licensed registered nurse and enrolled at Fisher, you will follow the curriculum of the RN/BS Program and substitute two graduate courses for undergraduate nursing courses.
Learn more about the Master’s Degree in Advanced Practice Nursing at Fisher

First Generation Scholarship

The Fannie & Sam Constantino First Generation Scholarship Program is designed to provide financial and academic assistance to high school students who exhibit a high degree of motivation and academic potential and whose parents did not attend a post-secondary institution.
Foreign Language Scholarship

Each year, St. John Fisher College offers two Foreign Language Scholarships to high school seniors. These scholarships recognize achievement in foreign language as a sound preparation for college work.
The Honors Program

The St. John Fisher College Honors Program provides students with the opportunity to expand their thinking and personal limits through the study and exchange of ideas with other scholars. Honors students will receive personal attention in a small class setting created especially for this type of learning.
Merit Scholarships

Recognition of academic excellence is the foundation of our merit scholarship program. All freshmen applicants for admission are automatically considered for merit scholarships without regard to financial eligibility. Most merit scholarships range from $8,500 to $11,000 per year. Scholarship eligibility is based on high school grade point average, strength of curriculum, and SAT or ACT scores. Eligible students are automatically notified by the Office of Admissions. Merit awards can not be combined with the Service Scholars and First Generation Scholarships.
The Science Scholars Program

The Science Scholars Program at St. John Fisher College was introduced to enhance the number and quality of entering mathematics/science majors. Students who intend to major in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Computer Science, Mathematics, or Math/Science/Technology and who plan to enter Fisher as full-time freshmen directly out of high school, are eligible.
Service Scholars Program

The Fisher Service Scholars Program is an exciting opportunity for students to continue their involvement in community service while earning a college degree. This scholarship recognizes and rewards high school seniors who demonstrate an ongoing interest in serving the need of others through a commitment to community service.

St. John Fisher College is an independent, liberal arts institution in the Catholic tradition of American higher education. The College emphasizes liberal learning for students in traditional academic disciplines, as well as for those in more directly career-oriented fields. The College welcomes qualified students, faculty, and staff regardless of religious or cultural background.

The campus is situated on 154 park-like acres—a beautiful setting for 20 modern buildings and a warm, friendly campus community. The College now offers 30 academic majors in the humanities, social sciences, sciences, business, and nursing, as well as nine pre-professional programs

Family Nurse Practitioner (F.N.P.), which qualifies the graduate to seek certification and employment as a Family Nurse Practitioner.
Clinical Nurse Specialist (C.N.S.), which qualifies the graduate to seek certification as a Clinical Nurse Specialist in a Maternal/Child or Adult/Gerontology clinical specialty.
Nurse Educator (N.E.), which qualifies the graduate to seek certification as a Certified Nurse Educator and practice in faculty roles and staff development.

Study of any of these programs prepares the student to continue on to doctoral study, if that is a career goal.

Post-Master’s Certification for Family Nurse Practitioners or Nurse Educators are also available.

The rapidly changing healthcare environment requires increased numbers of master’s-prepared nurses who are equipped to creatively participate in interdisciplinary planning for productive practice environments that achieve high-quality measurable outcomes and to formulate patient care models that promote professional nurse autonomy and clinical decision-making.

The graduate nursing programs are based on the values of St. John Fisher College, the Wegmans School of Nursing philosophy, and the American Nurses Association Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics. The curriculum is also guided by educational recommendations from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists (NACNS), the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF), and the National League of Nursing (NLN). The curriculum reflects a commitment to the fundamental nature of nursing, which is professional caring for people by providing compassionate, holistic, evidence-based nursing care to diverse populations.

The faculty of the Wegmans School of Nursing is committed to working with the individual needs of the adult learner in planning a program of study that promotes personal balance while successfully completing requirements for the Master of Science in Advanced Practice Nursing degree. Nursing faculty value students’ diversity in perspectives, experiences, and learning styles, and anticipate that students will engage in self-directed, interactive learning that is characterized by integrity, initiative, and interpersonal growth.

The Master of Science in Advanced Practice Nursing programs build on the student’s undergraduate education in the liberal arts, the sciences, and the discipline of nursing. The curriculum affords students the opportunity to broaden their commitment to nursing excellence through the integration of professional and personal values in their new role development.

Graduates of the Advanced Practice Nursing Programs are employed in roles consistent with their area of study and are highly respected for their leadership in healthcare. Students are well-prepared for new, expanded roles through dynamic, interactive classroom experiences, as well as through precepted experiences with highly qualified nurses who are certified and practicing in specialties congruent with coursework.

In addition to core course requirements, students in the Family Nurse Practitioner program engage in a total of 700 clinical-precepted hours; students in the Clinical Nurse Specialist program engage in a total of 500 clinical-precepted hours of practice. Students in the Nurse Educator program engage in 300 clinical-precepted hours of practice. The undergraduate and graduate nursing programs are currently accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), an affiliate of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing.