Located in lovely Richmond, Virginia, the Bon Secours Memorial College of Nursing has been producing qualified, expertly trained nurses for fifty years. As part of an international health care organization that has its roots in Paris, France in the 1800’s, the Bon Secours School of Nursing features a rich and varied history of providing medical assistance to those in need in every corner of the globe. The campus in Richmond began as an extension of Richmond Memorial Hospital in 1961 and has been flourishing ever since.
The stated mission of the Bon Secours School of Nursing is to provide “good help to those in need.” Their intensive training programs focus on producing nursing professionals who are skilled, compassionate, and dedicated to furthering their education and educating the public concurrently. With its strong ties to the Catholic Church and its dedication to service, each year the school provides students with an opportunity to participate in a Mission trip in which the students may immerse themselves in a foreign culture in a developing nation. The goal is to not only help those in the foreign locale, but also for the students to be able to apply the insight gained on foreign soil to underserved populations in the United States. This unique and enriching experience is available to students who apply for the Mission and are selected based on aptitude. This opportunity represents not only excellent hands-on experience, but also provides tremendous enhancement to the student’s resume.
Students may enroll at the Bon Secours School of Nursing in a variety of degree programs. The Bachelor of Science in Nursing is an undergraduate degree that prepares the student to become a licensed RN. Becoming admitted to the bachelor degree program is competitive and involves several steps and components. In addition to holding a 2.5 grade point average, the prospective student must also provide an essay, references, and complete a pre-admission entrance test. To successfully complete the program, the student must amass 124 credits – 68 of which will be nursing credits, while 56 of which will represent other general college coursework. Many courses are offered in strict sequence and students are encouraged to take as many math and science courses as possible to support their overall educational goal.
A popular program for students, who are already RNs, is the RN to BSN program. Designed to be completed on either a full time or a part time basis, this program allows working RNs to complete a bachelor degree in a convenient online environment. In three semesters of full time study or five semesters of part time study, RNs can acquire a bachelor degree. The student must complete general education requirements from the following study areas:
- Physical and Life Sciences
- Mathematics
- Social Sciences
- Fine Arts
- Performing Arts
- Humanities
Before enrolling in this program, the student must be a licensed RN with at least one year of professional experience.
Other students at the Bon Secours School of Nursing decide to pursue the Diploma in Nursing. This program requires concurrent enrollment in nursing studies at Bon Secours and at another institution, such as a community college, for general education requirements. This alternative can represent a significant cost savings for the student.
The Bon Secours School of Nursing possesses a reputation for excellence in the health care field. The college’s graduates are well trained, eminently qualified, and have received a great deal of hands-on clinical experience. With a history dedicated to service and compassion, this school provides a remarkable opportunity for those who would like to begin a career in nursing or who would like to advance their education.