Clinical Training Built on a Hospital Partnership
FranU’s biggest edge for accelerated students is access. The university is part of the Our Lady of the Lake Health System, with one of the region’s leading hospitals steps from campus, so clinical rotations run through an active teaching hospital rather than a patchwork of arranged sites.
That pipeline shows in the outcomes: the accelerated track reports a 100% first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate and 100% employment within 12 months of graduation.
The program itself is a 16-month, full-time pre-licensure track for students who already hold a non-nursing bachelor’s degree, capped at small cohorts of about 24.
Coursework pairs classroom instruction with simulation in FranU’s Simulated Environment Teaching Hospital (SETH) and hands-on rotations every semester.
Admissions and Prerequisites
Admission is competitive, and meeting the minimums doesn’t guarantee a seat. Applicants need an earned bachelor’s degree in any field, good academic standing, and a 3.0 GPA across completed prerequisite and prior coursework, with a C or better in every course applied to the program.
At least 12 hours of the following prerequisites must be complete and on the transcript before applying:
- BIOL 2310 Anatomy and Physiology I (3)
- BIOL 2311 Anatomy and Physiology II (3)
- BIOL 2325 Microbiology (3)
- Science lab (1)
- PSYC 2330 Developmental Psychology (3)
- Ethics elective — PHIL or RELS (3)
- MATH 2315 Statistics (3)
- BIOL 2320 Nutrition (3)
- NURS 2510 Pathophysiology (4)
- THEO 1310 Introduction to Theology (3)
Pathophysiology carries a specific rule: NURS 2510 must be passed with a C or better within three years of admission, and students get only two attempts in any three-year window — any grade, including a withdrawal, counts as an attempt.
Final acceptance is contingent on approval from the Louisiana State Board of Nursing, and all students clear a background check and FranU’s health and safety requirements before clinical courses.
Curriculum
Students complete 120 total credit hours spanning prerequisites and core nursing courses. The nursing sequence moves from pharmacology and fundamentals through layered nursing-concepts courses and community health, closing with a transition-to-practice course that doubles as licensure prep.
NURS 2330 Pharmacology
This course examines how medications work in the body, including their intended effects, side effects, and potential adverse reactions. Emphasis is placed on therapeutic uses, nursing responsibilities, and current research supporting pharmacological interventions.
NURS 2750 Fundamentals of Nursing Practice
Students learn foundational principles of nursing, with a focus on safety, holistic care, and evidence-based practice. Clinical experiences support the development of essential nursing skills in both classroom and patient care settings.
NURS 3710 Nursing Concepts I
This course introduces holistic nursing care for individuals and families throughout the lifespan. Students apply clinical reasoning and build core nursing skills through integrated classroom instruction and hands-on clinical practice.
NURS 3735 Nursing Concepts of Community Health
Focused on public health nursing, this course explores population-level care, community assessment, and evidence-based strategies for health promotion. Practicum activities connect students with community partners to address real-world health needs.
NURS 3730 Nursing Concepts III
This course addresses care for vulnerable individuals and families with diverse health needs. Clinical learning supports the enhancement of clinical reasoning and the application of holistic nursing care in varied healthcare settings.
NURS 4750 Nursing Concepts V
Students provide nursing care to patients with complex health challenges, emphasizing critical thinking and clinical judgment. Clinical rotations allow students to refine key nursing competencies in advanced patient care settings.
NURS 4760 Nursing Concepts VI
Students explore the nurse’s role as a leader and advocate within the healthcare system. The course covers policy, regulation, reimbursement, and globalization while guiding students to synthesize and share research to improve practice.
NURS 4795 Transition to Practice for Accelerated BSN Students
This course prepares students for the RN role by integrating knowledge, reviewing for licensure, and supporting real-world application. Clinical practice includes working alongside experienced nurses to ensure readiness for independent practice.
Full curriculum detail is available in the FranU course catalog.
Clinical Experience
Clinical work is integrated every semester, emphasizing communication, critical thinking, direct patient care, and professionalism. Because FranU sits within the Our Lady of the Lake Health System, students rotate through a major regional hospital alongside practicing professionals, and they build skills first in the SETH simulation hospital before advancing to live patient care.
Rotations span a range of settings and patient populations across the program.
Tuition
Estimated total cost is about $86,300. ABSN nursing courses bill at FranU’s clinical rate of $669.86 per credit hour (2026-27), so the 120-credit program runs roughly $80,383 in tuition, with an estimated $5,900 in fees across the program.
Fees — technology, library, general, simulation, SGA, and administrative — are assessed per semester based on credit load, so the total varies with how the schedule is structured.
The San Damiano Sponsorship may provide stipends to eligible students in exchange for employment within the university’s health system, and FranU offers grants, scholarships, and loans through its financial aid office.
See the official tuition and costs page for current rates.
Accreditation
FranU’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing program holds Continuing Accreditation from the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) and is approved by the Louisiana State Board of Nursing (LSBN). The university is institutionally accredited by SACSCOC. Graduates are eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN and pursue licensure, subject to their state’s specific rules.