Boston College

Boston College is a private Jesuit university in Chestnut Hill, MA. The Connell School of Nursing offers a CCNE accredited BSN program, a BSN to MSN program, as well as an MSN, DNP and PhD program. The four year bachelor’s program is an immersive, traditional college experience where students are fully engaged with the campus community and receive a robust liberal arts foundation.  The nursing program focuses on the graduate’s ability to apply their skills and knowledge in all kinds of environments and circumstances.

Boston College has a vibrant community of students that participate in competitive sports, organizations, international study, and social justice initiatives. Nursing students are no different; they are encouraged to partake in all aspects the college experience, which BC emphasizes as a crucial component of undergraduate education. Students enrolled in the BSN program may apply for the BSN to MSN track after sophomore year. If eligible and accepted, they will be allowed to take graduate courses during their final 2 years.

Founded in 1863, Boston College (BC) in Chestnut Hill, is the city’s first higher education institution. The Boston College William F. Connell School of Nursing (CSON) was established in 1947. It operates on the Jesuit ideals emphasizing compassion as a nurse leader in a supportive and inclusive environment. In terms of clinicals, BC has an average faculty to student ratio of 1:6.

Bachelor’s Program - BC’s bachelor programs can be completed in four years. The curriculum is a blend of clinical experiences and classroom learning. The importance of student’s experiences is also not undermined as BC has several opportunities outside the classroom such as international study and travel, and student organizations. Upon reaching junior and senior years, students may be eligible to take graduate-level electives.

Master’s Program - CSON’s Nursing’s Masters of Science in Nursing offers two options—the Post-Baccalaureate Master of Science, Nursing Generalist and the Master of Science, Nursing Generalist. The former entry point has a 32 total credit which can be completed in as few as 18 months and is designed for BSN-prepared RNs. Meanwhile, the latter which is the direct entry has a total of 56-credit units designed for students with a non-nursing baccalaureate degree.

Ph.D. Program – With three core areas of study, this program prepares students for careers in the academe, policy, and health care. Knowledge builds on prior nursing science and expands it with health care modern-day issues. Students are also prepared for quantitative and qualitative research.

Doctor of Nursing Practice Program - The DNP programs at Boston CSON are Doctor of Nursing Practice and the DNP in Nurse Anesthesia. The Doctor of Nursing Practice is a terminal degree with several entry pathways—Direct Entry DNP, Post-Baccalaureate DNP, Post-Master’s DNP, and RN to DNP. Meanwhile, the DNP in Nurse Anesthesia is for individuals who hold a nursing bachelor’s or master’s degree who would like to become certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs). It requires a full-time study  which can be completed in 36 months and is accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs.

Continuing Education - CSON also offers certificates and courses approved by the American Nurses Association Massachusetts as a nursing continuing professional development provider. The certificates offered are RN Refresher and Clinical Research, as well as IV Certificate Courses and Clinical Skills Courses.

The nursing school at Boston College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. Its nursing programs are accredited by ACEN, ACME, CCNE and COA.

Degree types you can earn at Boston College include Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Registered Nursing and Women's Health Nurse Practitioner, and the school provides its offerings to students via campus formats. The level of nursing programs offered to nursing students include Accelerated MSN, Bachelor Degree, BSN to PhD, Doctor of Nursing, Master Degree, Ph.D., Post Master's NP Certificate and RN to MSN level degrees.

For nursing students in Massachusetts, the state average NCLEX-RN passing rate for ADN programs is 82.67% and for BSN programs is 91.70%. The average national NCLEX-RN passing rate for ADN programs is N/A% and for BSN programs is N/A%.

Out of 44 nursing schools in Massachusetts, the nursing program at Boston College ranks #10 in the state, and out of more than 1,700 nursing programs nationally, it ranks #202. It's 3-year average NCLEX-RN passing rate is 92.33%, giving the Boston College an overall grade of A.

Nursing Program Stats at a Glance for Boston College

• Grade: A
• NCLEX-RN Passing Rate Average: 92.33%
• Massachusetts State Rank: 10
• National Rank: 202

Best Online Nursing Programs for Massachusetts Students

In-state nursing schools are preferable to out-of-state programs as your tuition and logistics for attending school will be considerably less than if you attended school out-of-state. Online nursing schools are also an option.

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