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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

  • The newly established nursing program at Eastern embodies the core values of compassion, kindness, and community engagement. Eastern will provide many local first-generation college students the opportunity to pursue a distinguished Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree, emphasizing excellence, affordability, and a robust liberal arts foundation. At the heart of this program lies experienced faculty dedicated to fostering an environment of kindness and support.

    Distinguished by its unique status as a direct-admit nursing program, Eastern stands apart from its peers by offering students immediate entry into their chosen major upon admission to the university. The robust curriculum is complemented by access to cutting-edge resources, notably a state-of-the-art, 6700-square-foot simulation learning laboratory situated less than one mile from the Eastern campus at Windham Hospital. In collaboration with Hartford HealthCare, this partnership equips Eastern nursing students with advanced simulation equipment, facilitating immersive, hands-on training that mirrors real-world clinical scenarios. These experiences not only cultivate essential nursing skills and clinical judgment but also instill a sense of confidence crucial for navigating the complexities of contemporary healthcare.

    The Eastern nursing program is steadfastly committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive nursing workforce reflective of the surrounding community. By championing diversity, Eastern aims to mitigate health disparities and improve access to care for underserved populations. The Eastern nursing program has forged innovative partnerships with local clinical entities, ensuring that internships and practical experiences reflect the community's diversity. Through these efforts, Eastern strives to cultivate a generation of nurses equipped not only with clinical proficiency but also with a dedication to compassionate, culturally sensitive care delivery.

  • March 1st is the annual application deadline established by the Department of Health Sciences and Nursing. The application to the program must be complete which includes the additional nursing essay, entire high school, or higher education transcripts, and two recommendation letters.

  • Selection of students is based on a number of criteria and each individual is reviewed using a holistic admission process. Applicants are evaluated based on grade point averages, subject-specific courses completed, the rigor of each course taken, passion and reasoning for pursuing a nursing career, participation in extracurricular activities, and letters of recommendation. The admission committee also reviews the unique personal qualities, talents, and interests that students will bring to Eastern’s campus community, as well as to the profession of nursing.

  • Preparing for a future Health Sciences & Nursing career begins in high school. Nurses calculate medication dosages using Algebra skills. Statistics knowledge is vital when evaluating and understanding evidence-based nursing research. A strong foundation in Anatomy & Physiology is crucial when performing detailed health assessments. Chemistry can help someone comprehend the complexities of intravenous (IV) administration of multiple medications at once.

    A solid high school educational background in biology, chemistry, anatomy, algebra, statistics, and English can provide a competitive edge when applying for the nursing program. Advanced Placement (AP) or College Prep (CP) level coursework is encouraged. Many high schools offer allied health, Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), or medical science electives, all of which will provide an advantage to students when beginning their nursing education.

    Nurses are vital members of their communities. Gaining volunteer or work experience in healthcare can help solidify your passion, identify your local community health needs, learn basic professional skills, and provide further insight into the nursing profession.

  • The clinical component begins in the student's second semester of their sophomore year. Prior to entering the clinical courses, students must complete all prerequisite courses with a minimum grade of a “C” or “74”. Additional clinical requirements for clinical site placements include CPR certification, completed health history, physical examination, Bureau of Criminal Identification (BCI) check, TB testing, immunization compliance, and urine drug screening. The clinical coordinator for the program will further guide students in understanding the clinical requirement process, will monitor these items to ensure these requirements remain current, and update students on any additional requirement site locations may need or change.

  • Students are expected to assume responsibility for arranging transportation to and from each clinical experience. Encouragement is extended to students to consider carpooling when feasible. Eastern Connecticut State University offers a shuttle service on campus, which will include a designated route, less than one mile down the street, to Windham Hospital, the location that will serve as the future home of our Eastern’s CESI Nursing Labs.

  • Students will be responsible for student fees throughout the BSN program. Student lab fees each semester cover the cost of clinical software, one pair of nursing scrubs, a personal lab supply filled tote, laboratory or simulation equipment, and additional learning resources. Eastern nursing students should also plan to budget for any additional nursing uniform requirements, mandatory health screenings, transportation, and personal health insurance.

  • Eastern Connecticut State University prides itself on having intimate class sizes. With smaller class sizes, we find that our students have stronger teacher/student relationships, a larger focus on enhanced learning, a sense of community, individualized personal attention, increased opportunities to participate, and an overall improved classroom environment. Our typical nursing class ranges from 10 to 50 students per classroom with an average size of 22 students. While in the clinical setting, our student-to-instructor ratio ranges from 4:1 to 8:1 depending on the site location and specialty.

  • No. The BSN program at Eastern Connecticut State University is not available on a part-time basis. Coursework is sequential in nature and must be completed as designed in the curriculum. Coursework that includes clinicals is time-intensive and requires students to enroll full-time.

  • The Eastern Connecticut State University baccalaureate degree program in nursing is pursuing initial accreditation by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) CCNE Accreditation (aacnnursing.org). Applying for accreditation does not guarantee that accreditation will be granted. Eastern's nursing program has begun the self-study process and will be applying in the Fall of 2024, after the first nursing cohort begins their nursing courses. The goal is to obtain accreditation before the first cohort of nursing students graduating in May of 2027. The accreditation process time frame is an average of 12-24 months. Eastern Connecticut State University is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE).