BS in Nursing

The Siena Heights University Nursing Program is respectful of the dignity and worth of all people. SHU nurses are prepared to provide high-quality nursing care in ever-changing healthcare systems. Based upon a liberal arts foundation, the faculty and students collaborate in a dynamic teaching and learning environment that embraces caring, diversity and creativity.

As a Catholic institution in that Dominican tradition, we believe in the dignity and worth of every human being. That philosophy is embedded into every aspect of SHU’s Nursing Program. When designing the Pre-Licensure Nursing program, the Siena nursing faculty drew upon years of teaching expertise and wisdom, as well as national nursing standards. That means the courses are practical and relevant to today’s health care professionals. Students will be challenged in both traditional nursing courses such as Fundamentals and Health Assessment, and courses unique to Siena Nursing: Gerontology and End-of-Life Care; Ethical, Cultural, and Spiritual Nursing Practice; and Care of the Client with Complex Needs.

Siena Heights Nursing offers students an opportunity for small class sizes that allow for true faculty/student collaboration.

Courses are offered through SHU Nursing that are not typically offered in other nursing programs, like Gerontology & End-of-Life Care and Ethical, Cultural, and Spiritual Nursing, which provide students unique learning opportunities available only through Siena.

Likewise, Siena’s eight faculty teach specialty courses where they have uniquely been trained and practiced in the clinical environment, including pediatrics, critical care, and community health.

Accreditation

Siena Nursing is approved by the Michigan Board of Nursing and by the Higher Learning Commission for the North Central Association.

The baccalaureate degree programs in nursing at Siena Heights University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), 655 K Street NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791.

Program Distinctions

• Siena Heights Nursing 2018 graduates achieved a 96 percent first-time pass rate on the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) exam. This far exceeds the standards set by the Michigan Board of Nursing and the AACN-CCNE accrediting body. This is the second consecutive year the program has achieved the highest pass rate in program history.
• Siena offers study abroad experiences unique to pre-licensure nursing students.
• The Direct Entry Program offers high school seniors with high academic achievements an opportunity to be guaranteed a seat in the program after their third semester at SHU if the student meets all admission criteria.

Siena Heights University is a Catholic university founded in 1919 and sponsored by the Adrian Dominican Sisters. Enrolling a diverse community of traditional-age and working adult students, Siena Heights is a coeducational institution accredited by the Higher Learning Commission that was founded in the liberal arts tradition, offering associate’s, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees. The University is headquartered in Adrian, Mich., with degree completion centers in Dearborn, Southfield, Benton Harbor, Monroe, Battle Creek, Kalamazoo, Lansing, Jackson, and Online.

Mission

The name Siena honors St. Catherine of Siena, a 14th-century Italian Dominican who dedicated her life to a quest for truth and social responsibility. Similarly, the mission of the institution – to help students become more competent, purposeful, and ethical – grows out of the philosophy of Siena.

Throughout its history, Siena Heights has built a proud tradition of innovative responses to challenging social needs. Originally a college for women who intended to become teachers, Siena broadened its offerings over the years and by the 1950s was recognized as one of the nation’s 10 best liberal arts colleges for women.

The mission of Siena Heights University, a Catholic University founded and sponsored by the Adrian Dominican Sisters, is to assist people to become more competent, purposeful, and ethical through a teaching and learning environment which respects the dignity of all.

Accreditation

Higher Learning Commission

In addition to the accreditation of Siena Heights University by the Higher Learning Commission, the following academic programs are accredited by their professional organizations:

• BFA and BA Programs in Art are accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD).
• BSW in Social Work is accredited by the Council for Social Work Education’s Commission on Accreditation (CSWE).
• The Division of Education at Siena Heights University is granted Accreditation at the initial-licensure level by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).
• The baccalaureate degree programs in nursing at Siena Heights University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), 655 K Street NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791.
• The master’s degree program in nursing at Siena Heights University is pursuing initial accreditation by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), 655 K Street NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791. Applying for accreditation does not guarantee that accreditation will be granted.

Siena Heights holds membership in the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities, the Michigan Association of Colleges for Teacher Education, the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Michigan, the Michigan Colleges Foundation (MCF), the Council of Independent Colleges, the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, the Council for Opportunity in Education, the Association of Governing Boards, the National Association of College and University Business Officers, and several athletic conferences, including the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference.

The University is authorized to prepare students for teacher certification in Michigan and other states. Upon request, students may review University accreditation at the office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs, Sacred Heart Hall, Room 202, on the Adrian campus.