Program Overview
The RN to BSN program is an online program. The program offers a broad knowledge base for contemporary nursing practices. The curriculum is designed to focus on the synthesis and application of knowledge and research from nursing, social and natural sciences, and the humanities. During the course of study, students will apply knowledge and skills through a variety of modalities.
The program is offered in a format which allows students to work full-time if desired.
Accreditation and Approvals
The RN to BSN Program is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, Inc. (ACEN). Contact information:
Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, Inc. (ACEN)
3343 Peachtree Road NE
Suite 850
Atlanta, GA 30326
Phone: 1.404.975.5000
Admissions Requirements
Students seeking admission to the Becker College RN to BSN program must meet the following requirements:
- Complete an RN to BSN application
- A GPA of 2.0
- An earned diploma or associate degree in nursing from a state approved, nationally accredited nursing program.
- Hold a current unencumbered registered nursing license.
- Becker College will honor the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education nursing education transfer policy which can be found at the following link. http://www.mass.edu/forstufam/transfer/transfernursing_implementation.asp
- Nursing Program Promotion and Progression criteria and specific nursing program policies are detailed in the Becker College Nursing Student Handbook.
Transfer Evaluation Criteria (RN-BSN)
- Nursing Education Transfer Policies.
- New RN to BSN students may transfer up to six credits into the Becker RN to BSN online program from state approved nationally accredited nursing programs at the discretion of the Director of Post-Licensure programs.
- In order for previous nursing course work to be awarded credits, the applicant must be compliant with Nursing Education Transfer Policies.
- Their Pre-licensure nursing program official transcripts reviewed for comparability and relevance to the Becker College ASN required nursing courses.
*Recent ASN or diploma program graduates, providing they meet all other admission criteria, may be conditionally accepted and allowed to enroll into the courses offered in the first semester of the RN to BSN program. However, a current unencumbered RN license is necessary to be accepted into the RN to BSN program and in order to progress into the second semester.
FAQ’s for the RN to BSN Program
RN to BSN Program Curriculum
The RN to BSN curriculum is built upon a foundation that incorporates the College’s mission and vision, professional nursing standards and guidelines, and the nursing faculty’s experiences and beliefs concerning person, health, environment, nursing, and nursing education. The primary goal of the RN to BSN program is to educate nurses for safe practice in contemporary health care environments. This goal is met through fostering a student centered learning environment to promote the student learning and program outcomes.
RN to BSN Program Student Learning Outcomes and Role Competencies at Graduation
Upon completion of the Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing program the graduate is prepared to:
- Manage holistic care that recognizes an individual’s preferences, values, and needs and respects the patient or designee as a full partner in providing compassionate, coordinated, age and culturally appropriate, safe and effective care. (Patient-Centered Care)
- Practice with integrity and accountability for the delivery of standard-based nursing care that is consistent with moral, altruistic, legal, ethical, regulatory, and humanistic principles. (Professionalism)
- Apply leadership principles to effect changes in the behavior of individuals or groups of individuals within their environment that results in the establishment and acquisition/achievement of shared goals. (Leadership)
- Evidence an understanding of and responsiveness to the larger context of the health care system, and demonstrate the ability to effectively call on work unit resources to provide care that is of optimal quality and value. (Systems-Based Practice)
- Integrate advanced technology, analyze as well as synthesize information and collaborate in order to make critical decisions that optimize patient outcomes. (Informatics and Technology)
- Interact effectively with patients, families, and colleagues, fostering mutual respect and shared decision making, to enhance patient satisfaction and health outcomes. (Communication)
- Function effectively within nursing and interdisciplinary teams, developing and improving systems for open communication, mutual respect, shared decision making, team learning, and development. (Teamwork and Collaboration)
- Implement solutions to minimize risk of harm for the individual patient, within specific patient populations, and providers through both system effectiveness and individual performance. (Safety)
- Uses data to monitor the outcomes of care processes, and uses improvement methods to design and test changes to continuously improve the quality and safety of health care systems. (Quality Improvement)
- Integrate current research findings and nursing theory coupled with clinical expertise and consideration of patients’ preferences, experience and values to make practice decisions. (Evidence-Based Practice)
RN to BSN Curriculum Plan
Semester One
| Course Number | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| NURS1200 | The Nurse as a Scholar and a Clinician | 3 |
| NURS3001 | Foundations of Baccalaureate Nursing Practice | 3 |
| MATH2200 | Statistics | 3 |
| CORE1500 | Managing Change and Navigating Unstructured Problems | 3 |
Semester Two
| Course Number | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| NURS3105 | Pathophysiology | 3 |
| NURS4505 | Informatics and Patient Care Technology | 3 |
| CORE3100 | Developing an Entrepreneurial Mindset | 3 |
| Open Elective | 3 |
Semester Three
| Course Number | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| NURS3003 | Pharmacokinetics in Nursing Practice | 3 |
| NURS4002 | Community Health Nursing | 3 |
| NURS2103 | Health Assessment and Promotion Across the Lifespan | 3 |
| SOCI1001 | Introduction to Sociology | 3 |
| Open Elective | 3 |
Semester Four
| Course Number | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| NURS4515 | Research & Evidence Based Practice in Nursing | 3 |
| PHIL3300 | Medical Ethics | 3 |
| HUMN3100 | Intercultural Communication | 3 |
| EXSC3105 | Nutrition | 3 |
Credits Total: 51