Online RN to BSN Program: Curriculum

This initial course of the RN-BSN program is designed to assist experienced nurses in the transition to a professional role. Nurses will gain a deeper perspective of theoretical and historical foundations that influence today’s professional practice and healthcare environment, preparing them as a nurse leader.

The course explores leading in the complex healthcare environment as a baccalaureate prepared nurse. Leadership and management roles, various healthcare organizational structures, ethical-legal issues, decision-making, effective working relationships, delegation, and becoming a change agent will be examined.

Conflicting perspectives often prevent reaching a consensus, creating “wicked” health policy issues. This course explores how various governing bodies impact the organization, finance and delivery of healthcare from the bedside to the boardroom. There will be a focus on socioeconomic, political, legal, and ethical environments that shape healthcare delivery systems. The course prepares the baccalaureate nurse to be an advocate in health policy, healthcare reform, and various models of health delivery.

This course explores the role of the baccalaureate-prepared nurse in implementing evidence-based practice (EBP) to bedside care through Quality Assurance/Quality Improvement (QA/QI) initiatives. Students will examine the QA/QI process from identification of practice issues that impact patient outcomes, to review of current practice guidelines, data collection, and collaboration with other healthcare team members to initiate evidence-based change.

This course is intended to supplement your existing knowledge and experience of anatomy and physiology by using a case study approach to pathophysiology. You will link the disease process, risk factors, manifestations to the principles of pathology underlying illness and diseases and the nursing interventions and care required.

This course explores the role of the baccalaureate nurse in caring for individuals, families, and groups in diverse community settings. The course focuses on the health needs of a population, including inequities and the unique needs of sub-populations using a comprehensive, systematic approach to identify and address social determinants of health. Emphasis is placed on primary prevention, health promotion and reduction of risk at all levels.

This course explores the role of the baccalaureate nurse in caring for individuals, families, and groups in diverse community settings. The course focuses on the health needs of a population, including inequities and the unique needs of sub-populations using a comprehensive, systematic approach to identify and address social determinants of health. Emphasis is placed on primary prevention, health promotion and reduction of risk at all levels. A clinical practicum will enhance these skills.
Pre/Co-requisite: RNU 3510

This course prepares the nurse to become consumers of research. During this course, students will explore the nursing research process from developing a research question to collecting and analyzing data. This course will also provide an overview of the basic concepts of scholarly writing. This course emphasizes real-world techniques used when writing for publication in peer-reviewed journals and will encourage nurses to publish their findings.

This course provides the student with the opportunity to integrate concepts learned throughout the program and apply them to various patient populations. The role of a liberal arts education in preparing the professional nurse to care for culturally diverse organizations, individuals, families and groups will also be explored. Pre-requisites: RNU 3000; RNU 3100; RNU 3200; RNU 3300; RNU 3400; RNU 3510; RNU 3511; RNU 4000 and one elective course.

This course provides the student with the opportunity to integrate concepts learned throughout the program and apply them to various patient populations. The role of a liberal arts education in preparing the professional nurse to care for culturally diverse organizations, individuals, families and groups will also be explored. Clinical opportunities are provided for the nurse to apply leadership skills and management of care for selected organizations, and/or patients in various settings.
Pre-requisites: RNU 3000; RNU 3100; RNU 3200; RNU 3300; RNU 3400; RNU 3510; RNU 3511; RNU 4000 and one elective course. Pre/Co-requisite: RNU 4710

This elective course focuses on the unique needs of the aging adult based upon the Illness-Wellness Continuum. The nurse will examine their role in promoting the well-being of healthy older adults experiencing both acute and chronic conditions. Physiological function/dysfunction, emotional and mental health well-being, transitions associated with aging, and spirituality are addressed.

This elective course will prepare the RN-BSN student for a career in women’s health or maternal-child nursing by exploring the care of women across the lifespan, from menarche to menopause. This course will explore the principles of pharmacology and physiology as they relate to women’s health.

Critical care nursing requires high energy, sound clinical judgement, exceptional assessment skills and a desire to work as a team. This course will help the nurse to gain a deeper understanding of the dynamic fields of emergency and critical care nursing.