RN to BSN Program

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overview

The mission of the Registered Nurse (RN) to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree is to develop professional nursing leaders in all areas of practice who can apply new and/or past nursing knowledge and build upon existing competencies. The B.S. in Nursing is designed to prepare nurse to function both independently and interdependently with other professionals in a wide variety of settings, and to meet present and future health care needs of society. The program is designed to articulate with community college programs and provide a baccalaureate completion program for licensed registered nurses with an associate degree in nursing or its equivalent.

The BSN framework emphasizes the practice of professional nursing including the design of nursing systems to provide assistance to individuals, families, groups, communities and populations who are unable to meet either self-care and dependent-care needs without nursing intervention. Students are individuals already licensed by the state to practice as registered nurses who are seeking to advance their nursing knowledge and education. Baccalaureate education in nursing prepares for the practice of professional nursing in multiple sites and with a variety of clientele. The curriculum provides students an opportunity to broaden their base of liberal education through Upper Division general education and elective courses.

In addition, nursing courses will enhance knowledge of human development, assessment skills, theories of nursing, ethics and current issues in the practice of professional nursing, community health, leadership and research. Students may attend full-time or part time with nursing courses 1-2 days per week. Several nursing courses combine live and occasional on-line instruction through Moodle. Students may take General Education and elective courses as they choose. Program values include integrity, advocacy, excellence, lifelong learning, respect for others, and competence.

Requirements for Admission to RN-BSN pathway

Admission Requirements include:

1. Associate Degree in Nursing, or its equivalent, from a regionally accredited program.
2. Minimum of 60 transferable units, Maximum of 70; a maximum of 32 units of nursing courses are transferable.
3. Completion of one lower division course in each of the following: anatomy, physiology, chemistry and microbiology, each with lab. A minimum grade of C must be attained in each course.
4. Current licensure as a Registered Nurse in California.
5. Completion of separate applications to the University and the nursing program.

Requirements for the Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Curriculum Requirements Include:

Lower Division Required Courses (19 Units)

BIOL	211	Human Anatomy (2)
BIOL	212	Lab Studies in Human Anatomy (1)
BIOL	215/L	Introductory Microbiology and Lab (2/2)
BIOL	281	Human Physiology (3)
BIOL	282	Lab Experiments in Human Physiology (1)
CHEM	103/L	Introductory Chemistry I and Lab (3/1)
MATH	140	Introductory Statistics (4)

Upper Division Required Courses (39 Units)

NURS	302	Basic Pathophysiology (3)
NURS	303	Professional Nursing (3)
NURS	304	Parent/Child Self Care Agency (3)
NURS	305	Adult/Aged Self Care Agency (3)
NURS	306	Supportive/Educative Nursing Systems (3)
NURS	307/L	Health Assessment in Self Care Agency and Lab (2/1)
NURS	310	Principles of Nursing Research (3)
NURS	426	Nursing Systems Issues and Ethics (3)
NURS	427/L	Dynamics of Nursing Leadership and Lab (3/2)
NURS	428/L	Community Health Nursing and Lab (3/2)
HSCI	488	Epidemiology, Study of Disease (3)
NURS	495AA	RN to BSN Senior Project (1/1) or (2)

Academic Policies

Current Academic Policies Include:

1. All upper division nursing courses must be completed within 5 years after taking the first nursing course or students may be required to meet current program requirements.
2. A minimum grade of C is required in each upper division nursing course. Students receiving a C- or below are required to repeat the course and earn a C or better. A course may only be repeated once, with a maximum of 15 repeat units.
3. Students must pass both components of each of the following courses to successfully meet requirements for both courses: NURS 307/L; NURS 427/L; NURS 428/L.
4. Students are required to maintain current California Registered Nurse licensure while enrolled in nursing courses. It is the student’s responsibility to notify the program director immediately, in writing, of any changes in licensure status.
5. Students are responsible for obtaining at their sole cost any necessary health exams, immunizations, evidence of a TB test, titers, or other requirements, etc. necessary to meet OSHA requirements, and maintain compliance with requirements by the University and affiliating clinical agencies. Documentation of the requirements is to be submitted to the designated person, upon request. Before the first clinical course, each student is required to complete a pre-clinical checklist and provide proof that requirements are currently met.
6. After admission and prior to clinical placements all CSUN nursing students are required to obtain their own criminal background checks and sometimes drug screens at their sole cost and to supply that information to designated approving agencies or persons before the first patient care experience. In order to meet accreditation standards many clinical agencies are requiring background checks and drug screens on all students placed at their facilities and have the right to refuse a student clinical placement based upon that information. If an affiliating clinical agency notifies faculty that they are refusing clinical placement to a student based on background check or drug screen the student will be unable to complete required clinical laboratory course work, unable to progress in the program, and thus unable to meet degree requirements.
7. Further information on background checks or drug screens and where to obtain them is available from nursing advisor. CSUN prohibits faculty from review results of checks and screens; faculty wilol require proof that the checks and screens have been completed.
8. Students in nursing courses are also responsible to obtain and maintain at their own cost nursing liability insurance, CPR certification, and if needed fire safety card or evidence of other indicators of particular competencies as required by professional standards or affiliating clinical agencies.
9. Access to reliable transportation is required for clinical courses off campus.
10. Prior to and during clinical placements, students are required to demonstrate professional maturity, physical, emotional, ethical, and moral fitness for clinical practice.
11. The faculty reserves the right to make program modifications as necessary to meet current professional standards and accreditation criteria.
12. RN to BSN students may petition for credit by exam in selected courses. (See nursing advisor for challenge exam information and registration.)