Online RN-BSN Program
The baccalaureate program for registered nurses (RN-BSN program) prepares registered nurses for leadership roles in a variety of health care settings. The curriculum provides an academic background which serves as the basis for graduate education and continued personal and professional growth. The program builds from a liberal arts foundation, integrating nursing knowledge with the humanities, and behavioral and social sciences. Registered nurses who choose to complete the baccalaureate degree are prepared for career advancement in the clinical setting of their choice. Course content in research, leadership and management, and community health nursing introduce students to leadership and management roles and nursing positions in the community Graduates are prepared to make an impact on the current and future health care of society.
The RN-BSN Program is offered in a 12 month full time or 24 month part time online format. All courses are offered in a web-based format via the Internet. Classes are taken every eight weeks.
Program Overview
Admission Requirements
- Submit proof of a current, active RN license.
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Official transcript from associate or diploma degree nursing program, having earned a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.7 on a 4.0 scale.
Admissions Paperwork
Attainment of 120 Credit Hours
- ASN or Diploma Program (68 credit hours)
- RN-BSN Curriculum (38 credit hours)
- Portfolio, Transfer Credits or Elective Credits (14 credit hours)
Portfolio Information
Curriculum
- 27 Nursing credits + 11 General Education Credits
- Part and full time options
- Part time= complete in 24 months
- Full time= complete in 12 months (for August start date only)
- All courses in 8 week format unless otherwise noted
- Courses
- Introduction to a Virtual Franciscan Education
- Theology/Religion Course
- Philosophy (Ethics) Course
- Sociology Course: Health in the Community
- Professional Communication
- Professional Nursing Concepts I
- Professional Nursing Concepts II
- Evidence-Based Nursing Practice with Applied Statistics
- Nursing Informatics
- Community Focused Professional Nursing
- Clinical: Applying Professional Nursing Concepts & Evidence-Based Practice I (16 weeks) 1cr
- Clinical: Applying Professional Nursing Concepts & Evidence-Based Practice II (16 weeks) 1cr
- Nursing Electives (2)
- Nursing Synthesis and Professional Role
Clinical Requirements
- Students are required to obtain qualified RN preceptors for various clinical experiences.
- Students are responsible for submitting documentation of preceptor credentials and contact information to appropriate nursing faculty.
- Times and days for clinical hours are negotiated between the student and the clinical preceptor.
- Clinical experiences must be completed in the state in which the student is licensed.
- Clinical requirements as set by the Department of Nursing and clinical agencies must be met including, but not limited to, criminal background checks and drug testing.
Forms to be completed and submitted prior to starting clinical:
RN-BSN Preceptor Information Form
RN-BSN Clinical Requirements Verification Form
Cost of Program
$400.00 per credit hour + Portfolio fee
Program Goals
The faculty have prepared program goals which flow from the conceptual threads. By completion of the program, graduates will be prepared as nurse generalists and will be able to:
- Integrate concepts of the holistic person and a multidimensional definition of health into nursing practice.
- Integrate critical thinking and evidence-based practice to promote safe, patient centered care into nursing care for individual clients, families, groups, and communities across the life span in a variety of settings.
- Synthesize knowledge from humanities, social and behavioral sciences, and life and physical sciences with nursing theory and practice.
- Foster a caring presence through modifying communication techniques and establishing therapeutic relationships with individuals, families, groups and communities.
- Collaborate with members of the health teams to promote clients’ health and welfare in an ever-changing practice environment.
- Assume a leadership role in directing nursing activities and initiating change to improve health care delivery integrating information and health care technologies within a diverse world.
- Demonstrate legal, and ethical and social responsibility and accountability as a professional nurse.
- Implement a plan for professional growth and development as a member of the nursing profession.
- Evaluate research and integrate evidence based findings to improve nursing practice.
Curriculum Plan
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Download a copy of the August start date Curriculum Plan or January start date Curriculum Plan as a pdf. Class selection and registration will be made in consultation with your advisor, Michelle Kuhlhorst, mkuhlhorst@sf.edu.
Click on link below to review the RN-BSN student handbook.
