Nursing, BSN

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) is a rigorous online RN to BSN degree completion program for Registered Nurses (RNs). Applicants should carefully consider if an online Program best meets their learning style. Enrollment is limited based on the number of available seats each semester. Applicants must complete all General Education courses, RN to BSN Program Specific courses, and the foreign language competency before applying.

The Program provides a career ladder from the AS degree to the BS degree for RNs who have earned a diploma or Associate of Science Degree in Nursing. Coursework will continue to build upon the registered nursing curriculum foundation. The Program offers a diverse population of students with innovative educational experiences and opportunities to meet the health care needs of the community they serve. Through the educational process, the student will be able to internalize the values, traditions, and obligations of the professional nurse and gain a greater professional perspective and increased critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

The BSN Program prepares RNs for career promotions and advancement in nursing to include positions in academia, community health, management, and leadership. It also provides a foundation for advancement to graduate level education programs. Current occupational employment and wage data for Registered Nurses is published by the United States Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics at www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes291141.htm

Accreditation:

The Florida SouthWestern State College BSN Program is accredited by the:

Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, Inc. (ACEN)

3343 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 850

Atlanta, Georgia 30326

Program Highlights:

The RN to BSN Program includes courses in professional issues, informatics, research, advanced health assessment, pathophysiology, pharmacology, multicultural nursing, leadership, community health, and a portfolio capstone. Courses are taken online to accommodate various schedules. Students may choose from these three schedule options:

Admission Requirements:

  1. Registered Nurse License - Must have a valid, active, unrestricted, and unencumbered Registered Nurse (RN) license, permitted to work in the United States. Note that the license must remain current throughout enrollment in the RN to BSN program.
  2. Thirty-six (36) college credits of General Education coursework corresponding with the FSW General Education Program Guide:
    1. At least one (1) course from each of the General education subject areas: Communication, Mathematics, Social Sciences, Humanities, and Natural Sciences.
    2. Six (6) semester hours of English coursework
    3. Six (6) semester hours of Mathematics coursework
    4. Six (6) additional semester hours of writing intensive coursework

    Academic Standards:

    The academic standards in the RN to BSN Nursing Program are very rigorous and require full commitment.

    The academic standards in the RN to BSN Nursing program are very rigorous and require full commitment.

    1. Complete 120 credit hours as outlined in the RN to BSN Program of Study.
    2. Earn a grade of “C” or better in each required General Education course, RN to BSN Upper Division courses, Program Specific courses, and electives.
      1. An “attempt” is defined as a course registration in effect at the end of the drop/add period.
      2. A student who fails a nursing course will be permitted to re-take that nursing course only once on a space-available basis.
      3. Failure or withdrawal in any second nursing course may result in dismissal from the Program.

      Program of Study

      The RN to BSN program of study includes:

      FSW General Education Courses (36 credits), *RN to BSN Program Specific and Prerequisite Courses and any 1000 -4000 Elective Courses (must meet 54 credits), Upper Division Courses RN to BSN (30 credits), 120 Total Credits

      *If the RN to BSN Program Specific Coursework is met within the General Education Course program no additional credits are required.

      __________________________________________________________________________________________

      General Education Requirements: 36 Credits

      Each student must successfully take twelve (12) semester hours of writing intensive coursework demonstrating college level writing skills with a grade of ”C” or better. Six (6) credits must be taken in English Composition and Communication, and six (6) credits in the Social Sciences and/or Humanities.

      Refer to the FSW General Education Program Guide for further details.

      COMMUNICATIONS CATEGORY: 9 Credits Required

      • ENC 1101 - Composition I , must complete with a “C” or better 3 credits
      • ENC 1102 - Composition II , must complete with a “C” or better 3 credits
      • Additional Communication General Education Course 3 credits

      HUMANITIES CATEGORY: 6 Credits Required

      • Humanities General Education Courses 1 6 credits

      SOCIAL SCIENCES CATEGORY: 9 Credits Required

      • Social Sciences General Education Courses 2 9 credits

      MATHEMATICS CATEGORY: 6 Credits Required

      • Core Mathematics General Education Course, must pass wiht a “C” or better 3 credits
      • Any Mathematics General Education Course, must pass wtih a “C” or better 3 credits

      NATURAL SCIENCES CATEGORY: 6 Credits Required

      • Core Natural Sciences General Education Course 3 credits
      • Any Natural Sciences General Education Course 3 credits
      • Natural Science Laboratory Course 3

      1 Must include one (1) Humanities Core Course.

      2 Must include one (1) Social Science Core Course.

      3 The lab course must correspond to either of the two selected Natural Science General Education courses; it may be a standalone course (courses with an “L” suffix, e.g. CHM 1045L) or combined within a course (courses with a “C” suffix, e.g. BSC 1051C).

      RN to BSN PROGRAM SPECIFIC and Prerequisite Courses: 54 Credits Required

      These courses may be fulfilled within the FSW General Education Program Guide or with other college transfer eligible courses.

      • BSC 1085C - Anatomy and Physiology I4 credits or BSC 1093C - Anatomy and Physiology I4 credits
      • BSC 1086C - Anatomy and Physiology II4 credits or BSC 1094C - Anatomy and Physiology II4 credits
      • DEP 2004 - Human Growth and Development3 credits (or any DEP X004 3 credits)
      • HUN 1201 - Human Nutrition3 credits
      • MCB 2010C - Microbiology4 credits
      • Any Social Sciences with PSY, SOP, or SYG prefix 3 credits
      • STA 2023 - Statistical Methods I3 credits

      Electives

      • Any 1000 - 4000 level course

      UPPER DIVISION RN to BSN Core Requirements: 30 Credits Required

      • NUR 3805 - Professional Roles and Dimensions3 credits
      • NUR 3870 - Informatics for the Health Professional3 credits
      • NUR 3125 - Pathophysiology for Nursing Practice3 credits
      • NUR 3145 - Pharmacology and Alternative Therapeutics3 credits
      • NUR 4165 - Nursing Research3 credits *
      • NUR 3066C - Advanced Health Assessment3 credits
      • NUR 3655 - Multicultural Nursing3 credits
      • NUR 4636C - Community Health Nursing4 credits
      • NUR 4827C - Leadership in Nursing Practice4 credits
      • NUR 4955 - Portfolio Capstone1 credit
      • *NUR 3870 Informatics for Health Professionals is a prerequisite to NUR 4165 Nursing Research

      Total Degree Requirements: 120 Credit Hours

      Graduation Requirements

      1. Complete 120 credit hours as outlined in the RN to BSN Program of Study.
      2. To satisfy residency requirements by completing a minimum of 15 core baccalaureate (3000 or 4000 level) program credit hours must be earned Florida SouthWestern State College.
      3. Earn a cumulative grade point average in the Program of 2.0 or higher.

      End of Program Student Learning Outcomes:

      Upon completion of the RN to BSN Program, the graduate will able to:

      1. Synthesize knowledge from nursing and the physical, behavioral, psychological and social sciences, and the humanities in the practice of professional nursing.
      2. Integrate global health and health care, its relevant issues and policies as they relate to professional nursing practice.
      3. Evaluate research in the exploration of the spectrum of health within the framework of evidence-based practice.
      4. Synthesize standards of professional practice and care.
      5. Articulate the role of the professional nurse within inter-professional teams.
      6. Analyze current and changing health care information technologies and systems.
      7. Summarize the components of leadership and followership in professional nursing practice.
      8. Interpret the social responsibility of the nursing profession in the development and implementation of health care policy.