RN to BSN, Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Purpose
Registered nurses who have completed basic nursing education with either a nursing diploma or an associate degree have the opportunity to continue their education at Wilmington University and earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree. The purpose of the program is to increase knowledge and skills as well as to provide opportunities to explore attitudes and values related to professional nursing practice.
Program of Study
The BSN degree program is progressive and designed for today’s registered nurse. It promotes increased clinical and communication skills, problem solving, confidence, and leadership within a complex health care environment.
The course of study utilizes a variety of individual and group learning experiences. The program is offered at the New Castle campus and the Georgetown; Dover; Cumberland, Gloucester and Burlington, NJ sites; as well as 100% online. Nurses can pursue their education on a part-time or full-time basis.
In addition, the General Education requirements courses, required of all Wilmington University undergraduates, provide a well-rounded academic foundation.
Career Opportunities
Upon completion of the program, students are prepared to practice as generalists, caring for clients with complex health needs in both structured and unstructured health care settings. The curriculum provides a foundation for graduate education and for career mobility.
Program Competencies
In addition to achieving the Wilmington University undergraduate graduation competencies given in the Academic Information section of this catalog, undergraduate students in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program will achieve the following competencies:
- Use critical thinking as a basis for identifying health-related needs of individuals, families, and communities.
- Synthesize knowledge from the humanities and physical, behavioral, and nursing sciences to provide nursing care to clients across the life span in a variety of health care settings.
- Incorporate theoretical perspectives into nursing practice.
- Demonstrate skill and commitment in the role of teacher.
- Apply research findings to nursing practice.
- Provide leadership for the continuing development of the nursing profession.
- Integrate ethical, legal, and economic accountability into professional nursing practice.
- Participate in designing nursing roles to meet societal and community health care needs.
- Demonstrate commitment to self-directed, lifelong learning to promote personal and professional development.
- Demonstrate effective oral and written communication.
- Access, use, and evaluate information effectively and appropriately. Use technology to effectively locate and communicate information.
Program Policies
Students are responsible for following all College of Health Professions policies and procedures, which are distributed in NUR 303.
It is mandatory that all nursing students complete a background check, drug screen, and submit required credentials during NUR 303. Details are provided in the program handbook available through the BSN Student Program site. Please be advised there is a one-time outside vendor fee required to complete the mandatory credentialing. This one-time fee is the responsibility of the students. Previous screening will not be accepted.
Minimum Grade Policy
The College of Health Professions sets a required minimum grade of "C-" for all nursing core courses. Students receiving a grade lower than "C-" in any required program core course must retake that course.
Curriculum
The number of transfer credits granted to entering RN students varies depending on basic nursing preparation. In addition, the program of study will vary depending on transfer credits, part-time or full-time status, and credits earned in alternative ways. Students are encouraged to seek advisement with an academic advisor or nursing faculty member to plan their course sequence.
Natural Sciences (12 Credits)
A minimum of 12 credits in anatomy and physiology, microbiology, chemistry, physics and/or biology must be earned through course work, transfer credit, or testing (available for anatomy and physiology, and microbiology).
General Education Requirements - Lower Division (24 Credits) (for students without an associates degree)
RN to BSN degree students can transfer up to 90 credits towards lower division general education requirements.
General Education Requirements - Upper Division (15 credits)
Required for all BSN majors
| ENG 310 | Research Writing | 3 |
| MAT 308 | Inferential Statistics | 3 |
| HUM | Upper Level Humanities Elective (9 credits) | 9 |
Choose three (3) upper level humanities electives from the following list:
ART, BBM 319, CUL, DRA, ETN, HIT, HUM, LIT, MUS, PHI, REL, SPA, VMG 311, VMG 312, VMG 313
Upper Division Nursing Core (31 Credits)
| NUR 303 | Nurse as Professional | 4 |
| | Prior to the completion of NUR 303, students must complete the mandatory credentialing process. | |
| NUR 313 | Nurse as Decision Maker | 3 |
| NUR 323 | Nurse as Teacher | 3 |
| NUR 333 | Nurse as Leader | 3 |
| NUR 343 | Nurse as Consumer of Research | 3 |
| NUR 363 | Nurse as Caregiver: Chronic and Palliative Care | 3 |
| NUR 413 | Holistic Health Assessment | 3 |
| NUR 423 | Global Health Care | 3 |
| | This is the first of two Nursing, Global Health Care courses, mandatory pre-requisites apply. This course is offered block one of all semesters. | |
| NUR 433 | Global Health Care Practicum | 3 |
| | This is the RN to BSN Capstone course which includes a Community Learning Experience. Mandatory pre-requisites apply. This course is offered block two of all semesters. | |
Nursing Elective (3 Credits)
Choose one (1) upper level nursing elective from the following:
NUR, HLT, HIT, ISM 430, POL 380
Free Electives
Choose free electives to complete degree requirements of 120 credit hours.
Accelerated Option - BSN to MSN
The purpose of this option is to offer eligible BSN students the opportunity to possibly take up to four selected MSN courses in lieu of undergraduate courses. A BSN degree is earned upon completion of the 120 credits. Courses taken at the graduate level while pursuing the BSN degree will fulfill requirements for both programs.
Students are identified as an undergraduate student until their BSN degree is conferred, at which time they will be eligible to continue on in the MSN program they have chosen and been accepted to.
Eligibility criteria for this option includes:
1. Successful completion of 90 undergraduate credits,
2. Completion of all required lower level courses,
3. Completion of NUR 303; Nurse as Professional,
4. Completion of ENG 310; Research Writing,
5. Completion of MAT 308; Inferential Statistics or transfer equivalency, and
6. GPA of 3.5 or higher
The BSN to MSN accelerated option intent form is located in the BSN Student Handbook and in the BSN Student Program Site. Upon submission of the BSN to MSN accelerated option intent form, students will be contacted by the Assistant Program Chair to review the appropriate course sequencing, advisement, and preparation for graduate course work. The accelerated course selection depends upon the selected graduate major.