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Online Bachelor's Degree BS in Nursing RN to BSN

Earn a Degree Designed for Nurses by Nurses in the RN to BSN Online Program

The online Bachelor of Science in Nursing RN to BSN program at Southern New Hampshire University is designed to accommodate your busy life as a working nurse. Your role in today’s complex healthcare environment requires critical competencies, including evidence-based care, health promotion, disease prevention and the use of technology to enhance your clinical and professional development. The RN to BSN online program at SNHU delivers on those objectives and more, preparing you for your next step in nursing.

The Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Nursing programs at Southern New Hampshire University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

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Concentrations
Nursing (BS) - Advanced Pathway RN to MSN Option

See Yourself Succeed in Nursing

SNHU offers affordable, transfer-friendly online nursing programs, allowing you to maximize your prior course work and reduce the cost of completing your degree. Our online bachelor's in nursing program provides the time and flexibility to master your coursework, while balancing your professional and personal life.

The RN to BSN online program follows a 10-course curriculum that delivers against the competencies recommended by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN). This framework was developed to ensure nurses receive the training and education they need to not only advance the professions but their careers as well.

For professional nurses with defined education goals, our online Accelerated RN to MSN track offers a seamless academic pathway for advancing from an ASN to a BSN to an MSN. This affordable degree option allows eligible BSN students to complete two graduate-level courses within their BSN program. Successful completion of these courses will then waive two courses within the MSN program, saving both tuition and time. RN to BSN students who apply to and are accepted into the online Accelerated RN to MSN option can choose to pursue the MSN Clinical Nurse Leader, MSN Nurse Educator programs, or choose the MSN general track.

As a private, nonprofit university, SNHU has one mission - to help you see yourself succeed. The benefits of earning your online bachelor's in nursing degree at SNHU include:

  • Accredited. The Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Nursing programs at Southern New Hampshire University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
  • Affordability. Take advantage of some of the most affordable tuition rates in the nation
  • Convenience. Attend class when it's convenient for you - online education means 24/7 access
  • Efficiency and flexibility. Complete your undergraduate degree at your own pace, over six 8-week terms per year
  • Expert instruction. Learn from nursing professionals with relevant, real-world experience
  • Simple application process. Just fill out an online undergraduate application, and we'll retrieve U.S. transcripts from your previous institutions and automatically complete an official credit evaluation. Plus, there's no application fee
  • Student support. Count on the ongoing support of dedicated academic and career advisors specialized in your area of study
  • Transfer-friendly enrollment. Transfer up to 90 credits toward the BSN, with a minimum of 30 credits completed at SNHU

Admission Requirements

  • An active unencumbered RN license equivalent to NCLEX-RN. If a student holds active licenses in more than one state/jurisdiction all licenses must be unencumbered.
  • An earned diploma or associate degree in nursing from a state-approved or nationally accredited nursing program and a 2.5 minimum cumulative GPA
  • Students who have graduated from a nursing program within three months of application may be admitted if all other admission requirements are met. Evidence of licensure must be provided within three months from date of admission.

If you are an RN to BSN student interested in the Accelerated RN to MSN, contact a SNHU admission counselor or your academic advisor for more information.

Graduates of an ASN program from a New Hampshire community college should contact an admission counselor at Southern New Hampshire University to learn more about our tuition benefit and admission requirements.

At this time SNHU is not enrolling nursing students from Washington state.

Career Outlook

The demand for nurses with bachelor’s-level education continues to increase at hospitals and other healthcare organizations. The Institute of Medicine is urging that the number of BSN-prepared nurses increase to 80 percent by 2020, a sentiment echoed by the Tri-Council for Nursing as a means to enhance patient care and safety.

After completion of SNHU's RN to BSN online program, you’ll be able to:

  • Apply skills in using patient-care technologies, information systems and clinical decision support tools to promote safe nursing practice and quality patient outcomes
  • Utilize evidence-based practice in planning, implementing and evaluating outcomes of care
  • Formulate strategies to promote health and prevent disease in individuals and populations across the lifespan
  • Implement patient safety and quality initiatives within the complex clinical microsystem using leadership and communication skills
  • Analyze trends in healthcare policy, finance and regulatory environments and their implications for healthcare access, equity and affordability
  • Evaluate lifelong learning and nursing engagement to promote personal and professional transformation

Curriculum

Our bachelor’s in nursing curriculum is built upon the Institute of Medicine’s “The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health” report competencies. The course work initially stresses enhancing nursing professionals’ abilities to manage themselves, then focuses on managing in a complex environment.

Our nursing students also work on developing the awareness, knowledge and proficiency reflected in the American Association of Colleges of Nursing's 11 nursing competencies. Additional BA/BS core courses also are required for a BSN. Registered nurses with a prior bachelor's degree will find the transfer-friendly design of the SNHU RN to BSN online program especially appealing.

The BSN program is 120 credit hours. In addition to completing the 10 nursing courses outlined above, students must complete the following coursework:

Required Core Courses
General Education Program

Degree Courses
IHP 420 Ethical and Legal Considerations of Healthcare

Students in this course examine the role of health care policy and legal, regulatory, and quality control in ethical decision making in healthcare. Students explore concepts and principles of health care policy, legal control, ethical conduct, and regulatory environments and their application to the health care environment. The impact of health care policy and multicultural, socioeconomic, political, legal, and regulatory factors on health care systems is explored.
IHP 450 Healthcare Management and Finance

This course focuses on the concepts, principles, tools, finances and strategies used in managing operations within a performance improvement model. Students will explore problem solving and decision making models as well as tools and techniques for planning, organizing, directing, controlling, reporting, and improving the productivity and performance of resources within a healthcare department. Additionally, topics will include healthcare finance reimbursement, bookkeeping, accounting principles, budgeting processes (capital and operating), and cost/benefits analysis.
NUR 300 Scholarly Inquiry

This course is designed to introduce the licensed registered nurse to the role of the bachelor's prepared nurse in complex health care setting. The Transformational model of learning will be the foundation to develop scholarly inquiry in order to improve practice. Skill development in critical reflection, assessing evidence, professional writing, study habits, and work-life balance will be essential for success. The goal is to provide a knowledge base in nursing theory to improve nursing practice. The role of the Bachelor's prepared nurse as a patient advocate, clinical expert and a leader in evidence-based practice and transformation of health care will be emphasized. The course will discuss the capstone course and development of a project.
NUR 305 Information Management and Patient Care Technologies

This course explores patient care technologies, information systems, telecommunication technologies, and communication devices that support safe nursing practice. Topics covered include standardized terminology; electronic health record, patient portal, meaningful use, and pay for performance; data integrity, abstraction and mining; use of clinical decision support tools to promote patient safety, and ethical and legal issues related to information technology.
NUR 350 Community and Population Health

In this course, the student will develop the ability to assess, analyze, and recommend change for health issues for groups and in communities. Topics will include local and regional conditions that affect vulnerable populations through the lifespan. Case management and care coordination will be discussed. Application of community health principles will be the foundation for recommending interventions. The prevention will include diverse, environmental disease treatments and healthcare policy strategies. This three credit hour course will include 45 hours of practical application of the knowledge, skills, and attitudes acquired in the course.
NUR 400 Systems Leadership for Continuous Quality

This course will explore organizational and systems leadership within the complex clinical microsystems to promote high quality patient care utilizing the knowledge, skills and attitudes to promote care coordination, negotiation, change management, team building and collaboration within the interdisciplinary team. Topics will include quality improvement and safety concepts using structure, process and outcome measures, and performance improvement methodologies to promote quality outcomes for diverse populations. This three credit hour course will include 45 hours of practical application of knowledge, skills, and attitudes.
NUR 440 Research & Evidence-Based Practice

Undergraduate students will be introduced to theory-guided and evidence-based nursing practice. Students will acquire the skills to become proficient consumers of nursing research. Focus is placed on understanding established research methodologies, ways of knowing in nursing, and developing the knowledge, attitudes, skills, and behaviors to retrieve and critique published studies for application to evidence-based nursing practice. This three credit course will include 45 hours of practical application of knowledge, skills, and attitudes required of the baccalaureate-prepared nurse.
NUR 490 Transformational Capstone

The Transformational Capstone course will utilize a seminar process, portfolio development, and final project to illustrate achievement of all program outcomes. In keeping with the Transformational Learning Theory, the summative activities will provide evidence of the student's progression to a baccalaureate-professional nurse. This three credit hour course will include 90 hours of practicum experience to demonstrate synthesis of the knowledge, skills, and attitudes acquired in the program.

Select one of the following:

NUR 315 Pathophysiology for Nurses

This course introduces the student to common health problems in individuals. Adult conditions will be reviewed. Cellular disruptions resulting from environmental, genetic, and stress conditions will be analyzed. The understanding of nursing process to assess, diagnose, plan and implement treatments for disease processes will serve as the foundation for decision-making and management. Diagnostic evaluations and holistic management of selected disease processes will be explored.
NUR 540 Advanced Pathophysiology Across the Life Span

Examine the relationships between normal physiology and specific system alterations produced by injury and disease are analyzed to foster clinical reasoning skills. Determine the developmental, genetic, environmental influences, and clinical manifestations of major health problems across the lifespan with a focus on etiology and pathogenesis. Utilize the nursing process as the foundation for decision-making and holistic management.

Select one of the following:

NUR 325 Patient Assessment and Health Literacy

The student will analyze health assessment methods and communication strategies for diverse populations across the continuum of care in this course. An overview of assessment techniques and patient education will be explored in order to support informed health care decisions. Development of interpersonal effectiveness and cultural competence will be the focus of competency for the student. The goal of health literacy will be to develop verbal and written communication strategies that nurses can use to effectively meet the individualized needs of the patient to promote health and address illness. The student will review standards of care and regulations which oversee the provision of safe and effective care. This three-credit hour course will include 45 hours of practical application of the knowledge, skills, and attitudes acquired in the course.
NUR 545 Advanced Health and Literacy Assessment

Build on knowledge of pathophysiology and clinical experience to master health assessment skills and communication strategies. Conduct comprehensive, evidence-based health assessments encompassing environmental, genetic, multicultural, ethnic, and socioeconomic factors. Explore ways of adapting their communication style to meet the specific needs of their clients. Examine the physical and mental health exam and formulate plans to ensure effective patient-centered care, including assessing health literacy when conducting care and education. Utilize simulations to practice knowledge and skill acquisition (additional costs for practice simulation software may occur).

ASN Transfer Elective Credits: 36

Free Elective Credits: 9

Total Credits: 120

Program Outcomes

Tuition & Fees

Tuition rates for SNHU's online degree programs are among the lowest in the nation. We offer financial aid packages to those who qualify, plus a 30 percent tuition discount for U.S. service members, both full and part time, and the spouses of those on active duty.

Online Undergraduate Programs Per Course* Per Credit Hour*
Degree/Certificates $960 $320
Degree/Certificates
(U.S. service members, both full and part time, and the spouses of those on active duty) 		$675 $225

*Tuition Rates are subject to change and are reviewed Annually.

Additional Costs

No Application Fee, $150 Graduation Fee, Course Materials ($ varies by course)

University Accreditation

Southern New Hampshire University is a private, nonprofit institution accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges as well as several other accrediting bodies. More...