Nursing (Registered Nurse), B.S.
The RN-BSN program builds upon the registered nurse education to enhance existing knowledge and provide in-depth study in areas of the profession such as evidence based, culturally competent and individualized care provided to the patient (individual, family, community or population) across the lifespan. Emphasis is placed on critical thinking, research, management and leadership to provide nurses a broader understanding of issues affecting both patient care and healthcare delivery.
Program Learning Outcomes
At the completion of the program, students will be able to:
PLO1. Integrate knowledge from liberal arts, science, and nursing science as the basis of critical thinking and clinical judgment in professional nursing practice.
PLO2. Plan and implement evidence-based nursing interventions utilizing a systems approach (i.e., nursing process) to meet the health care needs of individuals and communities across the age
span in diverse settings.
PLO3. Utilize information technology ethically and effectively to support clinical judgment and the achievement of patient outcomes in professional nursing practice.
PLO4. Demonstrate the use of effective communication skills to collaborate with patients, families and the interdisciplinary/interprofessional healthcare team.
PLO5. Utilize leadership concepts and skills to guide clinical judgment in the practice of professional nursing.
PLO6. Integrate ethical and social values along with legal knowledge to support clinical judgment and decision making in professional nursing practice.
PLO7. Value lifelong learning as a necessary component of professional nursing practice.
PLO8. Implement ethical nursing care by accepting responsibility and accountability for patient outcomes in professional nursing practice.
In addition to the Undergraduate Admission requirements, students must:
- Apply via Nursing CAS
- Submit transcript, demonstrating completion of RN ASN/ADN degree or Diploma in nursing with a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher from an institution recognized by an institutional accreditor
- Submit current active unencumbered nursing license
Program Details:
- Requires 180 QH, including 60 QH of General Education, for completion
- Requires a min grade of "C" or better in all science pre-requisite courses, all nursing courses, general education courses and electives
- If a student fails a nursing course, they must retake and successfully pass it the second time before progressing in the program. If the student is unsuccessful the second time, they will be dismissed from the program. Students cannot enroll in the same nursing course a third time.
- Students must pass all components of the course including didactic, lab and/or clinical. If a student fails one component, they fail the entire course and must repeat all components.
- Requires a GPA of 2.5 or higher for graduation
- Students may pursue a minor in Psychology or Human Services
Required Courses
General Education Requirements
Communications
The following courses are recommended:
| ENG 101 | Beginning English Composition | 5 |
| ENG 201 | Intermediate English | 5 |
| ENG 203 | Effective Speaking for the Undergraduate | 5 |
Note: Students transferring credit from other institutions or applying coursework previously completed at NLU may use any three general education courses in the following disciplines: academic writing, oral communications, and any course in the area of communications.
Humanities and Fine Arts
Choose two courses from the list below:
| ART 105 | Race, Identity and Experience in American Art | 5 |
| ART 106 | Race, Identity and Experience in American Art I | 2 |
| ART 107 | Race, Identity and Experience in American Art II | 3 |
| HIS 103 | History Across the Globe | 5 |
| PHI 107 | Introduction to Ethics and Social Critique | 5 |
Note: Students transferring credit from other institutions or applying coursework previously completed at NLU may use any two general education courses in the following disciplines:
- Humanities: foreign language, history, literature, philosophy, religious studies, interdisciplinary humanities and fine arts, interdisciplinary humanities and social sciences
- Fine Arts: visual arts (including art history, art appreciation, and studio arts, such as drawing, painting, digital art, or film), film and cinema studies, and performing arts (including music appreciation, music theory, and music performance, theatre appreciation and performance, and dance)
Mathematics and Natural Sciences
Choose three courses from the list below (one must be math and one must be a natural science):
Note: Students transferring credit from other institutions or applying coursework previously completed at NLU may use any three general education courses in the following disciplines:
- Mathematics: college-level and not developmental in nature
- Natural Sciences: physics, chemistry, earth science, astronomy, geology, physical geography, biology, human anatomy and physiology, microbiology, genetics, botany and zoology; and interdisciplinary fields such as environmental science, and ecology and conservation
- Mathematics or Natural Sciences
Social and Behavioral Sciences
Choose two courses from the list below:
| ECO 200 | Macroeconomics for Today’s Professional | 5 |
| GEN 210 | Think Global-Perspectives from the Field | 3 TO 5 |
| HIS 102 | Civics and American Government | 5 |
| HIS 212 | Think Global: Movements in US History and its Impact on Society and School | 5 |
| PSY 101 | Introduction to Psychology | 5 |
| SOC 101 | Foundational Sociology | 5 |
| SOC 204 | Contemporary Chicago | 5 |
| SOC 222 | Culture and Identity | 5 |
| SOC 250 | Cultural and Ethnic Movements in the United States | 5 |
Note: Students transferring credit from other institutions or applying coursework previously completed at NLU may use any two general education courses in the area of Social and Behavioral Sciences in the following disciplines: anthropology, economics, geography, history, human geography, political science, psychology, sociology, interdisciplinary social/behavioral science, interdisciplinary humanities and social and behavioral science.
Program Specific General Education Requirements
| MTH 102 | Statistical Foundations | 5 |
| PHI 107 | Introduction to Ethics and Social Critique | 5 |
| PHI 205 | Ethics in Healthcare | 3 |
| SCI 112 | Chemistry for Healthcare | 5 |
Note: Students must complete SCI 112 or another chemistry course with organic and biochemistry components.
Additional General Education Requirements
| GEN 204 | Make Your Point: Essential Skills for Academic Writing & Research | 2 |
Registered Nurse Science Pre-requisites
Major Requirements - 51 QH
| 101 | Orientation to the BSN | 2 |
| 102 | Bridge to the BSN | 5 |
| NUR 205 | Health Assessment for the RN | 5 |
| NUR 205C | Health Assessment for the RN Clinical | 2 |
| NUR 201 | Nutrition for Healthcare | 5 |
| NUR 301 | Genetics and Genomics in Healthcare | 5 |
| NUR 302 | Nursing Research and Evidence Based Practice | 5 |
| NUR 303 | Issues in Professional Practice | 5 |
| NUR 310 | Healthcare Communications, Informatics and Safety | 5 |
| NUR 403 | Leadership in Nursing Practice | 5 |
| NUR 400 | Population Health Nursing | 5 |
| NUR 400C | Population Health Nursing Clinical | 2 |
Program Electives
Choose additional courses to total 180 QH. These hours may be satisfied by completing the approved minors listed above.