Classes in a RN to BSN program

Return to:College Tips-Going From an RN to a BSN.

Most colleges will require you to have your RN license in good standing (but not all), your nursing degree from an accredited college and your pre-prerequisites completed in order to start the program. Hopefully, your ADN program met all or most of the prerequisites but don't be surprised if you need to take a class or two before starting your RN to BSN program.

I put together this list of classes needed to go from a RN to BSN by looking at the course lists of various schools. In my humble opinion, the classes seem to be more touchy feely and have with less practical applications than an ADN program or a straight BSN program. Different schools have different requirements I highly recommend you request information from several schools.

All the RN to BSN programs I looked at had a clinical component but it was much less rigorous than when you first became a nurse. This may be because you are a working nurse already and they just want to see if you can practice safely as apposed to teach you how to practice.

RN to BSN course curriculum  

• Professional Dynamics -- A course on nursing as a profession and types of nursing
• Health Promotion
• Introduction to Nursing Research
• Health Assessment
• Community Health Systems   
• Healthcare and Ethical Decision   
• Spirituality    
• Nursing Management of Clients’ Health and  Pathophysiology
• Trends and Issues in Health Care
• Professional Capstone Project
• Nursing Leadership and Management
• Statistics
• Pathophysiology
• Issues in Pharmacology

You may also need to take some upper level general education class while working on your BSN. Remember, the school you choose will have its own course list.

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