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BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING RN-to-BSN courses

RN-to-BSN coursework overview

Coursework structured for your success

  • Capella sets the deadlines
  • Weekly online interactions
  • 24/7 courseroom access
  • Online

Planning for your degree

  • Total quarter credits: 180
  • Quarter length: 10 weeks
  • Course length: 10 weeks
  • Break: 3 weeks between quarters
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
General Education 61 courses
Elective Requirement 1 courses
Capstone 1 courses
Required Course 8 courses

Course Requirements course sequence

NURS4055 Required Course Optimizing Population Health through Community Practice 6 quarter credits

Students analyze the community and public health milieu, with emphasis on health promotion and disease prevention within a variety of community settings. Students apply principles of community and public health, health promotion, and epidemiology to create environments that improve health and safety. Students also examine leading health care indicators, health policy, and emergency preparedness. For BSN students only. Prerequisite(s): NURS4035 or NURS6016, completion of or concurrent registration in NURS4045.

6 quarter credits

NURS4015 Required Course Pathophysiology, Pharmacology, and Physical Assessment: A Holistic Approach to Patient-Centered Care 6 quarter credits

Students gain a comprehensive understanding of the interplay between pathophysiology, pharmacology, and physical assessment in nursing care. Students examine how these three critical components form a holistic approach to patient management. By integrating evidence-based practices, cultural competence, and scholarly writing standards, students develop the skills necessary to provide safe and effective care across various populations. For BSN students only. Cannot be fulfilled by transfer or credit for prior learning. Prerequisite(s): NURS4000, completion of or concurrent registration in NURS4005.

6 quarter credits

NURS4065 Required Course Patient-Centered Care Coordination 6 quarter credits

Students apply the knowledge and skills needed to respond to the unique biopsychosocial attributes and situational context of each individual patient while recognizing the patient as full partner in all health care decision making. Students collaborate and adapt practices to support patient-centered care and defend decisions based on the code of ethics for nursing. For BSN students only. Special permission is required for registration. Cannot be fulfilled by transfer or credit for prior learning. To facilitate uninterrupted program completion and meet regulatory requirements, all practicum paperwork must be completed prior to enrollment in NURS4065. Prerequisite(s): NURS4035 or NURS6016, completion or concurrent registration in NURS4045.

6 quarter credits

NURS4025 Required Course Research and Evidence-Based Decision Making 6 quarter credits

Students interpret research and apply an evidence-based practice model to make informed decisions in care planning. Students analyze the relevance and effectiveness of evidence in the processes of clinical reasoning and judgement to support interventions that result in desired patient, systems, and population outcomes. For BSN students only. Prerequisite(s): NURS4005, completion of or concurrent registration in NURS4015.

6 quarter credits

NURS4905 Capstone Capstone Project for Nursing 6 quarter credits

The capstone course is the culmination of the BSN degree program and provides students the opportunity to demonstrate the competencies they have gained during their program. Students integrate new knowledge from the literature into practice via direct practicum hours in a patient, family, or group setting to demonstrate proficiency and create high-quality deliverables to apply in future practice. In the capstone experience, students also further apply their knowledge of the program outcomes. Students are required to complete 40 practicum hours. For BSN students only. Must be taken during the student's final quarter. Special permission is required for registration. Cannot be fulfilled by transfer or credit for prior learning. Prerequisite(s): NURS4065, completion of or concurrent registration in NURS4055.

6 quarter credits

NURS4035 Required Course Enhancing Patient Safety and Quality of Care 6 quarter credits

Students build and demonstrate the skills necessary to contribute to the quality improvement of health care and patient safety. Students analyze elements of successful quality improvements as well as factors that lead to patient safety risks. In addition, students identify organizational interventions to promote patient safety and facilitate quality improvement processes to achieve desired patient, systems, and population outcomes. For BSN students only. Prerequisite(s): NURS4015, completion of or concurrent registration in NURS4025.

6 quarter credits

NURS4000 Required Course Developing a Nursing Perspective 6 quarter credits

Students build and strengthen the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to succeed in their program and in the workplace. Students engage in interactive activities that help them develop and demonstrate a health care perspective and expand their academic success strategies including organizational, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. Students also develop an understanding of ethics, information literacy, and effective writing. For BSN students only. Cannot be fulfilled by transfer or credit for prior learning.

6 quarter credits

NURS4045 Required Course Nursing Informatics: Managing Health Information and Technology 6 quarter credits

Students leverage technology to effectively and efficiently achieve desired patient, systems, and population outcomes. Students develop and demonstrate generalist nursing practices needed to manage health information and patient care technologies. Student also develop strategies to improve security of patient information. For BSN students only. Prerequisite(s): NURS4025 or NURS6011, completion of or concurrent registration in NURS4035 or NURS6016.

6 quarter credits

NURS4005 Required Course Nursing Leadership: Focusing on People, Processes and Organizations 6 quarter credits

Students gain the understanding and abilities needed to champion and lead changes in interprofessional health care practice. Students use management theories and leadership strategies and apply interdisciplinary collaboration skills to improve systems outcomes while reducing the cost of care. For BSN students only. Prerequisite(s): Completion of or concurrent registration in NURS4000.

6 quarter credits

ENG1200 General Education Discover the Writer in You 4 quarter credits

4 quarter credits

ECO1050 General Education Microeconomics 6 quarter credits

6 quarter credits

PSYC1000 General Education Introduction to Psychology 6 quarter credits

6 quarter credits

SOC2000 General Education Cultural Diversity 6 quarter credits

6 quarter credits

PSYC2600 General Education Development Across the Lifespan 3 quarter credits

3 quarter credits

SOC1150 General Education How Society Works: Human Differences, Collaboration, and Problem Solving 6 quarter credits

6 quarter credits

HUM1200 General Education Philosophy of Work 6 quarter credits

6 quarter credits

PSYC2520 General Education Social Psychology in Action 3 quarter credits

3 quarter credits

BIO2000 General Education Environmental Health 6 quarter credits

6 quarter credits

PHI2050 General Education Human Nature and Ethics 3 quarter credits

3 quarter credits

HIS1150 General Education U.S. History: How the Past Informs the Present 6 quarter credits

6 quarter credits

COM1250 General Education Workplace Communication 6 quarter credits

6 quarter credits

PHI1000 General Education Introduction to Philosophy 6 quarter credits

6 quarter credits

ENG2250 General Education Academic Research and Writing 6 quarter credits

6 quarter credits

BHA4002 General Education History of the United States Health Care System 3 quarter credits

3 quarter credits

PHI1200 General Education Philosophy of Problem Solving 6 quarter credits

6 quarter credits

SOC2400 General Education Health and Illness in Social Context 6 quarter credits

6 quarter credits

ENG1000 General Education English Composition 6 quarter credits

6 quarter credits

MAT2150 General Education Data and Statistics for Everyday Life 6 quarter credits

6 quarter credits

ENG1001 General Education Essential Writing Skills 6 quarter credits

6 quarter credits

MNS3041 General Education Applied Statistics 6 quarter credits

6 quarter credits

MNS3042 General Education Introduction to Complexity Science 6 quarter credits

6 quarter credits

COM3700 General Education Conflict Resolution 6 quarter credits

6 quarter credits

PSYC1010 General Education Introductory Psychology 3 quarter credits

3 quarter credits

NSC1150 General Education Science and Innovation 6 quarter credits

6 quarter credits

BIO1000 General Education Human Biology 6 quarter credits

6 quarter credits

MAT2001 General Education Statistical Reasoning 6 quarter credits

6 quarter credits

COM2050 General Education Visual Design in Communications 3 quarter credits

3 quarter credits

PSYC1001 General Education Introduction to Psychology 6 quarter credits

6 quarter credits

HUM1150 General Education Cultural Understanding in a Global World 6 quarter credits

6 quarter credits

MAT2200 General Education Calculus 6 quarter credits

6 quarter credits

SOC1100 General Education Story of Us: Embracing Diversity and Collaboration 4 quarter credits

4 quarter credits

HIS1100 General Education U.S. History: Learn from the Past, Prepare for the Future 4 quarter credits

4 quarter credits

HUM3012 General Education Culture and Values Across Generations 6 quarter credits

6 quarter credits

HUM3011 General Education Cultures of the World 6 quarter credits

6 quarter credits

COM1000 General Education Public Speaking 3 quarter credits

3 quarter credits

ENG1250 General Education Introduction to Technical and Business Writing 6 quarter credits

6 quarter credits

COM1200 General Education Communication at Work 4 quarter credits

4 quarter credits

LIT2000 General Education Sports and Literature 3 quarter credits

3 quarter credits

MAT1150 General Education Essential Math for Everyday Life 6 quarter credits

6 quarter credits

PHY1000 General Education Introduction to Astronomy 6 quarter credits

6 quarter credits

ECO1150 General Education Personal Economics: Introduction to Financial Planning 6 quarter credits

6 quarter credits

NSC1100 General Education Unlocking the Secrets of Science and Innovation 4 quarter credits

4 quarter credits

POL1000 General Education The Politics of American Government 6 quarter credits

6 quarter credits

SOC3031 General Education Economic and Technological History of the 20th Century 6 quarter credits

6 quarter credits

COM1150 General Education Introduction to Digital and Information Literacy 6 quarter credits

6 quarter credits

SOC3032 General Education Applied Sociology 6 quarter credits

6 quarter credits

PHI3200 General Education Ethics in Health Care 6 quarter credits

6 quarter credits

MAT1200 General Education Pre-Calculus 6 quarter credits

6 quarter credits

COM4100 General Education Media and Culture 6 quarter credits

6 quarter credits

COM2000 General Education Intercultural Communication 6 quarter credits

6 quarter credits

MAT2051 General Education Discrete Mathematics 6 quarter credits

6 quarter credits

ENG1100 General Education Writing Strategies for Criminal Justice 6 quarter credits

6 quarter credits

POL1100 General Education Introduction to American Government and Politics 6 quarter credits

6 quarter credits

MAT1050 General Education College Algebra 6 quarter credits

6 quarter credits

MAT2100 General Education Data-Driven Decisions 4 quarter credits

4 quarter credits

PSYC1100 General Education Smarter Decisions Through Psychology 4 quarter credits

4 quarter credits

SOC1000 General Education Introduction to Human Society 6 quarter credits

6 quarter credits

PHI2000 General Education Ethics 6 quarter credits

6 quarter credits

COM1100 General Education Navigating a Digital World 4 quarter credits

4 quarter credits

ENG2200 General Education The Power of Persuasion 4 quarter credits

4 quarter credits

RN-to-BSN Course Requirements

 

Practicum: Minimum of 40 supervised practicum hours

 

General Education: Choose 45 quarter credits with a minimum of 4 quarter credits from each category

 

Core: Complete at least 48 quarter credits

 

Foundational: At least 30 quarter credits

 

Elective: At least 51 quarter credits

 

Capstone: At least 6 quarter credits taken during the learner's final quarter

 

Total: At least 180 quarter credits, including a minimum of 54 quarter credits from the 3000 level and above.

 

One or more courses in this program may require a prerequisite(s). Refer to the course descriptions for details.

 

Learners who do not complete all program requirements within quarter credit/program point minimums will be required to accrue such additional quarter credits/program points as are associated with any additional or repeat coursework necessary for successful completion of program requirements.

 

† The BSN, MSN, and DNP degree programs at Capella University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, One Dupont Circle, NW Suite 530, Washington, DC 20036, (202) 887-6791.

 

Capella University is not currently accepting applications for the BSN program from Washington residents.

 

The BSN degree program requires learners to maintain a current, independently verifiable, and unrestricted RN license throughout their program.

 

GuidedPath courses and FlexPath courses fulfill the program requirements and prerequisites for each delivery model.

What can I expect in the courseroom?

 

GuidedPath Logo

With GuidedPath, each unit consists of readings, discussions and other activities you will be expected to complete throughout the week. Most deadlines for coursework occur on Thursdays and/or Sundays but may vary by program and course. In each course, you will receive a detailed scoring guide that describes expectations for every graded assignment.

 

FlexPath Logo

With FlexPath, you set your deadlines within the first 12 days of each course. Take one or two courses at a time and complete them on your schedule. While these deadlines can be adjusted at any time after you set them, you'll be required to engage in a course activity at least once every 28 days and finish each course within 12 weeks. You'll use the same quick and seamless process for submitting assessments for every course. A scoring guide explains what you'll be evaluated on, and a competency map shows your progress.

Explore the Capella courseroom

How will I be graded?

 

GuidedPath Logo

With GuidedPath, grades are based on your participation in weekly reading discussions and completion of assignments, based on criteria outlined in the rubric. You will also be assessed on your ability to demonstrate an understanding of expected outcomes for your program or specialization. These outcomes are based on the needs and performance standards of your field or discipline.

 

FlexPath Logo

With FlexPath, each course is based on a set of competencies, which are further broken down into criteria. A criterion is a specific step in demonstrating a competency. You'll have a scoring guide that explains competencies and each criterion. As you complete assessments, your score on each criterion is evaluated against this scoring guide. Each time you receive an evaluation on a criterion, your competency map will update to reflect your progress. To pass a course, you must meet the minimum level requirement set by your program for every competency in the course.

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