Bachelor of Science in Nursing - RN to BSN entrance option

This program prepares graduates for professional nursing practice as baccalaureate-prepared nurses grounded in person-centered care, clinical judgment, ethical practice, quality and safety, and a commitment to lifelong learning. Built on a prior registered nursing educational foundation, the curriculum strengthens students' professional identity and advances competencies in evidence-based practice, communication, healthcare technologies and informatics, systems thinking, and leadership. Graduates are prepared to collaborate with interprofessional teams; use data, evidence, and improvement science to enhance outcomes; advocate for equitable, accessible, and cost-effective care; and respond to the health needs of individuals, families, communities, and populations in a dynamic healthcare environment. The curriculum is designed in alignment with contemporary professional nursing standards, including the AACN Essentials, and reflects expectations for quality, safety, population health, and practice readiness in today's healthcare systems.

• Hospitals
• Clinical Practice
• Administration
• Nursing Education
• Nursing Leadership

The baccalaureate degree program in nursing at Rasmussen University part of American Public University System is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), 655 K Street NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791. http://www.ccneaccreditation.org.

This online program is not available to residents of all states. Please speak with an Admissions Representative to determine your eligibility for enrollment.

The RN to BSN is a post-RN licensure program and is not designed to prepare graduates for any advanced practice or other state-issued nursing license.

• Applicants must hold a current, unencumbered Registered Nurse (RN) license issued by a board of nursing in the U.S from the state where the clinical hours will be completed. Rasmussen University part of American Public University System ("Rasmussen") defines a current, unencumbered license as a license that is unexpired and has not been reprimanded, stipulated, suspended, revoked, or has any current or prior disciplinary action, regardless of current ability to practice. When the applicant holds more than one current RN license, all current RN licenses must be unencumbered. The student is required to maintain a current, unencumbered RN license throughout the duration of the program. Failure to maintain a current, unencumbered license throughout the duration of the program will result in administrative withdrawal from the University.
• Applicants to this program are exempt from the Entrance Placement Exam requirements.
• Applicants provide official or unofficial transcript from the institution that conferred their associate's degree in nursing for transcript evaluation during the admission process. Official transcripts for each institution from which transfer credit will be awarded must be received by the University no later than the sixth business day of the first quarter of enrollment or the student will be withdrawn.
• In addition to meeting all other admissions requirements, applicants to this program must successfully complete and pass a criminal background check through Rasmussen’s chosen third-party vendor. An additional and different background check may also be required during active enrollment prior to practicum or clinical placement depending on site requirements. An additional background check may include components that are different than those originally checked at the time of admissions. Any prospective student must also consider their history, lifestyle, and future actions before enrolling in this program, and carefully consider whether their actions may prevent them from attaining employment in the field they choose to pursue. Additional requirements, such as industry-specific training may be required to obtain employment in this field. Applicants for careers in this field may be subject to pre-employment screenings such as, but not limited to, criminal background checks, and drug/or alcohol testing. Employment decisions, including whether to require background checks and other tests, are made at the discretion of the employer.
• Additional program-specific requirements may be specified at the time of enrollment.
• Accepted applicants must complete the Rasmussen online orientation.
• Applicants will receive written communication from the University confirming acceptance once all admissions requirements have been met, including attendance at programmatic orientation.
• Drug testing, proof of current immunizations and screenings, and proof of current CPR certification are not entrance requirements for this program. However, Rasmussen will require proof of current immunizations and proof of current CPR certification 14 days prior to the first day of the quarter of the professional practice experience to remain enrolled in the practicum course. Some practicum sites may have additional requirements such as drug screening, proof of health insurance, photo ID, etc., prior to placement in the professional practice experience. The student is responsible for complying with and paying for any health examinations, immunizations, and drug tests required by Rasmussen or the practicum site.

All courses are offered only as CBE courses, and only self-directed assessment and CBE courses may be selected to fulfill General Education electives within this program.

+Self-directed assessment available; see Self-Directed Assessments for details.

Credit Articulation

Applicants for the Rasmussen RN to BSN program may be awarded up to a maximum of 110 lower-level proficiency transfer credits.

• Applicants who have graduated from an Associate’s Degree in Nursing, and who satisfy all program admission requirements will be awarded an articulation transfer equivalent to 102 lower-level credits toward this program. An additional eight (8) lower-level General Education elective credits may be awarded when additional coursework was completed that was not part of the conferred Associate’s Degree in Nursing.
• Applicants without an Associate’s Degree in Nursing who satisfy all program admission requirements will be awarded an articulation transfer of 68 credits in transfer to this program based on licensure, and up to 42 additional transfer credits may be awarded based on previously completed applicable lower-division General Education coursework with a grade of C- or higher.
• If incoming lower-division General Education credits total fewer than 42 credits, up to eight credits will be required to be completed through self-directed assessments from a designated pool.
• Lower-division General Education credits not transferred must be completed either prior to enrolling or during the first 18 months of enrollment.

The following self-directed assessments reflect the designated pool to select from to fulfill the eight-credit requirement. These must be completed no later than 18 months from starting the program and prior to beginning the last quarter in which the student is scheduled to graduate. The quarter of expected graduation is determined by the graduation date as it appears in the Rasmussen Student Portal.

• Communicating in Your Profession (Communication)
• Introduction to Communication (Communication)
• Art Appreciation (Humanities)
• Ethics Around the Globe (Humanities)
• Humanities (Humanities)
• Introduction to Critical Thinking (Humanities)
• Essential Statistics and Analytics (Math)
• Perspectives on Society (Social Sciences)
• Principles of Economics (Social Sciences)

Up to 24 additional upper-level proficiency transfer credits may be awarded applicable to upper-level General Education course requirements. A maximum of 134 transfer credits may be awarded for this program. A student must achieve a documented total of 180 credits (110 Lower Division and 70 Upper Division) in order to graduate from the BSN program.

General Education Course Waiver Credit for Applicable Work Experience

Students enrolled in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing – RN to BSN option may be eligible to have up to 28 General Education credit hours waived based on verified work experience. Students who have at least six (6) months of full-time employment or at least twelve (12) months of part-time employment in a position that requires licensure as a registered nurse and wish to request Course Waiver credit will be required to have their employer complete and sign an Employer Verification for RN to BSN Program form, which will be provided to the student by their Admissions Representative or Academic Advisor. The student is responsible for submitting all required documentation no later than Friday of their thirteenth week of enrollment in their first academic quarter in this program for course waivers to be considered. Upon verification of eligibility, Rasmussen may waive up to 28 upper-level general education elective credits and lower-level unrestricted general education elective credits. The Inferential Statistics and Analytics course requirement is not eligible for this course waiver.