Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Program Overview

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The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree program for RNs is designed for registered nurses who want a quality education with the convenience and flexibility that an online program can offer. Policies are in place that allow for maximum credit transfer, multiple methods of credit earning, and degree completion. The upper-division nursing requirements, which include four graduate courses (12 credits), are offered through online courses, include asynchronous online-mentored group discussions that provide the opportunity for RNs to share and learn from their varied experiences in healthcare settings throughout the country. The program's unique format enables students to take up to 12 credits toward the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree as they pursue their BSN degree.* On completion of the BSN degree program, graduates are prepared to practice as nurse managers and leaders, as providers of care, and for continued study.

The BSN/MSN option BSN and MSN is designed for RNs who want to conserve time and money by pursuing both the Bachelor of Science in Nursing and the Master of Science in Nursing degree programs. The student in the BSN/MSN option will continue to complete the MSN degree without the need for an additional application. The BSN degree will be awarded on completion of all degree requirements to RNs pursuing the BSN/MSN option as well as those completing the BSN degree only.

Download our Degree Program Profile Sheet for an overview of our Bachelor of Science in Nursing program. 

The baccalaureate degree program in nursing, master's degree program in nursing, and Doctor of Nursing Practice program at Thomas Edison State University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street, NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791.

Credit Distribution

I. General Education Featured Courses (45 Credits)

TESU Featured Courses are listed as a guide. Other courses may satisfy the areas and can be viewed on our website under General Education Courses.  For more information see About Our General Education Program.  To plan your program please contact an Advisor.

A. Intellectual and Practical Skills (15 Credits)

ENC-101	English Composition I	3
ENC-102	English Composition II	3
COM-209	Public Speaking	3
HPS-200	Statistics for the Health Professions	3
SOS-110	Critical Information Literacy	3

For all TESU course options that will satisfy this area of the degree, go to Intellectual and Practical Skills.

B. Civic and Global Leadership (9 Credits)

SOC-1010	Our Changing World: An Introduction to Sociology	3
ETH-230	Ethics in the Digital Age	3
POS-110	American Government	3

For additional TESU course options that will satisfy this area of the degree, go to Civic and Global Leadership.

C. Knowledge of Human Cultures (15 Credits)

SOC-210	Marriage and the Family	3
HIS-113	American History I	3
FIL-110	American Cinema	3

Select two featured courses from the list below:

SOC-291	Criminology	3
HIS-114	American History II	3
HIS-121	Introduction to World History I	3
HUM-103	Introduction to the Humanities III: Music	3
PHI-130	Introduction to Critical Reasoning	3

For additional TESU course options that will satisfy this area of the degree, go to Knowledge of Human Cultures.

D. Scientific Knowledge (6 Credits)

-TRSFR REQ.	Anatomy and Physiology I	3
-TRSFR REQ.	Microbiology	3

For additional TESU course options that will satisfy this area of the degree, go to Scientific Knowledge.

II. Nursing Program Requirements (75 Credits)

MAT-105

Applied Liberal Arts Mathematics

3

A. Lower Division (20 Credits)

B. Upper Division (28 Credits)

NUR-342	Advancing Nursing Practice	3
NUR-419	Exploring Evidence-Based Practice and Research in Nursing	3
NUR-428	Leadership and Management in Nursing	3
NUR-443	Public Health Nursing	4
NUR-445	Validating Nursing Competence	3
NUR-516	Advanced Health Assessment	3
NUR-529	Health Policy	3
NUR-531	Nursing Informatics: Concepts and Issues	3
NUR-582	Financial Management in Nursing Practice	3

C. Electives (24 Credits)

For TESU course options, go to Elective Courses.

TESU accepts credits in transfer from accredited institutions as well as non-collegiate providers. View information and resources on where you may find additional learning experiences.

Total Credit Hours: 120

RN to BSN Program Details

While there are few subjects specified in general education requirements for the BSN degree for RNs, it is expected that all students will choose those subjects with content supportive to the discipline of nursing and subjects that prepare them for continued study upon graduation, in addition to those subjects of personal interest.

Subjects required of all BSN degree students are English composition, mathematics, anatomy and physiology, statistics, ethics, and microbiology. The anatomy and physiology, and microbiology requirements for RNs are generally satisfied by course work completed in the associate or diploma nursing program. 

Course advisories or prerequisites are stated where previous knowledge of a subject or completion of other course work is considered essential to success in course completion, or where specific documentation of eligibility for a course is required.

It is important to make an appointment with a nursing advisor to develop a plan of study to complete all general education and nursing requirements.

Statistics is required prior to enrollment in: Exploring Evidence-Based Practice and Research in Nursing (NUR-419) and Evidence-Based Nursing Practice (NUR-530) in the MSN program.

It is important to check with a nursing advisor prior to registering for any general education courses to be sure that selected courses meet specific general education requirements.

Lower-Division Nursing

The 20-credit lower-division nursing requirement will be satisfied by transfer credit from an associate degree nursing program or by award of credit for diploma nursing program course work.

Upper-Division Nursing

The 28-credit upper-division nursing requirement may be completed entirely by online courses offered by the W. Cary Edwards School of Nursing and Health Professions.  Four graduate courses, Health Policy; Nursing Informatics: Concepts and Issues; Advanced Health Assessment; and Financial Management in Nursing Practice will be completed by all BSN degree students as part of upper-division nursing requirements without additional charge. These 12 graduate credits may apply to MSN degree requirements at Thomas Edison State University. *All information related to the nursing courses offered by the W. Cary Edwards School of Nursing and Health Professions may be found in this publication and the Nursing Student Handbook. Students interested in using transfer credit, or prior learning assessment (PLA) options for these online courses should first consult with the academic advisor for nursing.

Suggested Scheduling of Upper-Division Nursing Requirements

Students may schedule upper-division nursing requirement courses in any order as long as the prerequisites are satisfied prior to course registration. Public Health Nursing (NUR-443) and Validating Nursing Competence (NUR-445) are taken at the end of the BSN program. See course descriptions for prerequisites.

Electives

Twenty-four credits of course work or examinations that do not duplicate other credits may be used, with a maximum of 8 credits from physical education activity courses. Credits from lower-division prior learning may fulfill this requirement.

*Only 9 credits will transfer into the MSN Nurse Educator area of specialty.

NOTE:

It is the student’s responsibility to satisfy all advisories and prerequisites prior to course registration.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing BSN degree program, the graduate will be able to:

• integrate current knowledge, ethical principles, evidence-based findings, and clinical reasoning to direct nursing practice decisions;
• apply principles of cultural humility and cultural sensitivity to inter-personal relationships and client/population-focused care;
• participate in inter-professional collaboration to promote optimal client outcomes;
• explore the effects of health policy on the financing, organization, and delivery of healthcare to individuals and populations;
• employ a range of information technologies and ethical standards to acquire knowledge, manage data, communicate information, and guide & validate nursing practice; and
• demonstrate leadership skills and professionalism based on an understanding of the multidimensional role of the professional nurse.