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 are offered through two consecutive 8-week online courses each term and includes 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. Upon completion of the BSN degree program, graduates are prepared to practice as nurse managers and leaders, and providers of care, as well as for continued study.

The BSN/MSN. options are 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. Students in the BSN/MSN option will complete the MSN degree without the need for an additional application. The BSN degree will be awarded upon completion of all degree requirements to RNs pursuing the BSN/MSN option as well as those completing the BSN degree only. 

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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 a nursing academic advisor.

A. Intellectual and Practical Skills (15 Credits)

ENC-1010Writing for Success

3

ENC-1020Writing for Success II

3

COM-2090Public Speaking

3

HPS-2000Statistics for the Health Professions

3

SOS-1100Fact, Fiction, or Fake? Information Literacy Today

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-1010Our Changing World: An Introduction to Sociology

3

ETH-2200Leading the Way: A Path Towards Ethical Leadership

3

POS-1100American 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-2100Marriage and the Family

3

HIS-1130American History I

3

FIL-1100Exploring American Cinema

3

Select two featured courses from the list below:
SOC-2910Criminology

3

HIS-1140American History II

3

HIS-1210Introduction to World History I

3

HUM-1030Introduction to the Humanities III: Music

3

PHI-1300Introduction 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)

-Anatomy and Physiology I

3

-Microbiology

3

II. Professional Nursing Component (48 Credits)

A. Lower Division (20 Credits)

B. Upper Division (28 Credits)

NUR-3420Advancing Nursing Practice

3

NUR-4190Exploring Evidence-Based Practice and Research in Nursing

3

NUR-4280Leadership and Management in Nursing

3

NUR-4430Public Health Nursing

4

NUR-4450Validating Nursing Competence

3

NUR-5160Advanced Health Assessment

3

NUR-5290Health Policy

3

NUR-5310Nursing Informatics: Concepts and Issues

3

NUR-5820Financial Management in Nursing Practice

3

III. Electives (27 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 academic 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-4190and Evidence-Based Nursing Practice (NUR-5300) in the MSN program.

It is important to check with a nursing academic 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 online with 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 Student Handbook. Students interested in using transfer credit, or prior learning assessment (PLA) options for these online courses should first consult with a nursing academic advisor. 

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

AACN The Essentials: Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education (2021).

B.S.N.

Domain 1: Knowledge for Nursing Practice Descriptor: Integration, translation, and application of established and evolving disciplinary nursing knowledge and ways of knowing, as well as knowledge from other disciplines, including a foundation in liberal arts and natural and social sciences. This distinguishes the practice of professional nursing and forms the basis for clinical judgment and innovation in nursing practice.

Apply nursing and interprofessional knowledge, theory, and evidence to facilitate clinical judgement in providing nursing care for diverse individuals, families, and communities.

 

Domain 2: Person-Centered Care
Descriptor: Person-centered care focuses on the individual within multiple complicated contexts, including family and/or important others. Person-centered care is holistic, individualized, just, respectful, compassionate, coordinated, evidence-based, and developmentally appropriate. Person-centered care builds on a scientific body of knowledge that guides nursing practice regardless of specialty or functional area.

Implement person-centered, nursing care for diverse individuals, families, and communities to promote positive health outcomes.

Domain 3: Population Health
Descriptor: Population health spans the healthcare delivery continuum from public health prevention to disease management of populations and describes collaborative activities with both traditional and non-traditional partnerships from affected communities, public health, industry, academia, health care, local government entities, and others for the improvement of equitable population health outcomes.

Examine collaborative approaches to public and population health for health promotion and disease management for diverse communities.

Domain 4: Scholarship for the Nursing Discipline
Descriptor: The generation, synthesis, translation, application, and dissemination of nursing knowledge to improve health and transform health care.

Use evidence to guide clinical judgement to improve healthcare for diverse individuals, families, and communities.


Domain 5: Quality and Safety

Descriptor: Employment of established and emerging principles of safety and improvement science. Quality and safety, as core values of nursing practice, enhance quality and minimize risk of harm to patients and providers through both system effectiveness and individual performance.

Employ established and emerging interventions to deliver nursing care for diverse individuals, families, and communities that ensures quality and safety.

Domain 6: Interprofessional Partnerships Descriptor: Intentional collaboration across professions and with care team members, patients, families, communities, and other stakeholders to optimize care, enhance the healthcare experience, and strengthen outcomes.

Collaborate with interprofessional team members and stakeholders to optimize nursing care and health outcomes for individuals, families, and communities.

Domain 7: Systems-Based Practice Descriptor: Responding to and leading within complex systems of health care. Nurses effectively and proactively coordinate resources to provide safe, quality, and equitable care to diverse populations

Use resources appropriately and efficiently to provide safe, quality, and equitable care and facilitate transitions of care for diverse individuals, families, and populations.

Domain 8: Informatics and Healthcare Technologies
Descriptor: Information and communication technologies and informatics processes are used to provide care, gather data, form information to drive decision making, and support professionals as they expand knowledge and wisdom for practice. Informatics processes and technologies are used to manage and improve the delivery of safe, high-quality, and efficient healthcare services in accordance with best practice and professional and regulatory standards.

Employ informatics and healthcare technologies in accordance with best practices that demonstrate professional, regulatory, and ethical standards in providing nursing care for diverse individuals, families, and communities.

Domain 9: Professionalism

Descriptor: Formation and cultivation of a sustainable professional identity, including accountability, perspective, collaborative disposition, and comportment, that reflects nursing’s characteristics and values.

Demonstrate a professional nursing identity to effectively care for diverse individuals, families, and communities.

Domain 10: Personal, Professional, and Leadership Development
Descriptor: Participation in activities and self-reflection that foster personal health, resilience, and well-being; contribute to lifelong learning; and support the acquisition of nursing expertise and the assertion of leadership.

Participate in personal and professional development activities that foster well-being and contribute to a culture of lifelong learning and leadership.