, with a focus on wellness, health promotion, and illness prevention.”
The BSN focuses as much on personal development as it does professional development. Ethics, critical thinking, research abilities, and health information technology all factor significantly into the course curriculum. Students are also required to complete 90 hours of practice experience that is integrated into three courses and two capstone courses:
- NUR 300 Professional Role Development and Practice in Nursing (20 hours)
- NUR 402 Community Health Nursing (20 hours)
- NUR 406 Leading and Managing in Nursing (20 hours)
- NUR 492 Capstone I: Nursing Practice Improvement Inquiry and NUR 494 Capstone II: Nursing Practice Improvement and Evaluation (30 hours)
These practice experiences are designed to enable you to develop professional competencies in practice settings in collaboration with providers in the field and their community. They include specific objectives, expected outcomes, and competencies that are evaluated by BSN faculty.
RN to BSN – Additional Admissions Requirements
Applicants seeking admission to the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN) program must meet the following admission requirements prior to the start of the first course at Ashford University:
- Possess a current, active, unrestricted license to practice as a Registered Nurse or its equivalent in at least one U.S. state. Students must maintain an active unrestricted license throughout the program.
- Have earned a nursing (hospital) diploma or Associate degree in Nursing from a regionally accredited or approved nationally accredited college or university**.
- Have earned a grade of C- or higher in Microbiology (with lab), or equivalent, from a regionally accredited or approved nationally accredited institution**.
What’s the Difference Between an RN and BSN?
When determining which path to take your career, it’s easy to be confounded by the various professional credentials; and which ones you need to acquire in order to reach your goal. A registered nurse, or RN, is a nurse who holds a nursing diploma or Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN). To become a registered nurse, you must also pass the NCLEX-RN® exam administered by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) and also meet all the licensing requirements mandated by your state's board of nursing. The Bachelor of Science in Nursing, or BSN, represents your level of education. The bachelor’s degree is often required in order for you to compete for larger opportunities in the nursing field, which is why many of today’s RN’s are returning to school.
What Can I Do With a BS in Nursing?
Ashford University’s BS in Nursing is designed to prepare nurses for the next step in their careers while taking into account the impact of technology and outside forces — such as legislation and lawsuits — on the industry. Those who are hoping to advance can use their degrees to pursue new roles, including:
- Clinical Director
- Director of Nursing
- Nurse Manager
- Practice Administrator
- Program Manager
- Public Health Nurse
- School Nurse
- Nurse Educator
- Home Health Nurse
- Telehealth Nurse
With courses that immerse you in areas of leadership, theory, health informatics, patient safety, and excellence in practice, Ashford University’s CCNE accredited Bachelor of Science in Nursing can help you satisfy the requirements of your field and position you for long-term success. If you’re ready to move up, contact an Ashford University advisor about your Bachelor of Science in Nursing.
Written by Ashford University Staff