Nursing Degree | BS in Nursing Online

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Be Ready for More with a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing

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Excelsior’s RN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing program will help you develop the advanced skills you will need to become a stronger advocate for your patients’ health and for taking the next step in your career.

Our ACEN-accredited program goes beyond the basics to make sure nurses are prepared to be critical thinkers, inclusive holistic care providers, and empowered leaders. In this fully online program, you will build on your prior experience and be prepared for graduate-level education and the pursuit of the careerlong learning that is essential for nurses.

The general education component of the program develops college-level competence in arts and sciences, and the nursing component focuses on applying professional nursing knowledge and skills to complex situations related to the care of individuals, families, and communities.

With access to learning resources throughout the RN to BS in Nursing program—as well as a community of nursing faculty, academic advisors, and peers—you’ll be supported every step of the way.

Learn about the RN to BS in Nursing admissions requirements.

If you are an associate in nursing graduate looking to pursue your BS in Nursing while you prepare for the NCLEX, get a jumpstart with our Provisional Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Nursing program.

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PROGRAM DETAILS

Online BS in Nursing for RNs

Degree Requirements 120 Credits

General Education33 Credits
Major Core26 Credits
University4 Credits
Prerequisites to Major Core42 Credits
Electives12 Credits
Nursing Electives3 Credits

Certain nursing certifications have been approved for elective credit. Refer to Nursing catalog for details.

What courses will I take?

Degree Pathway

RN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Year 1

Year 2

Year 3

Year 4

Year 1 - Term 1
Information literacy is the ability to find, evaluate, interpret, and use information legally, ethically, and effectively. This course provides a broad overview of information literacy concepts, including the differences between academic and popular research methods, finding and evaluating sources, reading sources critically, writing with sources, and safely navigating information networks such as the internet. Students must complete information literacy within their first 13 credits at Excelsior.

Prerequisites
None

Credit Hours
1

Zero Textbook Cost

University Requirement
The future: the only constant is change. The only certainty is uncertainty. So how do you prepare today for what might come tomorrow? In this introductory, interdisciplinary course unique to Excelsior University, you will learn through questions, not answers. You will challenge your prior assumptions, open your mind, and consider society s future dilemmas, progress, and crises. You will plan and question your own future your educational path, career trajectories, personal interests, ambitions, and mindsets. And you will build the foundational skills and flexibility of mind research and writing, critical thinking, argumentative reasoning, metacognition, and self-regulation to help you navigate the uncertainty and change of our future societies, workplaces, and selves. Note: This course must be completed with a grade of C or higher. Registration in this course is restricted to incoming students with fewer than 60 transfer credits. This course duplicates IND301 and CCS120. Credit for only one of these courses will be applied toward graduation. The Cornerstone cannot be completed in the same term as a Capstone course.

Prerequisites
None

Credit Hours
3

University Requirement
Year 1 - Term 2
This course helps students to develop their skill as public speakers and oral communicators. Designed to provide students with a supportive environment where they can overcome the anxiety they may feel about public speaking, the class emphasizes techniques and practices for effective speech construction and delivery. Students will also develop critical thinking and listening skills. Students taking this course will need access to recording equipment for the purpose of creating podcasts, voiced-over PowerPoint presentations and videotaped speeches.

Prerequisites
None

Credit Hours
3

Zero Textbook Cost

Alternative Courses Available

General Education: Humanities
In this course, you'll apply psychological principles and theory to your everyday life. In addition to foundational topics like psychology as a science, learning and memory, human development, and consciousness, you will learn about some more specific topics like stress and health, psychological disorders and therapy, and human sexuality. Concepts learned in this course can be applied in any career to better understand behavior, thought, and emotion. Note: This course uses lower cost interactive courseware instead of textbooks.

Prerequisites
None

Credit Hours
3

Alternative Courses Available

General Education: Social Science & History
Year 1 - Term 3
This class provides students with foundational knowledge and skills to prepare them for academic and professional writing. By analyzing the work of other writers, students will learn to approach writing from a rhetorical and genre-based perspective. They will practice sentence- and paragraph-level writing, learning to revise and correct their own work. They will also work on finding, documenting, and effectively integrating sources into a research-based essay. Both traditional (textual) and multimodal (textual and visual) composition will be addressed.

Prerequisites
None

Credit Hours
3

Zero Textbook Cost

Alternative Courses Available

General Education: Written English I
This course offers an introduction to the major concepts, theoretical perspectives, research methods, and scholarship in sociology. Sociology is the scientific study of human social behavior, and this course examines several important sociological topics, including: culture; socialization; deviance; social inequality; social institutions; and social change. This course also explores various socio-historical and socio-cultural frameworks across the world, promoting an appreciation for unique cultural identities and institutions. Students will improve their analysis, understanding and interpretation of contemporary social issues in this rapidly changing world. This course encourages the practice of "doing" sociology through exploration of students' everyday social world, and the often invisible and taken-for-granted social forces that shape it.

Prerequisites
None

Credit Hours
3

Zero Textbook Cost

General Education: Sociology
Year 1 - Term 4
This course introduces the science of lifespan development and the concept of human growth as being a product of the interaction among the biology, psychology, and environment of the individual. This course examines the physical, cognitive, psychosocial, and environment factors across the lifespan. Students will explore, analyze, and present theories and evidence associated with developmental science from conception through death. Concepts learned in this course can be applied to any career focusing on health or human services and can help learners raise healthier children and live in more functional families.

Prerequisites
None

Credit Hours
3

Prerequisite to Major Courses
This course introduces students to the skills and theories of interpersonal communication, which are essential for building and maintaining successful personal and professional relationships. Students will evaluate the complicated interactions of psychological, social and cultural forces involved in interpersonal exchanges, while learning about personality traits, the perception of self and others, listening, managing conflict, and verbal and non-verbal communication.

Prerequisites
None

Credit Hours
3

Alternative Courses Available

General Education: Humanities
Year 1 - Term 5
This course focuses on the structure and function of the human body. Topics and body systems that will be studied include: the chemistry of life, histology and the integumentary system, skeletal and articulation system, muscular system, nervous system, sensory system and the endocrine system.

Prerequisites
None

Credit Hours
3

Prerequisite to Major Courses
This course analyzes how people influence and are influenced by the real or imagined presence or others and how people interact with and relate to those around them. Topics include research in social psychology, social cognition, social perception and judgment, attitudes and attitude change, conformity and obedience, group behavior, attraction and intimate relationships, helping behavior, aggression, prejudice, and the application of social psychology to other fields including the legal system. The concepts learned in this course can be applied to all careers in which one works with and in teams, as well as work where it is important to influence or persuade others. Duplication Note: This course duplicates PSYX365: Social Psychology. Credit for only one of these will be applied toward graduation.

Prerequisites
None

Credit Hours
3

Alternative Courses Available

General Education: Social Science & History
Year 1 - Term 6
This course focuses on the structure and function of the human body. Topics and body systems that will be studied include: blood, the cardiovascular system, lymphatic and immune system, respiratory system, digestive system, nutrition and metabolism, urinary system and fluid balance, and reproductive systems.

Prerequisites
None

Credit Hours
3

Prerequisite to Major Courses
This course is designed to help you improve your academic and workplace writing skills. The course emphasizes research-based, argument-driven writing. You will complete a research paper, a workplace proposal, and an oral presentation related to your academic discipline or profession. You will practice finding, evaluating, and citing sources; paraphrasing and summarizing; outlining and paragraphing; and revising and proofreading.

Prerequisites
None

Credit Hours
3

Zero Textbook Cost

Alternative Courses Available

General Education: Written English II
Year 2 - Term 1
This course is an introduction to microbiology. It covers the fundamental concepts of microbiology, including the study of bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa, and algae. Students will explore the structure, function, genetics, and physiology of microorganisms, as well as their roles in the environment and human health. Microbiology covers the scientific methods necessary to understand microbial growth and metabolism and provides a historical perspective by reviewing the major scientific contributions that led to modern-day microbiology. Our scientific inquiry will include case studies, a variety of visual aids, virtual labs, discussions, and written assignments.

Prerequisites
None

Credit Hours
3

Prerequisite to Major Courses
Year 2 - Term 2
Covers an intermediate level of algebra in order to prepare students for subsequent courses in mathematics. Major topics include real numbers and algebraic expressions, equations and inequalities, functions and graphs, systems of equations and inequalities, polynomial expressions and functions, rational and radical expressions, and quadratic equations and functions.

Prerequisites
None

Credit Hours
3

General Education: Math
Year 2 - Term 3
Develops the statistical skills of collecting, organizing, summarizing, and analyzing information to draw conclusions or answer questions. Major topics include descriptive statistics, frequency distributions, probability, binomial and normal distributions, statistical inference, linear regression, and correlation. Duplication Note: MAT201 duplicates BUS233: Business Statistics, BUS 231 Business Data Literacy and MAT215: Statistics for Health Care Professionals. Credit in only one of these courses will be applied toward graduation. MAT201 also duplicates the Excelsior Examination MATX210. Students will receive credit for either the course or the examination, as both will not be applied toward graduation.

Prerequisites
None

Credit Hours
3

General Education: Statistics
Year 2 - Term 4
In this interdisciplinary course, students will develop the analytical skills necessary to examine ethical issues in the workplace. Students explore conventional ethical theories and principles, develop ethical decision-making, and resolve common dilemmas. Students discuss the multiple challenges faced by professionals and identify ethical practices or codes that apply to each of their own professions.

Prerequisites
None

Credit Hours
3

Zero Textbook Cost

General Education: Ethics
Year 2 - Term 5
The purpose of this course is to give the student an overview of current and emerging trends in science and technology so that s/he will be able to make informed decisions and be an informed consumer. The course will introduce the scientific method and terminology used in reporting scientific results. A survey of current topical science issues will be covered as examples. This course will also prepare the student to read accounts about scientific, technological, and medical advances in the press and assess the scientific conclusions presented.

Prerequisites
None

Credit Hours
3

Zero Textbook Cost

Alternative Courses Available

General Education: Natural Science
Year 2 - Term 6
This course will assist students to develop a greater understanding of addictions. Using an eco-systems approach, the addictive process and recovery will be studied, including the reciprocal interaction between addicted individuals and their various social systems. Students will examine substance abuse and behavioral compulsions. There will be a focus on addiction in various populations as well as the business of drugs and prevention. Attention will be given to the biological and genetic factors in the etiology of addiction, family issues, and community responses. The consequences of addictions will be studied at the individual, family, and community levels. This course draws on current research in the field of addictions, and emphasizes critical analysis of contemporary controversies. This course builds on the foundations of health and human services knowledge and skills to help students better understand this complex problem affecting American society.

Prerequisites
None

Credit Hours
3

Zero Textbook Cost

Alternative Courses Available

Arts & Sciences
Year 3 - Term 1
Ever wonder how Steve Jobs created such amazing products or Sarah Lewis used failure for creative success? Given the rapid changes in today s economy and workplace, creativity and innovation continue to be important skills that support career growth. Because employers continuously rate the ability to solve problems as an essential skill, this course is designed to introduce and strengthen a student s ability to move through logical problem-solving processes in order to creatively find solutions to problems that are personally or professionally relevant to them. Neuroscience research affirms that we all possess the same mental capacities as people with highly inventive minds, so students will study innovators and global thinkers who will show them the crucial techniques to increase their competency, sharpen their skills, and develop their innovative mindset.

Prerequisites
None

Credit Hours
3

Zero Textbook Cost

Alternative Courses Available

Arts & Sciences
Year 3 - Term 2
This course expands on the content of NUR 101 and focuses on the student transitioning to the role of a baccalaureate prepared nurse. Professional nursing concepts are expanded on and the pivotal role nurses play in health care is emphasized. Building on previous knowledge and experience, students participate in intellectual dialog on the role of the nurse in a diverse society, and examine how their own professional development can affect policy changes within the profession and in health care. Promoting critical analysis through a person-centered care experience will transform and create new ways of approaching professional practice.

Prerequisites
ENG101 English Composition or ENG101A Advanced Composition.

Credit Hours
2

Zero Textbook Cost

Major Requirement
Year 3 - Term 3
This course focuses on the role of the professional nurse in the health promotion of individuals and populations. Emphasis is placed on enhancing communication skills, cultural competence, and physical assessment skills for registered nurses. Care of individual patients and populations is analyzed within the context of environmental influences, social determinants of health, and culture. Students will explore the role of technology in improving access to care and optimizing health care outcomes. Students will complete a practice experience that includes a health history, a comprehensive physical assessment, a genogram, and a teaching plan on a live adult volunteer. Supporting practice experiences, such as digital clinical simulations, will be used to augment direct, hands on practice experience. Students will purchase Shadow Health s Digital Clinical Simulations to practice and enhance clinical reasoning skills. This course is four credits. Three credits are allotted to didactic instruction (including the use of digital clinical simulations) and one credit is allotted to the practice experience.

Prerequisites
Active and unencumbered RN license.

Credit Hours
4

Major Requirement
Year 3 - Term 4
This course provides knowledge about the informatics roles and skills utilized in professional nursing practice. Emphasis is placed on the use of information processes and information technology to support patient care interventions in an interprofessional healthcare environment. The course will focus on the use of information technology tools to support healthcare decision-making for patients, healthcare consumers, and professional colleagues. Nursing informatics specialization competencies and the role of nurses in improving patient outcomes and supporting a safe healthcare environment, through the use of information technology, will be included.

Prerequisites
None

Credit Hours
2

Major Requirement
Year 3 - Term 5
Nurse leaders engage in ethical decision-making processes that align with organizational priorities. Leaders make a variety of strategic decisions including people management, prudent use of financial resources, and development of a vision for the organization and team. Leading a team is a complex endeavor and involves clear communication of the vision, the ability to work in inter-professional teams, a passion for the mission, the ability to make decisions under pressure and uncertainty, and the ability to motivate others to embrace the vision. This course analyzes the interrelated relationship between leadership and decision making and examines how wisdom, research, personal values, and theory enhance leadership and decision-making skills. The course will use a mix of reading, course conversations, case studies, teamwork, and reflective exercises to explore the role of nurse leaders.

Prerequisites
Active and unencumbered RN license.

Credit Hours
4

Major Requirement
One of the most pressing questions a student always has about any given course is, How will this class help me in the real world? A class on critical thinking is arguably the most useful and valuable course you can take, no matter what field of study you are pursuing. Not only will you learn how to effectively solve personal and professional problems and achieve goals, you will also deeply examine some of the most important issues in your life and persuasively communicate about them! From tackling real world situations and case studies, to evaluating arguments from a range of perspectives, you will have the opportunity to skillfully articulate positions, drawing from your own experience as well as aptly applying the solid critical thinking skills you acquire in this class. By the end of the course, you will have mastered the understanding that it is not so much what you know, but how skillfully you think!

Prerequisites
None

Credit Hours
3

Alternative Courses Available

Arts & Sciences
Year 4 - Term 1
This course focuses on the role of the baccalaureate prepared nurse in translating and disseminating current evidence into clinical practice. The integration of theory, evidence, best practices, cultural considerations, and patient preferences in clinical decision making will be examined. Students will develop a basic understanding of the generation of knowledge by examining research processes and appraising the value of current evidence for practice. Course content analyzes the collaborative role of the baccalaureate prepared nurse in the inter-professional team, with a focus on improvement of patient outcomes. The Iowa Model will be used as a framework for an evidence-based practice proposal. Advocacy for the protection of human subjects in research will be emphasized, and students will evaluate ethical practices that protect patients from harm. The student will explore the impact of health care economics on research and the translation and application of research findings. The role of nurse sensitive outcomes in establishing evidence-based practice will be examined.

Prerequisites
Active and unencumbered RN license, MAT201 Statistics. May be taken concurrently with MAT 201 Statistics. May be taken concurrently with MAT201 Statistics.

Credit Hours
3

Major Requirement
Year 4 - Term 2
This course focuses on nursing principles and concepts as applied to the promotion and preservation of the health of populations. Students participate in rich interactive activities that involve a needs assessment, community connections, cultural awareness and sensitivity, health literacy, teaching and learning, advocacy, and critical self-reflection. The course requires 20-hours of practice experience. The practice experiences include four interviews with community members and members of the Interprofessional team, completing a needs assessment for a community's learning needs, preparing a teaching plan and teaching materials, delivery and evaluating a teaching session, and writing a letter to community leaders related to an identified health need. Satisfactory performance in the practice experience of this course is required for a passing grade in the course.

Prerequisites
Active and unencumbered RN license.

Credit Hours
3

Major Requirement
Year 4 - Term 3
This course integrates evidence, theory, standards, and knowledge from nursing, public health, and other disciplines to guide population-focused nursing practice. Importance is placed on the application of the core functions of public health: assessment, policy development, and the assurance of available and necessary health services for diverse populations. Emphasis is placed in identifying determinants of health, advocating for vulnerable populations, prioritizing primary prevention, and utilizing available resources to improve the health of populations. Population-focused nursing involves assessing the health care needs of a specific population and making health care decisions for the population as a whole rather than for individuals. This course includes practice experiences in the community.This course includes 45 hours of practice experience.

Prerequisites
Active and unencumbered RN license.

Credit Hours
4

Major Requirement
In this course, students will learn the foundations of nutrition as they relate to health, wellness, and disease prevention. Students will examine how food affects the body and explore the relationship of nutrients in food and how they prevent and treat disease. Students will develop skills in designing personalized nutrition plans and gain a greater understanding of how nutrition impacts the body at all stages of life. Students will also analyze current trends in nutrition and gain knowledge on how to separate fact from fiction. This course will use several short game-based learning activities to help students make decisions about nutrition based on environmental circumstances and health conditions. In addition, the topics of food safety and innovations in food technology will be examined.

Prerequisites
None

Credit Hours
3

Alternative Courses Available

Nursing Elective
Year 4 - Term 5
The Capstone course provides an opportunity for students to synthesize concepts of professional nursing, develop a quality improvement initiative, apply principles of interprofessional collaboration, and demonstrate self-development. The course is designed to help students apply leadership principles related to effective communication, collaboration, and delegation within interprofessional teams through the work done on the quality improvement initiative. This course also provides students with the opportunity to demonstrate professional self-development through the group debriefing and self-reflection activities. The Capstone course is also designed as a culminating nursing course for the RN baccalaureate student with a practice experience component that includes 45-hours of direct practice experience (PE).

Prerequisites
Active and unencumbered RN license. The Capstone must be the last course taken. All major core and university requirement courses must be complete. The capstone can be paired with 1 other course that is considered to be general education course (excluding courses to meet the Written English Requirement and the Ethics Requirement), a concentration course, elective, or lab course (even if the lab is in the major).

Credit Hours
4

Zero Textbook Cost

Major Requirement
This intensive course introduces students to the concepts of culture and cultural diversity as they relate to health care and the health care delivery system. During the course students will explore religious, racial, ethnic and other subcultures that exist in our society and examine conflicts that often occur when differing cultures enter the health care arena. Students will also discuss the concept of cultural competence and study strategies that health care organizations are using to create more inclusive services.

Prerequisites
None

Credit Hours
3

Zero Textbook Cost

Alternative Courses Available

Arts & Sciences

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Explore Common Careers

The knowledge I gained from the degree program has been invaluable in advancing my career and helping me to grow both personally and professionally. It has opened up opportunities for me that were not present before and has given me the confidence and determination to continue to succeed.

Penny Nikitas
Bachelor of Science in Nursing, 2022

Accreditations & Recognitions

Institutional Accreditation

Excelsior University is an accredited institution and a member of the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE or the Commission) www.msche.org. Excelsior University’s accreditation status is accreditation reaffirmed. The Commission’s most recent action on the institution’s accreditation status on June 23, 2022 was to reaffirm accreditation. MSCHE is recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education to conduct accreditation and pre-accreditation (candidate status) activities for institutions of higher education including distance, correspondence education, and direct assessment programs offered at those institutions. The Commission’s geographic area of accrediting activities is throughout the United States.

All of Excelsior University’s academic programs are registered (i.e., approved) by the New York State Education Department.

ACEN Accreditation

The RN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Master of Science in Nursing Leadership and Administration of Health Care Systems, Master of Science in Nursing Education, Master of Science in Nursing Informatics, RN to Master of Science in Nursing Leadership and Administration of Health Care Systems, RN to Master of Science in Nursing Education, and RN to Master of Science in Nursing Informatics programs at Excelsior University located in Albany, NY, are accredited by the:

Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400
Atlanta, GA 30326
404-975-5000

The most recent accreditation decision made by the ACEN Board of Commissioners for the RN to bachelor’s program, master’s nursing program, and RN to master’s nursing programs is continuing accreditation. View the public information disclosed by the ACEN regarding these programs at https://www.acenursing.org/search-programs.

FAQ

Will getting a BS in Nursing increase my salary as a nurse?

Many health care employers strongly prefer to hire a nurse with a bachelor’s degree. Bachelor’s-educated nurses generally earn more than nurses who only have an associate degree in nursing, and bachelor’s-educated nurses are in a better position to move up in their career.

What are the prerequisites for a Bachelor of Science in Nursing program?

To apply for Excelsior University’s BS in Nursing program, you will need:

An equivalent U.S. Registered Nurse (RN) license.
An official transcript showing the completion of an associate degree in nursing or an RN diploma education. Your associate degree in nursing or RN diploma education must be earned from a program with specialty accreditation, or a regionally accredited institution, or a New York State (NYSED) approved program.

Review the requirements page for full details.

Can I complete an RN to BS in Nursing program while working full time?

Excelsior University’s RN to BS in Nursing program is designed for working nurses and is flexibly structured so you can learn when and where works best with your schedule.

What courses are included in an RN to BS in Nursing program?

Excelsior University’s RN to BS in Nursing program includes the following courses:

Holistic Health Care Across the Lifespan
Leadership and Management in Nursing
Research in Nursing
Introduction to Informatics for Nurses

What skills will I gain in an RN to BS in Nursing program?

You’ll develop the skills in clinical reasoning, leadership, and communication needed to take on more responsibility in your career. You’ll also learn about evidence-based practice, population health, and systems thinking.

Does a BS in Nursing help with specialized nursing roles?

Earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing significantly helps with pursuing specialized nursing roles, as it provides a broader knowledge base, critical thinking skills, and the foundation needed to enter advanced practice areas like pediatrics, critical care, oncology, or mental health nursing.

Frequently Asked Questions

RN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing

RN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Talk with us.

Be Ready for More with a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing

PROGRAM DETAILS

Online BS in Nursing for RNs

Degree Pathway

RN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Explore Common Careers

Institutional Accreditation

ACEN Accreditation

FAQ