Bachelor of Science in Nursing for Registered Nurses

Of the 121 credits required for the Bachelor of Science in Nursing, students must complete 61 credits in general education and 60 credits in nursing.

The undergraduate general education component requires 61 credits.

Information Literacy: 1 credit

Written English Requirement: 6 credits

Humanities:

• Humanities: 9 credits
• Ethics Core: 3 credits

Social Sciences:

• Social Sciences/History: 9 credits
• Psychology Core Requirement: 3 credits
• Sociology Core Requirement: 3 credits

Natural Sciences/Mathematics:

• Human Anatomy and Physiology Core: 4 credits
• Microbiology Core: 3 credits
• Sciences Supportive of Nursing Core: 2 credits
• Statistics Core: 3 credits
• Natural Sciences/Mathematics: 3 credits

Arts and Sciences Electives: 12 credits

Nursing Credit for Prior Learning and Successful Completion of NCLEX-RN: 30 Credits

Phase I

The Profession of Nursing: Becoming Influential
This course explores the evolution of contemporary nursing through the development of reflective practice, professional standards, values and beliefs, ways of knowing and nursing knowledge, and inter-professional communication and collaboration. Emphasis is placed on the roles of the bachelor’s-prepared professional nurse, the processes guiding nursing practice, lifelong learning, and the influence nursing has in the changing health care environment and world. Through this course, the student develops a personalized toolbox with an array of skills necessary to become an influential professional nurse.

Introduction to Informatics for Nurses
This course provides knowledge about the roles and skills in information management and the application of technology to inform nursing practice. Emphasis is placed on technological supports for patient care interventions and the use of decision-support systems to gather evidence to guide practice. The use and understanding of standardized terminologies and the role of information technology in improving patient outcomes and creating a safe environment will be included.

Holistic Health Care Across the Life Span
This course focuses on applying concepts of health promotion, as well as illness, disease, and injury prevention to health assessment across the life span. The student integrates the core concepts (critical thinking, communication, research, role development, caring, and cultural competence) into a holistic approach while functioning in the professional nursing role. Health and physical assessment data are gathered, analyzed, and synthesized by the student to develop a personal health plan for a client that promotes health and prevents disease.

Nursing Elective (upper level)
The 3-credit elective requirement could be met with a nursing certification (see catalog). Students should consult with your academic advisor before taking a course or examination for nursing elective credit. Graduates of Excelsior College’s associate degree nursing program waive this requirement.

Phase II

Research in Nursing
This course focuses on knowledge and skill acquisition related to research process. Evidence-based practice, critical thinking, critical reading, and the baccalaureate nurse’s role in the application of research to practice are emphasized. Course content examines the foundations of research, the research process, quantitative and qualitative research designs, as well as evaluation of a quantitative research study.

Teaching and Learning in a Diverse Society
This course focuses on the role of the nurse as educator and the ability to teach a group of adult clients with a shared learning need. Theory and research-based evidence from nursing and other disciplines are integrated with concepts of caring and cultural competence, health promotion, behavioral change, and principles of teaching and learning. Application of the education process is emphasized. In partnership with clients, the student develops, implements, and evaluates a teaching plan designed to produce a desired change in behavior.

Community Health Nursing: Caring for the Public’s Health
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.

Leadership and Management in Nursing
This course focuses on the application of leadership and management concepts and theories; inter-professional communication and collaboration; and evidence-based strategies and inquiry within health care organizations. Team building, quality improvement, patient and staff safety, and fiscal management are addressed within the role of baccalaureate-prepared nurse leader and manager across a variety of health care settings.

Phase III

Nursing Capstone
This capstone course focuses on integration and synthesis of knowledge, skills, and competencies from nursing, other disciplines, and the arts and sciences. Application of specific concepts and theories, such as communication, critical thinking, and leadership, enables students to transform theory to practice within health care systems. This course includes practice experiences.

• Promote holistic patient-centered care and population health supporting values, culture, right to self-fulfillment, and quality care outcomes.
• Integrate evidence, nursing theory, and knowledge from other disciplines to guide nursing practice.
• Formulate decisions based on nursing judgment and collaboration with the interprofessional team to achieve quality patient outcomes.
• Incorporate professional core values, guidelines, standards of practice, and lifelong learning as a basis for professional nursing practice.
• Apply principles of leadership to advocate for the unique role of the nursing profession within the health care system.
• Engage in the spirit of inquiry to propose solutions that support nursing excellence.

Surveys are administered to our nursing program students upon graduation and at one year post-graduation. The survey results are available here.