The RN-BSN program is customized for licensed registered nurses who want to earn a bachelor’s degree in nursing. The program provides an opportunity for a registered nurse (RN) to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree in two to six semesters depending upon full-time or part-time status. The degree features a primarily didactic program and experiential learning opportunities. Moreover, the program allows registered nurses to enhance their managerial and leadership skills and advance as nurse managers in various healthcare provider and payer organizations. A BSN is a prerequisite for admission to graduate nursing programs in advanced clinical practice and research. The BSN can open doors not only for those seeking academic progression but also for those seeking careers in nursing education.
The BSN program is designed to expand knowledge and skills beyond the clinical aspects of nursing that are generally acquired while preparing for the Associate of Applied Science in Nursing (AASN) or diploma in nursing and the RN licensure examinations. As such, the BSN program focuses on expanding the horizons of graduates by giving them a much more extensive background in evidence-based practice, patient safety, legal issues, ethical standards, and technology integration as well as healthcare systems and policies. The BSN will also allow students to receive crucial training in key areas such as communication, leadership, critical thinking, and clinical reasoning: students will therefore gain much-needed knowledge to deal effectively with the complex and changing future of healthcare delivery. In doing so, students will be provided with opportunities to use evidence-based practice to analyze a variety of issues in professional nursing practice that are essential for providing effective leadership in nursing care across the healthcare continuum.
The UHCL BSN program is offered in a full-time track for RN-BSN students who are capable of taking a full semester load (12-15 course credit hours). There is also a part-time track (6-9credit hours) for those nurses who are working and cannot commit to the 12-15 credit hours per semester needed to be full-time students. It is expected that students pursuing the full-time track will be able to complete the RN-BSN in 3 semesters. Students pursuing the part-time track will be able to complete the RN-BSN in 6semesters. The Nursing classes will be offered at the Pearland campus during weekdays in the morning, afternoon, and/or early evening timeframes. The 30 upper-level hours in Nursing must be completed in residence.
Students may be admitted to the RN-BSN program in a fall or spring semester; applications are reviewed as they are received. For more information about the RN-BSN program, see https://www.uhcl.edu/academics/degrees/rn-nursing-bsn.
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