Bachelor of Science in Nursing RN to BSN Online
Learn vital skills to help open doors to more careers within nursing.
- Next Start Date
- July 10th
- Est. Program Length
- 1-2 years
- Credit Hours
- 123 minimum
- Course Length
- 7 weeks
- Credits Accepted
- 75
- Cost per Credit
- $535
- Accreditation
- CCNE*
* The RN to BSN Completion Program at Alvernia University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org).
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Alvernia University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Program Overview
Nurses play an important role within our healthcare system, and the demand for highly qualified nurses continues to grow. With Alvernia University’s online RN to BSN program, you can earn the credentials you need to pursue broader responsibilities and career opportunities within nursing. Because of the program’s online format, you can earn your degree while maintaining your busy schedule and learn from faculty who are experienced in a variety of clinical practice and professional leadership roles.
Alvernia University earned the Nursing Field of Study badge from Colleges of Distinction for the 2020-21 academic year. Colleges of Distinction evaluates institutions based on their commitment to “Four Distinctions:” engaged students, great teaching, vibrant community and successful outcomes.
Topics of Study
While earning your RN to BSN online, you will learn vital skills that will help you advance your career. The program helps you become proficient in accessing information and evaluating and drafting clear and concise narratives. You’ll also explore historical and contemporary issues, as well as future trends, within nursing in legal, ethical, moral and political contexts. Additionally, you will study other advanced nursing topics, such as:
- Performing a holistic assessment of patients of all ages
- Improving quality and safety of nursing practices across different cultures
- Using computer technology and information science to integrate with nursing to evaluate, develop and dispersing healthcare information
- Applying holistic care of individuals and theories of health restoration for the aging population with chronic illnesses
- Evaluating health maintenance, disease prevention and health promotion for individuals of all ages
- Incorporating important leadership skills, including communication, time management, negotiation and collaboration
- Using evidence-based information in nursing to improve patient and client outcomes
Our Online RN to BSN Program Is For Those:
- Wanting to expand their career opportunities in specialized nursing fields and move into leadership roles within nursing
- Wishing to later pursue a master of science in nursing degree
- Desiring to later earn their graduate degree to become an advanced practice nurse (APRN), nurse educator or nurse executive
For those interested in Alvernia’s on-campus program, click here to learn more.
Courses
The online RN to BSN program includes a total of 123 credits. The Liberal Arts Core consists of 27 credits, and upper-level nursing courses make up 31 credits. General elective courses make up the remaining credits necessary for program completion. Typically, nursing students transfer in 60 credits towards the 123 credits.
All Alvernia University students are required to complete 27 credits toward the Liberal Arts Core. Transfer work may be applicable for this area. As part of the application process, students receive specific information regarding remaining credits.
A total of 123 credits, including three credits in a human diversity course, are required to earn a bachelor’s degree. To adhere to Franciscan values, community service hours are also required.
Course Description Credits NUR 303 This course is designed for students to develop proficiency in information access and evaluation skills. The principles and techniques of academic writing along with other types of writing used by professional nurses will be introduced. Students will transform information into clear and concise narratives.1 NUR 307 The course provides an overview of historical aspects, contemporary issues, and future trends in nursing practice within a legal, moral, ethical, and political framework. The course introduces practicing nurses to multiple nursing theories, philosophies, and conceptual models with application to practice. This course is limited to professional RNs. Pre or co-requisite: NUR 303.3 NUR 316 The nursing process guides the enhancement of skills for the systematic collection, organization, interpretation, integration, and communication of data reflecting the health status of individuals. Building upon skills obtained in nursing practice, learning activities within the classroom and clinical laboratory are designed to facilitate acquisition of theory and skills necessary to perform a holistic assessment of individuals across the lifespan. This course includes classroom and laboratory components and is limited to professional RNs.3 NUR 318 This course focuses on improving the safety and quality of nursing practice in the light of our country’s cultural pluralism. Healthcare practices and beliefs of selected cultures in the United States, as well as legal, moral, ethical, political, economic, spiritual, and geographical factors impacting healthcare in a pluralistic society are explored. Client education and nursing research are integrated with accepted anthropological and sociological concepts and theories. This course fulfills the human diversity graduation requirement. This course is limited to professional RNs. Pre or co-requisite: NUR 303.3 NUR 320 This course introduces the student to an overview of the basic concepts of healthcare informatics. This course integrates nursing science with computer technology and information science used to enhance the student’s use of information technology for developing, evaluating, and disseminating healthcare information. This course is limited to professional RNs. Pre or co-requisite: NUR 303 or permission of the Chair.3 NUR 403 The nursing process is utilized to explore theories of health restoration in the aging population with chronic illness. Various cultural and complementary modalities used in health restoration are introduced with a focus on family support and community resources. Research studies are reviewed that relate to nursing care of aging patients in the community and hospital setting. Provided is an overview of holistic care for individuals and family members that assures quality end-of-life care. This course includes a clinical component and is limited to professional RNs.6 NUR 405 This course introduces varied aspects of community and public health nursing through the nursing process. Strategies will be utilized for health maintenance, health promotion, and disease prevention for clients of all ages, their families, the community, and multicultural populations. This course includes a clinical component and is limited to professional RNs.6 NUR 411 Provides the professional nurse with knowledge and skills essential to be a coordinator, manager, and leader within a personal and professional ethical framework. Skills essential to this role are leadership, communication, collaboration, effective time-management, appropriate negotiation, coordination and evaluation of interdisciplinary healthcare teams for the purpose of outcomebased practice. This course is limited to professional RNs. Pre or co-requisite: NUR 303.3 NUR 419 This course provides a comprehensive introduction to principles and practices underlying nursing research. Professional nurses are prepared to analyze, critique, interpret and apply evidence-based research to nursing practice. Nurses relate the value of using evidence-based data in their nursing practice. This course builds on nurses’ experience and expertise by introducing quality improvement principles and tools that support a culture of improvement. The underpinning of the course shows professional nurses how to enhance a culture of improvement and use evidence-based research with the goal of improving patient/client outcomes. This course is limited to professional RNs. Pre or co-requisite: MAT 208 or 209 or permission of Chair/Program Director. Pre or co-requisite: NUR 303.3 ** Denotes a clinical course.
Admission Requirements
Students may be admitted to the RN to BSN Completion Program prior to passing the NCLEX; however, students are not permitted to register for clinical courses without a current and valid RN license.
To apply to Alvernia’s online RN to BSN program, you must:
- Speak to an enrollment counselor
- Complete an application
- Provide evidence of High School completion/graduation. Documentation may include high school transcript, diploma, GED scores, or equivalent.*
- Submit official transcripts of all previous college work
- Submit a copy of DD214 from military (if applicable)
- Submit a photocopy of current Pennsylvania registered nurse license (submit after NCLEX is completed)
*This requirement may be waived if an official college transcript is provided to validate completion of 15 credits or more from an accredited school.
Tuition & Fees
| Component | Cost | Total* |
|---|---|---|
| Full Program Tuition | $535 per credit hour | $65,805 |
| Full Program Student Fees | $50 per credit hour | $6,150 |
| Total | $71,955 | |
| Tuition with Maximum Transfer Credits (Up to 75) | $535 per credit hour | $25,680 |
| Fees with Maximum Transfer Credits (Up to 75) | $50 per credit hour | $2,400 |
| Total with Transfer Credits | $28,080 | |
Time to completion varies by student, depending on individual progress and credits transferred, if applicable. Fees are charged per semester unless otherwise noted. This program takes about one year to complete, depending on transfer credits. For a personalized estimate of time to completion, call an enrollment counselor at (888) 536-1251 or request more information.
* Tuition and fees are subject to change.
Financial Aid
Alvernia offers loans, grants, scholarships, payment plans and GI Bill benefits to help make your education more affordable. Our enrollment counselors can help you determine your financial aid eligibility. For more information, visit our Financial Aid page.
Yellow Ribbon
Alvernia University is a proud participant in the Yellow Ribbon Program. The Yellow Ribbon Program, a provision of the GI Bill, provides those who served the U.S. military on active duty with free tuition and fees, as well as a book allowance. For more information, visit our Veterans page.
Career Outcomes
After earning your nursing degree online, you can pursue a variety of careers, including:
- Informatics nurse
- Nurse case manager
- Critical care nurse
Your Support Team
We’re dedicated to your success. Our enrollment counselors will assist you through every step of your college career, from enrollment to tuition and more.
Benefits of Learning Online
With the convenience of studying online, you can learn whenever and wherever you’d like.