RN to BSN Completion Program (Online)

A needed profession in need of new recruits

Nurses are in high demand. America’s aging population, an increasing focus on preventative care and wellness, recent healthcare reforms and practitioners retiring from the field are among the many factors accounting for the national shortage of registered nurses.

A Bachelor of Science in Nursing is widely considered a requirement for RNs seeking broader professional responsibilities and career opportunities. Our RN to BSN Completion Program is designed for registered nurses. It caters to graduates of diploma or associate degree nursing programs, whether new graduates just taking the NCLEX-RN examination or experienced RNs.

Learn more about the online RN to BSN Completion Program.
 

Getting Started

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Admissions Requirements

Students are admitted to Alvernia University and are fully accepted in the RN to BSN Completion Program when the following documentation is submitted:

• RN to BSN Completion Program application
• Proof of high school completion: a copy of your high school transcript, diploma, or GED completion
• Official transcript of college and/or diplomas school
• Photocopy of current Pennsylvania Registered Nurse License (submit after NCLEX is completed)

Students may be admitted to the RN to BSN Completion Program prior to passing the NCLEX; however, students are not permitted to progress and register for the two clinical courses (NUR 403 & NUR 405) without a current and valid RN license.

Additional Academic Progression Policies:

• Both theoretical and clinical components of the professional nursing courses must be satisfactorily completed
• A grade of "C" or better in all nursing courses is required to progress through the RN to BSN Completion Program

Application Instructions

To apply:

• 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 (if applicable)

Financing Your Education

There are options to assist in financing your education and making the tuition affordable. Visit our Student Financial Services page for a detailed overview of the process, including a link to complete the FAFSA application, as well as more information about tuition, the tuition payment plan and the tuition deferment program we offer. Alvernia’s Title IV code for the FAFSA is 003233. The Office of Student Financial Services is available to help with any questions you may have. Call 610-796-8201 or email sfs@alvernia.edu.

Program Overview

Curriculum

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.
 

Our engaging, dynamic faculty members are the heart of Alvernia University. The program's faculty is comprised of accomplished full-time and adjunct professors from diverse nursing fields. Faculty members provide personal support to RN to BSN Completion Program degree students, and a team of professionals is available to help students with the online-classroom environment.

The RN to BSN courses are predominantly designed to be non-sequential. Lower level science and liberal arts courses may be transferred to Alvernia University from your basic entry-level program. Each student will be personally advised on what applies to Alvernia University’s graduation requirements.

Credit Breakdown:

• Diploma or ADN: up to 90 transfer credits
• Alvernia's Requirements: 33 of the last 60 credits must be taken at Alvernia University & a minimum of 30 Alvernia credits at the 300+ level.
   

Liberal Arts Core (27 Credits):

• Composition and Research (3 credits)
• Communication (3 credits)
• Art/Music (3 credits)
• Literature (3 credits)
• Mathematics - statistics required (3 credits)
• History or Social Science (3 credits)
• Philosophy (3 credits)
• Philosophy/Theology (3 credits)
• Medical Moral Theology (3 credits)
   

Upper Level Nursing Courses (31 credits):

• NUR 303 Preparation for Professional Writing: 1 credit
• NUR 307 Concepts and Theories: 3 credits
• NUR 316 Health Assessment Across the Lifespan for Professional Nurses: 3 credits
• NUR 318 Developing Cultural Competency and Global Awareness: 3 credits
• NUR 320 Introduction to Healthcare Informatics: 3 credits
• NUR 403 Health Restoration in the Aging Population: 6 credits**
• NUR 405 Health Promotion in Families and Communities: 6 credits**
• NUR 411 Nursing Leadership and Management: 3 credits
• NUR 419 Research Methods for Professional Nurses: 3 credits
   

Blended, online class format, MOD schedule

• Six out of the nine upper-level nursing courses are delivered in a blended, online format in an eight-week modular schedule Approximately 50% of the course content is taught via innovative distance education technologies.

**Clinical-based course

In accordance with USDE Regulation 34 CFR 668.43 (a) (5) (v): The Alvernia University Nursing Curriculum meets the educational requirements for licensure or certification for all 50 states in the United States.

Experiential Learning Opportunities

• Community agency networking
• International real-world learning immersion experience (Ireland)

Program Accreditation

• The baccalaureate degree in nursing at Alvernia University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccrediation.org).
• Alvernia is an accredited institution and a member of the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE). MSCHE is an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.

Career Outlook

The RN to BSN Completion Program will prepare you for a variety of careers, including:

• Emergency Room Nurse
• Critical Care Nurse
• Nurse Care Manager
• Pediatric Nurse
• Nurse Navigator
• Trauma Nurse
• Staff Nurse
• Nurse Educator in Collegiate setting

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of registered nurses is projected to grow 6 percent from 2021 to 2031, about the average for all occupations. The median annual wage in 2021 was $77,600.