RN to BS in Nursing

The RN to BS in Nursing program coursework will delve into professional research, care models, leadership, management, and participation in the policy process. Whether you want to sharpen your skills, advance in your current career, or prepare to continue into a master’s program, Norwich’s flexible virtual classroom allows you to access program content and contribute to class discussions on your own schedule each week, anywhere, anytime.

During Norwich's Bachelor of Science in Nursing program, you will complete the outlined core and capstone courses. The Norwich RN to BS in Nursing program consists of 120 total credits (including transfer credits).

The program consist of the following curriculum areas:

• Core courses are designed to build skills in professional research, leadership, and the policy process.
• In the Capstone project students will explore issues of individual interest in nursing at a deeper level.
• Elective courses are available to students that need to complete the 120 total credit (including transfer credit) BS in Nursing program.

Foundational Courses

• Human Anatomy & Physiology I

  BI215 4 credit hours

  The first half of a two-semester course exploring human anatomy and physiology. Cellular metabolism, tissues, and the skeletal, muscle, integumentary, and nervous body systems are discussed.

• Human Anatomy & Physiology II

  BI216 4 credit hours

  The second half of a two-semester course exploring human anatomy and physiology. The endocrine, digestive, respiratory, circulatory, lymphatic (including the immune response), urinary, and reproductive body systems are discussed.

• Introduction to Microbiology

  BI 220 4 credit hours

  A survey of microbiology with emphasis on microorganisms of medical significance. Fundamentals of microbial structure, physiology and control are considered along with the role of pathogenic organisms in the infectious and disease processes. Laboratory exercises are designed to provide facility in visualizing, staining, culturing, enumerating, isolating, maintaining, and identifying microorganisms.

• Introduction to General Chemistry

  CH101 4 credit hours

  The first of a two-semester course series covering topics in General, Organic and Biochemistry (GOB). This fundamental course introduces the principles of chemical structure and reactivity. Topics include accuracy and precision in measurement, atomic and molecular structure, chemical bonding and reactions, and chemical equilibrium. The laboratory complements the lecture material with emphasis placed on collaborative problem solving.

• Introduction to Organic and Biochemistry

  CH102 4 credit hours

  The second part of a two-semester course series covering topics in General, Organic and Biochemistry (GOB). This course introduces the nomenclature, structure and reactivity of organic compounds and the structure and function of the major classes of biological compounds and their role in metabolic pathways. Laboratory exercises complement the lecture material. 

• Development Psychology

  PY220 3 credit hours

  A lifespan study of normal development with emphasis on physical, intellectual, social, and emotional growth.

• Elementary Statistics

  MA232 3 credit hours

  This course covers the study of frequency distributions, averages and standard deviations, normal curve, probability, decision-making, sampling techniques, testing hypotheses, chi-square, students-t and F-distributions, correlation, and linear regression. Prerequisite: A college level mathematics course or equivalent as determined by departmental placement testing.

Core Curriculum and Capstone

• Business & Professional Writing

  COMM301 3 credit hours

  A writing-intensive course that focuses on critical business and management documents including organizational and personnel performance reports; business proposals; communications with stakeholders; and marketing instruments. Emphasis is on proper use of the business register; audience analysis; and technology-mediated professional communication. Prerequisite: ENGL101 or its equivalent.

• Nutrition and Health Promotion

  NR105 3 credit hours

  This course focuses on the use of basic concepts from nursing, nutrition, integrative therapies and biophysical sciences, as well as Healthy People 2020 to explore the determinates of health, wellness, and illness of individuals. Environmental, and sociocultural economic and lifestyle factors that influence health will be discussed. This course provides the beginning foundation for an understanding of the relationship of nutrition to physiological and pathophysiological functions. Evaluation of health information as relevant and reliable will be incorporated as a foundation for health promotion.

   
• Technology and Informatics in Healthcare

  NR232 3 credit hours

  This course stresses the ethical and legal issues, including privacy and security, related to electronic systems in healthcare. It is designed to provide students with an introduction to and an initial experience of accessing information from a variety of sources, including information systems and technologies as the foundation for evidence-based practice, clinical-decision support tools, the electronic health record (EHR) and quality improvement systems. While Nursing Informatics is a highly specialized field, this course provides foundational informatics competencies that all practicing nurses and graduating nursing students should possess to meet the standards of providing safe, quality, and competent care. Pre-requisite: NR 105 (C+).

• Research For Evidence-Based Practice

  NR225 3 credit hours

  Introduces clinical based nursing information technology. Nurses are expected to provide safe, competent, and compassionate care in an increasingly technical and digital environment. A major theme in healthcare environment is the increase of information systems and technologies to improve the quality and safety of patient care. This course provides foundational informatics competencies that all nurses should possess to meet the standards of providing safe, quality, and competent care. Prerequisites: NR 232 (C+). 

• Ethics in the Modern World

  PHLS210 3 credit hours

  This course is a study of ethics and its application to problems in everyday life, society, and the broader world. The course examines the principal moral theories and ethical systems that have shaped our personal values and behavior, including consequentialist and non-consequentialist theories, virtue ethics, and feminist ethics. Students explore the connections between ethics and religion and examine the challenges to morals posed by relativism, subjectivism and emotivism, egoism. Students also evaluate positions, theories, and arguments as they apply them to concrete matters of personal, socio-political, and global concern.

• Pathopharmacology for Nurses

  NR365 4 credit hours

  This course builds upon the student’s prerequisite biological/chemical science courses. Students begin a comprehensive study of human pathophysiology and the application of pharmacotherapies commonly encountered with each of these disease processes. Epidemiology, disease state presentation with common clinical evaluations, mortality and morbidity will be addressed. At the conclusion, students demonstrate cumulative knowledge of the pathophysiologic and pharmacologic processes utilized in the care of and promotion of health and wellness across the lifespan. Evidence based practice for use, cost, ease of administration, compliance and efficacy will be discussed. Pre-requisite: NR 225 (C+).

• Nursing Leadership

  NR321 3 credit hours

  In this course students focus on theoretical foundations and conceptual principles of nursing leadership and the skills necessary to practice leadership competently in healthcare environments. The course is designed to enhance leadership self-awareness and to encourage students to fashion personal perspectives on how to lead professionally. Analyzing trends and issues in the current healthcare system has implications for exercising leadership and will help students determine the way they can make a difference. Prerequisites: NR 365 (C+) or permission of the instructor.

• Promoting Health in Communities

  NR431 3 credit hours

  In this course students learn current theory and research about contemporary practices in community/public health nursing. In population-focused nursing, the group, aggregate, community, or population is the unit of care. Epidemiologic studies have shown that lifestyle, environmental and genetic factors are major determinants of population health. Students will work collaboratively with community agencies to address population-focused health issues. Co-requisite: NR 431L. 

• Promoting Health in Communities: Clinical Practicum

  NR431L 2 credit hours

  In this course, students will apply concepts of community/public health in planning population-focused care to groups, aggregates, and communities. Clinical experiences are a combination of virtual simulated scenarios and individual community projects to engage students with their own communities and community resources in addressing community/public health issues. Students are encouraged to clarify their own beliefs and values in order to provide nonjudgmental nursing care. Co-requisite: NR 431.

• Nursing Capstone

  NR441 4 credit hours

  In this course the student begins to transition to the role of graduate nurse and explores issues relevant to contemporary nursing practice including the ethics and regulation of practice. Local, state, national and international policies and initiatives and their influence on health of populations are examined. Students create and implement an approved capstone leadership project which is undertaken with guidance of faculty and clinical partners and reflects integration of all elements of the BSN curriculum.

• Care at End of Life

  NR420 2 credit hours

  In this course students will study current theory and research about contemporary practices caring for clients and their families at the end of life. It teaches students effective interaction skills with clients, families and health care providers. Throughout the course, students develop their use of self as a therapeutic tool and focus on a holistic approach to assessment and care of persons with a variety of life-limiting illnesses/diseases. Interventions will be discussed regarding the physical care as well as psychological, social, cultural and spiritual care of clients and their families as they face life’s final journey. Prerequisites: NR 321 (C+) and NR 365 (C+).

Norwich University, in compliance with Title IV of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendment of 1972, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, or physical handicap in any of its policies, practices, or procedures.

Meet graduates from our online bachelor's programs.

I have always dreamed about graduating from Norwich University. Going to college was always on my bucket list and this was my motivation.

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Kelley Lawrence
Class of 2016

Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice

From the very beginning of submitting my application to graduation day, the one-on-one interaction with the faculty and staff made me feel a part of the Norwich family.

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Steve Gonzalez
Class of 2016

Bachelor of Science in Strategic Studies and Defense Analysis

One of the key things to me for having a Norwich education is the name that comes with it; there’s pride and tradition that comes with having a Norwich University diploma. It’s finishing what I started here many years ago and I wanted something I can be proud to hang in my office.

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Julie Scribner
Class of 2015

Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice

Norwich has developed online programs that provide a gateway, not a barrier, to maximize your career potential. Get to know a few graduates -- with busy schedules -- and how they made their education fit.