Nursing (RN to BSN)
Is a Nursing Major for Me?
Registered nurses (RNs) with a diploma or an associate degree in nursing (refer to Admissions Requirements and Transfer Credit for specifics) may earn a bachelor of science degree in nursing through Southwestern College Professional Studies. This program builds on an RN’s previous learning experience and is designed to position graduates for leadership roles in a variety of healthcare settings.
Because Southwestern strives to accommodate your busy schedule, our program is completely online. Learners can finish their degree at their convenience without leaving current jobs or locations.
Southwestern College is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
MISSION STATEMENT
The Southwestern College Department of Nursing exists to facilitate:
- Baccalaureate education of professional nurses capable of leadership in an ever-changing health-care system;
- Caring through encouraging health promotion for individuals and populations in a diverse society;
- Evidence-based care for individuals throughout the lifespan;
- Development of students to think critically, to be professionally accountable and to participate in life-long learning.
Graduate nurses are prepared through integration of knowledge based in the liberal arts and sciences, professional therapeutic nursing concepts, and the exploration of professional values to practice in diverse settings.
Nursing Resources
Program Outcomes
The nursing program at Southwestern College prepares the graduate to:
- Apply principles and theories from the sciences, humanities, and arts to the nursing care of individuals, groups, and diverse populations.
- Provide culturally congruent, holistic patient-centered care to individuals and families across the health continuum, across the lifespan, and across healthcare settings.
- Discern and utilize evidence-based information to safely promote the health of individuals, families, groups and communities.
- Demonstrate integrity and ethical decision-making in the provision of competent, compassionate care, respecting the dignity and worth of each patient.
- Use patient care technologies, information systems, and communication strategies that support safe, quality nursing practice
- Demonstrate an awareness of systems complexities and apply problem solving strategies in promoting change for quality improvement
- Incorporate effective communication, leadership, and collaboration techniques to produce positive professional relationships in the provision of care.
- Incorporate basic knowledge of health care policy, finance, legislative and regulatory processes and their impact, including local, state, national, and global health care trends
- Advocate for consumers, patients, nurses and the nursing profession
- Assimilate the values of the nursing profession and the importance of a professional identity, assuming accountability for professional behaviors.
Required and Core Courses
NURS 310 Intro. to Professional Nursing Edu. (3 credit hours)
NURS 332 Caring: A Foundation for Nursing
NURS 333 Health Promotion: A Framework For Nursing Practice
NURS 334 Theories, Trends and Issues In Nursing
NURS 336 Health Assessment
NURS 345 Nursing Research
NURS 442 Research Applications in Nursing
NURS 400 Ethical and Legal Dilemmas In Nursing
NURS 410 Community Health Nursing
NURS 426 Culturally Competent Nursing Care
NURS 434 Pathophysiology for Current Practitioners
NURS 440 Nursing Management
MATH 215 Introduction To Statistics and Probability
CLO 499 Responsibility for the Future
ECON 326 Economic Theory
(or any approved 3 hour economics course)
All classes are 3 credit hours unless otherwise indicated.
Course Descriptions
NURS 310 Introduction to Professional Nursing Education
An introduction to the concept of professionalism and BSN education. Exploration of the program’s philosophy and mission and of skills necessary to be a successful adult learner. Learner roles, critical thinking, and scholarly work are addressed.
NURS 332 Caring: A Foundation for Nursing
Analysis of the concept of caring as the essence of nursing with exploration of caring theory, relationships, influences, and behaviors, and development of caring for self and others.
NURS 333 Health Promotion: A Framework for Nursing Practice
Health promotion and disease prevention as a framework for nursing practice are explored from a theoretical, philosophical and historical perspective. Consideration of clients as individuals with health issues is approached from a positive orientation.
NURS 334 Theories, Trends, and Issues in Nursing
Past, present, and future of nursing. Analysis of the impact of current health-care system dynamics on nursing roles.
NURS 336 Health Assessment
Comprehensive health assessment as a foundation for professional nursing practice.
NURS 345 Nursing Research
Principles of research and identification of applications to nursing practice. Experiences in the research process through writing a proposal and critical evaluation of written research. Prerequisite: Successful completion of two nursing courses.
NURS 442 Research Applications in Nursing
Application of the research process to nursing and exploration of evidence-based-practice. Basic statistical methods for conducting research are explored and research results are interpreted. Prerequisite: NURS 345 Nursing Research
NURS 410 Community Health Nursing
Development of an understanding of the concept of community as partner as the basis for nursing practice in and for the community. Emphasis is on theories critical to understanding the community as partner, the process of community as partner, and strategies for health promotion. Coursework involves an individualized practicum project.
NURS 400 Ethical and Legal Dilemmas in Nursing
Ethical principles and legal issues associated with nursing and health care. Emphasis on personal introspection and self-understanding.
NURS 426 Culturally Competent Nursing Care
Cultural diversity as well as universality are emphasized in comparing beliefs, values, and practices pertaining to health, care expressions, and well being among cultural groups. Communication to convey mutual understanding of thoughts, feelings and actions is emphasized. Directed on-line reading, learning, interaction and individually scheduled practicum. Coursework involves an individualized practicum project.
NURS 434 Pathophysiology for Current Practitioners
Major pathophysiologic concepts are explored using a body systems approach. Theories relating etiology, pathogenesis and clinical manifestations are used to study common disease processes.
NURS 440 Nursing Management
Exploration of management skills necessary to function as a professional practitioner within today’s health-care organizational hierarchy. Practicum component includes observation of management skills as they are applied in an organizational setting. Coursework involves an individualized practicum project.
MATH 215 Introduction to Statistics and Probability
An introduction to statistics and probability with emphasis on applications. Topics include numerical and graphical displays of data, linear regression, hypothesis testing, and elementary probability, including counting methods, conditional probabilities, and probability distributions.
ECON 326 Economic Theory
A theory and issues-oriented approach to the study of economics. Both microeconomic and macroeconomic principles will be explored. Various cases and issues are used to develop the economist’s view and contribution to solutions.
CLO 499 Responsibility for the Future
Seniors with various majors will share learning and approaches from their different disciplines toward dealing holistically with issues that shape the future, seeking to integrate disciplines and to synthesize knowing, caring, and doing.
All classes are 3 credit hours unless otherwise indicated.
Admission Requirements
- Have completed a Registered Nurses (RN) diploma or associate degree in nursing
- Provide proof of current, unrestricted licensure to practice as a registered nurse.
- Have at least a 2.5 GPA for all college work.
- Successful completion of NURS310 Introduction to Professional Nursing.
Transfer Credit
*64 credit hours are granted by transfer for an accredited Associate Degree in Nursing; 40 hours are granted by transfer for an accredited Diploma in Nursing.
*Nursing coursework taken at another baccalaureate degree granting institution may be substituted for required nursing courses at Southwestern College provided specific criteria are met.
*English Composition 1 & 2 must be satisfied for graduation from Southwestern.
Graduation Requirements
A total of 124 credit hours must be earned to graduate. You must have at least 60 credit hours from a four-year university or college and at least 30 hours from Southwestern College (does not include prior learning credits). Of the 30 hours required from Southwestern, 15 of the last 30 hours earned toward your degree must be at Southwestern College. Contact your Academic Success Coach for more information.
Meta
Southwestern College Professional Studies builds on an RN’s previous learning experience. This program positions graduates for leadership roles in a variety of healthcare settings.
