RN to BSN Courses

RN-BSN BSN Entry Requirements
This degree completion option allows licensed RNs to complete their BSN degree (RN-BSN) via theoretical and clinical experiences through the College’s Division of Distance and Online Education. Graduates will have a liberal arts-based education enriched with opportunities from diverse practice settings, and evidence-based competencies necessary to fulfill the service and scholarship obligations of a BSN-prepared nurse. Requirements and course descriptions are listed below.

Admission Requirements
To enter the RN-BSN major, the following must be met and maintained throughout the degree completion:

  • Completion of an Associate’s Degree in Nursing or a Nursing Diploma (RN only)
  • Active RN license (North Carolina or equivalent)
  • Unencumbered (unrestricted) RN license
  • Acceptable Criminal Background history
  • Current CPR and liability insurance when taking clinical courses
  • Sound mental and physical health necessary to meet the performance standards and learning outcomes

Retention Policy
Students enrolled in the RN-BSN major are expected to adhere to the following:

  • Maintain a 3.0 grade point average
  • Achieve "satisfactory" completion of all course and practicum competencies and related proficiencies
  • Achieve "satisfactory" evaluations of performance in practicum settings by course faculty, or clinical preceptors during off-campus practicum rotations
  • Attain a “B” or above in all nursing courses
  • Maintain an active, unencumbered (unrestricted) RN license (North Carolina or equivalent)
  • Maintain an acceptable criminal background history.
  • Maintain current CPR and liability insurance when taking clinical courses
  • Maintain sound mental and physical health necessary to meet the performance standards and learning outcomes
  • Continuously meet clinical agency requirements to include immunizations
  • Adhere to the established professional behavior guidelines and dress code requirements for Catawba College and applicable clinical agencies

Students falling below a cumulative GPA of 3.0 will be placed on probation. Students must increase their GPA to a 3.0 (or above) after one probationary semester in order to remain in the program. Failure to meet the 3.0 GPA requirement after one probationary semester, will lead to dismissal from the program. In certain circumstances, students who have been dismissed may reapply to the program. The Chair of Nursing has the final say in this matter.

RN-BSN Nursing Concentration

NURS 3511

Community Health Nursing

This course will use the nursing process to develop and implement care for individuals, families, and groups in a disadvantaged community setting. A clinical practicum will enhance these skills. Prerequisites: Admission to RN-BSN option; NURS 3301, NURS 3302, NURS 3303 and NURS 3306
(5 Hours)
NURS 3301

Trans to Bacc Nursing Practice

This course will assist the licensed RN with transitioning to professional nursing practice at the baccalaureate level. The focus will be on the application of curricular concepts to nursing practice, role differentiation, and contribution of the BSN prepared nurse to healthcare. Prerequisites: Admission to the RN-BSN option; completion of required Gen Ed courses.
(3 Hours)
NURS 3302

Holistic Health Assessment

This course will focus on physical assessment skills of individuals across the life span based on normal physiological and pathophysiological mechanisms of disease and their relations to human responses. A lab practicum will enhance these skills. Prerequisite: Admission to RN-BSN option.
(4 Hours)
NURS 3303

Nursing Research

This course will introduce concepts commonly associated with nursing research, data collection and analysis, and the importance of its use when allowing evidence-based practice (EBP), and Best Practice models to guide patient care. Prerequisites: Admission to RN-BSN option; successful completion of statistics course.
(3 Hours)
NURS 3306

Nursing the Gerontological Pop

This course will focus on theories of aging and nursing care of the older adult population. Prerequisites: Admission to RN-BSN option; NURS 3301; or special permission from the instructor.
(2 Hours)
MATH 1132

Introduction to Statistics

An introduction to elementary statistics, including topics such as normal distribution, histograms, mean, standard deviations, confidence intervals, and hypothesis testing techniques. Prerequisite: On the basis of placement scores, a student may be requi
(3 Hours)
PSYC 1110

General Psychology

A study in the major perspectives of psychology with an emphasis on the nature and behavior of people and an examination of selected topics in the discipline.
(3 Hours)
PSYC 1500

Human Development

A survey of the important methods, theories, themes, issues and research findings in the field of lifespan developmental psychology.
(3 Hours)

Select ONE of the following Nursing Electives (2 hours):

NURS 4201

Ethical/Legal Issues Nursing

This course will focus on the nursing care associated with ethical and legal issues common to healthcare environments. Prerequisites: Admission to RN-BSN option; NURS 3301.
(2 Hours)
NURS 4204

Global Health Studies

This course will focus on concepts that will enhance nursing care of different cultures. Prerequisites: Admission to RN-BSN option; NURS 3301
(2 Hours)
NURS 4202

Nursing Informatics

This course will explore common concepts and applications related to the nurse's role in using informatics for decision-making via messaging, documentation, information retrieval, and other methods associated with healthcare information exchange. Prerequisite: Admission to RN-BSN option.
(2 Hours)
NURS 4306

Healthcare across the Lifespan

This course will examine foundations of family theory and its relations to health disparities, disabilities, and chronic conditions and illnesses across the lifespan. Prerequisites: Admission to RN-BSN option; NURS 3301.
(3 Hours)
NURS 4405

Leadership and Mgt in Nursing

This course will focus on theory and concepts associated with leadership and management in the professional nurse's role. Prerequisites: Admission to RN-BSN option; NURS 3301, NURS 3302, NURS 3303, NURS 3306, NURS 3511, NURS 4202 and NURS 4306.
(3 Hours)
NURS 4511

Capstone Practicum Course

This practicum course will build on the concepts and knowledge gained from previous nursing courses allowing for the application of theories and concepts associated with nursing leadership, nursing research, and management of care. A clinical practicum will enhance these skills. Prerequisites: Admission to RN-BSN option; NURS 3301, NURS 3302, NURS 3303. NURS 3306, NURS 3511, NURS 4202, NURS 4306 and NURS 4405.
(5 Hours)
BIOL 1123

Fundamentals of Microbiology

This course will be offered as an introductory biology course that will focus on learning basic techniques currently practiced in the field of clinical microbiology. Students will explore microbes of medical importance and gain hands-on experience with microbial culturing, aseptic technique, and gross morphological and chemical characterization of clinically-significant microorganisms. The course will include both a lecture and laboratory component.
(4 Hours)
BIOL 2419

BIOL 2419 Lab

(0 Hours)
BIOL 2420

BIOL 2420 Lab

(0 Hours)

Select ONE of the following (4 hours):

CHEM 1501

General Chemistry I

A study of the fundamental principles of chemistry, including atomic and molecular structure, nomenclature, stoichiometry, thermochemistry, gases, bonding, and periodicity. Lecture and Laboratory.
(4 Hours)
CHEM 1104

Principles of Chemistry

A study of the principles of general, organic and biological chemistry with an emphasis on physiological applications. Students may not receive credit for both CHEM 1104 and CHEM 1501. This course is intended primarily for nursing students and is not suitable for students who will need a full year of chemistry for admission to medical school or similar programs.
(4 Hours)

Select ONE of the following (3 hours):

SOC 1101

Introduction to Sociology

An introduction to "the sociological imagination", a distinctive way of understanding human behavior. The course is a broad survey of the principles, methods, concepts, and theoretical perspectives of sociology.
(3 Hours)
SOC 1202

Global Societies

A study of the development of the major types of societies in human history with emphasis on sociocultural diversity in today's world.
(3 Hours)
SOC 1301

Marriage and Families

(3 Hours)
SOC 1501

Social Problems

A survey of major contemporary social problems and solutions designed to ameliorate these problems.
(3 Hours)

* Thirty (30) credit hours will be awarded after successful completion of NURS 3301 (grade of “B” or better) for previous nursing experiences/coursework. A minimum of 120 credit hours are required to complete the BSN degree. This includes the Catawba College general education requirements. The final 30 semester hours must be earned through Catawba College.