Nursing | RN to BSN
Online RN to BSN Program
About the RN to BSN Program
The RN to BSN Program at FHSU provides registered nurses a flexible, 100% on-line option to complete their BSN Degree in as few as three semesters. As an incoming student, you can enter the program at any semester: fall, spring, or summer. The RN to BSN Program can expand your knowledge and skills in leadership and critical thinking and provide future career options.
To be officially admitted to the RN to BSN Program, you must have a valid RN license.
Clinical Clearance Requirements
The RN to BSN Program at FHSU requires preceptor led clinicals in course NURS 449 Leadership and Management for the RN with Practicum. Please note that clinical clearance requirements include obtaining student liability insurance, a background check, drug testing and immunization records.
Fort Hays State University works diligently with students to secure clinical contracts across the United States. On rare occasions due to locations or state or facility requirements, we are unable to negotiate a contract. In this event, if another site cannot be obtained at the students location, a clinical site in Hays, Kansas will be provided for the student. If this occurs, students will need a Kansas license and will need to come to Kansas for their practicum experience. We encourage you to start the collaborative process of obtaining a preceptor early in your program. If you have questions about this process, please contact the Nursing Department at Nurs.Contracts@fhsu.edu.
Nursing Handbook - guidance for all BSN Nursing Students.
Program Requirements
- Maintain active RN license issued in the United States.
- Minimum grade of C for all RN to BSN Program Degree Requirements and Nursing Courses.
- Transfer courses accepted from regionally accredited schools only. Click here to view Transfer Courses accepted by FHSU.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| COMM 100 | Fundamentals of Oral Communication | 3 |
| ENG 101 | English Composition I | 3 |
| ENG 102 | English Composition II | 3 |
| MATH 110 | College Algebra | 3 |
| or MATH 101 | Contemporary Mathematics | |
| BIOL 230 & 230L | Anatomy and Physiology I and Anatomy and Physiology I Laboratory | 4 |
| BIOL 231 & 231L | Anatomy and Physiology II and Anatomy and Physiology II Laboratory | 4 |
| BIOL 240 & 240L | Microbiology for Allied Health and Microbiology Laboratory | 4 |
| CHEM 100 | The Chemist's View of the World | 3 |
| or CHEM 110 | Molecules and Society | |
| PSY 100 | General Psychology | 3 |
Degree Requirements
- 120 credit hours or above required for a BSN degree, 30 taken directly through FHSU, and 45 credit hours must be upper division.
- All students must complete the Kansas system-wide general education program requirements.
- Students who have a current U.S. RN license with transcripts from outside the United States must have two evaluations completed on his/her transcripts: WES+ and CGFNS.
General Education
All undergraduate degrees require completion of the Kansas Systemwide General Education.
Courses identified with GE on this page may satisfy a general education requirement in addition to the identified degree requirement. Students who apply a degree requirement to satisfy a general education requirement will typically add an equal number of hours to the the university elective category. This flexibility may allow you to complete a minor or certificate within the 120 hour degree. Transfer students and students majoring in programs with approved exceptions are especially encouraged to select these courses in completing General Education requirements to maximize the likelihood of completing the degree with 120 credit hours.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education | 34-35 | |
RN to BSN Courses
All courses are 8 weeks in length. A section of each course will be offered every 8 weeks. Both NURS 440 Informatics for the RN and NURS 442 Legal and Ethical Issues in Healthcare may be taken prior to acceptance in the Nursing Program. Please note the successful completion of these courses does not impact or guarantee acceptance into the program.
(Contact your academic advisor for more information)
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| NURS 440 | Informatics for the RN | 3 |
| NURS 441 | Professional Roles for the RN | 3 |
| NURS 442 | Legal and Ethical Issues in Healthcare | 3 |
| NURS 443 | Community Focused Care for the RN | 3 |
| NURS 445 | Health Promotion and Assessment for the RN | 3 |
| NURS 446 | Nursing Inquiry for the RN | 3 |
| NURS 447 | Issues and Trends Facing Healthcare | 3 |
| NURS 448 | Healthcare Policy and Cost for the RN | 3 |
| NURS 449 | Leadership and Management for the RN with Practicum 1 | 3 |
| NURS 450 | Healthcare Quality Improvement for the RN 2 | 3 |
| Total Hours | 30 | |
- 1
Pre-requisite: NURS 446 Nursing Inquiry for the RN
Class NURS 449 Leadership and Management for the RN with Practicum requires direct care hours with a preceptor and approved clinical site.- 2
Pre-requisites: NURS 446 Nursing Inquiry for the RN and NURS 449 Leadership and Management for the RN with Practicum
Advanced Standing Credit
As a Registered Nurse, you are eligible for Advanced Standing Credit towards your BSN degree by demonstrating successful completion of the NCLEX-RN national exam. The University requires 45 upper-level hours. Advanced Standing Credit can help you achieve this requirement. 36 credit hours will be credited and posted to the student's transcript. Below are the courses that may be credited.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| NURS 310L | Nursing Skills Laboratory | 2 |
| NURS 311 | Acute Nursing Care | 3 |
| NURS 311L | Acute Nursing Care Practicum | 2 |
| NURS 328 | Mental Health Nursing | 3 |
| NURS 328L | Mental Health Nursing Practicum | 1 |
| NURS 330 | Chronic Nursing Care | 3 |
| NURS 330L | Chronic Nursing Care Practicum | 2 |
| NURS 340 | Pharmacology I | 2 |
| NURS 341 | Pharmacology II | 2 |
| NURS 420 | Maternal, Infant, and Pediatric Nursing Care | 3 |
| NURS 420L | Maternal, Infant, & Pediatric Practicum | 3 |
| NURS 422 | Pediatrics | 2 |
| NURS 422L | Pediatrics Practicum | 1 |
| NURS 423 | Concepts of Gerontology | 1 |
| NURS 430 | Complex Nursing Care | 3 |
| NURS 430L | Complex Nursing Care Practicum | 3 |
| Total Hours | 36 | |
Degree Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| All bachelor degrees require: | ||
| GPA of 2.0 on FHSU courses & 2.0 on all coursework (Higher program requirements prevail over the 2.0 when set) | ||
| A minimum of 30 hours earned from FHSU with a grade of D, C, B, or A | ||
| Successful completion of an upper division Writing and Information Literacy course (Most majors contain a course designated) | ||
| A minimum of 45 hours of recognized upper division credit | ||
| A minimum of 120 hours of recognized college credit | ||
Academic Degree Maps are term-by-term sample course plans that specify milestones, courses, and special requirements that are necessary for facilitating on-time completion. Degree Maps are examples and are not prescriptive. Individualized choices such as concentration options, transfer credits, optional minors, advisory programs (certificates), etc. can alter the recommended coursework. Course offerings are subject to change. Students should consult with their academic advisors for additional guidance on course planning.
To determine courses to take in the directed choices (often listed as Program Elective Course) and directed elective course blocks see the overview tab for courses. To locate approved courses in General Education areas (Undergraduate Programs) see the general education section of the catalog.
The undergraduate course maps typically advise the most efficient route for students to complete the general education requirements. Courses that are required in the major may be listed as fulfilling relevant general education requirements. This will result in more open elective course hours in some maps than is listed on the degree overview page.
Applying
To apply to the RN to BSN Program, please click here for the RN to BSN application.
Next, to apply to Fort Hays State University, please click here to apply to FHSU.
A student applies as an undergraduate, degree-seeking student. To apply, you will be creating an account in Workday. To modify, save, or come back to your application, you will be asked to sign in with a username (email) and password you create. The applicant type for the RN to BSN Program is Transfer and your Program of study upon entry will be Nursing (Pre-RN to BSN) - BSN. After official admittance to the RN to BSN Program, your Program of Study will be changed to Nursing (RN to BSN) - BSN. For additional help with the application process or questions regarding the RN to BSN Program, please contact Laurie Dinkel at lrdinkel2@fhsu.edu.
Applicants must be accepted to Fort Hays State University before official admittance into the RN to BSN Program. Additionally, all official transcripts must be received to process your application.
Fort Hays State University Department of Nursing does not accept applications for the nursing program from the following states: Tennessee, Alabama, and Washington.
Program Entrance Requirements
- Current active RN license issued in the United States. Students may register in University courses while finishing their RN Program. Note: taking University courses before being admitted to the RN-BSN Program does not guarantee admission to the RN-BSN Program.
- Cumulative GPA of 2.5 or above.
- WES+ and CGFNS transcript reviews required (if applicable).