Bachelor of Science for Registered Nurses (B.S.N.) Program
Interim Director of Nursing/Associate Professor: Joyce O'Reilly
Assistant Professors: Lisa R. Chicko, Wendy J. Varnum, Catherine Cuchetti
R.N. to B.S.N. Mission
The B.S.N. program is committed to preparing registered nurses as ethical leaders in the 21st century delivering innovative, evidence based patient-centered care. Graduates are competent and caring nurses who make sound clinical judgments, communicate effectively, and assume leadership and advocacy roles. We prepare graduates to promote the health and well- being of diverse individuals, families, communities, populations, and systems.
School of Nursing Philosophy
We, the faculty, believe that professional, caring, and reflective nursing practice
occurs with the synergy of clinical excellence and relationship based care. The School
of Nursing provides a supportive and respectful learning environment that embraces
reflective practice and discovery through deep learning and inquiry. We promote collaborative,
experiential learning, leveraging the adult learners' intrinsic motivation to learn
with critical engagement in the educational process.
Learning Outcomes
Graduates of the R.N. to B.S.N. program will:
- Apply patient centered principles of holistic nursing care to individuals and populations across cultures and the lifespan.
- Integrate knowledge from the sciences, humanities, and nursing to guide decisions on best practices in healthcare.
- Function effectively within inter-professional healthcare teams fostering shared decision making to deliver high quality, safe, patient care with positive patient outcomes.
- Utilize quality improvement processes in the delivery and implementation of patient safety and quality initiatives.
- Apply leadership skills within various healthcare systems to promote a culture of safety.
- Integrate knowledge of nursing informatics and emerging technologies for contemporary nursing practice.
- Practice as accountable leaders of conscience demonstrating ethical and professional principles in the care of self individuals, families, and populations in a variety of settings.
- Communicate effectively within a caring framework among healthcare professionals and clients to improve patient satisfaction and health outcomes.
- Analyze healthcare policy, financial, and regulatory processes, which directly influence healthcare systems globally.
- Plan individualized care on best current evidence, patient values, and clinical expertise.
R.N. to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.) Program Requirements
The R.N. to B.S.N. program is designed for students who hold an R.N. license and have earned an Associate degree in nursing or diploma in nursing.
Nursing students matriculated in an Associate degree nursing program may enroll in the R.N. to B.S.N. program before graduating from the ADN program. Students may enroll for part-time or full-time study.
The R.N. student must earn a minimum of 120 credits to graduate, including completion
of the
General and Liberal Education (GLE) Core requirements. Nursing students who have completed an associate’s degree at another
institution and transfer to Franklin Pierce University will not need to meet the requirements
of the General and Liberal Education. Curriculum requirements may be met through transfer
credits from regionally accredited institutions, course enrollment, credit for prior
learning, and/or challenge exams.
Completion is defined as all courses completed with a grade of “C” or higher. Nursing students will receive 30 credits for an active nursing license. When applicable, additional nursing course work may be transferred as additional credits. The following courses are required of nursing majors:
Major Requirements (30 Credit Hours)
NR200 Holistic Health 3 Credits
NR300 Transition to Baccalaureate Nursing Practice 3 Credits
NR320 Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing: Understanding Nursing Research 3 Credits
NR330 Clinical Decision Making 3 Credits
NR400 Health Policy and the Role of the Professional Nurse 3 Credits
NR420 Health Promotion Across the Lifespan 3 Credits
NR445 Community Health Nursing: Individual and Family Client 3 Credits
NR446 Community Health Nursing: Groups and Populations 3 Credits
NR001 Pre-course for Capstone 0 Credits
NR490 Leadership in Professional Nursing Practice, Seminar & Project 6 Credits
Cultural Awareness—Choose One of the Following: 3 Credits
PA209 Ethical Reasoning 3 Credits
PA250 World Religions
SO205 Race and Ethnicity in Society
SO220 Families in Society
SO421 Inequality in Society
Foundation Requirements (21 Credit Hours)
BI260 Human Anatomy & Physiology I* 3 Credits
BI261 Human Anatomy & Physiology II* 3 Credits
BI325 Microbiology 3 Credits
Chemistry or other science 3 Credits
MT260 Statistics 3 Credits
PS101 Introduction to Psychology 3 Credits
PS234 Human Growth and Development 3 Credits
Note: BI260, BI261, and BI325 are waived with an Associate Degree in Nursing or proof of RN license.
