As more hospitals require nurses to have a BSN degree, the Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN) program will help you to advance your career. The advanced skills acquired in the program will increase the demand for your services, especially in hospitals seeking Magnet status. Even if you’re currently employed in a hospital, the requirement for at least 80 percent of the workforce to have a minimum bachelor’s degree will necessitate that you earn the BSN for job security and career advancement. Nurses who hold a BSN can earn up to $7,600 more per year than ADN RNs. The higher salaries may be attributed to the career paths available to BSNs that are not available to nurses without a bachelor’s degree. These include administration, leadership, and community health positions. The BSN will also prepare you for graduate study which will further improve your career outlook and salary.
San Diego State University
The Registered Nurse to Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing program at San Diego State University is designed for registered nurses to complete the requirements for a BSN degree. Students will complete 26 units of nursing courses and 9 units of general education courses. The program is delivered via on campus classroom lectures. Students will also complete a clinical experience at assigned clinical sites. The program admits new students in the Fall semester (August) and Spring semester (January).
Program Outline
Semester credits: 35 units
Duration: 12 to 15 months
Method of instruction: On Campus
Course titles:
General education courses – Microbiology and Pathology, Psychology of Personality, Medical Ethics
Core courses – Nursing Research and Evidence-Based Practice, Nursing Professionalism, Health Assessment and Health Promotion for RN to BS, Community Health, Leadership, Nursing Care of the Complex, High Acuity or Critically Ill Patients or Transitional Care of Populations
Admission criteria:
- Must have an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or Diploma from a regionally accredited school
- Must have a current California RN license – required for progression through clinical courses
- Must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0
- Must have completed the prerequisite courses with a grade C or better by the end of the Spring semester – Human Anatomy with Lab, Microbiology with Lab, General Chemistry, Oral Communication, Written Communication, Critical Thinking, and General Education Requirements
- Submit an application for admission to SDSU through Cal State Apply and complete SDSU’s Supplemental Application – there is no separate application for the school of nursing
Program Cost:
Tuition costs $13,000 for the program. Expenses for books and supplies must be added to the final program cost.
Website: https://www.sdsu.edu
Address: 5500 Campanile Drive, San Diego, CA 92182-4158
Phone: 619-594-2540
Point Loma Nazarene University
Point Loma Nazarene University offers the RN to BS degree program through a partnership with community colleges across San Diego. The program is delivered in a format designed for working nurses to advance in the field of nursing. Training will include hands-on, evidence-based instruction, mentoring, and a practical clinical component that builds on the previous educational experience gained in the registered nursing program. Classes meet one night a week on campus at a community college partner location and online for the other classes. Students must have completed or be currently enrolled in an associate’s degree in nursing program to be eligible for enrollment. They must have a current California RN license prior to the third term of the program.
Program Outline
Semester units: 36 units
Duration: 15 months
Method of instruction: Online/Hybrid
Course titles:
Core courses – Biblical Perspectives, Communicating and Following Faithfully, Communicating and Following Faithfully Practicum, Changing Minds, Changing Lives, Inquiring Faithfully I: Nursing Research, Inquiring Faithfully II: Nursing Research, Caring Faithfully in the Community, Caring Faithfully in the Community Practicum, Leading Faithfully in Diverse Health Systems, Leading Faithfully in Diverse Health Systems Practicum, Capstone Inquiring Faithfully II: Evidence Based Practice, Group and Organizational Behavior, Cultural Influences in the Workplace, Professional Writing
Admission criteria:
- Submit an online application for admission to PLNU
- Request official transcripts to be some to PLNU’s Office of Graduate Records
- Must have completed at least 40 semester hours with a cumulative GPA of at least 2.75 from an accredited institution
- Must have an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or Diploma from a regionally accredited school
- Must have a current California RN license – required prior to the third term of the program
- Must be at least 23 years of age or minimum age of 21 with an associate’s degree or significant work experience
Program Cost:
Tuition costs $500 per unit. The tuition includes textbooks and access to PLNU’s student resources.
Website: https://www.pointloma.edu/
Address: 3900 Lomaland Drive, San Diego, CA 92106
Phone: (619) 849-2200
California State University San Marcos
The RN to BSN program at California State University is an accelerated, online program designed for registered nurses. The program is delivered fully online and gives working nurses the opportunity to earn a BSN in just 14 months. The curriculum places a strong emphasis on the delivery of skillful, culturally sensitive nursing care. Students will be proficient in a language other than English and will have an awareness of culturally driven healthcare practices. Clinical experiences conducted at various acute care and community settings will provide nursing case management interventions for a variety of vulnerable populations. Graduates will have the knowledge and skills for general nursing practice, be prepared for entry into graduate nursing programs, and be qualified to assume leadership roles on healthcare organizations, clinics, and community agencies. New cohorts begin multiple times a year with starts each fall and spring semester.
Program Outline
Semester units: 38 units
Duration: 14 months
Method of instruction: Online
Course titles:
Core courses – Role Transition for the RN, Role Transition Seminar for the RN, Bioethics and Medical Ethics, Nursing Assessment for the RN, Nursing Assessment for the RN Lab, Culture and Medicine: Healers and the Healing Practices, Nursing Research, Health Promotion and Patient Education Strategies, Pathophysiology and Pharmacology, The Biology of Cancer, Nursing Leadership and Professional Issues, Nursing Leadership and Management Laboratory, Family Nursing: Theory and Practice, Nursing Case Management of Vulnerable Populations, Community Health Nursing, Public Health Nursing Practicum
Admission criteria:
- Submit an online application for admission to CSUSM
- Must have a minimum 2.00 cumulative GPA in all transferable units attempted – 2.5 GPA for students who have already completed a bachelors
- Must successfully complete the transfer of 60 credits
- Submit official transcripts of all courses for transfer
- Must satisfy the English proficiency requirement
- Must have completed the pre-nursing courses with a grade of C or better – Oral Communication, Written Communication, Critical Thinking, Statistics, Microbiology for Health Sciences, Introduction to Human Anatomy and Physiology I, Introduction to Human Anatomy and Physiology II, General, Organic and Biochemistry for Life with Lab,
- Must have minimum 2.75 GPA on pre-nursing courses
- Must have an RN license
- Must reside in an approved state
Program Cost:
Tuition costs $7,728 for the year. Expenses for books and supplies must be added to the final program cost.
Website: https://www.csusm.edu/
Address: 288 Campus Way, San Marcos, CA 92078
Phone: (760) 750-4020
Azusa Pacific University
Azusa Pacific’s accelerated Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing program prepares nurses for career advancement. The program is delivered online or at any of the school’s four Southern California locations to let students complete the degree in a way that is most convenient. The format caters to working registered nurses who are currently licensed in the United States. It will help them to develop the skills needed to meet the growing needs of the complex health care industry. The curriculum emphasizes advanced theories and skills that position graduates for deeper, more meaningful patient care and greater roles of leadership within the profession. Professors use students’ experiences as the foundation for theory and practice. Students in the program study in a cohort and progress through the entire program together.
Program Outline
Semester units: 40 units
Duration: 14 months
Method of instruction: Online
Course titles:
Core courses – Health Assessment, Nursing Research and Statistics, Pathophysiology, Professional Practice: Ethics, Issues, and Spirituality in Health Care, Writing 3: Evidence-Based Practice, Theory and Clinical Pathways, Improving Patient Outcomes: Quality, Safety, and Risk Management, Population Health and Public Health Nursing, Community Health and Care Transitions, Clinical Practicum
Admission criteria:
- Must have 70 units or more of transferable credit, up to a maximum of 90 units earned with a grade C or better from a regionally accredited college or university
- Must submit official transcripts from each institution attended – transcripts must be mailed directly from the colleges to APU
- Must have a minimum 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale in transferred courses – provisional admittance may be granted to applicants who do not meet this criterion
- Must provide proof of RN license in good standing before starting the clinical courses
- Must submit an application for admission and pay the non-refundable application fee of $45
- Provide two letters of professional recommendation
- Submit a current resume that includes the applicant’s California RN license number or indicating “exam pending” if unlicensed
Program Cost:
Tuition costs $18,400 for the entire program or $460 per unit. Students will incur additional costs for books and supplies.
Website: https://www.apu.edu/
Address: 901 E. Alosta Ave., Azusa, CA 91702
Phone: (626) 815-5386
National University
The RN to BSN program at National University is designed for nurses to increase their knowledge of nursing and expand your career options. The program is open to candidates who hold an active and unencumbered RN license. The program offers four- and eight-week courses 100% online. Students will gain a foundation for professional nursing practice at the baccalaureate level to expand their clinical knowledge and develop critical-thinking, communication, and therapeutic skills. They will complete a minimum of 45 quarter units at National University – 76.5 quarter units must be completed at the upper-division level and the program must fulfill a minimum 69 quarter units of the University General Education requirements. Students may receive a maximum of 45 quarter units (30 semester units) of lower division credit if they are a registered nurse who has graduated from a three-year hospital nursing school. A maximum of 31.5 quarter units may apply toward the baccalaureate nursing (RN to BSN) degree if a student has passed the NCLEX-RN examination.
Program Outline
Semester units: 76.5 quarter units
Duration: 11 months
Method of instruction: Online
Course titles:
Core courses – Health Informatics, Professional Issues for RNs, Intro to Biomedical Statistics, Evidence Based Practice, NSG Leadership and Management, NSG Leadership and Management Practicum, Community Population, Community Population NSG Practicum, Quality Improvement, Quality Improvement Practicum, Health Education and Promotion, Issues and Trends in Healthcare, Legal/Ethical Issues and Health, Spanish for the Work Place, Cross Cultural Communication, Ethics, Healthy Aging. Cultural Diversity
Admission criteria:
- Must have 69 units or more of transferable credits earned with a grade C or better from a regionally accredited college or university
- Must submit official transcripts from each institution attended – transcripts must be mailed directly from the colleges to NU
- Must have a minimum 2.50 GPA on a 4.0 scale in transferred courses
- Must provide proof of RN license in good standing upon application to the program
- Must submit an application for admission
Program Cost:
Tuition costs $442 per quarter unit. Students will incur additional costs for books and supplies. Financial aid is available for eligible students.
Website: https://www.nu.edu/
Address: 9388 Lightwave Ave, San Diego, CA 92123
Phone: 855-355-6288
San Jose State University – Valley Foundation School of Nursing
The RN to BSN Post-Licensure program at San Jose State University is designed for students with an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) program who want to complete the requirements for a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing (BSN). Admission is open to nurses who are currently licensed in California and to students that will earn a California RN license by the end of the first semester of the program. Candidates who have completed the University General Education (GE) and nursing degree requirements will complete the program in three semesters. Credit will be awarded for previous coursework and an additional twenty (20) units for passing the NCLEX-RN exam. Students will participate in limited in-person and off-campus community experiences and online theory courses that incorporate research, leadership and critical thinking skills. Graduates may apply for a California Public Health Nursing Certificate after completing community health and earning the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree.
Program Outline
Semester units: 33 units
Duration: 3 semesters
Method of instruction: Hybrid
Course titles:
Core courses – Evidence Based Practice Writing Workshop, Professional Practice Success I, Theoretical Foundations, Community Health Theory or Community Health Theory for RN to BSN program, Community Health Practicum, Professional Practice Success II, Leadership, Senior Preceptorship
Admission criteria:
- Must complete all university transfer requirements
- Must have a minimum 2.75 GPA in all college coursework
- Applicants with a prior baccalaureate degree must have a 2.5 minimum GPA in the last 60 units and be CSU eligible
- Submit an application to the university through CalState Apply by the specified deadline
- Must complete the nursing prerequisite courses
- Must complete a nursing program application through NursingCAS by the deadline – submit the application fee with the completed application
- Must have an Associate’s Degree in Nursing from a regionally accredited US college or university
- Must have a valid California RN license or will earn a California RN license by the end of the first semester of the program
- Must have a minimum grade C in all prerequisite nursing courses – Public Speaking, Critical Thinking Course, Elementary Statistics, Intro to Chemistry- Inorganic
Program Cost:
Tuition and campus fees cost $3,926 per semester for full-time undergraduate students. Other additional costs include textbooks, uniforms, equipment, and learning materials.
Website: https://www.sjsu.edu/
Address: One Washington Square, San José, CA 95192
Phone: 408-924-1000
Pacific College of Health and Science
Pacific College’s RN to BSN – Holistic Nursing- program is delivered in a hybrid model where students complete all didactic work online and a community health clinical practicum is completed in the student’s geographic locale. The value-added component in the program is a holistic BSN, which provides the philosophical, professional, educational, and clinical groundwork necessary for holistic nurse leaders of the future. The curriculum will emphasize self-care, health, wellness and disease prevention; relationship-centered approach; research and evidence informed practice; ethics; diversity & inclusion; advocacy; and authentic leadership in the profession and beyond. Graduates will function as transformational leaders, capable of helping to shift the focus of healthcare paradigm from illness and disease to health promotion, wellness, and wellbeing for all. They will be capable of practicing professional nursing from an informed, caring healing framework, deliver compassionate, culturally competent, ethical, relationship-centered care that respects the individual and family preferences, communicate effectively with all members of the health care team, and demonstrate leadership skills, clinical judgment, and accountability when delegating to and supervising other members of the health care team.
Program Outline
Semester credits: 31.5 credits
Duration: 4 terms (full-time) 7-9 terms (part-time)
Method of instruction: Online plus 2-day virtual retreat
Course titles:
Core courses – Theoretical Foundations of Holistic Nursing, The Nurse as Facilitator of Health Role and Modalities, Community Health Nursing/Population Focused Healthcare, Human Centered Leadership, Research in Nursing, Issues and Trends, Psychoneuroimmunology, Electives
Admission criteria:
- Must complete all university transfer requirements
- Must have a minimum 2.75 GPA in all college coursework
- Submit a completed application to the program by the specified deadline
- Pay the non-refundable application fee of $50 – waived for US veterans
- Must complete the nursing prerequisite courses
- Must have an Associate’s Degree in Nursing from a regionally accredited US college or university
- Must have a valid RN license
- Must have a minimum grade C in all prerequisite nursing courses
- Must demonstrate English Language proficiency
Program Cost:
Tuition costs $436 per credit hour. Books and supplies cost an additional $2,990.
Website: https://pacificcollege.edu
Address: 7445 Mission Valley Road, Suite 105, San Diego, CA 92108
Phone: 18662760717
University of La Verne
The RN to BSN degree program at University of La Verne is designed for working nurses who would like to advance their careers, pay, and leadership skills. The degree is offered as an online cohort-model program that enables nurses to tune into their course lectures and do their homework around their work schedules. Courses are delivered in convenient 8-week sessions offered year-round. The curriculum includes seven core courses, including a nursing capstone course, and four elective courses. It also includes an in-person clinical component, which may be completed in students’ home communities. Students have the option of fulfilling up to eight (8) units of elective requirements at no cost by showing competency through prior learning or experience. To be eligible, students must have an unencumbered RN license and at least two (2) years of nursing experience. New cohorts commence both a fall and spring. Scholarship funding is available ($100 per unit) for nurses who have previously attended a partner community college or who work at a partner hospital.
Program Outline
Semester units: 28
Duration: 9 months
Method of instruction: Online
Course titles:
Core courses – Nursing Informatics, Health Assessment, Professional Nursing, Nursing Research, Leadership and Management in Nursing, Public Health Nursing, Public Health Nursing Practicum, Nursing Capstone
Admission criteria:
- Must submit a completed application for admission
- Submit official transcripts from all colleges attended, including an Associate Degree in Nursing or equivalent from an accredited institution (in-progress degrees are acceptable for admission but must be completed prior to the start of the RN to BSN program)
- Must have an overall 2.5 GPA or higher on a 4.0 scale
- Must complete the prerequisite courses with a grade C or higher – oral communication, written communication, anatomy with lab, physiology with lab, microbiology with lab, chemistry with lab, statistics
- Submit a current resume of curriculum vitae
- Submit a professional goal statement of no more than two pages
- Submit one letter of recommendation from an academic instructor or clinical supervisor
- Must provide documentation of current immunizations including Hepatitis B series and TB screen test
- Must have current CPR for Health Care Providers certification
- Must have a valid RN license or be eligible for an RN license
Program Cost:
Tuition and fees cost $16,980 after scholarships. Other additional costs include textbooks, uniforms, equipment, and learning materials.
Website: https://laverne.edu/
Address: 1950 Third Street, La Verne, CA 91750
Phone: (909) 593-3511