RN-to-BSN Program Option

RN-to-BSN Program Option (online)

Lipscomb University’s RN-to-BSN program option is an online program designed for the working professional.  Applications are accepted year-round with two potential annual admission cycles; Spring (February), and Fall (August). The program includes three key components: 1. General education and ASN transfer credits; 2. Leadership Competency Curriculum; and 3. RN-to-BSN nursing courses. The program requires the completion of 128 credit hours for degree conferral. This total includes eligible transfer credits. All RN-to-BSN and Leadership Development courses are offered in a virtual online format.  Admitted students will engage in a two and a half day face-to-face on-campus orientation. The orientation is the only time that students are required to be on Lipscomb campus. However, RN-to-BSN students are always welcome. 

Lipscomb University recognizes that students who enter the RN-to-BSN program may have mastered many of the competencies essential to the profession of nursing: competencies such as problem-solving and decision-making, conflict management, relationship building, and the ability to communicate effectively. Therefore, during the on-campus orientation, students will engage in a variety of individual and group exercises designed to measure competency through multiple modalities. Students demonstrating competency will earn three (3) college credit hours (Tuition free. Credit transcription fee applies.) per competency, up to 27 credit hours. Students will enroll in a corresponding online development course (tuition required) for any competency not demonstrated during orientation.

The Baccalaureate nursing program at Lipscomb University located in Nashville, TN is accredited by the:

Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
3343 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 850
Atlanta, GA 30326
(404) 975-500

The most recent accreditation decision made by the ACEN Board of Commissioners for the Baccalaureate nursing program is Continuing Accreditation.

The RN-to-BSN program option has Initial Approval from the Tennessee Board of Nursing (TBON).

Costs

LipscombOnline tuition applies to this program.  Please see the LipscombOnline catalog for explanation.

Mission

The mission of the RN-to-BSN program is to equip and empower Licensed Registered Nurses in becoming courageous leaders, designers, and managers of care by encouraging curiosity, inspiring critical thinking, and cultivating compassionate servant leadership via a Christ-centered, innovative, accessible, academically-sound nursing education program.

RN-to-BSN End-of-Program Student Learning Outcomes

Graduates of Lipscomb University’s RN-to-BSN program will be able to:

1. Synthesize knowledge from nursing, the humanities, and the biophysical, and social sciences into the practice of professional nursing.
2. Provide patient-centered health care to culturally diverse populations in a variety of environments, both independently and in collaboration with other health care team members.
3. Demonstrate skills in critical thinking, decision-making, information management, and the nursing process with individuals, families, and groups experiencing complex health problems.
4. Educate and counsel individuals, families, communities, and other groups using teaching/learning principles that promote, maintain and restore health.
5. Evaluate and apply evidence-based findings to professional nursing practice.
6. Utilize leadership skills in addressing professional nursing and healthcare issues.
7. Demonstrate accountability for decisions about nursing practice that provide safe and high quality care.
8. Communicate and collaborate with members of the healthcare team and consumers to provide and improve the delivery of healthcare.

Admission Requirements

1. Unencumbered Registered Nurse (RN) license in the student’s state of residence/practice (Verified through Nursys®)
2. Associate of Science in Nursing degree or equivalent (students must submit official transcript(s) indicating a “C” or higher in a course for transfer credit eligibility)
3. Submission of brief essay responses (on application form)
4. Submission of at least two professional letters of recommendation
5. Clear background check and drug screen

Prerequisites

1. Lipscomb University will accept up to to 67 community college credit hours earned during a student’s Associate of Science in Nursing (or equivalent) degree program to be applied towards the BSN degree, if the student earned a “C” or higher in the respective course. Official transcripts required.
2. Liberal Arts Courses:
   • At least 3 credit hours of English/Literature/Writing
   • At least 3 credit hours of Mathematics
   • Physical & Biological Sciences: At least 4 credits of Microbiology; At least 8 credits of Anatomy & Physiology; At least 2 credits of Chemistry is highly preferred (key Chemistry concepts mapped into the RN-to-BSN curriculum)
   • Behavioral & Social Sciences: At least 6 credits of any combination of psychology, abnormal psychology, sociology, lifespan development, and/or ethics.  Other courses may be accepted at the discretion of the Lipscomb University School of Nursing Admission Committee.
   • Fine Arts, Performing Arts, Humanities: At least 3 credits total
   • Up to 3 credits of electives
   • At least 3 credits of basic and/or advanced statistics prior to NURB 4063 Research & Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing, not required for program admission.
3. ASN Nursing Courses (Course titles and number of credits may vary per institution):
   • Nursing Fundamentals/Foundations
   • Medical/Surgical Nursing
   • OB Nursing
   • Pediatric Nursing
   • Mental Health Nursing
4. Immunization verification and proof of liability insurance (student’s responsibility) required prior to any course with a clinical component (NURB 4033 - Leadership & Management for Nursing and NURB 4043 - Population-Based Nursing).

Leadership Competency Curriculum

Lipscomb University recognizes that students who enter our RN-to-BSN Pathway will already have mastered many of the competencies essential to the profession of nursing.  Students have the opportunity to demonstrate these carefully chosen, nursing related leadership competencies during the program orientation.  Students will engage in a variety of individual and group exercises designed to measure competency through multiple modalities.  There is a fee for the assessment, but credit hours earned during the assessment are applied toward the degree requirements at no further tuition cost (Credit transcription fee applies).  This translates to a potential to earn up to 27 credit hours for the cost of the assessment and a potential tuition savings of $12,600.

The following courses are encompassed in the competency assessment. To see course descriptions of the CORE and OGLD courses, refer to the Lipscomb Online academic catalog at https://docs.google.com/document/d/15OgncVQQU5Q6T79M5YuO9u3Cd9jExohldP2ZAy8wvjA/edit. For complete online information, go to https://www.lipscomb.edu/online/admissions. 

CORE 307V    Applied Conflict Management

CORE 306V    Applied Composure

CORE 330V    Applied Relationship Building

OGLD 324V    Applied Mission Focus

CORE 312V    Applied Drive/Energy

CORE 305V    Applied Communicativeness

CORE 303V    Applied Written Communication

CORE 328V    Applied Presentation Skills

CORE 329V     Applied Problem Solving and Decision Making

Nursing Courses

NURB 3013   - Cultural Issues in Nursing (3)

NURB 3023   - Health Assessment for the RN (3)

NURB 3033   - Pharmacology (3)

NURB 3041   - Health Promotion in Nursing (3)

NURB 3093   - Pathophysiology (3)

NURB 4013   - Nursing Informatics (3)

NURB 4033   - Leadership & Management for Nursing (3)

NURB 4043   - Population-Based Nursing (3)

NURB 4023   - Gerontology (3)

NURB 4063   - Research & Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing (3)

NURB 4093   - Capstone Course (3)