Watermark Logo SmartCatalog by Watermark

General Catalog

Contents
Catalog Links

Bachelor of Science in Nursing

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree program is a RN to BSN program designed to provide learners with the education that prepares them to practice within complex healthcare systems. It advances their training to assume the roles of competent provider of nursing care, manager and coordinator of care and a member of the profession while integrating their knowledge and skills into their professional nursing practice. This degree completion program offers a well-rounded education in theoretical and evidence-based practice and research, informatics, health promotion through the lifespan, leadership, ethics, and policy, pathopharmacology, physical assessment, and community health.

Program Learning Outcomes

  1. Written Communication

    Demonstrate the ability to communicate in writing resulting in understanding and being understood by patients, family, and the interdisciplinary health team. Engage the student in learning by using teaching strategies appropriate to learner needs, based on current and prior learning, while using the online learning system to support the teaching and learning process.

  2. Oral Communication

    Demonstrate competence in utilizing oral communication skills appropriately given the purpose and the context of the communication for quality patient-centered care. Recognize and integrate health promotion and disease recognition and assessment knowledge for safe patient care throughout the lifespan.

  3. Critical Thinking

    Apply critical thinking and reasoning skills based on theoretical principles to discriminate among inferences drawn from given data in clinical decision making and evaluation during evidence-based nursing practice. Utilize theoretical and evidence-based practice models in the development of professional roles for patient, family, and community care in various settings.

  4. Cultural Diversity

    Recognize the importance of social and cultural diversity and develop a perspective based on the analysis of diverse environmental factors that influence global health care. Explain and develop the leadership role utilizing current economic principles, quality improvement, and management processes.

  5. Information Literacy

    Determine the nature and extent of the information needed and demonstrate the ability to locate, evaluate, and use informatics and other resources to support research, theory, and evidence-based nursing practices when managing care across the healthcare continuum.

  6. Ethical, Legal, and Professional Issues

    Integrate formal academic learning with personal experiences that promote the values of altruism, caring, human dignity, integrity, and social justice in all nursing practice situations. Integrate needs of the learners, faculty mentors, and community in planning and implementing curriculum.

  7. Personal and Professional Development

    Demonstrate the ability to use analytical skills to understand and evaluate systems of practice as a foundation for theoretical and evidence-based healthcare practice.

  8. Quantitative Reasoning

    Demonstrate a system of inquiry that is dependent on empirical evidence to evaluate qualitative and quantitative research as a foundation for theoretical and evidence-based nursing practices.

Degree Requirements

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS CREDITS
General Education Courses 45
Core Courses 36
Nursing Elective Courses 15
General Elective Courses 25
TOTAL CREDITS REQUIRED FOR COMPLETION 120

Admission Requirements

Learners must meet the general admissions requirements of the University in addition to the requirements for the School of Nursing. Learners must have an ADN or an RN from a CCNE accredited institution for admission (see exception for the “Early Start” pathway).

Applicants with a Registered Nursing (RN) License:

Traditional applicants must provide documentation of a current, unencumbered license to practice as a registered nurse in at least one U.S. state or provide evidence of a nursing license comparable to a U.S. registered nursing license from the nation, province, or region employed as a nurse.

Applicants with an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN):

Prospective students can apply as an “Early Start” learner:

  1. If they are a graduate with an Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN), Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN), or a graduate of a diploma program from a CCNE or equivalent accrediting nursing school or program that qualifies them to take the NCLEX-RN exam, but have not yet taken or passed the NCLEX-RN exam, they may apply for admission through the conditional* enrollment procedures set forth below for “Early Start” designation.
  2. They have a maximum of 90 transferable/eligible semester credit hours, a focus in nursing, and eligibility to take the NCLEX-RN exam.
  3. Applicants must provide an official transcript indicating a completed associate degree or certificate in nursing and a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher (on a 4.00 scale) from an accredited institution. They must provide the University with an official copy of the transcript from their prior school no later than 6 months from their start date to receive transfer credit.
  4. A letter of explanation submitted by the applicant noting the reason they have not yet sat for and passed the NCLEX-RN exam to date, not received licensure as a Registered Nurse in their state of residency and that they will do so no later than the last required class and but prior enrolling in any clinical class and prior to the beginning of the BSN Capstone Project but within 3 years of graduation from an accredited nursing program whichever is earliest.
  5. The learner understands they will not be awarded the BSN unless they comply with the above conditions.
  6. Three-year requirement: The learner also understands that in accordance with the NCSBN (National Council of State Boards of Nursing) and the California BRN (Board of Registered Nursing) the learner must take and pass the NCLEX- RN exam within (3) three years of the official date of graduation from an accredited nursing school.
  7. The department chair of the School of Nursing will determine if the learner may enroll in the program based on their responses and their prior academic work.

*To remove the conditional status, the learner must provide formal proof from their state BRN showing the NCLEX-RN exam was passed and they now have a current Interim Permit or license to practice as an RN for the BRN in their state of residency.

  1. If the proof of RN licensure is not submitted at any time before the start of the BSN Capstone Project in the BSN program, progress toward the BSN will be suspended until such documentation is provided. If proof of RN licensure is not provided, or if the documentation submitted is found to be false, learners are subject to immediate dismissal from the University. Additionally, if there are any unpaid fees the University may take other appropriate actions, including not providing a transcript of the learner’s coursework, either a student copy or an official copy, until the learner’s account is brought up to date.
  2. If valid proof of RN licensure is provided after dismissal as described above, and all other requirements are met, it is highly recommended the learner petition for re-instatement in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN-BSN) degree program. Learner will contact their admission advisor for more information on the re-enrollment process to ensure that prevailing admission standards are met, and tuition requirements are discussed.
  3. Should the learner self-withdraw at any time for any reason during the period after admission to the program they will be subject to all current University Policies and Procedures governing withdrawal.

Non-nursing degree programs regardless of their levels of education (BA/BS, MA/MS, MBA, MEd, DBA, PsyD, non-nursing EdD, non-nursing PhD or MD) are not acceptable for admission into any nursing program.

Required Courses

Core Courses (36 Credits Required)

Nursing Elective Courses (15 Credits Required)

Learners must take 15 semester credits of elective courses related to nursing or areas related to the skills needed by nurses.

General Elective Courses (25 Credits Required)

The general elective courses for the Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree can be selected from a variety of courses from the 2000 and above level undergraduate courses including the electives associated with nursing or from the other Schools within the University, as long as all pre-requisites are met.

This program is not designed to meet the educational requirements for a specific professional license or certification required for employment in an occupation. As such, CalSouthern has made no determination regarding prerequisites for licensure or certification in any state or jurisdiction.

While California Southern University, as a member of the AIU System, is part of a Title IV eligible institution offering Title IV eligible programs, CalSouthern has elected and designated this program as not participating in Title IV federal financial aid programs. This means students enrolling in this program may not use Federal Student Aid to help pay for this program. Instead, it offers a variety of zero interest payment options for students.