Bachelor of Science in Nursing for RNs (RN to BS Nursing)

Chatham University is pleased to announce that the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) has granted accreditation to the University’s nursing programs. Chatham’s RN-to-BSN and Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) received continued accreditation through December 2019, and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), established in 2007, received initial accreditation through December 2012.

Chatham’s online RN-to-BSN degree is based on a strong liberal arts and science foundation preparing you with the knowledge, skills and attitude to perform creatively, ethically and effectively.

Program Structure
The RN to BSN requires completion of 120 credit hours in college level courses. Students must maintain a cumulative 2.0 or better to be awarded the Bachelor of Science in Nursing.

Liberal Arts Electives
Students will need to complete a group of college level general education courses prior to the core courses. A growing selection of liberal arts courses will be available online each term to satisfy this requirement.

Clinical Requirements
To enable students to complete the necessary clinical experiences, Chatham requires students to complete a self-directed clinical placement process. Detailed steps in this process can be found here: RN-to-BSN Clinicals

Admissions Requirements
Applicant must:

• Provide RN license number and a copy of current license
• Submit official transcripts from all institutions attended
• Complete online application without fee at apply.chatham.edu/ccps

Transfer Credits
Students may transfer up to 75 credit hours of college level courses into the program. All requests for transfer credit must be made prior to enrollment. A minimum of 45 credits, including the 26 credits of core requirements, must be taken at Chatham University.

RN to BS Nursing

Core Courses
Total 26 Credits

REQUIRED COURSES | 26 credits - Click Course for Description
NUR402	Health Policy and Ethics in Nursing	3 Credits
	This course is designed to explore the role of health policy and ethics as they related to the practice of nursing. Students will compare and contrast ethical principles and legal issues that impact the delivery of nursing services. Topics covered will include patient rights, end of life issues, financing health care, federal and state regulatory issues, informed consent, and organ transplantation.
NUR403	Issues in Women's Health Nursing	3 Credits
	This course will present an overview of issues relevant to women's health nursing. Nursing assessment techniques specific to female clients will be explored. Specific nursing interventions to promote women's health will be covered, including: HIV, early detection of female cancers, reproductive health, mental health issues, osteoporosis, pharmacokinetics, nutrition, and physical fitness.
NUR404	Community, Environmental Health Nursing	3 Credits
	This course provides a framework for the development of nursing interventions promoting environmental health for individuals and communities. Students are placed in public health agencies for clinical practicum. Tools to assess the environmental health of a select community will be evaluated. Students will explore a particular nursing issue in greater depth as it relates to their clinical placements (air pollution, childhood cancers, toxic waste, noise exposure, etc). IMPORTANT: RN-to-BSN students must read the "BSN Clinicals Information" handout before registering for clinical courses.
NUR405	Cross-Cultural Nursing	3 Credits
	This course provides a theoretical framework for the delivery of culturally competent nursing care. Concepts of illness, health, and wellness will be explored from a cultural belief system perspective. Recognizing cultural diversity, integrating knowledge of culture, and delivery of nursing care in a culturally appropriate/culturally sensitive manner will be studied.
NUR406	Issues in Geriatric Health Nursing	3 Credits
	This course will provide an overview of issues relevant to geriatric health nursing. Nursing assessment techniques specific to older adults will be explored. Specific nursing interventions to promote older adult health will be covered including pharmacological considerations, nutrition, elder abuse, sexuality, coping with loss and grief, health and wellness promotion, and continuum of care.
NUR407	Nursing Research	3 Credits
	This course is designed to enable students to critically analyze nursing research and determine the appropriateness of use of such nursing research in clinical practice. Ethical principles of nursing research, particularly the protection of human subjects and other ethical accountabilities inherent in the researcher's role will be explored. Students will identify a clinical problem relevant for investigation and select appropriate data collection methods. The completion of a research proposal is a requirement of this course.
NUR408	Nursing in Underserved Populations	3 Credits
	This course provides a framework for the development of nursing interventions promoting health for underserved populations with a focus on minority health promotion. Students are placed in select primary settings devoted to the care of underserved/minority populations. Students will explore a particular nursing issue in depth as it relates to their clinical placements (access to health care, infant mortality, resources, cultural/communication barriers, issues related to aging). IMPORTANT: RN-to-BSN students must read the "BSN Clinicals Information" handout before registering for clinical courses.
NUR499	Nursing Practicum	5 Credits
	This is the final course in the RN to BS Nursing program. Through the exploration of unifying nursing leadership themes (influence, integrity, compassion, commitment, challenge, empowerment) students design, implement and evaluate a nursing leadership project in a clinical setting. Pre-requisite: Prior completion of at least 5 nursing courses (15 credits) in the RN-to-BSN program IMPORTANT: RN-to-BSN students must read the "BSN Clinicals Information" handout before registering for clinical courses.

LIBERAL ARTS COURSES - Click Course for Description
ART271	Asian Art	3 Credits
	This course surveys the art of India, China, Southeast Asia, Korea, and Japan from the earliest civilizations to the modern period. Since much Asian artistic production was inspired by religious belief, students also will be introduced to the major currents of Asian religion and philosophy, including Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism, Islam, Confucianism, Daoism, and Shintoism.
COR304	Diversity and Identity in a Global Context	3 Credits
	This course provides students with an understanding of issues pertaining to global diversity. Students will develop an understanding of how socially constructed categories such as race, sexuality, and nationality emerge, evolve, inform, and affect the individual. This course prepares students for responsible citizenship in a global community. Prerequisite(s): COR 203 or placement based upon transfer credit.
MTH110	Elementary Statistics	3 Credits
	Topics include statistical measures and distributions, decision making under uncertainty, application of probability to statistical inference, linear correlation, introduction to nonparametric statistical methods, and application to problems drawn from the natural and social sciences. Prerequisite(s): Two years of college-preparatory mathematics.
PHI121	Introduction to Logic	3 Credits
	An introduction to critical thinking, induction, deduction, and contemporary symbolic logic including argument symbolization, proof construction, and truth tables.
SWK164	Diversity in Health and Illness	3 Credits
	This course will examine the impact of culture on health care services and delivery in the United States. The influence of cultural difference on patient/provider interactions will be considered within the cultural competency model. The context of health and illness for groups including African-Americans, Asian-Americans, and Latin-Americans will be included.

Typical Program Schedule

Students can enroll in a full time or part time track.