Nursing

RN to BSN Completion for Registered Nurses

Professional Program in Nursing (Bachelor of Science in Nursing)

Associate Professors - Derryl Block (chair), Sylvia Kubsch
Assistant Professor - Susan Gallagher-Lepak

Web site: http://www.uwgb.edu/nursing/

Overview of the Program in Nursing

The Professional Program in Nursing at the University of Wisconsin Green Bay provides an opportunity for Registered Nurses (RNs) holding an associate degree or diploma in nursing to earn a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing (BSN). This accredited, high quality program is designed to be nurse friendly. It is a flexible program designed to meet the needs of adult learners and working registered nurses. Prior learning is acknowledged through liberal articulation and transfer policies.

The program is built upon the foundation of the associate degree or diploma in nursing and includes general education courses, courses supportive of nursing, and the upper-level nursing major. The program consists of 120 credits for the BSN degree. The RN typically transfers 60 credits through articulation agreements. Additional credits completed at other universities, colleges, or community colleges also transfer. The remaining UW-Green Bay requirements for graduation include 30 credits of general education and support courses for the nursing major and 30 credits of upper-level nursing courses.

Based upon professional standards, and what employers say they value most, the nursing curriculum targets:

Professional nursing roles and nursing science development
Practice based on research, standards, and theory
Strong communication, critical thinking, and leadership skills
Autonomous therapeutic nursing interventions
Culturally congruent and ethically sound nursing care
Responsibility for being a change agent and for lifelong learning

Requirements for Admission to the Nursing Major

After admission to UW-Green Bay, students must meet the following requirements to then be admitted to the nursing major:

Graduation from an associate degree in nursing program or from a three-year program in nursing;
Grade point average of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent) on post-secondary coursework;
Current RN license in any state;
Designation of the nursing major in one of the three tracks;
Consultation with nursing adviser;
Completion of an upper-level nursing course with a grade of C or better;
Not on academic probation; and
Currently enrolled in a course that will count toward completion of the program.

Three Tracks, One Destination

The program is offered in three tracks: Campus Track (face-to-face on campus); CNP-Collaborative Track (via the Internet for nurses residing in the state of Wisconsin); and BSN-LINC/National Track (via the Internet for nurses residing outside the state of Wisconsin). Even though courses are delivered through different modalities, the program requirements, outcomes, and curriculum are the same for all three tracks. Only one course, Community Health Nursing Practicum, requires a practicum. The practicum involves flexible scheduling and is arranged near the student's home.

The Campus Track is designed for RNs who reside within traveling distance of UW-Green Bay. Nursing courses are offered in campus classrooms. Courses are "block scheduled," meeting one day or evening per week. General education and support courses can be completed on campus, through UW-Green Bay Extended Degree (online or independent study/Saturday schedule), through UW Colleges (online or on campus), or through UW Independent Learning correspondence courses.

The Internet-based Collaborative Track, for RNs who are Wisconsin residents, is available through the combined resources of the nursing programs at the UW campuses in Green Bay, Eau Claire, Madison, Milwaukee, and Oshkosh. The BSN is awarded by the home institution, in this case UW-Green Bay. All general education and support courses are offered via the Internet through UW-Green Bay Extended Degree and the UW Colleges online. CNP-Collaborative Track students are welcome to take courses on campus.

The BSN-LINC/National Track is designed for RNs who reside outside the state of Wisconsin. Students must have a current RN license from any state in the U.S. for eligibility. Practicum is arranged in the student's home state. All courses are available via the Internet.

Program Requirements

General Education

Fine Arts, 3 credits
Humanities, 9 credits
Social Sciences*
Natural Sciences *
Other Culture, 3 credits
Ethnic Studies, 3 credits

Nursing Support

Speech *
Written Communication, 3 credits
Therapeutic Nursing Intervention Electives, 6 credits
Statistics, 3 credits
Critical Thinking Elective **

Lower-Level Nursing *

Upper-Level Nursing

NURSING 317 Health Assessment, 4 credits
NURSING 341 Theoretical Foundations, 4 credits
NURSING 434 Nursing Research, 3 credits
NURSING 437 Management and Leadership, 4 credits
NURSING 444 Community Health Nursing, 3 credits
NURSING 445 Community Health Nursing Practicum, 3 credits
NURSING 451 Synthesis for Nursing Practice, 3 credits
NURSING 492 Nursing Special Topics, 6 credits

* Satisfied by articulation agreements/transfer credits.

** Critical thinking elective can be satisfied by certain humanities courses such as philosophy, or taken as a separate course.

For Further Information and Application Materials

If you are interested in furthering your education, marketability, and job satisfaction, visit our Web site http://www.uwgb.edu/nursing/ and see what we have to offer. We are also happy to answer your questions through phone or e-mail.