College of Science and Health
RN to BSN

An RN to BSN Program that Prioritizes Your Success

Benedictine understands the challenges you face as you balance work, family, and your academic aspirations. That’s why we offer a program that prioritizes your success, delivered through:

Personalized Attention: Our faculty and staff are more than just instructors; they are dedicated mentors who provide individual support and guidance throughout your academic journey.

Unparalleled Flexibility: Choose from online courses or convenient locations at community colleges across Northern Illinois, allowing you to learn at your own pace and fit your studies around your busy schedule.

Exceptional Value: We offer competitive tuition rates and a range of financial aid options, ensuring you can achieve your educational goals without financial burden.

Affordable

• Benedictine University provides a private education at a tuition rate that is competitive with state universities.
• Financial Aid and scholarships opportunities are available as a full-time student.

Personal

• The RN to BSN program values and builds on the knowledge and experience of the registered nurse.
• Students progress as a member of a vibrant learning team.
• Students have the opportunity to participate in shared governance.
• An individualized academic plan is created for each student and presented on a one-to-one basis.

Convenient

• The program is specifically designed for the working R.N. who is juggling multiple life priorities.
• Accelerated format allows registered nurses to complete all nursing major and core courses within 12 months.

Flexible

• The RN to BSN is offered in a synchronous and asynchronous hybrid format.
• Courses are web-enhanced.
• Students have up to three years to fulfill program requirements.
• Students progress through courses in an accelerated learning team.

• Integrate theories and concepts from the arts and humanities and the natural and social sciences in professional practice.
• Incorporate critical thinking, decision making, and clinical reasoning skills in providing quality care to individuals, families, groups, and communities.
• Translate research findings to foster delivery of evidence-based nursing practice.
• Utilize information and/or technology to deliver quality patient care in a variety of settings.
• Use leadership skills and knowledge of the healthcare, financial, and regulatory systems to advance high quality, safe professional practice.
• Demonstrate effective inter-professional communication and collaboration to provide quality, person-centered care.
• Examine principles of prevention and health promotion to improve equitable health outcomes for individuals, families, groups, and communities.
• Integrate Benedictine and professional values into one’s professional practice.
• Cultivate a professional nursing identity that embraces the values of the profession including advancement as a leader and lifelong learning.
• Demonstrate evolving competence in professional role within a dynamic, diverse, global society.

RN to BSN Admissions Requirements

1. A minimum 2.500/4.000 cumulative GPA from all colleges and universities attended.
2. Completion of the first year A.D. nursing courses from a regionally accredited institution.

Enrollment in RN to BSN NRHL Cohort Course Sequence

1. Conferral of A.A.S. Degree with a major in Nursing from a regionally accredited institution.
2. Current, unencumbered RN license in the state of RN employment.
3. 86 designated semester credit hours documented by official college transcripts.
4. Completion of all prerequisite coursework or an approved academic plan finalized with the academic advisor.
5. WRIT 1101, WRIT 1102, and Statistics.

Prerequisites

• WRIT 1101 and WRIT 1102 – must be completed prior to admission
• MATH 1150/NRHL 2250 Introduction to Statistics – must be completed prior to admission
• COMM 1110 Speech Communication
• BIOL 1156 Introduction to Microbiology
• BIOL 1157 Anatomy and Physiology I
• BIOL 1158 Anatomy and Physiology II
• PSYC 1100 Survey of Psychology OR PSYC 2201 Growth and Development
• SOCL 1100 Principles of Sociology OR SOCL 2000 Cultural Anthropology OR SOCL 2205 Racial and Ethnic Groups OR SOCL 2240 Social Problems
• 3 semester credit hours designated Social-Scientific I: Individuals, Organizations and Societies (QIO) OR Social-Scientific II: Political, Global and Economic Systems (QPE)
• PHIL 2245 General Ethics
• A physical science course (QPS) is required for program completion. Note: CHEM 1101 Introduction to Chemistry and CHEM 1102 Introduction to Chemistry Laboratory, or their equivalent, are recommended as these courses are required of many graduate programs that prepare individuals as advanced practice nurses.
• 6 semesters hours of IAI Humanities (in addition to general ethics) with 3 credits from at least one area other than Philosophy (QPL)

Students will be admitted to the RN to BSN Program on the condition that all prerequisite courses are completed prior to enrolling in the Benedictine nursing courses and/or have an approved Academic Plan on file with their academic advisor within one month following notification of Program Admission.

Open Doors to a Wide Range of Exciting Careers

Earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) through an RN to BSN program opens doors to a wide range of exciting career opportunities for registered nurses. Here are some potential paths you could explore with your BSN degree:

Nurse Practitioner (NP): Providing primary and specialized healthcare, offering greater autonomy and earning potential.

Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS): Leading in a specific area of expertise, influencing clinical practice and improving patient care.

Nurse Manager: Leading and managing nursing teams, shaping patient care and impacting organizational effectiveness.

Nurse Educator: Shaping the future of nursing by teaching and inspiring the next generation of healthcare professionals.

Public Health Nurse: Leading community-based initiatives, advocating for health equity and preventing disease on a larger scale.

Ultimately, the career opportunities available to you with an RN to BSN degree are vast and diverse. By pursuing this advanced education, you can unlock your full potential as a nurse and make a significant impact on the lives of others.

Here is an example of some courses you may take in the RN to BSN program:

• Perspectives of Professional Nursing Practice
• Concepts in Collaborative Health Promotion and Disease Prevention for the Older Adult
• Comprehensive Health and Physical Assessment
• Health Promotion for Families, Communities, and Populations
•  Nurse Leadership and Interprofessional Collaboration

RN to BSN Courses (NRHL)

Courses include: BIOL, PSYC, SOCL, MATH, NRHL

Undergraduate course descriptions Lisle