RN to BSN Program
NOTE: Please read all of the following information before submitting the application, which is posted below. Any application that does not satisfy any of the minimum requirements will not be processed.
The RN to BSN Program builds upon the sound ADN foundation of nursing education. It is designed for associate degree nurses (ADNs) with a registered nursing license to complete upper division nursing courses that fulfill the BSN degree without repeating lower division nursing coursework. Upper division nursing coursework expands upon leadership and management principles, and introduces research and evidence-based practice methodologies, as well as population-focused community health nursing.
The BSN offers RNs a wider variety of job possibilities. Knowledge of nursing theory, research methods and evidence-based practice, as well as community health nursing principles and practice and expanded leadership/management skills, set the BSN graduate apart. A baccalaureate degree in nursing prepares RNs for entry into MSN and School Nurse Credential programs, and broadens opportunities for management positions. BSN graduates are also eligible to apply for a CA Public Health Nursing Certificate that permits them to work in community health settings with a more mainstream schedule. For PHN Certificate information and application: http://www.rn.ca.gov/pdfs/applicants/phn-app.pdf
The current curriculum consists of 6 RN-BSN courses. Nursing courses are offered online, except for one 90-hour clinical course in community health nursing. Placements for this course are only available within the Fresno State service area.
Admission Requirements
- ADN graduate from CA BRN-approved, regionally accredited program. Must be in good standing at last university attended.
- Current, active, and clear California RN license.
- Current enrollment at Fresno State or admitted applicant. Apply online at www.csumentor.edu
All Applicants must:
- Have a current, valid, and clear RN License.
- Be a graduate of a California BRN-approved regionally accredited ADN program.
- Live within the Fresno State service area.
- Have completed all prerequisite courses with minimum 3.0 GPA.
- Have a cumulative 3.0 GPA.
Additional points will be calculated for:
- Graduated of Fresno City College, College of the Sequoias, or West Hills College ADN program.
- Completion of all lower division coursework (e.g., A-E co-requisites).
- No repeats in Prerequisite coursework.
- No repeats in Nursing coursework.
- Be currently employed as RN or have graduated from an ADN program within the past 12 months.
- Veteran or Spouse of veteran
- Passing score on writing assessment (optional)
Applicants will be ranked by GPA (prerequisite, cumulative), and additional points earned.
Applicants will be ranked by points for community college partner, Prerequisite GPA, cumulative GPA, completion of lower division coursework, no repeat coursework, employment/new graduate status, score on writing assessment, and Veteran status (spouse or Veteran).
**Note: Applications usually open Oct. 1st for Fall admission the following year. Check Fresno State Admissions for current deadlines and admission information.
The RN to BSN program is on impacted status (the number of applications received is greater than the number of vacancies for the program). Therefore, admission into the RN to BSN program is competitive; there is no waiting list.
You must plan early for admission to Fresno State.
Completion of eight prerequisite courses with a minimum grade of C (see below for list of prerequisite courses).
- Complete the RN to BSN Application. The application includes additional instructions and deadlines.
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Admission is a two-step process: 1) University admission (check deadlines), and 2) Nursing major (RN-BSN) admission.
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The university undergraduate application for fall 2015 is now closed. Program applications will be available March 1 - 31, 2015 and the deadline to submit is March 31st for those admitted to the university. Please include a copy of your RN license and CPR certification. RN-BSN APPLICATION
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Applicants must meet ALL criteria for admission to the university and the nursing major.
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Current CPR certification.
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Specific health criteria must be met. Students with recurrent infections or physical limitations who cannot meet clinical course objectives may be unable to satisfactorily complete the requirements for the BSN. Contact the School of Nursing regarding specific requirements.
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Required Prerequisite Courses. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Prerequisites Fresno State Courses (partial listing) Units
English Composition* ENGL 5B or 10 3
Oral Communication* COMM 3 or 7 or 8 3
Critical Thinking* PHIL 25 or 45 3
Statistics* MATH 11 or PH 92 3
Anatomy with Lab BIO 64 3
Physiology with Lab BIO 65 5
Chemistry with Lab** CHEM 3A 4
Microbiology with Lab BIO 20 4
*These four courses meet CSU GE Foundation requirements
**May substitute online chemistry without lab, if Chemistry was not part of your ADN program curriculum
Requirements for RN-BSN:
Required Co-requisite Courses. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Corequisites Fresno State Courses (partial listing) Units
Ethics PHIL 20, 120 3
Social Sciences SOC 1, 2, or ANTHRO 2 3
Psychology PSYCH 10 3
Required Nursing Courses. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21
RN-BSN Courses Units
NURS 138 Bridge to Professional Concepts & Issues 5
NURS 145 Nursing Theories & Research 3
NURS 141 Concepts of Community Health Nursing 3
NURS 141L Practicum: Concepts of CHN (2 units) 2
NURS 152 Advanced Leadership, Management, &
Healthcare Systems 3
NURS 154 Applying Professional Nursing Principles 5
Per Executive Order 1084, 20 units of credit toward the BSN will be applied toward the RN-BSN degree after successful completion of NURS 138.
Total Units in the Major = 41 (21 units coursework, 20 units credit) Prerequisite, Co-Requisite coursework
Total Units Required for Graduation = 120
All Graduation Requirements must be met (e.g., Upper Division Writing exam or course, Lower and Upper Division GE coursework).
General Education/Fresno State Graduation Requirements
1. Complete CSU GE Transfer Pattern (Areas A-E)
Available at: http://www.fresnostate.edu/studentaffairs/advising/general-ed.html
- Areas A & B are completed with RN-BSN Prerequisites
- Take co-requisites Ethics (C2), Psychology, and Sociology or Anthropology (D3)
- Complete any remaining requirements for Areas C, D, & E
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Lower Division prerequisite GE coursework (A-E) should be completed before enrolling in Fresno State Upper Division coursework (I-B, I-C, I-D).
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NOTE: It is best to complete lower division RN-BSN Prerequisites and Lower Division GE courses at the community college and then have your transcript GE Certified in order to maximize the 70 units you can transfer in to Fresno State.
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To check equivalent prerequisite, co-requisite, and GE courses at your community college, go to www.assist.org
II. Upper Division GE taken at Fresno State
Integration (I-B, I-C, I-D---9 units total)
*Upper Division Multicultural/International (3 units)
*This requirement is met by taking NURS141
III. Graduation Requirements:
US History, Federal/State/Local Government
Upper Division Writing (exam or course)
FRESNO STATE RN-BSN PROGRAM PLAN
Fall Admission
Fall One Spring One
NURS138 Bridge to Professional (5)* NURS141 CH Lecture (3)
NURS145 Theories/Research (3) NURS141L CH Clinical (2)
Upper Division GE (3) Upper Division GE (3)
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11 Units 8 Units
Fall Two
NURS152 Leadership (3)
NURS154 Applying Professional (5)
Upper Division GE (3)
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11 Units
*NCLEX External Exam Credits (20 units) awarded after NURS138
Transfer maximum of 70 units from community college; take 50 units from Fresno State (21 RN-BSN courses, 20 NCLEX external exam credits, 9 units UD GE) for RN-BSN degree total of 120 units.
NOTE: Associate Degree RN graduates with a bachelor’s degree in another area may enter as second-degree students. In order to meet minimum degree requirements, Co-Requisite courses (or 9 units) must be taken at Fresno State in addition to the RN-BSN coursework.
RN-BSN COURSES
NURSING 138. Bridge to Professional Nursing Concepts and Issues (5 units) Prerequisites: Admission to RN-BSN program. Characteristics of nursing as a profession, historic and current roles of professional nurse as advocate, leader, manager, educator, researcher, team member, and change agent. Introduction to nursing theories, along with research, ethical, legal, political, and economic issues in health care.
**NURS 145. Nursing Theories and Research (3 units) Prerequisites: Upper-division writing skills requirement. Application of nursing theories and the research process to nursing practice are explored. Focus includes historical evolution of contemporary theories in nursing, critique of current research, and computer applications to research.
NURS 141. Concepts of Community Health Nursing (3 units) Prerequisites: NURS 145. Co-requisite: NURS 141L. Community health nursing principles, practices, and services to benefit client systems at the primary, secondary, and tertiary levels of prevention; recognizes the interrelatedness of nursing, public health, epidemiological, developmental, learning, and economic theories and concepts. G.E. Multicultural/International MI.
NURS 141L. Practicum: Concepts of Community Health Nursing (2 units) Prerequisites: NURS 145. Co-requisite: NURS 141. Application of primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention in the community with individuals, families, and groups. (6 clinical hours/week; course fee, $20) Meets G.E. Multicultural/International MI.
NURS 152. Advanced Leadership, Management, & Healthcare Systems. (3 units). Prerequisites: NURS 138, 145, 141, & 141LS. This course provides students with an expanded view of the nurse as leader and manager, as well as the role of nursing within the healthcare system. Leadership, management, organizational, financial, regulatory, and policy frameworks are examined.
NURS 154. Applying Professional Nursing Principles (5 units) Prerequisites: NURS 138, NURS 145, NURS 141/141L. Co-requisites: NURS 150. Culminating RN-BSN course; integration of concepts presented in RN-BSN coursework with prior nursing knowledge and experience. Synthesis and application of cumulative knowledge focused on capstone project, and exploration of the future role of nursing within our changing health care system.
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**Currently in the process of getting Writing course designation.
Please consult the California State University, Fresno catalog for further information.
Prospective Students Start HERE
--See Roadmap for your Community College (link below)
--Take 8 Prerequisite Courses at Community College (CC)
--Contact Student Service Center at 559-278-5027
--Contact Dr. Rector, RN-BSN Coordinator, if questions remain crector@csufresno.edu
--Continue to take Lower Division GE Courses at CC
--Have CC Transcript “GE Certified”
--Apply to Fresno State www.csumentor.edu before deadline
--Apply to RN-BSN Program before deadline
(All admission requirements met & documents/transcripts sent)
--Once accepted, contact Frank Castro, GE Advisor, about GE/graduation
GE Advisor, College of Health & Human Services
(559) 278-5027
RN-BSN Coordinator
Cherie Rector, PhD, RN, PHN
Other Numbers of Interest:
Admissions (559) 278-2261
Bulldog Card Office (559) 278-5608
Cashier (559) 278-2641
Dog Days (Orientation) (559) 278-4885
Financial Aid (559) 278-2182
Health Center (559) 278-2734
Kennel Bookstore (559) 278-4278
Library (Reference) (559) 278-2174
Nursing Department (559) 278-2041
Websites of Interest:
Fresno State Transfer Students (application process, deadlines, costs) http://www.fresnostate.edu/studentaffairs/outreach/transfers/
Fresno State Nursing Undergraduate Handbook
http://www.fresnostate.edu/chhs/nursing/documents/BSNHandbood2010-116.1.11Final.pdf
CR: 2/15
