Nursing (RN to BSN), BSN

The program is designed for nurses who have multiple roles with work, family, and school. Courses are offered in a hybrid format, blending online learning and in-person interaction. Program plans are individualized for each student’s unique needs.

The Olympic College RN-BSN Program is accredited by:

Commission on Collegiate Nursing
Education (CCNE)
655 K Street NW, Suite 750
Washington, DC 20001
202.887.6791
http://www.aacnnursing.org/CCNE

RN to BSN Degree Benefits

Earning a BSN degree provides multiple benefits to the associate degree registered nurse.

A Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree:

• Facilitates a broad scope of practice as a result of enhanced clinical reasoning and analytical skills.
• Enhances leadership skills.
• Educates nurses in issues surrounding community health, health care delivery systems and health care policy.
• Develops understanding and participation in research methods leading to evidence-based practice.
• Enhances health care delivery and health promotion for clients and communities BSN nurses serve.

The program is designed for nurses who have multiple roles with work, family, and school. Courses can be taken one day per week until the last two quarters when classes meet two days per week. Program plans are individualized for each student’s unique needs.

RN to BSN Curriculum

The BSN curriculum fosters professional development of the student and meets the following program goals:

1. Communicate effectively in writing and speech.
2. Promote communication between clients from diverse backgrounds.
3. Demonstrate accountability and responsibility for professional development and practice within the legal and ethical framework of nursing, including awareness of limitations in knowledge and seeking opportunities to enhance competent practice.
4. Demonstrate critical thinking, competent clinical reasoning, and analytical skills necessary for safe quality nursing practice.
5. Demonstrate cultural sensitivity in delivery of care.
6. Empower individuals, families, and the community to develop positive health behaviors through health promotion and health education.
7. Integrate methods of research process and findings in planning, implementing, and evaluating care, and in support of evidence-based practice.
8. Demonstrate the ability to positively adapt to the dynamic of change present in health care settings.
9. Provide holistic health care that enhances a client’s dignity and reflects a commitment to caring.
10. Demonstrate leadership abilities and political skills to attain quality care for families, groups, and community clients.

To support and document progress toward accomplishing these goals, each graduating student is required to submit a portfolio of work completed during the student’s enrollment at OC.

Program Learning Outcomes

The RN-BSN Program provides opportunities for students to develop professionally and meet the following RN-BSN Student/Program Learning Outcomes:

1. Leadership
2. Analytic Reasoning
3. Community, Health and Wellness
4. Professional Values/Role Development
5. Scholarly Inquiry
6. Communication

RN to BSN General Education Requirements

World Language: Two years in high school of the same world language or 10 credits of one language at the college level. (Students who were educated in another language through the 8th grade may be exempt from this requirement.)

Advanced Mathematics (5 credits): MATH& 107  and higher

Statistics (5 credits): (At Olympic College, approved classes are BNURS 320 , MATH& 146 , and BUS 215 ) RN-BSN students are strongly encouraged to take BNURS 320 .

Writing (15 credits): Must include 5 credits of English composition and 10 additional credits of writing-intensive coursework. 10 additional credits of writing-intensive coursework may be met through coursework in the OC RN-BSN program.

Humanities (15 credits): College-level world language credits can be applied toward this requirement and may be completed while in OC ADN and BSN programs.

Social Sciences (15 credits): May be completed in OC ADN & BSN programs.

Natural Sciences (28 credits): Must include 5 credits of college level chemistry, 10 credits of anatomy and physiology (can be met via examination), 3 credits of microbiology (can be met via examination), 5 credits of advanced math (can be petitioned) and 5 credits of statistics.

Admissions

Students who want to complete general education requirements or electives prior to beginning BSN nursing coursework are eligible for pre-major admission. Pre-major admission is off ered in all quarters. Please contact the OC BSN advisor for more information.

Priority consideration for admission will be given to students who apply before February 1 for the fall quarter.

Admission Requirements

• Current unrestricted licensure as a registered nurse in the State of Washington (provisional admission is offered to students in the last year of an associate degree program in nursing). Advanced placement credit is awarded based on verification of successful completion of NCLEX (RN) exam.
• One year of clinical practice (nursing school clinicals apply as experience).
• A cumulative GPA of at least 2.5 in all college coursework.
• A minimum of 35 quarter-credits completed of general education requirements.
• 35 credits awarded for RN Licensure (required before starting fieldwork).
• 35 nursing credits from an accredited Associate Degree Nursing program.
• A minimum grade of 2.0 in each of the required courses.

Admission will be offered to applicants starting with the highest GPA in nursing course work and continue until admissions are complete.

If a tiebreaker is needed, the number of years of active clinical practice will be the deciding criterion.

Admission Application Process

For information regarding financial aid, contact the Office of Financial Aid at 360.475.7160. When completing the FAFSA, use the OC Title IV code 003784.

Submit Olympic College application and materials to BSN Admissions. (Applications are accepted throughout the year.)

Application packet must include the following:

• One official transcript from all previous academic and nursing course work. High school transcripts should be submitted if world language was completed in high school.
• Résumé outlining nursing and/or academic clinical experience.
• Essay describing your personal and professional experiences. Include leadership, special achievements, accomplishments, special skills, previous work in diverse communities or disadvantaged populations, and professional and educational goals.
• Three recommendations from licensed healthcare professionals capable of evaluating nursing practice. (Forms available in application packet)

Access the application packet online at www.olympic.edu/bsn.

Admission is based on the following:

• Providing all required application packet materials
• Meeting the admission requirements
• Academic background
• Personal essay
• Professional Recommendations

The Olympic College Nursing Program values a foundation of information technology upon entry into the RN-BSN program, including word processing, accessing information and communicating through email and on-line teaching and learning tools, such as textbook resources or Canvas. Performance of searches using Internet and intranet resources (electronic course reserves and library searches) is expected of students in RN-Baccalaureate of Science in Nursing (BSN) program.

Proof of the following is required after provisional acceptance into the RN to BSN program:

• Current immunizations
• Basic Life Support for Health Care Providers Certification
• Non-refundable liability insurance (available through OC Cashier)
• Proof of personal health insurance
• Criminal History Information Background Inquiry Check
• Completion of the Conviction/Criminal History Form