RN to BSN Online Degree for Registered Nurses
Online Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree (BSN)
About the RN to BSN Online Degree at PennWest California
Advance your nursing education and expand your career path.
The PennWest California RN to BSN online degree program is designed for registered nurses who already have completed a diploma or associate degree in nursing. The bachelor's
degree in nursing offers a solid foundation in the arts and sciences that prepares
you for graduate studies and career advancement.
The RN to BSN is a 100% online degree program that can be completed full time in three terms and part time in four
terms when you apply to PennWest California as a transfer student.
Increase competencies in the delivery of healthcare.
This online program enables experienced registered nurses to:
Build upon professional strengths to become outstanding nurse leaders.
Develop a foundation for advanced nursing education and career
PennWest California's nursing degree program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
FOR SUMMER 2020 AND FALL 2020 ONLY: If you have earned a nursing diploma or associate degree in nursing but have been
unable to take your licensing exam because of the COVID-19 pandemic, please contact
our Admissions Office (admissions@pennwest.edu or 724-938-4404). You may be eligible for conditional admission to the RN-BSN program.
Accelerated: The 100% online program is available in an accelerated format: Students take one 16-week
course and two 8-week courses each term. New nursing student cohorts begin each fall
and spring.
Higher level: Other online nursing degrees just incorporate RNs into generic courses, often making
the RNs repeat previous nursing knowledge. At PennWest California, RNs can expect
to build upon and expand nursing knowledge at a higher level. Complete PennWest California's transfer application to receive credit for your previous nursing education.
Ranking in Online U's 2016 Most Affordable Online Colleges for Nursing Programs.
16 %
Employment growth for registered nurses is projected through 2024, faster than the
average for all occupations.
Degree Benefits
PennWest California's online nursing degree offers you exceptional benefits, including:
Opportunities for research in such courses as Nursing Research and Evidence-Based
Practice.
Focus on the latest trends and issues in nursing and specialized areas such as family
health, community health and nursing
Accreditation by CCNE.
Competitive tuition rates and fees, and availability of financial aid.
PennWest California partnerships with Community College of Allegheny County and Washington
Health System School of Nursing to accelerate program completion.
Graduate Outcomes
PennWest California's RN to BSN online degree program enables graduates to advance
with their current employers or move on to a wide range of professional nursing roles
in diverse healthcare environments. Here is a sampling of area employers who hire
PennWest California BSN graduates:
Allegheny Health Network.
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.
Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh.
Magee-Womens Hospital of UPMC.
Pennsylvania Department of Health.
Pennsylvania school districts.
Nursing RN BSN Online
Honors Society
PennWest California hosts Pi Rho, the local chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International,
the honor society for nursing. Students eligible for membership must rank in the upper
35% of the class with an average GPA of 3.0 or higher. Pi Rho promotes networking
and continuing education.
Job Outlook
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that job growth for registered nurses
is increasing for a number of reasons: an increased emphasis on preventive care; growing
rates of chronic conditions, such as diabetes and obesity; and demand for healthcare
services from Baby Boomers as they live longer and more active lives.
Graduate Study
PennWest California BSN students go on to many leading graduate nursing schools throughout
the country, or they choose PennWest California's accelerated options to earn master's
degrees in nursing in less time.
Online Bachelor's Degree in Nursing
Courses in the BSN curriculum prepare PennWest California nursing students for today's
increasingly complex healthcare experiences and settings. They also serve as a prerequisite
for admission to graduate programs in research, consulting, teaching, advanced practice
or clinical specialization.
Curriculum
Course
Credits
General Education Courses
40
Building a Sense of Community UNI 100 First-Year Seminar
Waived
Composition
ENG 101 English Composition I
ENG 102 Composition II
6
Public Speaking Any Public Speaking Course
3
Mathematics and Quantitative Literacy Statistics Course (recommended: MAT 205, 215 or 225)
3
Technological Literacy Any Computer Science Course
3
Humanities Any Humanities Course
3
Fine Arts Any Fine Arts Course
3
Natural Sciences BIO 226 Basic Microbiology OR BIO 126 Introductory Microbiology OR BIO 326 General Microbiology
4
Social Sciences Any Social Sciences Course
3
General Education by Entry-Level Portfolio
Natural Sciences Course
Ethics and Multicultural Awareness Emphasis Course
Communications Course
Health and Wellness Course
12
Required Major Courses
41
NUR 330 Philosophy of Professional Nursing
3
NUR 361 Nursing Research
3
NUR 375 Leadership and Change in Nursing
6
NUR 420 Nursing Informatics
3
NUR 430 Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing
3
NUR 450 Trends and Issues in Nursing
3
NUR 465 Nursing Assessment and Health Promotion of Individuals and Families
6
NUR 475 Community Health Nursing
6
BIO 230 Anatomy and Physiology I OR HSC 110 Anatomy and Physiology I
4
BIO 260 Anatomy and Physiology II OR HSC 120 Anatomy and Physiology II
4
Transfer Credits*
30
Free Electives
9
Total
120
Additional requirements, not counted toward the General Education requirements, include:
Special Experience Course (1 course required): NUR 475 Community Health Nursing
Writing-Intensive Component Courses (2 courses required): NUR 375 Leadership and Change in Nursing AND NUR 465 Nursing Assessment and Health
Promotion of Individuals and Families
Laboratory Course (1 course required): BIO 260 Anatomy and Physiology II OR HSC 120 Anatomy and Physiology II
* 30 transfer credits are allowed for lower-division nursing courses, and additional
credits may transfer per University policy. 12 credits are awarded through a required
entry-level portfolio evaluation.
Program Notes:
This professional BSN program is for RNs who are graduates of diploma or associate
degree basic nursing programs.
A pre-requisite of NUR 361 is required for NUR 430.
A minimum grade of C is required for completion of each nursing course. Additionally,
all of the University's graduation requirements apply to the RN-to-BSN program.
PennWest University, including Clarion, California, and Edinboro campuses, will submit
a self-study and host a site visit for our accrediting body, CCNE. The site visit
will be on March 29-31, 2023. This serves as formal notification of the upcoming
visit and provides an opportunity for third-party comments concerning the program’s
qualifications for accreditation.
CCNE must receive written third-party comments regarding programs by no later than
21 days prior (February 27, 2022) to the first day of the scheduled on-site evaluation.
CCNE accepts only signed comments. CCNE shares third-party comments with members of
the evaluation team before the visit, but these comments are not shared with the program
at any time during the review process. During its program review, the evaluation team
considers third-party comments related to the accreditation standards. All third-party
comments submitted to CCNE must be written in English, consistent with CCNE's policy
on the Conduct of Business.
