Nursing – R.N. to B.S.N.
Faculty
Carrie O’Reilly, RN, MSN, Ph.D, Nursing Program Director; Clinical Associate Professor of Nursing
Denyse Barkley, RN, Ph.D, Assistant Professor of Nursing
Khafi Muhammad, RN, MSN Assistant Professor of Nursing
Nephtalie Perrin, RN, MNS, CNM, Assistant Professor of Nursing, Director of Simulation Laboratory
Keisha Rollins-Monroe, RN, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Nursing; Conway Scholar Mentor
Sheila Spurlock-White, RN, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Nursing
Fiona Swaby-Hall, DNP, RN, Assistant Professor of Nursing
Jennifer Wallace, RN, MSN, Assistant Professor of Nursing
Description
The Trinity Nursing Program offers advanced placement for Registered Nurses holding an associate’s degree or diploma in nursing. This 100% online program is designed for the adult learner. RNs admitted into the program may receive credit for general education and nursing courses. In order to receive a degree from Trinity, the transcript must reflect 120 credits, with 32 of those taken in residence at the University. Students may transfer up to 32 credits in nursing. Upon admission, students may complete the program on a full-time or part-time basis.
All courses in the RNBSN program are 100% online. The baccalaureate degree can be completed in one year.
Major Requirements
To fulfill the requirements of the B.S. in Nursing, students must successfully complete required coursework in the following areas:
General Education Requirements (59 credits):
All general education course work must be completed prior to beginning the Nursing Curriculum Courses.
- ENGL 107 College CompositionDevelops effective writing of evidence-based, thesis-centered academic essays. Emphasizes the research and documentation skills necessary for successful academic writing. Focuses on argumentative essays that build to a substantive research paper. Formerly ENG 107 College Composition.
3 credits
General Education: Foundational Skills Area
FLC Area I Core Area I: Skills for Work and Life
- MATH 110 Introduction to StatisticsThis course presents the basic principles of statistics with applications to the social sciences. Topics include descriptive statistics, graphical representations of data, normal probability distributions and the Central Limit Theorem, linear correlation and regression and probability theory. This course also offers an introduction to the use of statistical software. Formerly MAT 110 Introduction to Statistics.
3 credits
Prerequisites: MATH 102, MATH 108, MATH 109 or higher level mathematics course.
- SOCY 100 Introduction to SociologyIntroduces students to the science of sociology and prepares students for upper-level social science course work. Formerly SOC 100 Introduction to Sociology.
3 credits
General Education Curriculum: Knowledge and Inquiry Area
FLC Area V
Core Area II: Understanding the Self and Society
- PSYC 101 Introductory PsychologyIntroduces the student to the scientific study of the mind and behavior. All major sub-areas of psychology (social, developmental, clinical, physiological, motivation and emotion, sensation and perception) are explored, as well as the major theoretical perspectives (behavioral, cognitive, psychoanalytic, and humanistic). Formerly PSY 121 Introductory Psychology.
3 credits
General Education Curriculum: Knowledge and Inquiry Area
FLC Area V
Core: Area II
- BIOL 121 Human Anatomy and Physiology IA systematic approach to the study of the human body. The first part of this year -long course emphasizes the tissues, the integumentary system, the bones and skeletal tissue, muscles and muscle tissue, and the nervous system. Students have the opportunity to apply concepts discussed during the lecture portion of the class to clinical questions presented throughout the semester. Three hours of laboratory per week. Does not fulfill Biology major requirement. There is an additional laboratory fee.
4 credits
Pre-/Co-requisite: MATH 102, MATH 108 or MATH 109.
Pre-requisite: BIOL 101 (SPS); pass BIOL 101 with a C or better or placement test score (CAS).
General Education: Knowledge and Inquiry Area.
- BIOL 122 Human Anatomy and Physiology IIA systematic approach to the study of the human body. The second part of this year-long course emphasizes the endocrine, lymphatic, cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, urinary and reproductive systems. Students have the opportunity to apply concepts discussed during the lecture portion of the class to clinical questions presented throughout the semester. Three hours of lecture and three hours of laboratory per week.
Does not fulfill Biology major requirement. Prerequisite: C or better in BIOL 121. There is an additional laboratory fee.
4 credits
- CHEM 113 Chemistry for the Health SciencesIntroduces students to basic concepts in chemistry, including the nature of matter, chemical reactions, stoichiometry, solutions, principles of organic chemistry, and the chemistry of the most important biomolecules. The course also introduces students to the proper use of basic laboratory equipment as well as basic laboratory techniques. Lab experiments are designed to provide the student with the tools to understand connections between theory and results found in the lab.
4 credits
General Education Requirements: Knowledge and Inquiry (Science and Mathematics)
Prerequisites: MATH 108
- BIOL 130 Microbiology for the Health ProfessionsAn introduction to the study of microorganisms with emphasis on disease-causing bacteria. Topics include the nature of microorganisms, their relationships with humans, infectious diseases, and immunity. Three hours of lecture and three hours of lab per week. Does not fulfill microbiology requirement for Biology major. There is an additional laboratory fee.
4 credits
- PHIL 251 BioethicsExamines the legal and moral issues in areas dealing with the biology of human health and development, for example, experimentation on human subjects, organ transplants, euthanasia, abortion, fetal tissue use, contraception, and other aspects of human reproduction, as well as questions regarding rights to health care. Formerly PHI 211 Applied Ethics: Bioethics.
3 credits
General Education Curriculum: Values and Beliefs
- Communication (3 credits) – choose from general education list
- Arts and Humanities (6 credits) – choose from general education list
- Elective Courses (19 credits)
Nursing Transfer Credits Trinity will accept a maximum of 32 credits from a nursing program that is part of an educational institution that has accreditation by a regional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and that holds current accreditation from a national nursing accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Nursing Requirements (29 credits):
- NURS 300 RN-BSN TransitionThis course is designed to expand the students' knowledge about nursing practice and health care related to differentiated practice, community-based nursing, critical thinking, clinical reasoning, and therapeutic interventions as well as trends and issues in nursing and health care delivery. The transition from ADN to BSN professional practice is addressed. A major component of this course is the synthesis of technologies to retrieve electronic resources and their application to the scholarship of writing.
- NURS 202 Health Assessment RN-BSNBuilds advanced clinical reasoning, assessment and diagnostic skills in experienced clinical nurses. Emphasizes data collection, hypothesis formulation, and decision-making across the lifespan through practice in the laboratory setting. Provides opportunities to develop, practice, and differentiate interviewing techniques and physical assessment of children, adults, and elderly patients and deepen evidence-based nursing problem-focused care using case studies. Utilizes pedagogies of didactic presentation, technology-enhanced instruction, online laboratory practice, and laboratory role-play as examiners and examinees, with an emphasis on respect for privacy and cultural sensitivity. Focuses on concepts, theory and practice in obtaining comprehensive health histories in patients of all ages and states of health. Online format with synchronous and asynchronous virtual interactions.
Credits - 3 (2/1) 3 credits = 2 credits of didactic and 1 credit of lab.
Prerequisites: Acceptance into the RN-BSN Program
- HPNU 210 PathophysiologyThis course is designed to assist the student in applying knowledge from anatomy and physiology and developing the basic knowledge, skills, values, meanings and experiences associated with pathophysiology. Emphasis is placed on cellular, organ, and tissue concepts as they relate to and influence health and illness. 3 credits Prerequisites: BIOL 121, BIOL 122. Students must earn a grade of C or better in BIOL 121 and BIOL 122.
- NURS 320 Policy and Politics in NursingPolicy and Politics in Nursing and Health Care engages the student in understanding how health care policy shapes health care systems and helps to determine accessibility, accountability, and affordability. Students will evaluate how health care delivery systems are organized and financed and the effect this has on patient care; based on the student's findings, they will identify political factors that they may influence in a proactive response to quality patient outcomes.
3 credits
General Education Requirements: Applications
- NURS 330 Nursing Research and Evidence-Based PracticeResearch and Evidence-Based Practice focuses on relevant scientific and phenomenological information to assist the student to understanding the role of theory and research in nursing practice and health care. The course will provide an overview and analysis of theoretical approaches and research methodologies. Students will learn how to critically review and utilize research supporting common aspects of nursing practice.
3 credits
Prerequisites: NURS 117, NURS 218, SNHP 220, NURS 222, and, or Departmental Approval. General Education Capstone (Nursing students only)
- SNHP 342 Health Care FinanceThis course focuses on the concepts, principles, tools, finances and strategies used in managing operations within a performance improvement model. Students will explore problem solving and decision making models as well as tools and techniques for planning, organizing, directing, controlling, reporting, and improving the productivity and performance of resources within a healthcare system. Additionally, topics will include healthcare finance reimbursement, budgeting processes (capital and operating), and cost/benefits analysis.
3 credits
Prerequisites: None
- SNHP 405 Informatics and Data ManagementThe focus of this course is on the integration of nursing, computer, and information science for the support of professional nursing practice including critical thinking and clinical reasoning. Discussion and examination will be conducted of: ethical considerations in nursing informatics use of social networking tools, handheld computers and e-portfolios in health care environments.
3 credits
Prerequisites: None
- NURS 410 Leadership and Management of Health CareThis course incorporates the application of management principles and leadership, change, and administration theories in nursing practice and health care delivery in a hybrid format. Content focuses on delegation, prioritization, communication/collaboration, legal and ethical issues, resource management, quality improvement and risk management, evidence based practice, and the healthcare consumer in various healthcare markets.
3 credits
Prerequisites: All Junior Level Nursing Courses or Departmental approval.
General Education: Application Leadership (Nursing students only).
- NURS 421 Community Health for Registered NursesThis course is designed to prepare students for community/population health practice in a changing health care system. Promoting and protecting the health of the public using health promotion, risk reduction and disease management and control strategies with vulnerable clients and populations. Community assessment, epidemiologic, environmental, change, community engagement and case management frameworks are used to guide evidence based nursing care. This course contains a clinical component which is PASS/FAIL. Students must demonstrate competency (delivery of safe and competent patient care with a score of Satisfactory) for clinical competencies to achieve a PASS grade for the clinical portion of the course. Failure to achieve a passing grade constitutes a failure of the course.
4 credits (3/1)
Pre-requisites: Admission to RNBSN program.
- NURS 490 RNBSN CapstoneCulminating learning experience demonstrating the curriculum model within the professional practice of nursing. Assists students to critique and utilize research and analyze a clinical nursing problem that illus trates a sophisticated level of knowledge of best practices and of gathering and applying evidenc e. Each student will make a major presentation that is open to the educational and professional company. Formerly NURS 490 Capstone: Synthesis (KSVME) of Professional and Health Care Issues.
2 credits
Pre-requisites: RNs Only
Program Policies
Required Documentation:
Prior to enrolling in any course, students are required to present documentation of the following:
- Current Registered Nurse Licensure in a U.S. Jurisdiction or documentation confirming eligibility to site for the NCLEX-RN within the first semester of enrollment
- Professional Liability Insurance in the amount of $1 million/$3 million
- BLS/CPR Certification
Prior to enrolling in any clinical course, students are required to present documentation of the following:
- Current immunization or titers for: DPT; MMR; Hepatitis B (3 doses); Tetanus; Influenza (annual); TB (annual).
- National criminal background check, including all aliases and nationwide sexual offenders index with a set of fingerprints
- Current major medical health insurance
- Current Registered Nurse unecumbered license in the District of Columbia, Maryland, or Virginia
Grades in Major Courses
B.S.N. students must earn a minimum of “C+” as a final course grade in all nursing (NURS and SNHP) courses. A final grade below a C+ will require the student to repeat the course to successfully complete all requirements of the nursing curriculum plan. A final grade below a “C+” may impact a student’s academic progression in the nursing program. Any grade involving a numerical fraction is NOT rounded up at the end of the semester in the final course grade.
A nursing student may fail or withdraw from no more than one nursing course (NURS or SNHP prefix). If a student fails or withdraws from a nursing course, the student may repeat the nursing course only once. Students may repeat no more than one nursing course. Failing or withdrawing from a second nursing course will result in dismissal from the nursing program.
Pass/No Pass
The pass/no pass grading option is not accepted in courses to be applied for the major.
Transportation
Students are required to provide their own transportation to and from clinical sites. Clinical placements may be located within a 50 mile radius of the University. Trinity’s free shuttle service connects the Main campus with the Brookland metro station.
Accreditation
The baccalaureate degree program in nursing at Trinity is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street, NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791.