The online RN to BSN program from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota gives registered nurses the skills to advance their professional role. The program’s CCNE-accredited curriculum of online nursing courses was designed to expand your current clinical knowledge while providing a strong background in the science of nursing.
This is a 36-credit degree-completion program for registered nurses. Its required courses cover all of the baccalaureate essentials identified by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
This progressive curriculum focuses on critical thinking and evidence-based nursing practices. It combines a scientific knowledge with an ethical, patient-centered approach that prepares you for work in diverse settings. The program is unique in also teaching integrative therapies such as therapeutic massage and acupressure. It culminates in a capstone practicum project. Unlike most RN to BSN programs, which feature a practicum in only one or two practice areas, Saint Mary’s gives students the option to complete their capstone in a healthcare setting of their choice.
The RN to BSN courses in this program include:
Click the course names below for more details.
Required Nursing Courses
NUR 310 Pharmacology and Applied Mathematics (3 credits)
Course Description
This course focuses on general concepts in pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics related to drug actions and interactions, metabolism and distribution, and adverse effects. Concepts in applied mathematics are applied to solution preparation, dosing, and various drug delivery systems.
Student Learning Objectives
Upon course completion, students are expected to be able to do the following:
- Describe the molecular basis that occurs in drug-receptor interactions along with the subsequent effect of body systems and cells.
- Describe how the pharmacokinetic properties of a drug impacted toxic and therapeutic effects.
- Examine drug metabolic pathways and describe factors that will affect drug metabolism.
- Calculate the drug concentrations for commonly used solutions.
- Discuss drug distribution with regard to efficacy and toxicity of drugs.
- Apply the terms ED50, LD50, TD50, Therapeutic Window, and Therapeutic Index.
NUR 320 Nursing Ethics (3 credits)
Course Overview
This course is designed to develop a caring response to the ethical issues nurses face in nursing practice. A foundation is provided in basic ethical theories, principles, and decision-making frameworks including the Code of Ethics for Nursing. Legal, regulatory, and policy implications are also explored as an important factor in guiding ethical decision-making for the professional nurse. Reflection specific to one’s own personal values and beliefs (morality) serve as an underpinning to understanding fundamental ethical principles and approaches in the complex health care environment.
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon course completion, students are expected to be able to:
- Analyze personal and professional belief and value systems impacting one’s own nursing practice.
- Examine the value of the professional Code of Ethics for Nurses and its application as an ethical framework.
- Identify and examine legal and regulatory policies impacting nursing ethics.
- Recognize and analyze current ethical dilemmas associated with nursing.
- Apply ethical decision-making models for the nursing scope of practice.
- Evaluate the role of self and personal accountability in ethical behavior.
NUR 330 Healthcare Delivery Systems (3 credits)
Course Overview
This course provides an overview of health care delivery systems and their interaction and influence on health care practices. An examination of health reimbursement systems, external regulatory bodies, and public policy are explored.
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon course completion, students are expected to be able to:
- Describe the processes/organizations associated with regulation of healthcare practice in the U.S.
- Identify and discuss current legal statutes defining healthcare practice and professional rights and responsibilities of nurses.
- Describe and compare how healthcare delivery systems are organized and financed.
- Discuss social and economic factors shaping health care policy and ways to effect policy change.
- Analyze the challenges associated with maintaining organizational compliance within a care setting.
- Evaluate health reimbursement systems and their impact on health care practices and cost containment.
NUR 340 Nursing Research (3 credits)
Course Overview
This course focuses on the integration of quality evidence from research, clinical expertise, and patient values to make informed decisions regarding quality nursing practices. Identifying areas of evidence-based practice, gathering and evaluating valid evidence, implementing the findings, and assessing the outcomes are discussed.
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon course completion, students are expected to be able to do the following:
- Apply an evidence-based practice model applicable to nursing.
- Access and evaluate sources of evidence for validity and relevance.
- Integrate the use of nursing data and information, and the role of informatics systems in healthcare organizations.
- Compare current and emerging clinical information and decision support systems used in healthcare.
- Integrate patient values and preferences into clinical decision making.
- Determine interventions and modifications to the plan of care using valid evidence.
- Demonstrate proficiency in technology competencies that are currently used in nursing practice and leadership.
NUR 405 Introduction to Healthcare Finance (3 credits)
Course Description
This course introduces nurses to concepts in financial management. Students are exposed to different types of budgets, financial forecasting, determination of assets, valuation of nursing services, and preparation of nursing unit budgets across different types of nursing units.
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon course completion, students are expected to be able to:
- Apply budgeting skills and technological tools to support financial and operational unit management.
- Discuss staffing resources including recruitment and retention of staff and their impact on the financial status of a patient care area.
- Analyze cost, revenue, and expense data related to financial operations for the healthcare unit/division and organization.
- Evaluate methods such as forecasting used for the development of operating budgets for nursing services.
- Discuss key issues impacting decision making in health care resource management.
- Examine the relationships between health care financing, costs, and quality of care.
NUR 415 Nursing Leadership and Management (3 credits)
Course Description
This course examines managerial and leadership concepts applied to the role of the professional nurse.
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, students are expected to be able to:
- Differentiate between the roles of leaders and managers.
- Apply theories of effective leadership and management within selected health care systems.
- Demonstrate the concepts of conflict management using appropriate communication tasks.
- Describe the impact of unionization in healthcare and discuss the impact of collective bargaining including legal implications.
- Discuss strategies for effective interprofessional collaboration and team building.
- Discuss professional accountability for effective leadership within nursing practice and for advancement of the profession.
NUR 425 Integrative Health Care (3 credits)
Course Description
This course introduces integrative therapies as components of routine nursing care. Nurses explore how transformational care therapies such as massage, guided imagery, meditation, and acupressure can be used to promote wellness and pain control in all patients.
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon course completion, students are expected to be able to do the following:
- Discuss the conceptual basis for including integrative practices as adjuncts in the delivery of traditional nursing care.
- Describe several integrative therapies and how they can be applied to the nursing care plan.
- Describe assessment processes for patients who could benefit from integrative therapies.
- Select specific integrative therapies that are effective in working with patients experiencing anxiety, fear, and pain.
- Create a plan for teaching and coaching patients who could benefit from integrative therapies.
NUR 435 Community Health Assessment (3 credits)
Course Description
This course examines the major causes of morbidity and mortality facing state and community populations. Intervention with communities through prevention and health education/counseling are explored.
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon course completion, students are expected to be able to:
- Identify and examine the etiologies of the major medical/socioeconomic health problems associated with adult health in the U.S.
- Apply a systematic evidence-based approach to plan, deliver, and evaluate quality care.
- Discover, through community assessment, the characteristics of a local community.
- Plan for patient education with diverse populations to promote health, prevent disease, and reduce risk.
- Analyze the effectiveness of patient education teaching plan designed for a specific family or population group.
Required Healthcare Management Courses
NUR 410 Healthcare Information Management (3 credits)
Course Description
This course provides an overview of information management in health and human service organizations. It examines the evolution of informatics, the rules, regulations, and ethical concerns that impact the health practitioner. An analysis of the principles and processes of information management tools for healthcare is included.
Student Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this course, students are expected to be able to do the following:
- Analyze overall trends and direct practice decisions in healthcare utilizing information systems and electronic medical records.
- Apply the federal, state, and local statutes that address compliance, confidentiality, privacy protection, ethical concerns, and dissemination of electronic health records.
- Identify how information management is applied in public healthcare practices on both micro and macro levels.
- Illustrate how the roles found in healthcare settings interact and affect the roles found in human services and the importance of current and accurate data in fostering these relationships.
- Apply common terminology and acronyms related to health informatics.
- Evaluate the current models used for informatics management and reporting, and address future trends within the industry.
Required Communications Courses
NUR 302 Communication Skills for Nurses (3 credits)
Course Description
This course provides strategies for developing the academic and professional writing skills relevant to health and human services. Topics include effective written communication in the workplace and appropriate communication styles based on audience and purpose. Academic writing is addressed including using APA formatting, library research tools, and methods for locating and selecting scholarly sources.
Student Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this course, students are expected to be able to:
- Identify a research topic and develop a thesis statement.
- Locate and evaluate relevant academic and scholarly sources on a research topic using library databases and technology resources.
- Prepare annotated bibliography and various written reports.
- Apply APA format to documentation.
- Organize and manage ideas and sources for research topics.
- Examine academic integrity and the ethical use of sources in written and oral communication.
NUR 325 Cross Cultural Competence for Nurses (3 credits)
This course examines the impact of cultural diversity on the helping relationship, encourages the acknowledgement of biases and beliefs about diversity, and provides an opportunity for students to demonstrate an appreciation of the contributions of diverse populations. Special attention is given to diverse populations.
Upon completion of this course, students are expected to be able to do the following:
- Identify and acknowledge biases and beliefs about diversity.
- Understand the impact of cultural diversity on the helping relationship.
- Practice with respect, knowledge, and skills related to clients’ age, class, color, culture, disability, economic status, ethnicity, family structure, gender, lifestyle orientation, marital status, national origin, race, and religion.
- Recognize contributions from a diverse population, interacting as individuals or groups, to guide evolving organizational and societal systems.
NUR 490 Capstone (3 credits)
Course Description
This summative course integrates the skills and knowledge developed in previous coursework and applies them to a project. Students select an area of interest and location that can accommodate at least 40 hours. After completing an approved proposal and demonstrating compliance with the stipulations for off-site experiences, a preceptor and/or advisor is assigned. Students are required to submit a paper based on journal entries and learning throughout the 40-hour experience, identifying an aspect for improved patient care at their location.
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, students are expected to be able to do the following:
- Describes the role, learning objectives, and responsibilities of the learner prior to participating in the off-site experience. Documents compliance with same after at the end of the experience.
- Complies with all university, institutional, and program policies, privacy mandate, including attendance, and record keeping.
- Demonstrates the ability to analyze effectively and think critically throughout the experience.
- Accepts responsibility for his/her relationships with patients and all other members of the healthcare team that demonstrates awareness of multicultural and social differences.
- Displays initiative, self-discipline, and intellectual curiosity.
- Accepts instruction and constructive criticism and incorporates it into future practice.
- Demonstrates ethical behavior in all relationships.
- Displays a willingness to perform any assigned duties within the scope of the practicum agreement.
- Describe the elements that combine to define safe and competent care in their practicum institution.
- Identify leadership and management principles relevant to their practicum site experience.
Define your role in the future of nursing today. Call 877-308-9954 to speak with an enrollment counselor or request free information and learn how the online Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN) completion program at Saint Mary’s can help you meet your career goals.