The mission of the Registered Nurse (R.N.) to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.) Degree is to develop professional nursing leaders in all areas of practice who can apply new and/or past nursing knowledge and build on existing competencies. The B.S. Degree in Nursing is designed to prepare nurses to function both independently and interdependently with other professionals in a wide variety of settings, and to meet present and future healthcare needs of society. The program is designed to articulate with community college programs and provide a Baccalaureate completion program for licensed R.N.s with an associate degree in Nursing or its equivalent.

The B.S.N. framework emphasizes the practice of professional nursing, including the design of nursing systems to provide assistance to individuals, families, groups, communities and populations who are unable to meet either self-care or dependent-care needs without nursing intervention. Students are individuals already licensed by the state to practice as R.N.s who are seeking to advance their nursing knowledge and education. Baccalaureate education in Nursing prepares for the practice of professional nursing in multiple sites and with a variety of clientele. The curriculum provides students an opportunity to broaden their base of liberal education through Upper Division General Education and elective courses. In addition, nursing courses will enhance knowledge of human development, assessment skills, theories of nursing, ethics and current issues in the practice of professional nursing, community health, leadership and research. Students may attend full-time or part-time with nursing courses 1-2 days per week. Several nursing courses combine live and online instruction. Students may take General Education and elective courses as they choose. The program values include integrity, advocacy, excellence, lifelong learning, respect for others and competence.

Academic Policies

1. All Upper Division Nursing courses must be completed within 5 years after taking the first Nursing course or students may be required to meet current program requirements.
2. A minimum grade of “C” is required in each Upper Division Nursing course. Students receiving a grade of “C-” or below are required to repeat the course and earn a “C” or better. A course may only be repeated once, with a maximum of 15 repeat units.
3. Students must pass both components of each of the following courses to successfully meet requirements for both courses: NURS 307/L, 427/L and 428/L.
4. Students are required to maintain current California Registered Nurse licensure while enrolled in Nursing courses. It is the student’s responsibility to notify the Program Director immediately, in writing, of any changes in licensure status.
5. Students are responsible for obtaining at their sole cost any necessary health exams, immunizations, evidence of a TB test, titers or other requirements, etc., necessary to meet OSHA requirements and maintain compliance with requirements by the University and affiliating clinical agencies. Documentation of the requirements is to be submitted to the designated person upon request. Before the first clinical course, each student is required to complete a pre-clinical checklist and provide proof that requirements are currently met.
6. After admission and prior to clinical placements, all CSUN Nursing students are required to obtain their own criminal background checks and sometimes drug screens at their sole cost and to supply that information to designated approving agencies or persons before the first patient care experience. In order to meet accreditation standards, many clinical agencies are requiring background checks and drug screens on all students placed at their facilities and have the right to refuse a student clinical placement based on that information. If an affiliating clinical agency notifies faculty that they are refusing clinical placement to a student based on background check or drug screen, the student will be unable to complete required clinical laboratory coursework, be unable to progress in the program and thus be unable to meet Degree requirements.
7. Further information on background checks or drug screens and where to obtain them is available from the Nursing advisor. While CSUN prohibits faculty from reviewing results of checks and screens, clinical facilities demand that CSUN provide them with evidence of clear background check and drug screening. Faculty will require proof that the checks and screens have been completed and are cleared.
8. Students in Nursing courses also are responsible to obtain and maintain at their own cost nursing liability insurance, CPR certification and, if needed, fire safety card or evidence of other indicators of particular competencies as required by professional standards or affiliating clinical agencies.
9. Access to reliable transportation is required for clinical courses off campus.
10. Prior to and during clinical placements, students are required to demonstrate professional maturity and physical, emotional, ethical and moral fitness for clinical practice.
11. The faculty reserves the right to make program modifications as necessary to meet current professional standards and accreditation criteria.
12. R.N.-B.S.N. students may petition for credit by exam in selected courses. See nursing advisor for challenge exam information and registration.

Requirements for Admission to R.N.-B.S.N. Pathway

1. Current licensure as a Registered Nurse in California from a fully accredited program.
2. Minimum of 60 transferable units. A maximum of 32 units of Nursing courses are transferable.
3. Completion of one Lower Division course in each of the following: Anatomy, Physiology, Chemistry and Microbiology, each with lab. A minimum grade of “C” must be attained in each course.
4. Must meet minimum requirements for admissions to the University.
5. Completion of separate applications to the University and the Nursing Program.
6. Verification of clinical competency.

Requirements for the Bachelor of Science in Nursing

1. Lower Division Required Courses (19 units)

BIOL 211 Human Anatomy (2)
BIOL 212 Lab Studies in Human Anatomy (1)
BIOL 215/L Introductory Microbiology and Lab (2/2)
BIOL 281 Human Physiology (3)
BIOL 282 Lab Experiments in Human Physiology (1)
CHEM 103/L Introductory Chemistry I and Lab (3/1)
MATH 140 Introductory Statistics (4)

2. Upper Division Required Courses (39 units)

HSCI 488 Epidemiology: Study of Disease (3)
NURS 302 Basic Pathophysiology (3)
NURS 303 Professional Nursing (3)
NURS 306 Supportive/Educative Nursing Systems (3)
NURS 307/L Health Assessment in Self Care Agency and Lab (2/1)
NURS 308 Family Systems Nursing (3)
NURS 310 Principles of Nursing Research (3)
NURS 426 Nursing Systems Issues and Ethics (3)
NURS 427/L Dynamics of Nursing Leadership and Lab (3/2)
NURS 428/L Community Health Nursing and Lab (3/2)
NURS 495AA or BA Clinical Advances in Health Sciences: R.N. to B.S.N. Senior Project (1/1) or (2)

Total Units in the Major: 58

General Education Units: 48

Additional Units: 14

Total Units Required for the B.S. Degree: 120