Program Overview

Explore our 100% online RN to BSN program

The RN to BSN online program from Eastern Michigan University gives you the clinical reasoning and leadership skills to thrive in the evolving health care sector. With a Bachelor of Science in Nursing - prepared Registered Nurses are in demand more than ever before, our experienced faculty prepares graduates to think differently about their roles in patient care.

Our well-rounded curriculum is designed to give you a fine-tuned understanding of the cultural, political, economic and social issues that affect patients and influence care delivery. In this RN to BSN online program at Eastern Michigan University, current nurses will expand their leadership and advocacy skills, learn how to apply evidence-based research, and gain a foundation for systems-thinking and quality improvement processes.

There are three components to your online RN to BSN degree–the required nursing courses, nursing foundation courses, and general education courses. You may have already taken nursing foundation and general education courses at your prior institution. These will be evaluated after you are admitted to EMU and an advisor assists you in developing your program of study. Since this is unique to every applicant, it is not possible to list every possible program of study, but we will work with you to create the best experience for you while meeting the standards for a BSN degree.

In this RN to BSN online program, students will learn:

• Foundational elements of professional nursing
• Approaches to community health nursing, including ethical decision-making and cultural sensitivity
• Leadership and advocacy skills for the professional nurse
• How to apply evidence-based research and a foundation for systems-thinking and quality improvement processes

Calendar

Here are the dates you need to know

This RN to BSN program is delivered in a convenient online format—featuring 7.5 week courses and 6 start dates a year. View the full calendar to find the best start date for you, along with corresponding deadlines for submitting your application and paying tuition.

Courses

Take a look at our RN to BSN online classes

In order to earn the RN to BSN online at Eastern Michigan University, students must complete 10 courses (30 credit hours), including seven nursing core courses (21 credit hours), two electives (6 credit hours) and a 3-hour capstone course. All courses are 7.5 weeks in length. As an online student you will take all your classes with EMU instructors, just like you would if you were here on campus.

General Education Courses
General Education courses may be needed for the completion of your degree. After admission to the University, your academic adviser will assist in determining which courses are required to ensure your degree completion. Required general education courses can be taken online at the same program rate. For the complete listing of these requirements, visit the EMU general education page.

Nursing Foundation Courses
All nursing students at EMU are required to have taken a 100-level chemistry course, general psychology, developmental psychology, sociology or anthropology, microbiology and dietetics. These courses will be evaluated from your prior institution. You may be required to take some of these courses at additional cost if you have never taken them.

• Nursing Core Courses Expand dropdown

  Students must take the following courses:

  • NURS 300W: Reading & Writing in Nursing Studies Expand dropdown
    Duration: 7.5 weeks

    Credit Hours: 3

    Students will acquire practices, habits of mind, strategies and technological skills needed to successfully complete the writing requirements of the RN to BSN program. The course will focus on academic reading and writing strategies, different parts of the writing process, ethics of communication, and important aspects of writing in nursing.
  • NURS 221: Health Assessment for RNs Expand dropdown
    Duration: 7.5 weeks

    Credit Hours: 3

    This course will build on the RN's skills to obtain a patient history, and perform a health and physical examination across the lifespan. Emphasis will focus on interviewing patients, hands on physical assessment, documentation and developing appropriate nursing diagnoses.
  • NURS 265: RN Essentials of Professional Nursing Practice: The Professional Role Expand dropdown
    Duration: 7.5 weeks

    Credit Hours: 3

    This is the first in a sequence of three courses. The course introduces the foundational elements of professional nursing as identified by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing.
  • NURS 365W: RN Essentials of Professional Nursing Practice: Nurse as Advocate Expand dropdown
    Duration: 7.5 weeks

    Credit Hours: 3

    This second of a three-course sequence builds knowledge of essential elements of professional nursing as identified by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing.
  • NURS 374: Nursing Research Concepts for Practice Expand dropdown
    Duration: 7.5 weeks

    Credit Hours: 3

    This course is designed to support the licensed registered nurse’s examination of nursing research as it relates to nursing practice. Nursing research literature and the importance of evidence-based nursing practice will be examined. Ethical issues involved in nursing research, adequacy of existing research and application of nursing research will be explored.
  • NURS 453: Community-based Nursing for RNs Expand dropdown
    Duration: 7.5 weeks

    Credit Hours: 3

    This course builds on current knowledge of the licensed registered nurse and applies the concepts and principles from nursing and public health sciences. Approaches to health concerns include levels of prevention, health promotion, injury prevention, interdisciplinary practice, case finding, case coordination, ethical decision-making, community referrals, and cultural practices.
  • NURS 465: RN Essentials of Professional Nursing Practice: Nurse as Leader Expand dropdown
    Duration: 7.5 weeks

    Credit Hours: 3

    This third of a three-course sequence builds knowledge of essential elements of professional nursing as identified by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing.
• Electives Expand dropdown

  Students must take two of the following courses:

  • NURS 369: Essentials of Poster, Podium & APA Paper Presentations Expand dropdown
    Duration: 7.5 weeks

    Credit Hours: 3

    This course is designed to assist students in preparing a podium or poster presentation for professional presentation. This class will take the student from the point of writing an abstract, preparing an outline to formulating a podium or poster presentation for a variety of forums.
  • NURS 371: Issues in Men's Health Expand dropdown
    Duration: 7.5 weeks

    Credit Hours: 3

    This course focuses on health issues of men across the lifespan. Biological, sociocultural, and environmental influences on men's health will be explored. Emphasis will be placed on analyzing and developing health promotion and disease prevention strategies for men.
  • NURS 373: Introduction to Healthcare Quality Improvement Expand dropdown
    Duration: 7.5 weeks

    Credit Hours: 3

    This course is designed to introduce the concepts of quality improvement in nursing care to students. General principles of quality improvement with exposure to several quality improvement models with be explored. Students will also be allowed to explore quality improvement initiatives within a healthcare facility.
  • NURS 384: Global Health Issues Expand dropdown
    Duration: 7.5 weeks

    Credit Hours: 3

    This course explores contemporary issues in global health. Topics include health care systems, measurement and indicators of health status, emerging health problems in different countries, comparisons between developed and developing countries, and bioethics in international healthcare. Students will broaden and deepen their understanding of issues of healthcare across the globe.
  • NURS 449: Health Disparities in the United States Expand dropdown
    Duration: 7.5 weeks

    Credit Hours: 3

    Despite medical advances, racial and ethnic disparities persist along all points of the health continuum. As the United States continues to diversify, it is extremely important that we begin to address racial and ethnic inequities in health and understand the multiple pathways by which race and ethnicity affect health outcomes.
  • NURS 452: Health Environments for Patient Care Expand dropdown
    Duration: 7.5 weeks

    Credit Hours: 3

    In this course students will acquire knowledge and skills to apply in the care of individuals, families, groups, and communities. Students will explore multiple determinants of heath including internal, social, physical, and global. Students will examine interventions based on evidence related to selected environments of care.
  • NURS 480: Evidence-Based Practice in Health Care Expand dropdown
    Duration: 7.5 weeks

    Credit Hours: 3

    This course explores the critical thinking and actions of evidence-based practice in nursing. Various means to access, evaluate and use evidence in nursing and health care are practiced. In addition to class discussions, students participate in web-based learning activities, independently exploring evidence-based guidelines in their areas of choice.
  • NURS 482: Management of Health Care Delivery: Disasters & Bioterrorism Expand dropdown
    This foundational course is an examination of issues in natural and man-made disasters and bioterror events that impact the delivery of healthcare at local, state and national levels and the strategies necessary for preparedness, mitigation, response and evaluation in community environments. The course is designed to meet the knowledge needs and care performed by pre-professional and professional healthcare providers; the lay public is also invited to join the course.
  • NURS 479: Special Topic Courses Expand dropdown
    Experimental courses or special topics in nursing may be offered.
• Capstone Course Expand dropdown
  • NURS 483L4: RN to BSN Population Focused Capstone Practice Experience Expand dropdown
    Through experiential learning, this course requires the student to apply course concepts learned across the program within a population-focused context. Applied course concepts include understanding nursing roles, professionalism, regulatory policy, evidence-based practice, management and leadership, and population health. Coordinated with a preceptor and evaluated by faculty, the student practice experience shall facilitate the transition of nursing practice competencies to the BSN level of proficiency.

    
    50 hours of precepted practice experience are required.  Students are responsible for identifying the location of the experience and a program coordinator will work with them to approve the site.  Students should start 6 months prior to the capstone course to assure all requirements are in place to begin the experience.