RN-to-BS Degree Completion Program

Elms College offers practicing registered nurses the opportunity to build upon the skills acquired in their prior RN education and earn a bachelor of science degree.

The RN-to-BS completion program prepares graduates who are educated in both liberal arts and sciences, as well as nursing theory, research, and practice. Taught by an interdisciplinary faculty in nursing, humanities, and the sciences, this program provides professional nurses with the education and skills they need to practice in a rapidly changing healthcare environment, and to assume leadership positions within a variety of organizational and healthcare settings.

A hallmark of the program is the accelerated completion of the bachelor of science degree in nursing through a cohort educational model. In most practice settings, nurses work as members of a team rather than in isolation from one another. The cohort learning model allows you to progress through the program in a prescribed sequence as an intact, supportive group. This atmosphere fosters a collaborative approach while learning.

Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree

Nursing Major for Registered Nurses

(Minimum at Elms College: 45 credits/Minimum GPA: 2.5)

Major Requirements (27 credits)

Nursing Courses
NUR 202 Health and Physical Assessment* (4 credits)
NUR 260 Professional Communication in Nursing (3 credits)
NUR 285 Introduction to Baccalaureate Nursing (3 credits)
NUR 330 Introduction to Nursing Research (3 credits)
NUR 327 Family Nursing Theory and Application* (3 credits)
NUR 440 Professional Nursing Practice in the Community* (4 credits)
NUR 530 Policy, Law and Ethics in Healthcare (3 credits)
NUR 640 Leadership and Management (3 credits)

*Includes a field experience

BIO 215 Anatomy and Physiology I (4 credits)
BIO 216 Anatomy and Physiology II (4 credits)
BIO 221 Microbiology (4 credits)
CHE 198 Biochemistry (3 credits)
MAT 109 Statistics (3 credits)
PHI 248 Health Care Ethics credits (3 credits)
PSY 101 General Psychology (3 credits)
SOC 214 Medical Sociology (3 credits)
SWK 204 Human Behavior in the Social Environment (3 credits)

Advanced Standing - up to 34 credits (awarded in final year of study)

Required Non-Nursing Courses (30 credits)

Additional CORE courses: English (3 credits), Literature (3 credits), History (3 credits), Fine/Performing Arts (3 credits), Religion (3 credits).