Online RN to BSN Program
About the RN to BSN Program
The RN to BSN Program at FHSU provides registered nurses a flexible, 100% on-line option to complete their BSN Degree in as few as three semesters. As an incoming student, you can enter the program at any semester: fall, spring, or summer. The RN to BSN Program can expand your knowledge and skills in leadership and critical thinking and provide future career options.
To Apply, please click the link below for the RN to BSN application. Applicants must have been accepted to Fort Hays State University for their application to be reviewed. Additionally, all official transcripts must be received to process your application. To Apply to FHSU click the link below.
FHSU RN-BSN Application (Do Not Use FireFox)
Both NURS 440 Informatics for the RN and NURS 442 Legal and Ethical Issues in Healthcare may be taken prior to acceptance in the Nursing Program. Please note the successful completion of these courses does not impact or guarantee acceptance into the program (See Program Entrance Requirements).
A student applies as an undergraduate virtual transfer student.
Fort Hays State University Department of Nursing does not accept applications for the nursing program from the following states: Tennessee, Alabama, Washington
Background Check
Please note that within 30 days after acceptance into the nursing program, a clear background check (completed with FHSU approved company) will be required to enroll in nursing courses. Information regarding the Background check will be sent to accepted applicants.
Clinical Clearance Requirements
The RN to BSN Program at FHSU requires preceptor lead clinicals in course NURS 449. Please read the following document for more information regarding this process. Please note that student liability insurance is required.
This program requires clinical practicum experiences. Fort Hays State University works diligently with students to secure clinical contracts across the United States. On rare occasions due to locations or state or facility requirements, we are unable to negotiate a contract. In this event, if another site cannot be obtained at the students location, a clinical site in Hays, Kansas will be provided for the student. If this occurs, students will need a Kansas license and will need to come to Kansas for their practicum experience. We encourage you to start the collaborative process of obtaining a preceptor early in your program. If you have questions about this process, please contact the Nursing Department.
- Current active RN license issued in the United States. Students may enroll in University courses while finishing their RN Program. Note: taking University courses before being admitted to the RN-BSN Program does not guarantee admission to the RN-BSN Program.
- Cumulative GPA of 2.5 or above.
- WES+ and CGFNS transcript reviews required (if applicable).
- Within 30 days after acceptance into the nursing program, Castlebranch Part I must be completed (items include but not limited to background check, drug test, immunization records).
Program Requirements
- Maintain active RN license issued in the United States.
- Minimum grade of C for all Nursing Program Courses.
- Transfer courses accepted from regionally accredited schools only (verified by the Higher Learning Commission)
- Courses are to be completed by graduation time and not required to be completed before starting the RN to BSN courses (except courses that serve as pre-requisites).
Course Number Course Credit Hours COMM 100
Fundamentals of Oral Communication (Public Speaking)
3
ENG 101
English Composition I
3
ENG 102
English Composition II
3
MATH 110 or MATH 101
College Algebra or Contemporary Math
3
MATH 250
Elements of Statistics
3
BIOL 230 & BIOL 231 + labs
Human Anatomy & Physiology + lab (s)
5-8
BIOL 240 + lab
Microbiology + lab
4-5
CHEM 100 or CHEM 110
Chemist's View of the World or Molecules and Society
3
PSY 100
General Psychology
3
- 120 credit hours or above required for a BSN degree, 30 taken directly through FHSU. 45 credit hours must be upper division and 60 credit hours must be from a 4-year school.
- Minimum 45 credit hours of general education required for transfer students with an associate's degree from a regionally accredited school. More information is located here: Transfer Articulation Agreement
- Diploma Nurses (without 45 transferable credit hours) will have a few more general-education classes to complete. More information is located here: General Education Program
- International Students: The RN to BSN Program is an on-line program. It does not meet the requirements for International students who require on-campus courses.
- Students who have a current U.S. RN license with transcripts from outside the United States must have two evaluations completed on his/her transcripts: WES+ and CGFNS.
General Education Requirements
- Twelve (12) credit hours of basic skills courses, including:
English Composition I
English Composition II
Speech Communication (Fundamentals of Oral Communication)
College level mathematics (College Algebra or Liberal Arts Math) - Twelve (12) credit hours of Humanities courses (performance/studio courses are excluded) from at least three of the following disciplines:
Art
Theater
Philosophy
Modern Languages
Music
History
Literature - Twelve (12) hours of Social and Behavioral Science courses from at least three of the following disciplines:
Into to Sociology (required for RN to BSN Program)
General Psychology (required for RN to BSN Program)
Political Science
Economics
Geography
Anthropology - Nine (9) credit hours of Natural and Physical Science courses from at least two disciplines (lecture with lab), for a total of 11 hours:
Anatomy & Physiology + lab (required for RN to BSN Program, minimum 5 credit hours)
Microbiology + lab (required for RN to BSN Program, minimum 4 credit hours)
Chemistry (no lab) (required for RN to BSN Program, minimum 3 credit hours) - Transfer students must fulfill one 3 credit hour upper-division integrative course which fulfills a university requirement.
IDS 400 Bioethics
All courses are 8 weeks in length. A section of each course will be offered every 8 weeks. Both NURS 440 Informatics for the RN and NURS 442 Legal and Ethical Issues in Healthcare may be taken prior to acceptance in the Nursing Program. Please note the successful completion of these courses does not impact or guarantee acceptance into the program (See Program Entrance Requirements).
(Contact your academic advisor for more information)
Course Number |
Course | Credit Hours |
Pre-requisite |
Pre-January 2018 Course Equivalency |
Credit Hours |
NURS 440 | Informatics for the RN | 3 | |||
NURS 441 | Professional Roles for the RN | 3 | NURS 280 Foundations of Nursing & NURS 294 Nursing Transition | 2,1 | |
NURS 442 | Legal & Ethical Issues in Healthcare | 3 | NURS 320 Ethics & NURS 321 Legal | 1, 1 | |
NURS 443 | Community-Focused Care for the RN | 3 | NURS 632 Population-Focused Care | 3 | |
NURS 445 | Health Promotion | 3 | NURS 603+NURS 603L Health Assessment and lab | 2, 1 | |
NURS 446 | Nursing Inquiry for the RN | 3 | Statistics | NURS 322 Intro to Evidence-Based Research | 2 |
NURS 447 | Trends Facing Healthcare | 3 | |||
NURS 448 | Healthcare Policy & Cost for the RN | 3 | NURS 491 Healthcare Systems, Policy, & Cost | 2 | |
NURS 449* | Leadership & Management for the RN with Practicum | 3 | NURS 446 | NURS 631 Integration for the RN | 3 |
NURS 450 | Healthcare Quality Improvement for the RN | 3 | NURS 446 and NURS 449 | NURS 631L Internship for the RN | 3 |
Total | 30 |
*Class NURS 449 requires direct care hours with a preceptor and approved clinical site.
Advanced Standing Credit
As a Registered Nurse, you are eligible for Advanced Standing Credit towards your BSN degree by demonstrating successful completion of the NCLEX-RN national exam. The University requires 45 upper division hours and 60 hours from a four-year institution. Advanced Standing Credit can help you achieve these requirements. 36 credit hours will be credited and posted to the student's transcript at the end of the final semester. Below are the courses that may be credited.
Course Number |
Course |
Credit Hours |
NURS 310L | Nursing Skills Lab | 2 |
NURS 311 |
Health & Illness I |
3 |
NURS 311L |
Health & Illness I Practicum |
2 |
NURS 328 |
Mental Health Nursing |
3 |
NURS 328L |
Mental Health Nursing Practicum |
1 |
NURS 330 |
Health & Illness II |
3 |
NURS 330L |
Health & Illness II Practicum |
2 |
NURS 340 |
Pharmacology I |
2 |
NURS 341 |
Pharmacology II |
2 |
NURS 420 |
Maternal/Infant |
3 |
NURS 420L |
Maternal/Infant Practicum |
3 |
NURS 422 |
Pediatrics |
2 |
NURS 422L |
Pediatrics Practicum |
1 |
NURS 423 |
Concepts of Gerontology |
1 |
NURS 430 |
Health & Illness III |
3 |
NURS 430L |
Health & Illness III Practicum |
3 |
Total |
36 |
- Campus Scholarships
- Transfer Scholarships
- Nursing Scholarships
Fort Hays State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. More information is located here: https://www.fhsu.edu/academic/provost/accredited_programs/index
The Baccalaureate degree program in nursing at Fort Hays State University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education http://www.ccneaccreditation.org