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Flourish into Tomorrow’s Compassionate Leader
Expand what you know while preparing for a more specialized, leadership- or management-oriented role with our online RN to BSN program.
Our online degree programs are designed for busy working adults just like you – intentionally structured to allow you to balance work, life and other commitments. As a student of ACU Online, you are part of a vibrant, virtual, Christ-centered community.
Introducing
Locked-In Tuition.
Our Locked-In Tuition program guarantees you’ll pay the same price for your entire undergraduate degree.
About the RN to BSN Program
Our online RN to BSN track is designed to allow you to complete your BSN degree quickly while giving you the flexibility to continue working as a registered nurse. You will build on your current knowledge and skills and earn the BSN credentials you need to take advantage of opportunities to move into higher-level nursing roles or pursue graduate studies. Graduates will be prepared to take on management and leadership roles in the nursing field as well as specialty positions such as critical care nurses, genetics nurses, rehabilitation nurses, or other specialties.
Program Structure
All the Details on Your Degree
Through the RN to BSN track, registered nurses can earn a CCNE-accredited Bachelor of Science in Nursing from ACU. As an RN who has passed the NCLEX exam, ACU will grant you 32 hours of nursing course credit towards your BSN allowing you to complete the degree in 28 track hours.
Required Hours
28 Hours*
8 months
*Additional prerequisites and university requirements may be necessary.
Example Coursework
Leadership and Management
Evidence-Based Community and Population Health
Nursing Research for Evidence-Based Practice
Synthesis of Baccalaureate Nursing
Department
Upcoming Start Dates
October 17, 2023
January 9, 2024
Common Job Titles
ER Nurse
Nurse Researcher
Nurse Case Manager
Flight Transport Nurse
Patient Advocate
Nursing Informatics Analyst
Medical Writer
Curriculum and Format
Designed to propel the careers of existing RNs forward, this online program is geared toward those who have earned a diploma or associate degree in nursing from a regionally accredited school, who have passed the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) and who have an active registered nurse (RN) license. ACU rewards your prior accomplishments by allotting 32 credit hours of core courses toward your BSN degree.
28 credit hours embrace and grow your potential as an RN, covering the latest health care trends, emphasizing holistic care and weaving in essential leadership and critical-thinking principles. We aim to have you go forth in your current job to improve health care delivery and patient outcomes. To achieve this, the curriculum covers:
- pharmacology and pathophysiology to safely administer medications and reduce reaction risks;
- conducting health assessments for diverse clients across the lifespan;
- health policy and informatics to expose you to the legal and legislative side relevant to nurses;
- leadership and management within the context of providing and promoting quality patient care;
- community and public health, with a focus on disease prevention, health promotion, maintenance, restoration and surveillance; and
- the tenets of professional practice, including professionalism, ethics and critical thinking.
Along with coursework, you’ll complete two practicum assignments to put the knowledge you gained about community and public health, leadership and management into action in a clinical context.
Seven-week courses accelerate your path to accessing a wider array of RN opportunities. Review the program’s structure and all course descriptions.
Meet the Track Manager
Dr. Pricilla Wyatt is the track manager for the RN to BSN program and has been an assistant professor within ACU’s School of Nursing for the past eight years. She currently teaches pathophysiology and advanced medical-surgical nursing, works as the clinical lead for advanced medical-surgical nursing, and supervises the senior practicum. Dr. Wyatt has been a nurse for 22 years with clinical experience in cardiac critical care. While working at the bedside of critically ill patients, she often trained newly hired nurses and various students from the area. She is an alumnus of ACU (’98) getting her BSN at Patty Hanks Shelton School of Nursing from Hardin-Simmons University. Dr. Wyatt then proceeded to get her MSN at the University of Texas at Arlington in nursing education. Dr. Wyatt is a recent graduate of ACU Online with her Doctor of Nursing Practice, specializing in Executive Nursing Leadership.
Dr. Wyatt lives in Abilene, Texas with her husband and children and teaches in the children’s ministry at Highland Church of Christ.
Spotlight
Pathways to Start Your Nursing Degree
There are over half a million available nursing jobs in the U.S. Clearly, qualified and educated nurses who are passionate about making a difference in healthcare, patient care, and policy are desperately needed. Whether you’re looking to dip your toe or fall head first into this growing, fulfilling field, you can embark on many different nursing pathways today. Read more about each type of nursing profession and start discovering your inner calling to service and science.
News Release: ACU Online Launches RN to BSN Program
Abilene Christian University is launching a new online degree offering – Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing – beginning in May 2021. The RN to BSN program is offered through ACU Online and is designed for licensed RNs who want to pursue a BSN degree while continuing to practice.
4 Reasons Why RNs Should Pursue a BSN
The demand for experienced healthcare workers is higher than ever and the industry will continue to become even more competitive. Because of this, it’s becoming imperative to have a BSN. This opens up a multitude of avenues and career opportunities compared to an RN. Curious why? Here are 4 reasons RNs should pursue a BSN.
How to be an Effective Nurse Leader
Looking to inspire, lead and motivate your team of nurses so you can provide the best possible care for patients? Here are 5 traits you need to be an effective nurse leader.
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5 Time Management Tips for Online Students
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Employers recognize the preparation going into a BSN degree, from evidence-based practice and a research-emphasizing curriculum to discussions of the demands currently facing the health care industry.
Based upon figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, hospitals and other healthcare organizations will need 7% more registered nurses between now and 2029 and holding a bachelor’s degree gives you an edge over candidates with an ADN. The competencies acquired through a BSN allow you to pursue:
- senior-level RN roles;
- a management or leadership position within the nursing field;
- a specialty nursing position, such as in critical care, genetics or rehabilitation;
- graduate study at a later date, be it a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or a Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP), to continue moving forward within your career.
ACU’s online RN to BSN track is designed for practicing RNs who are interested in gaining a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree in an online modality.
To be considered for admission, students must:
- Complete a Diploma or Associate’s Degree in nursing from a regionally accredited nursing program.
- Provide proof of active, unencumbered registered nurse licensure in the United States.
- Be actively employed in a Registered Nurse role OR have work experience equivalent to a minimum of one year of full-time employment in the Registered Nurse role.
- Complete the online program application accompanied by a non-refundable processing fee.
- Submit official transcripts of all previous academic work with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale.
- Fulfilled all university requirements and supplement to the major courses for full admission to the post-licensure track.
Students are not required to submit ACT or SAT test scores.
Graduation Requirements: Students must earn a grade of 75% or higher for all nursing courses taken at ACU.
ACU has not determined if the RN to BSN Post-Licensure degree meets educational requirements for licensure/certification outside the state of Texas. Students who plan to work in locations outside of Texas should check with the Board of Nursing in their respective state.
The Bachelor of Science in Nursing program at Abilene Christian University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791
Professional Licensing Disclosure for Abilene Christian University’s BSN Program
The practice of Nursing requires a professional license. Each state and US territory has its own standards to practice nursing, to sit for the professional licensure exam (the NCLEX-RN), and/or to transfer a license from one state/territory into its state/territory.
This document provides you a list of those states and territories where this institution has made the determination that its nursing curriculum either meets the educational requirements for licensure, does not meet the educational requirements for licensure, or no determination could be made whether it meets or does not meet the educational requirements for licensure.
Program Outcomes