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RN to BSN Completion Program

ATTENTION WASHINGTON RESIDENTS

Disclaimer:

Drexel University is authorized by the Washington Student Achievement Council and meets the requirements and minimum educational standards established for degree-granting institutions under the Degree-Granting Institutions Act. This authorization is subject to periodic review and authorizes Drexel University to offer field placement components for specific degree programs. The Council may be contacted for a list of currently authorized programs. Authorization by the council does not carry with it an endorsement by the council of the institution or its programs. Any person desiring information about the requirements of the act or the applicability of those requirements to the institution may contact the Council at P.O. Box 43430, Olympia, WA 98504-3430.

**Drexel University is approved by the Washington State Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission to provide practice experiences in Washington State for MSN/Clinical Nurse Leader, MSN/Clinical Trials Research, MSN/Leadership in Health Systems Management, MSN/Nurse Educator and Faculty Role, MSN/Adult Gerontology Acute Care NP, MSN/Adult Gerontology Primary Care NP, MSN/Family Individual Across the Lifespan NP, MSN/Pediatric Acute Care NP, MSN/Pediatric Primary Care & Pediatric Acute Care NP, MSN/Pediatric Primary Care NP, MSN/Psychiatric Mental Health NP, and MSN/Women’s Health Gender Related NP programs. For more information, go to the following website.

Program

The Drexel Online RN to BSN Completion program is fully accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and is an option for nurses who hold an associate's degree or a diploma in nursing looking to complete their degree in Bachelor of Science.

This program offers optimal convenience for working professionals. All general electives can be transferred, up to 135 of the 180 required quarter credits. We know you are very busy as you balance multiple demands on your time, and that you have knowledge and experience as a registered nurse to bring to your educational experience. Therefore, credit is given for completed RN licensure courses.

A BSN is awarded at the completion of the program. Qualified students are encouraged to submatriculate in the MSN program (RN/BSN/MSN pathway) while enrolled in the BSN program. They can submit applications for MSN programs during the last term of the RN – BSN program.

What you'll learn

While maintaining a maximum of 1:25 faculty to student online class ratio, Drexel University incorporates a wide assortment of teaching methods and interactive tools into each online course.

In an effort to provide a supportive learning environment, faculty are personally engaged with students online, are committed to their success, and are expert at working with adult learners returning to school. All online courses are delivered primarily asynchronously – allowing students the flexibility to complete their coursework at a time that is convenient for them. Synchronous sessions are planned in advanced and archived in the event a student cannot attend.

The Drexel BSN program is delivered utilizing the following teaching methods:

  • Problem based learning - engaging students in real life, experiential learning- students are expected to engage with leaders both in the healthcare system where they work and the community where they live.
  • Virtual simulated patient experiences- students interact and assess both digital standardized patients and live volunteers. Nurses perform high level assessments on patient volunteers, record the sessions via a Webcam and then uploaded into an online course.
  • Discussion group forums are held with other practicing nursing from across the nation. Online discussions with other professionals fosters real time clinical problem solving. Nurses can implement what they learn the next day when they return to the bedside.
  • Access to Drexel's state of the art online Health Science e-library is part of every course. Here students learn to search, discover what evidence exists, learn how to interpret it, and apply it to improve patient outcomes.
  • A 10-day, award winning study abroad option is incorporated into a clinical course – this provides an achievable way for working professionals to enhance their global health care delivery perspective.

What makes the RN – BSN Completion program unique?

  • This degree offers a convenient pathway to MSN programs.
  • Optional online courses are ideal for working professionals.
  • You are part of the Drexel University College of Nursing and Health Professions with access to clinical practice environments and simulated health care scenarios.

If you are currently in the RN- BSN completion program, we encourage you to consider our RN-BSN-MSN Pathway, which offers a variety of tracks and nursing specialities (spelling correction: specialties).

You can apply to the MSN program while completing the RN- BSN curriculum.

Students interested in any of the following MSN programs must  apply for admission to the MSN program during their final RN- BSN term:

  • MSN: Clinical Nurse Leader
  • MSN: Nursing Education
  • MSN: Nursing Leadership in Health Systems Management
  • MSN: Quality, Safety, and Risk Management in Healthcare

Please note- The RN-MSN Bridge is for outside applicants who have a bachelor's degree but not in nursing, seeking an MSN and are licensed RN’s.

Admissions

  • RN licensure (provisional acceptance will generally be offered pending successful completion of NCLEX-RN exam),
  • Official college transcripts,
  • College GPA of 2.0 or better,
  • High school degree or equivalent, and
  • To be eligible for admission to the bachelor of science in nursing program, students must have completed 60 hours of college prerequisites, as follows, with a grade of "C" or better. Students may transfer up to 90 credits. Remaining credits will be evaluated on an individual basis. To graduate, students must have completed 180 credits.

The 60 semester required hours include:

  • English (includes one semester of composition) 6.0
  • Humanities (studio courses not acceptable) 3.0
  • Anatomy and physiology 8.0
  • Microbiology 4.0
  • Sociology 3.0
  • Growth and development 3.0
  • Nursing 30.0

Articulation Credits

Graduates of National League for Nursing–accredited associate or diploma nursing programs who meet criteria of the Pennsylvania Nursing Articulation Model will receive credit for 30 semester hours of nursing, which may be applied toward the program entrance requirements

To find admissions deadlines, apply online, check out financial aid information, and find the current schedule for open houses, visit the Undergraduate Drexel Online admissions criteria page.

For Students Preparing To Sit for NCLEX

Students who are preparing to sit for the NCLEX, are welcome to apply and start the program on a provisional basis.  Students are permitted to take one nursing course, NURS 325 in their  first term after graduation from an Associate Degree Program.  Once RN licensure is obtained, students are permitted to matriculate into the RN-BSN program.

For Transferring Students

To review transfer instructions, visit the Transfer Instructions page.

For International Students

To review transfer instructions, visit the Drexel Online international requirements page.

Technical Standards for Admission, Academic Progression, and Graduation can be found here.

Tuition and Fee Rates
Please visit the Drexel Online RN to BSN tuition page on Drexel Central.

COMPLIANCE

The College of Nursing and Health Professions has a compliance process that may be required for every student. Some of these steps may take significant time to complete. Please plan accordingly.

Visit the Compliance pages for more information.

Admissions Deadline

December 10, 2021

Accreditation

The baccalaureate degree program in nursing, master's degree program in nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice program and post-graduate APRN certificate program at Drexel University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street, NW, Suite 750, Washington DC 20001, 202.887-6791.

Program Level Outcomes

At Drexel University we believe that a well-formulated set of Program Level Outcomes [PLO] that support and are consistent with the institutional mission and goals are the building blocks of an effective assessment program. 

Click here to view the College of Nursing and Health Professions Nursing Program Level Outcomes.