RN to BSN-how long?

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Specializes in assisted living.

Hi!

I was just wondering if there was anyone out there who is doing an RN to BSN program and also has a non-nursing bachelors degree. I am wondering how long it would take. I have looked at programs that list the 124 credits to graduate and such, but I am guessing that someone who already has a BS/BA has fulfilled most of them? I know that about 60 come from the ADN program. How many other classes did you need to get your BSN? Thanks!!

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Specializes in Emergency Department.

I actually emailed an instructor over at Sacramento State the other day about a very closely related question. Here's their list:

  • N171: Transitional Concepts for Professional Nursing (6 units)
  • N173: Theoretical Foundations for Leadership and Management (6 units)
  • N174: Community Health Nursing (6 units)
  • N170: Nursing Research (3 units)
  • N169: Reasoning and Critical Thinking (3 units)
  • N178: Culminating Project (2 units)

What they do is transfer in your previous units, complete the above courses, and take another course to reach 30 units "in house" at Sac State and you get your BSN. Before you get going though, you'd want to be sure that they're actually taking 2nd Bachelor's students and that you're otherwise good to go to receive that 2nd Bachelor's once you've completed the program.

Another option they proposed was that I could take 4 of the above courses and then apply to one of their MSN programs... though it would result in no BSN being awarded.

Oh, and I'm not yet a Nurse, and I've yet to start school...

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Specializes in assisted living.

Thanks for the reply! It is interesting how either you can take 2 yrs of nursing classes in a BSN program or 2 years of nursing classes in an ADN program, but then after the ADN you need another full year of nursing classes to get your BSN. How are they cramming that extra year into the BSN program? I really wonder this when I talk to people who have done an accelerated BSN program in 1 yr! How are they doing my 3 years of classes in 1 year!? Sounds crazy. I think I would lose my mind :) Thanks for letting me know what you found out! It is good to know about how long it will take me once I get there!

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Specializes in Emergency Department.
Thanks for the reply! It is interesting how either you can take 2 yrs of nursing classes in a BSN program or 2 years of nursing classes in an ADN program, but then after the ADN you need another full year of nursing classes to get your BSN. How are they cramming that extra year into the BSN program? I really wonder this when I talk to people who have done an accelerated BSN program in 1 yr! How are they doing my 3 years of classes in 1 year!? Sounds crazy. I think I would lose my mind :) Thanks for letting me know what you found out! It is good to know about how long it will take me once I get there!

The BSN program just apparently adds a couple more classes for a higher unit load per semester. Those are probably 3rd and 4th semester courses, if not spread out over the entire program, so the load isn't that much extra. Sac State breaks down each subject covered into their own specific courses. Where I'm going, it's just one course that's 10.5 to 11 units each semester... but it basically covers everything in 2 years (4 semesters) except those courses above. (NURS 171 is only offered to RN ->BSN students as it's a bridge course.)

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