Nursing, Bachelor of Science (RN-to-BSN)

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Program Objective

Do you desire an advanced practice or leadership position in nursing? Do you want higher-level skills to respond better to the demands of today’s evolving health care system? San Jacinto College’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN-to-BSN) program may be perfect for you!

The one-year BSN program is for the working registered nurse (RN with an associate degree) who wants to advance within the profession. The program follows an eight-week course model, building on previous education and experience with 100% distance learning opportunities that accommodate an employed RN’s schedule. The Community Health Nursing curriculum is designed to incorporate both theoretical and practical elements and allows students to actively participate in assessment, interventions, and evaluations to support community health. In their final semester in the Leadership and Management course, students are immersed in their respective workplaces, where they are tasked with identifying and developing strategies for enhancement. This critical exercise aims at fostering improvements in patient care, organizational efficiency, and employee performance outcomes.

The BSN program is learner-centered, focusing on student engagement, self-directed learning, and appreciative inquiry. The program’s primary concepts include:

  • Community health nursing,
  • Nursing research,
  • Public and global health policy,
  • Informatics, and
  • Leadership.

RN-to-BSN Student Handbook 

Program Accreditation

The RN-to-BSN program received initial accreditation November 25, 2020, through

The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400
Atlanta, Georgia 30326

https://www.acenursing.org

Office: 404-975-5000
Fax: 404-975-5020

Approved by:

Texas Board of Nursing
1801 Congress Avenue, Suite 10-200
Austin, Texas 78701

Outcome Data

Program Completion Data

YEAR     RATE

2021       82%

2022       80%

2023       90%

RN-to-BSN Program Expected Level of Achievement (ELA)

  1. Increase enrollment by 5% for the upcoming academic terms (fall 2024, spring 2025, fall 2025).
  2. 80% of the students will graduate with their starting program cohort.
  3. 80% of the students who complete the program will secure employment in a professional nursing role that requires a minimum of a BSN credential.

Career Opportunities

According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, approximately 44 percent of hospitals and other health care employers require new nurses to possess a BSN degree, while employers overall express a strong preference for nurses with BSNs.

BSN nurses have better professional opportunities, enhanced credibility, and increased earning potential. They are also eligible for multiple opportunities, including direct patient care, education, management, and public health nursing, and may specialize in various inpatient/outpatient services.

Fast Facts about the Program

Type: Academic

Location: Central campus

Degree: Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN-to-BSN)

Duration: One year, after Core courses 
 

For more information, students may contact:

Veronica Jammer, PhD, RN
Department Chair
281-476-1842
sanjacbsn@sjcd.edu

Campus

Central Campus

Information

Prerequisite Coursework*:

  • Mathematics course from the Core Curriculum (The BSN program recommends students choose MATH 1342 Elementary Statistical Methods (Statistics) for this requirement.)
  • CHEM 1305 Introductory Chemistry I (lecture)/CHEM 1105 Introductory Chemistry I (lab)
         or CHEM 1311 General Chemistry I (lecture)/CHEM 1111 General Chemistry I (lab)
  • BIOL 1322 Nutrition and Diet Therapy

*Note: Prospective students are encouraged to complete all academic courses prior to entry into the nursing program.

Curriculum Pathway

Associate Degree Nursing Courses                          34 Credit Hours Accepted as Transfer 

General Education Courses                                        45 Total Credit Hours

Pre-requisite Courses for BSN                                   10 Credit Hours

Upper-level Nursing Courses                                     31 Credit Hours

Total Hours for Degree                                               120 Semester Credit Hours

Admission REQUIREMENTS

The College requires that students adhere to the following list for entry into the RN-to-BSN program:

  • Completed AAS in Nursing from an accredited institution;
  • Hold an unencumbered, Texas RN license. License must be valid through the program duration;
  • Be currently employed as a professional nurse (Letter from Employer required);
  • Maintain a cumulative GPA 2.5 on a 4.0 scale;
  • Reflect a grade of C in all previous nursing and science transfer courses; and
  • Submit one recommendation letter from employer supervisor or former nursing faculty. 

Students may see other admission information on the San Jacinto College BSN webpage.

In accordance with Texas House Bill 1508, the College informs all students in this program who may have a criminal background that a criminal history could keep graduates from being licensed by the state of Texas. Students with any questions about their background and licensure may speak with the Department Chair.  

Students enrolling into San Jacinto College programs with external learning experiences (i.e., clinical, practicum, externship, cooperative, etc.) will be required to comply with the immunization requirements and policies of the clinical/external learning sites to engage in all clinical/external learning experiences. Vaccination requirements at clinical/external learning sites are implemented pursuant to the independent authority of such facilities and are not mandated by San Jacinto College. Failure to meet the immunization requirements mandated by clinical/external learning sites may limit a student’s ability to complete the program and/or may delay the student’s graduation date. San Jacinto College does not process exemptions, and students should address potential vaccination exemptions directly with the clinical/external learning site.

Plan of Study (Degree Plan)

BSN-NURS

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
PrerequisitesCredits
Transfer Courses (34 SCH) 1 34
Select 34 SCH from the following:
Foundations for Nursing Practice
Nursing Skills I
Health Assessment
Clinical - Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse
Pharmacology
Common Concepts of Adult Health
Clinical Nursing Common Concepts for Adult Health
Mental Health Nursing
Clinical Mental Health Nursing
Care of Children and Families
Clinical Nursing Care of Children and Families
Maternal Newborn Nursing and Women 's Health
Clinical Registered Nursing
Enhanced Concepts of Adult Health
Clinical - Registered Nursing
Professional Nursing: Leadership and Management
General Education Courses (45 SCH)
BIOL 2301
BIOL 2101
Anatomy and Physiology I (Lecture)
and Anatomy and Physiology I (Lab)
4
BIOL 2302
BIOL 2102
Anatomy and Physiology II (Lecture)
and Anatomy and Physiology II (Lab)
4
BIOL 2320
BIOL 2120
Microbiology for Health Science Majors (lecture)
and Microbiology for Health Science Majors (lab)
4
ENGL 1301 Composition I 3
ENGL 1302 Composition II 3
GOVT 2305 Federal Government (Federal Constitution and Topics) 3
GOVT 2306 Texas Government (Texas Constitution and Topics) 3
Select two (2) of the following: 6
United States History I
United States History II
Texas History
Mexican American History I
Mexican American History II
Language, Philosophy and Culture (Humanities) 2 3
PSYC 2301 General Psychology 3
PSYC 2314 Lifespan Growth and Development 3
Select one of the following: 3
Public Speaking
Interpersonal Communication
Business and Professional Speech
Creative Arts (Fine Arts) 3
 Credits79
Second Year
Prerequisites
Pre-requisite Courses for BSN (10 SCH)
BIOL 1322 Nutrition and Diet Therapy 3
Select one of the following: 4
Introductory Chemistry I (lecture)
and Introductory Chemistry I (lab)
General Chemistry I (lecture)
and General Chemistry I (lab)
Mathematics 3 3
 Credits10
Third Year
First Term
Upper-level Nursing Courses (31 SCH)
NURS 3350 Transition to Baccalaureate Nursing 3
NURS 3244 Issues and Trends in Nursing 2
NURS 4314 Theoretical Principles of Nursing 3
NURS 4341 Health Promotion Across the Lifespan 3
 Credits11
Second Term
NURS 3432 Community Health Nursing 4
NURS 4358 Public & Global Health Policy 3
NURS 3351 Research & Evidence-Based Nursing Practice 3
NURS 3353 Informatics & Technology in Healthcare 3
 Credits13
Third Term
NURS 4326 Legal & Ethical Considerations in Nursing 3
NURS 4457 Leadership & Management 4
 Credits7
 Total Credits120
1

Prospective students must schedule a meeting with the Department Chair to discuss specific transfer courses from associate degree nursing programs to fulfill this Transfer Courses requirement.

2

The BSN program recommends students choose PHIL 2306 Introduction to Ethics for this requirement.

3

The BSN program recommends students choose MATH 1342 Elementary Statistical Methods (Statistics) for this requirement.