Registered Nurse (RN) graduates of associate degree and diploma programs have been able to earn the baccalaureate degree at Western Connecticut State University (WCSU) by completing a program of study similar to that completed by undergraduate students, but including some RN-only components that acknowledge and build upon existing knowledge and skills.  These students are enrolled as Registered Nursing students in the RN-BS degree completion program.  In order to receive a degree from WCSU a student must complete a minimum of 30 credits and/or one half of the major (whichever is greater) at the University.

RNs may be eligible for up to 28 transfer credits, which may be applied to nursing courses (NUR 205, 225, 235, 255, 300, and 325).  Associate degree graduates may be eligible for additional transfer credit, which may be applied to the General Education, Major, and Free Elective requirements.

This leaves the RN with the need to complete, in addition to General Education, Major, and Free Elective courses, the following Nursing courses:

NUR 301        Nursing Leadership in Health Care Organizations
NUR 309       Transition to Professional Nursing Practice
NUR 311         Physical Assessment Across the Lifespan
NUR 329        Principles of Community Health Nursing
NUR 330        Nursing in the Community
NUR 332        Pharmacology, Pathophysiology, and Nursing Practice
NUR 336        Human Health Experience and Nursing Practice
NUR 361        Research Process in Nursing
NUR 376        Professional Nursing Role Development

These courses are offered online.

Students who graduate from this program will possess the following learning outcomes. They will be able to:

Synthesize knowledge from the arts, sciences, and humanities with nursing theory as the basis for making nursing proactive decisions.

Exercise critical thinking in using the nursing process to assess, diagnose, plan, implement, and evaluate the care provided to individuals, families and communities.

Apply the nursing process to design, implement, and evaluate therapeutic nursing interventions to provide preventive, curative, supportive, and restorative care for individuals, families, and communities in both structures and unstructured settings, using a variety of techniques.

Use a variety of communication techniques, including written documentation, in the process of assessment, counseling, and therapeutic interventions with individual clients, families, groups and communities.

Develop and implement a variety of teaching-learning strategies in the provision of health teaching for individuals, families, and groups in a variety of settings.

Use the process of scientific inquiry and research findings to improve nursing care delivery.

Manage information, human resources, and material resources to achieve optimum client outcomes in a cost-effective manner.

Use leadership, management, and collaborative skills as a member of a multidisciplinary team within the health care delivery system to develop implement, and evaluate health care provided to clients.

Exercise independent judgment and ethical decision-making, and act as an advocate for consumers of health care services.

Demonstrate accountability in learning and in nursing actions, based on accepted standards of nursing care and in accordance of professional nursing practice.

For additional information you may contact Nicole Sandt at sandtn@wcsu.edu.

The (baccalaureate degree program in nursing/master’s degree program in nursing or post-graduate APRN certificate program) at Western Connecticut State University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street, NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791.