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RN-BSN Program

RN to BSN Online

The Online RN-BSN Program is a 100% online program designed to specifically meet the needs of RNs who are completing the BSN degreeFull-time and part-time program offerings allow students flexibility, with most students completing the degree in 1-2 years. 

Recognizing the barriers that RNs face in terms of employment demands, travel time, and family responsibilities, the program has been designed to allow full-time or part-time study, and flexibility in the sequencing of courses. GSW's program is frequently rated as one of the best and most affordable RN to BSN programs in Georgia.

While most students complete the degree in 1-2 years, some students in this program prefer to progress at their own rate. Students can elect to finish in three years, and under special circumstances have up to five years from the start of their nursing courses to complete the degree requirements. A professional nursing advisor develops an individual model plan of study to help students stay on track for completion of the degree. Students are required to take a minimum of one class per academic year, and to begin their course of study the semester they are admitted to the program. RNs may need to take some core courses before taking only nursing courses. However, it is recommended that NURS 3197 be taken as the first nursing course. Understanding the unexpected demands sometimes experienced by RN’s, the College of Nursing and Health Sciences does allow a one-time Application for Readmission if a student finds it necessary to interrupt their course of study. 

RN-BSN graduates often continue on with GSW's Master of Science in Nursing degrees and certificates. Others have great success in getting into competitive graduate programs such as nurse anesthetist programs and nurse midwifery. 


Announcement

Beginning Spring 2022, the RN to BSN program will be joining in a collaborative agreement with other RN-BSN programs in Georgia to offer five (5) of our RN-to BSN courses via e-major. We will have the same great program using 8 week terms, multiple entry times, 100% online, low tuition of $169.33 per credit hour, and open educational resources (no textbooks) for the five collaborative courses. Please reach out to Mrs. Connie Hammock, Nursing Advisor, for assistance with registering and if you have any questions about your schedule. All courses will be offered each semester, so you can graduate on time.

New Course Numbers Start Spring 2022

  • NURS 3197 Professional Nursing Practice (will take the place of NURS 3010)
  • NURS 3297 Nursing Research Application (will take the place of NURS 4810)
  • NURS 3397 Health Assessment (will take the place of NURS 3200)
  • NURS 3398 Health Assessment Lab
  • NURS 4497 Community Heath Nursing (will take the place of NURS 4410)
  • NURS 4498 Community Heath Clinical
  • NURS 4597 Leadership and Management (will take the place of NURS 4010)

 All other course numbers will remain the same.

Apply to GSW Apply to the School of Nursing

Undergraduate Major

Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Online RN - BSN Program

Health & Human Science Complex
Carter I

229-931-2275
229-931-2288 fax
nursing@gsw.edu

Faculty & Staff

Advance with GSW's RN to BSN Program

Dr. Teasley details RN to BSN program

The Nursing program has full approval of the
Georgia Board of Nursing

237 Coliseum Drive, Macon, GA 31217-3858
478-207-1300 or 1640

Nursing

The School of Nursing now offers half-term sessions (approximately 7 weeks). Spring I 2024 begins January 8th, and Spring II 2024 begins March 4th.

BSN Program Admission

All application materials should be received by the application deadline and include:

  • Online BSN Application
  • Two RN-BSN Reference Forms
  • Copy of active RN license
  • Resume

Admissions Review

Review of applications by the Admission Committee will take place shortly after the application deadline. Applicants will be notified of their acceptance status approximately one month from the application deadline. If all application documents are not turned in by the published deadline, the application will not be reviewed. Please contact the office at 229-931-2286 if you have not been notified.

Requirements

Required Nursing Courses

Required nursing courses for the RN-BSN consists of 5 non-clinical courses, 2 clinical courses and a Practicum. 

  • Students enrolled in courses with clinical components work with a preceptor who holds the qualifications required by the Georgia Board of Nursing. Students are responsible for arranging their precepted experiences with guidance from the Clinical Services Manager. (The preceptor should be BSN prepared and have worked in an area of nursing where preceptorship occurs for one year.)
  • NURS 3397 Health Assessment has a 30 hour lab component (NURS 3398). (Student will record and submit video as well as documentation of the history and exam.)
  • NURS 4497 Community Health has a 15 hour lab component (NURS 4498). Student may complete clinical hours in facilities such as public health, school health, occupational health, correctional care, rural health, or migrant health care.
  • NURS 4900 Practicum is taken after all core and GSW requirements are completed. 
  • Testing is online and will be proctored using ProctorU. (Information will be provided by the course faculty.)

Prior Learning Assessment (PLA)

Some nursing courses in the RN-BSN program may be satisfied with the Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) Program.

Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) is a process through which students identify areas of learning from their past experiences, demonstrate that learning through appropriate documentation, and submit their materials related to specific course objectives so that they can be assessed and possibly awarded academic credit. PLA will reduce the repetition of relevant, course-related material for students with prior learning (or with prior degrees). Students must complete PLA 2000, Prior Learning Documentation Course, to be eligible to apply for PLA credit.

Eligibility Requirements

RN - BSN Program Eligibility Requirements

  • Must meet the requirements of the Georgia RN-BSN Articulation Model. (The GSW College of Nursing and Health Sciences supports the Georgia RN-BSN Articulation Model.) The purpose of this model is to facilitate the educational mobility of registered nurses who elect to pursue a baccalaureate degree in nursing. 
  • Must provide proof of an active, unencumbered licensure as a registered nurse in Georgia.
    (An unencumbered license means a license that is not currently on probation, monitoring, suspension, and/or does not have any other type of limitation including current participation in an alternative to discipline program.)
  • Have not been excluded from another nursing program for any reason, including (but not limited to) academic misconduct, disruptive behavior, or program failure. A nursing course failure in another institution counts as a failure in this institution.

NOTE: International students with F1 or J1 Visa Status may not enroll in the RN-BSN Program. The RN-BSN Completion program would require students to enroll in courses not taught online according to federal regulations. Applicants may obtain more information about regulations by contacting the Primary Designated School Official (PDSO) at the Office of the Registrar at GSW for information.

Additional Responsibilities

Curriculum guidelines: Students complete approximately 61 hours of general education courses. The junior and senior nursing courses total approximately 61 hours.

  • Math 2204 Statistics is a pre-requisite for NURS 4800 Nursing Research
  • All non-nursing course requirements (excluding the PE core curriculum) must be completed before taking NURS 4900 Practicum in Nursing
  • RN-BSN students are awarded 33 nursing credit hours after successfully completing 6 semester hours of nursing credit. Review the Curriculum sheet for RN-BSN Program Track

It is recommended that NURS 3010 Professional Nursing Practice be taken the first semester that the student takes nursing courses.

Validation testing:  Completion of validation testing will be required of all associate degree or diploma graduates who graduated from non-NLNAC accredited schools outside the state of Georgia, who graduated more than four years ago, and who have less than 1,000 clinical practice hours.  Validation testing includes standardized exams and clinical competencies. 

Proctored exams:  Students enrolled in online courses through the College of Nursing and Health Sciences may be required to take one or more proctored exams per semester. You can go to http://www.proctoru.com/gsw for more information.  Students should be aware that they are responsible for ProctorU testing fees.  The projected cost for a two hour exam is $25.00.

GSW Distance Education Programs

Each of the states has its own approval processes for out-of-state institutions offering distance education. While Georgia Southwestern State University endeavors to offer all of its programs to as wide an audience as possible, all Georgia Southwestern State University distance education programs may not be available in all states.

All theory (didactic/lecture) courses are offered online via GOVIEW online platform. Delivery will be both synchronous and asynchronous.

Transfer Students

All GSW transfer students must complete the Transfer Online Orientation in addition to the eMajor Introduction Quiz

Transfer applications will require a transcript evaluation so be sure to apply early so these documents can be completed before the deadline.

  • Upon applicant’s acceptance to GSW, a letter of acceptance and transcript evaluation will be available to the College of Nursing and Health Sciences. These documents must be on file in GSW office of admissions and are required before the Admission & Progression Committee can review the College of Nursing and Health Sciences application.
  • If applicant is taking or in progression of courses at other institutions during the admission process, applicants must make note of what courses they are taking on their nursing application.
  • Applicant must submit an official transcript verifying final course grades to Registrars office and an unofficial transcript verifying final course grades to the College of Nursing and Health Sciences Student Services Coordinators office ASAP after completion.

Readmission

RNs wishing to reapply to the College of Nursing and Health Sciences may do so one time and should use the Application for Readmission. This Readmission Application should be accompanied with an updated resume and a copy of your active Georgia RN license.  

Former GSW students who have not been enrolled within one calendar year must apply for readmission to GSW Admissions Office.  Applicants applying for readmission who have attended other institutions since their last enrollment at GSW must submit an official transcript from those institutions.

Review of applications by the Admission Committee will take place shortly after the application deadline. Applicants will be notified of their acceptance status approximately one month from the application deadline.

Forms & Additional Resources

The first step is to apply to GSW as RN-BSN Track and be accepted by the University. Please see the Undergraduate Admissions for more information.

Once accepted to GSW, the student will apply to the College of Nursing and Health Sciences RN-BSN program and submit all required documentation (application, two sealed reference forms, and a copy of active RN license).

Application Deadlines

The College of Nursing and Health Sciences application form and the required support documents must be received by the College of Nursing and Health Sciences by the published application deadline at nursing@gsw.edu, mail or personal delivery to:

College of Nursing and Health Sciences
Student Services Coordinator
Georgia Southwestern State University
800 Georgia Southwestern State University Drive
Americus, GA 31709
Fax: 229-931-2288

Deadlines
Summer Admission:
April 15th 
Fall Admission: July 15th
Spring Admission: November 15th

 

College of Nursing and Health Sciences will be communicating with applicants via email so please use personal email address instead of work place email address.

I wanted an amazing nursing education, but I also wanted a smaller campus. I come from a small town, and I knew that GSW would be a great fit for me!

Connor Vann BSN Student
Colquitt, Georgia