Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing Online
The accelerated, online RN to BSN program at St. Thomas University is designed for working RNs who want to expand their practice to transformative leadership nursing roles in a variety of patient care settings. Graduates will possess a thorough understanding of culturally responsive health care practice and advocacy.
Program Overview
Learn more about our accredited RN to BSN online program
In St. Thomas University's accelerated, RN to BSN online degree program, you will add to your scientific knowledge base, gain the leadership skills to move into management roles, and expand your understanding of the diverse range of patients and families you may encounter in providing expert nursing care.
You will also learn to integrate clinical prevention and health care promotion strategies to maintain and improve patient health outcomes–and to expand your awareness of culturally diverse nursing care. You will learn from supportive faculty members who are dedicated to your professional development.
Core coursework includes community health nursing, culturally diverse nursing care, an exploration of ethical dilemmas encountered in nursing, and operational issues related to the health care system. Program curriculum incorporates a Catholic Identity course and a Diversity course that examine bioethical issues from the Catholic perspective and bring a depth of understanding of other faiths.
Any required general education coursework is offered online by STU and can be completed in conjunction with nursing courses at the same affordable tuition rate and accelerated format; there are no prerequisites or need to take courses at another institution. This will allow you to become the nursing leader you aim to be quicker and with the high-quality standards STU is committed to teaching. Beginning Spring 1 2023, new students seeking to take general education courses outside of STU will require Dean/CNO approval.
Learning Outcomes
- Demonstrate the integration of philosophical and theoretical principles of the art and science of nursing to create a caring environment for diverse patients, families, and communities
- Incorporate teaching, learning and evaluation concepts in developing individualized health plans that meet the cultural and individual needs of patients, families and communities
- Demonstrate ethical and transformative leadership skills to promote a quality, safe, cost-effective health care environment for individuals, families and communities
- Demonstrate professionalism in the care of patients, in inter-professional education and in collaborative practice
- Demonstrate the ability to advocate for transformation in the health care delivery system that is responsive to sustain health care outcomes at local, regional, state, national and global levels
- Assume accountability for one's own professional development, lifelong learning and scholarship, and the advancement of the nursing profession
- Employ information technologies to manage knowledge, disseminate information, and promote decision-making in nursing practice
- Demonstrate the integration of philosophical and theoretical principles of the art and science of nursing to create a caring environment for diverse patients, families, and communities
- Incorporate teaching, learning and evaluation concepts in developing individualized health plans that meet the cultural and individual needs of patients, families and communities
- Demonstrate ethical and transformative leadership skills to promote a quality, safe, cost-effective health care environment for individuals, families and communities
- Demonstrate professionalism in the care of patients, in inter-professional education and in collaborative practice
- Demonstrate the ability to advocate for transformation in the health care delivery system that is responsive to sustain health care outcomes at local, regional, state, national and global levels
- Assume accountability for one's own professional development, lifelong learning and scholarship, and the advancement of the nursing profession
- Employ information technologies to manage knowledge, disseminate information, and promote decision-making in nursing practice
Nursing Career Opportunities
- BSN-prepared nurse
- Assistant Director of Nursing
- Assistant Nurse Manager
- Nurse Supervisor
- BSN-prepared nurse
- Assistant Director of Nursing
- Assistant Nurse Manager
- Nurse Supervisor
Accreditation
The baccalaureate degree, master's degree, Doctor of Nursing Practice degree, and post-graduate certificate programs in nursing at St. Thomas University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791.
Tuition
Discover the value of our low-cost tuition
Tuition for the RN to BSN online degree program is the same for in-state and out-of-state students and can be paid by the course. The program consists of 9 nursing courses and 2 university-required courses (Catholic Identity and Diversity) for a total of 36 credit hours. Each course has a technology fee as noted in the below table. The tuition shown here reflects 36 hours of nursing courses and is inclusive of the fees.
Please note that the Catholic Identity and Diversity courses, REL 2300 World Religions (3 hours), and PHI 3633 Biomedical Ethics (3 hours), must be taken through STU Online to meet graduation requirements. Tuition price for these two courses will be the same rate as the nursing courses and is included in the posted tuition below.
| Program | Per Credit Hour | Per Course | Per Program |
|---|---|---|---|
| RN to BSN | $230 | $740 | $8,830 |
Tuition breakdown:
Calendar
See our application deadlines and course schedules below
The RN to BSN program is delivered in an online format ideal for working professionals, conveniently featuring six start dates each year. Choose the start date that's best for you.
| Term | Start Date | App Deadline | Document Deadline | Registration Deadline | Tuition Deadline | Class End Date | Term Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 2 | 10/12/24 | 9/26/24 | 9/30/24 | 10/4/24 | 10/9/24 | 12/6/24 | 7 weeks |
| Spring 1 | 1/11/25 | 12/27/24 | 1/2/25 | 1/6/25 | 1/15/25 | 3/7/25 | 7 weeks |
| Spring 2 | 3/15/25 | 2/28/25 | 3/5/25 | 3/10/25 | 3/19/25 | 5/9/25 | 7 weeks |
| Summer 1 | 5/17/25 | 5/2/25 | 5/7/25 | 5/12/25 | 5/21/25 | 6/27/25 | 6 weeks |
| Summer 2 | 6/28/25 | 6/13/25 | 6/18/25 | 6/23/25 | 7/2/25 | 8/8/25 | 6 weeks |
| Fall 1 | 8/23/25 | 8/8/25 | 8/13/25 | 8/18/25 | 8/27/25 | 10/17/25 | 7 weeks |
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Admissions
Here is what you need to know before applying to our online RN to BSN program
Our very reasonable admission requirements allow students from diverse academic backgrounds greater access to the RN to BSN online program. Due to in-person clinical requirements, only students currently residing in Florida and Georgia can enter this program.
Admission Requirements:
- Free Application
- 2.5 GPA or higher
- Active RN license
RN to BSN Online Admission Requirements
The following are required for admission to the RN to BSN online program:
- Completed free application
- Transcripts from all accredited post-secondary institutions (Unofficial transcripts are accepted)
- If no post-secondary institutions have been attended, high school transcripts will be requested
- 2.5 GPA or higher
- Active and unencumbered Florida or Georgia nursing license
- Residency in Florida or Georgia for clinicals
Additional Requirements
Prior to clinicals, students must:
- Show proof of current CPR awarded by the American Heart Association
- Show proof of current immunization and yearly Influenza vaccine prior to clinical rotation
- Successfully pass a Level II background check with an agency appointed by the University at students’ expense
Students are also required to carry personal, medical, and hospital insurance.
Official transcripts can be sent to St. Thomas University through Parchment and National Student Clearinghouse. Unofficial transcripts and other documents can be uploaded via your Admissions Portal or emailed to [email protected].
Courses
Read about our RN to BSN online classes below
The RN to BSN online curriculum is comprised of 30 hours of nursing courses and 2 university-required courses (Catholic Identity and Diversity). STU requires the Catholic Identity and Diversity courses to be completed through STU Online as part of the graduation requirements. An additional 60 credits will be granted with the RN license. Students must also complete an additional 24 credits of general education credits. General Education courses from a previously attended accredited institution will be accepted, when applicable, on a course-by-course basis when you apply and are contingent upon course requirement equivalencies. Total course requirements will be determined after a transcript review once all official transcripts have been received.
Accredited institutions are those that have been accredited by organizations recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) or the U.S. Department of Education. Students who previously attended a school not recognized as accredited by CHEA or the U.S. Department of Education may have to repeat or take additional general education courses. An advisor will reach out early in the application process to discuss potential course work required.
Courses in this program are seven weeks long. Courses during the two summer terms, however, are six weeks long.
Learning Outcomes
- Describe the role of nursing within the dynamic healthcare environment.
- Evaluate the importance of nursing theories for the development and implementation of evidence-based practice.
Learning Outcomes
- Understand and articulate the impact of policy on the decision-making process across the healthcare system.
- Explain the public policies that influence the practice of nursing.
- Describe political processes and strategies that impact health care policy.
Learning Outcomes
- Examine the purposes and methods of research, evidence-based practice, and quality improvement.
- Critically appraise literature using quantitative and qualitative research.
- Collaborate with colleagues in the use of evidence-based practice models.
Learning Outcomes
- Explain aging from biological, sociologic, and psychologic theories.
- Examine the impact of aging on healthcare and nursing practice.
- Discuss common ethical issues encountered in professional nursing practice.
Learning Outcomes
- Perform culturally sensitive physical examinations and health assessments.
- Record data and document relevant negative and normal findings in addition to any concerns.
- Understand the professional nurse's role in implementing and evaluating health promotion strategies in various settings.
- Use anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology knowledge to identify and interpret signs indicating a disease.
- Distinguish normal versus abnormal variations in ethnic/racial origins, socioeconomic status, cultural/spiritual beliefs, gender, and age.
Learning Outcomes
- Develop and implement a quality improvement project in a clinical setting.
- Understand the use of power and conflict to impact change, the difference between leadership and management, and how leadership strategies can improve patient outcomes and workplace environments.
Learning Outcomes
- Describe the health-related goals that concern the community and public health nurses.
- Identify agencies with the most crucial roles in health care issues at the federal, state, and local levels.
- Discuss epidemiologic data regarding the overall health of the American population and aggregates.
- Describe approaches to community assessment, intervention, and evaluation.
- Explain the responsibilities of the community/public health nurse in promoting health and preventing illness in the community.
Learning Outcomes
- Assess the influence of culture on healthy decision-making and describe the challenges and opportunities to provide culturally competent nursing care for people from diverse backgrounds.
- Evaluate the models of cultural competence and strategies for communicating health appropriately.
Learning Outcomes
- Select information technology that supports safe and high-quality decision-making in healthcare.
- Understand nurses' involvement in design, selection implementation, and evaluation of informational technologies that support client care.
- Pinpoint legal and ethical issues in healthcare technology and social media.
All students must complete 3 credits each of an upper-division course in religious studies and an upper-division course in philosophy at STU.
Learning Outcomes
- Explore the major themes, concepts, rituals, and beliefs of the religious traditions studied.
- Employ the material learned in the course to real-life situations and in each student's field of study.
- Develop empathy for religious traditions and beliefs, both their own and others.
- Examine the similarities and differences in the primary beliefs held by major religious traditions and the cultures in which these religions evolved.
- Articulate the varieties of religious experience and practice in a wide range of cultures.
- Research and write analyses of a topic relevant to world religions using proper writing mechanics.
Learning Outcomes
- Determine the dominant modern scientific-institutional paradigms for health care.
- Describe the ethical traditions attempting to guide health care, particularly utilitarian, proportionalism and natural-law ethics.
- Analyze various disputed issues in contemporary health care as mentioned in the course description.
- Practice and improve communication skills in reading, writing, listening, and speaking.
In addition to the 30 credits of nursing and 6 credits of GER, students must also complete 24 credits of general education. Our online general education courses maintain both the highest academic rigor, affordability and 100% online flexibility, for your convenience. To keep students on track with our standards, we ask all new students take their courses exclusively at STU and only seek courses elsewhere with Dean/CNO approval.
Learning Outcomes
- Identify and describe locations of major organs using anatomical terminology and recognize the interdependency and interactions of the systems.
- Observe interrelationships among molecular, cellular, tissue, and organ functions in each system and evaluate the technology and tools used to study anatomy and physiology.
- Analyze the contributions of organs and systems to the maintenance of homeostasis and analyze the causes and effects of homeostatic imbalances.
Learning Outcomes
- Utilize concepts and knowledge of the general terminology, cell structure and function, histology, gross anatomy, and physiology related to endocrine, cardiovascular, lymphatic, digestive, respiratory, urinary, and reproductive systems for new technical and clinical scenarios.
- Research and critically assess various sources related to these systems.
- Explain information related to these systems through written, verbal, or multimedia formats to evaluate current knowledge, answer investigative questions, and explore new questions for additional research.
- Use scientific laboratory equipment to gather and analyze data on human anatomy and physiology.
- Evaluate information on human health and medical research regarding its social, environmental, and ethical implications as part of responsible citizenship.
Learning Outcomes
- Identify the population and the sample in an inferential study.
- Create data tables, histograms, pie charts, pareto charts, and stem-and-leaf diagrams.
- Compute and decipher the mean, the median, the mode, and the standard deviation of a data set.
- Determine and interpret the quartiles and percentiles of a data set.
- Create and interpret a box-and-whisker diagram.
- Build probability distributions and compute conditional probabilities.
- Determine confidence intervals and sample sizes.
- Conduct hypothesis testing to evaluate claims.
Learning Outcomes
- Apply the concepts of set theory, mathematical logic, geometry, probability, and statistics.
- Demonstrate an understanding of algebraic concepts and graphing and apply fundamental mathematical properties.
Learning Outcomes
- Identify the developmental levels of students and differences in a group of students.
- Accommodate different student learning needs, developmental levels, experiential backgrounds, linguistic development, and cultural heritage using various activities.
- Pinpoint patterns of physical, social, and academic development of students.
- Determine motivational strategies and factors that encourage students to be achievement and goal oriented.
- Examine common health problems and risk behaviors associated with them.
- Understand the principles of sequential progression of motor skill development.
- Investigate human growth and development and its relationship to physical, social, and emotional well-being.
- Determine factors contributing to substance use and abuse and identify signs, symptoms, effects, and prevention strategies.
Learning Outcomes
- Explain bacterial structure, function, and metabolism as well as microbial growth and control of microbial growth.
- Classify microorganisms and articulate the principles of different diseases.
- Interpret general microbiology and cell chemistry.
Learning Outcomes
- Analyze and articulate the importance of good nutrition and the impact of daily food choices on the body's health over time.
- Evaluate food labels and examine the nutrition facts, ingredients, and Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for a male or female.
- Outline the role of carbohydrates, lipids, protein, vitamins, water, and minerals in the body and name nutrient sources of each to maintain health.
- Explain health concerns and dietary modifications for people with cancer and immune system disorders and demonstrate the relationship between nutrition and chronic diseases.
- Outline the role of carbohydrates, lipids, protein, vitamins, water, and minerals in the body and name the nutrient sources of each to maintain health.
- Examine food safety and food technologies.
Clinical Requirements
The RN to BSN coursework includes two courses, each requiring 54 hour clinical practicums: NUR 419 Nursing Leadership and NUR 420 Community Health Nursing. See course descriptions for more details.
STU strongly encourages students to secure their own preceptors, as this is the best way to accommodate schedule and location to the student’s needs. We also encourage students to have an alternate preceptor available. If assistance with clinical placement is needed, you may be required to commute outside your local area, as STU cannot guarantee a clinical site within your immediate location. Please note that your clinical site could be up to 100 miles from your residence. Please also be aware that:
- Students are restricted from completing clinical rotations in their assigned unit.
- Your immediate supervisor at your place of employment may not serve as your preceptor.
- Students are not permitted to perform clinical rotations during hours they are working as an employee at a facility.
- Students are also not allowed to be paid during clinical hours.
Prior to beginning clinical courses, you are required to complete and submit proof of the following:
- Current unencumbered RN license
- Criminal Background Check
- Drug Screening
- Basic Life Support (CPR) certification
- Annual Physical Examination
- Current Immunizations
STU is recognized among the “Best Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) Programs” by U.S. News & World Report, 2024.
