Online RN to BSN Program

Online RN to BSN Program

About the RN to BSN Program

The RN to BSN Program at FHSU provides registered nurses a flexible, 100% on-line option to complete their BSN Degree in as few as three semesters. As an incoming student, you can enter the program at any semester: fall, spring, or summer. The RN to BSN Program can expand your knowledge and skills in leadership and critical thinking and provide future career options.
*To be officially admitted to the RN to BSN Program, you must have a valid RN license.

Applying

To apply to the RN to BSN Program, please click here for the RN to BSN application.

Next, to apply to Fort Hays State University, please click here to apply to FHSU. 

A student applies as an undergraduate, degree-seeking student.  To apply, you will be creating an account in Workday.  To modify, save, or come back to your application, you will be asked to sign in with a username (email) and password you create.  The applicant type for the RN to BSN Program is Transfer and your Program of study upon entry will be Nursing (Pre-RN to BSN) - BSN.  After official admittance to the RN to BSN Program, your Program of Study will be changed to Nursing (RN to BSN) - BSN.  For additional help with the application process or questions regarding the RN to BSN Program, please contact Laurie Dinkel at lrdinkel2@fhsu.edu.

Applicants must be accepted to Fort Hays State University before official admittance into the RN to BSN Program. Additionally, all official transcripts must be received to process your application.  

Guaranteed Admission Requirements for Kansas Community Colleges

Fort Hays State University Department of Nursing does not accept applications for the nursing program from the following states: Tennessee, Alabama, and Washington.

NURS Courses that may be taken prior to Admission

1. Courses NURS 440, NURS 441, NURS 442, NURS 445, and NURS 447 may be taken prior to admission to the RN to BSN Program.
2. Students must earn a C or better in NURS 440, NURS 441, NURS 442, NURS 445 and NURS 447.  Students receiving a D or U in these courses prior to applying to the RN to BSN Program, must retake the course in which the D or U was obtained.
3. Courses NURS 440, NURS 441, NURS 442, NURS 445 and NURS 447 will not count as a failed course which leads towards a recommendation for dismissal if a D or U is earned.

To apply for the RN to BSN program

1. An unencumbered active RN license issued in the United States.
2. Cumulative GPA or Associate in Nursing Degree GPA ≥ 2.5.  Students that do not meet the cumulative GPA or Associate in Nursing Degree GPA of ≥ 2.5 may be admitted on probation if their cumulative GPA and Associate in Nursing Degree is 2.00-2.49.
3. Must have earned a "C" or better in any FHSU RN to BSN course that was taken prior to applying.
4. International students with an F1 of F2 visa do not qualify for this program.
5. Must meet university requirements for any transfer credits.
6. We do not accept applications from students residing in Tennessee, Washington, and Alabama.

Clinical Clearance Requirements must be met prior to enrollment of course NURS 449.  Please see the FHSU Nursing Handbook for a list of requirements.

Progression Requirements for RN to BSN students

1. Students must pass all RN-BSN program courses with a C or better.  Grades resulting in a D or U are considered failing.  Two failed RN-BSN courses will result in a dismissal recommendation.  Students may follow the University Appeal guidelines.
2. Students must maintain an FHSU Major GPA of ≥ 2.5 to continue in the program.  Students receiving an FHSU Major GPA of < 2.5 may be dismissed.
3. RN-BSN students may withdraw from program courses according to the university withdraw deadlines.

Probation Guidelines

1. Students admitted on probation must achieve a GPA of ≥ 2.5 in the first semester to receive full admission.
2. Students may be dismissed if they fail to achieve a GPA of ≥ 2.5 in the first semester.

Clinical Clearance Requirements

The RN to BSN Program at FHSU requires preceptor led clinicals in course NURS 449.  Please note that clinical clearance requirements include obtaining student liability insurance, a background check, drug testing and immunization records.  

Fort Hays State University works diligently with students to secure clinical contracts across the United States.  On rare occasions due to locations or state or facility requirements, we are unable to negotiate a contract.  In this event, if another site cannot be obtained at the students location, a clinical site in Hays, Kansas will be provided for the student.  If this occurs, students will need a Kansas license and will need to come to Kansas for their practicum experience.  We encourage you to start the collaborative process of obtaining a preceptor early in your program.  If you have questions about this process, please contact the Nursing Department at Nurs.Contracts@fhsu.edu.

Nursing Handbook - guidance for all BSN Nursing Students.

Program Requirements

Course Number	Course	Credit Hours
COMM 100 OR COMM 304	Oral Communication OR Intermediate Interpersonal Communications	3
ENG 101	English Composition I.	3
ENG 102	English Composition II.	3
MATH 110	College Algebra	3
BIOL 230 & lab + BIOL 231 & lab	Human Anatomy & Physiology I and II & Labs	5-8
BIOL 240 & BIOL 240L	Microbiology for Allied Health & Lab	3 & 1
CHEM 100 or CHEM 110	Chemist's View of the World OR Molecules and Society	2-3
PSY 100	General Psychology	3

Degree Requirements

• 120 credit hours or above required for a BSN degree, 30 taken directly through FHSU, and 45 credit hours must be upper division.
• Transfer students from KBOR institutions who have completed an Associate of Arts (AA) or Associate of Science (AS) program at a Kansas community college will have fulfilled all FHSU general education requirements
• Transfer students from outside Kansas who have completed an Associate of Arts (AA) or Associate of Science (AS) program from a regionally-accredited institution outside of Kansas must complete the KBOR system-wide general education program requirements.  This also includes Diploma Nurses with less than 36 transferable credit hours.
• International Students: The RN to BSN Program is an on-line program. It does not meet the requirements for International students who require on-campus courses.
• Students who have a current U.S. RN license with transcripts from outside the United States must have two evaluations completed on his/her transcripts: WES+ and CGFNS.
  
  

RN to BSN Courses 

All courses are 8 weeks in length. A section of each course will be offered every 8 weeks.  The following courses can be taken prior to admission to the RN to BSN program:  NURS 440 Informatics for the RN, NURS 441 Professional Roles for the RN, NURS 442 Legal and Ethical Issues in Healthcare, NURS 445 Health Promotion and Assessment for the RN, and NURS 447 Issues & Trends Facing Healthcare.  Please note the successful completion of these courses does not impact or guarantee acceptance into the program.

(Contact your academic advisor for more information)

*Class NURS 449 requires direct care hours with a preceptor and approved clinical site.

Advanced Standing Credit

As a Registered Nurse, you are eligible for Advanced Standing Credit towards your BSN degree by demonstrating successful completion of the NCLEX-RN national exam. The University requires 45 upper division hours and 60 hours from a four-year institution.  Advanced Standing Credit can help you achieve these requirements. 36 credit hours will be credited and posted to the student's transcript at the end of the final semester.  Below are the courses that may be credited.

Tuition 

Financial-Aid

Scholarships

• Campus Scholarships
• Transfer Scholarships
• Nursing Scholarships
  • Kansas Nurses Foundation
  • Dane G. Hansen Forgivable Loan

Student Services - a site for frequently used student resources.

Accreditation

Fort Hays State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. More information is located here: https://www.fhsu.edu/academic/provost/accreditation/

The Baccalaureate degree program in nursing at Fort Hays State University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education http://www.ccneaccreditation.org

The RN to BSN program is all online. This program does not meet the requirements for International students who require on campus courses.