RN to BSN

Saint Francis Medical Center College of Nursing provides a streamlined pathway for the registered nurse to earn a baccalaureate degree in nursing (BSN).

The program is set up on an 18-month schedule, but qualified students may complete the program and receive their BSN in 14 months. All classes are conducted online.

Graduates of state-approved diploma or associate degree nursing programs may receive 33 semester hours of credit in the nursing major without examination upon satisfactory completion of the specified courses according to College of Nursing policy.

Academic advisement is available at the College of Nursing to assist the student with a plan for advanced placement, transfer of credit and completion of requirements.

Admission Criteria

Transfer Credit

Only grades of C or higher are accepted

Required Prerequisite Coursework

(applies if not already completed prior to ADN/diploma review)

Natural Sciences

  • Anatomy & Physiology I & II (with labs)
  • Microbiology (with lab)
  • Chemistry (with lab)

Additional Sciences

  • Human Nutrition – 3 credits
  • Introduction to Statistics – 3 credits

Social & Behavioral Sciences

  • Lifespan / Developmental Psychology
  • Introduction to Psychology
  • Introduction to Sociology

Communication

  • English Composition I & II
  • Speech / Oral Communication

Humanities & Ethics

  • Ethics
  • Diversity / Global Perspective
  • Humanities electives (6 credits)
  • General education elective

Time Limit

  • Consistent with RN‑BSN flexibility:
    • No strict time limit for practicing RNs, but coursework alignment is required

Application Checklist

  1. Application
  2. $50 Application Fee
  3. High School Transcript
  4. Official College Transcripts
  5. Copy of current RN license

OSF RN to BSN Information (for current Mission Partners)

  1. RN Frequently Asked Questions (PDF)
  2. RN to BSN Frequently Asked Questions (PDF)
  3. Total Rewards at a Glance - Educational Assistance (PDF)
  4. RN to BSN Commitment Form (PDF)

Curriculum

Program Length: 3 semesters
 Total Credits: 30

Fall Start Option

Fall

  • Health Assessment and Clinical Reasoning (4)
  • Evidence‑Based Practice, Quality Improvement, and Scholarly Inquiry (4)
    Total: 8 credits

Spring

  • Strategic Trends in Nursing and Health Care Systems (3)
  • Ethics and Professional Role Transition (4)
  • Interprofessional Collaboration and Care Coordination (4)
  • Informatics, Technology, and Data‑Driven Decision Making (3)
    Total: 14 credits

Summer

  • Community, Population Health, and Epidemiology (4)
  • Leadership and Management Capstone (Practicum – 40 hours) (4)
    Total: 8 credits

Spring Start Option

Students complete the same courses and credit totals, with sequencing adjusted for a spring start.

Apply Online