BSN@Home Program (RN to BS)

Course Descriptions | Curriculum | Degree Requirements

Curriculum

The RN to BS program is built upon the foundation of an Associate Degree or a Diploma in Nursing and includes general education courses, courses supportive of nursing, and the upper-level nursing major.  Through an articulation agreement with the Wisconsin Technical College System, graduates of programs in that system may have up to 60 credits from the associate degree in nursing applied to UW-Madison degree requirements.  Prior nursing course work of Associate Degree students who do not meet the articulation criteria will be evaluated on an individual basis.

All registered nurse students analyze their own practice in order to plan how to expand their learning. The curriculum enables them to make maximum use of their unique educational and experiential background to select learning experiences that are relevant to their own educational goals. Within the broad curricular requirements and available resources, students are encouraged to make individual decisions about their program of study.

All registered nurses must complete CNP 306: Narrative Analysis of Nursing Practice. The course introduces students to knowledge and knowing embedded in clinical practice. Discussions focus on development of expertise in nursing practice, aspects of clinical judgment, caring practices, and impediments to caring.  Students learn to critically analyze their nursing practice and they assess their nursing knowledge by writing a narrative analysis.  This course is taught on campus in a non-traditional time-slot.  Currently it is offered four full days, usually once per month during the semester.

CNP 519 is a capstone course for registered nurses and is based on the application of clinical decision-making in order to provide comprehensive nursing care to persons in hospital and/or community settings. Students will be expected to demonstrate a synthesis of knowledge from current and past learning experiences in a clinical practicum and parallel clinical seminar.  CNP 519 is the only practicum required.  The practicum involves flexible scheduling and is arranged near the student’s home.

Students are encouraged to enroll in CNP 306 no later than the second semester in the program.  Other nursing courses can be taken in any order except CNP 306 and CNP 317 must be completed prior to CNP 519.  The remaining nursing courses are taught via the Internet through the BSN@Home program.

Degree Requirements

GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS (65-71 Credits)

A. Sciences: (22 credits):

Chemistry

Anatomy

Physiology

Biochemistry or Microbiology

Pathology*

Pharmacology*

B. Social Studies/Humanities: (22 credits):

Combined credits must include 6 cr. humanities, 3 cr. introductory psychology,     3 cr. introductory sociology, 3 cr. growth & development and 7 additional credits may be either social sciences or humanities breadth

C. Communications: 3-6 credits

D. Quantitative Reasoning: 3-6 credits

E. General Electives: 15-21 credits

NURSING COURSE REQUIREMENTS (53-59 credits):

PRIOR LEARNING CREDITS GRANTED — 24-30 Credits granted according to an Articulation agreement with Wisconsin Technical Colleges:

* Offered via Internet through the BSN@Home program
^  May be challenged with an examination

Course Descriptions

306 Narrative Analysis of Nursing Practice. I, II; 2 cr. Students develop a narrative analysis of practice to learn about the knowledge and knowing embedded in complex clinical situations. Discussions examine the development of expertise, aspects of clinical judgement, caring practices, and impediments to caring.

317 Health Assessment. I, II; 4 cr. This course emphasizes essential nursing skills in the assessment process, introducing health history and physical examination techniques. Students conduct a physical and mental health appraisal and collect, record and analyze data. Current models of health, including cultural and developmental variations are examined.

341 Theoretical Foundations. I, II; 4 cr. This course provides students with opportunities to analyze historical, legal, cultural, economic and social factors that influence nursing/health care delivery. Nursing theories are presented as frameworks for practice.
Students examine philosophical perspectives and discuss strategies for analyzing ethical dilemmas in nursing and health care.

433 Essentials of Gerontological Nursing. I, II; 3 cr. Health and functional ability of the elderly population as they relate to nursing practice are the focus of this course. Common health problems found in this population are studied with an emphasis on revention
and nursing management.

434 Nursing Research. I, II; 3 cr. Nursing research emphasizes the role of the nurse as research consumer, focusing on both qualitative and quantitative research. Students develop skills and participate in the development of a research proposal, evaluate, and utilize research findings in practice.

437 Management and Leadership in Nursing. I, II; 4 cr. This course examines the nurse as leader and manager in a variety of contexts and settings. Factors which promote or hinder the development of nursing leadership skills are explored, along with theories, processes, and behaviors of leadership and management.

444 Community Health Nursing. I, II; 3 cr. This course covers Community Health Nursing (CHN) principles and roles. The course examines programs, services and institutions involved in promoting and maintaining the health of populations. Community Health Nursing also explores interrelationships among environmental factors, human responses and health status of clients.

490 Special Topics in Nursing. I, II; 1-4 cr. This course is designed to provide a planned, systematic analysis of topics, issues and problems in the area of nursing.

519 Capstone Practicum for Registered Nurses. I, II; 4-6 cr. Practicum for RN's based on the application of clinical decision-making in order to provide comprehensive nursing care to persons in inpatient and/or community settings.