Nursing RN to BSN

RN-to-BSN Completion Program - A personalized pathway to professional nursing leadership.

As part of the Lindenwood Education System, current and soon-to-be registered nurses may participate in the personalized pathway toward completing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree at Lindenwood University.

The RN-BSN Completion Track is designed for current and soon-to-be registered nurses advancing their education and nursing practice. This St. Louis RN to BSM Degree program guides learners in developing the theoretical knowledge and essential skills required to address the growing demands of the nursing profession and foster analytical and communication intelligence for professional excellence. The RN to BSN program is completed fully online.

Program Features

100% online with eight-week* courses.
Completion in 12** to 24 months.
Three start times per academic year. (January, May, August)

* Most general education and elective courses are 16 weeks in length and may need to be taken, if applicable, synchronously throughout the BSN curriculum.
** Students must have completed all required general education and prerequisite courses to complete the program in 12 months.

RN to BSN Program of Study

Each course is eight weeks in length. Students take two or four classes each semester, depending upon the term. In the spring and fall semesters, students take two courses concurrently every eight weeks (four courses per semester). Only two courses are taken simultaneously during summer semesters to accommodate shorter terms. A clinical component accompanies a duo of courses: NURS 44100 – Interprofessional Collaboration and Leadership for the Registered Nurse; and NURS 49100 – BSN Capstone for the Registered Nurse. Students enrolled in clinical courses will work with the Clinical Coordinator, who will assist in identifying and securing the required clinical experiences to fulfill clinical requirements. For students needing to complete general education and elective coursework, required courses may be taken alongside the RN-BSN curriculum if the student's wishes and course offerings align accordingly each semester.

No testing is required of prospective students to validate previous nursing education. Students complete 120 credits in the program: 56 credits in general education and electives and 32 credits in nursing-specific courses. The 32 credits in nursing-specific courses must be completed at Lindenwood University. Once general education, elective, and prerequisite credit for pre-nursing courses have been satisfied, students are admitted to the nursing program and may complete the BSN curriculum in as little as 12 months (three semesters). Thirty-two (32) credits will be granted to students entering the RN-BSN nursing degree track based on the candidate’s professional experience as a licensed registered nurse.

Credit Distribution
General Education Courses (transferred to / earned at LU)	56
Registered Nurse Licensure (state licensure credit)	32
RN-BSN Completion Track (10 courses)	32
TOTAL	120

View RN to BSN Courses

Additional Information

Mission, Motto, and Vision

Lindenwood University - Mission Statement

Real Experience. Real Success. Enhancing lives through quality education and professional preparatory experiences.

Nursing Program - Motto

Discite, Cogitare, Curare, Ducere (Learn Think Care Lead)

RN-BSN Completion Track - Mission Statement

To support registered nurse learners in becoming professional nurse leaders who provide intentional patient care through ethical, evidence-based, collaborative, and purposeful interventions. The global application of holistic nursing inspires students to connect theoretical knowledge with clinical standards to achieve distinction in performance, scholarship, and governance.

RN-BSN Completion Track - Vision Statement

To champion professional and adaptable nurse leaders who reflect, influence, and direct the disciplined healthcare of populations, practices, and technologies.

Philosophy, Paradigm, and Ideologies

The nursing program aligns with Lindenwood University’s permeating qualities of belief in an ordered, purposeful universe, the dignity of work and purpose, the worth and integrity of the individual, the obligations and privileges of citizenship, and the primacy of truth and equality. The nursing program focuses on the philosophical paradigms of acute clinical aptitude; academic and service excellence; holistic, intentional, and culturally based care of diverse communities and populations; professional ability and proficient leadership; evidence-based performance; and continued learning within the scope of competent nursing knowledge and practice. 

The nursing faculty believes the philosophical charter serves to connect the following ideologies:

NURSING is based on a foundation of ethical and professional standards that supports the approach to holistic care and focuses on human responses to actual, believed, and potential health issues.  

NURSING encompasses a unique body of knowledge that incorporates life experiences and empirical practices.    

NURSING continually builds on theories and principles from the liberal arts, humanities, and the social and natural sciences and is ever mindful of the evolving health needs of populations.        

NURSING continuously adapts to promote, maintain, and restore optimum health in individuals, families, groups, and communities throughout life and their care continuums. 

NURSING embodies the roles of caregiver, teacher, consultant, manager, and advocate, enabling the professional nurse to affect positive outcomes and allow for the safe transition to the next level of caring support along the patient’s wellness journey.     

NURSING reflects the faces of the populations served and proactively anticipates future health needs by transforming points of care personally, virtually, telephonically, and electronically.

Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs)

Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs) are the results of the core curriculum concepts, Graduate Attributes of Lindenwood University, and the American Association of Colleges of Nursing’s (AACN) The Essentials (2008) and Domains (2021). PLOs describe in general terms what Lindenwood University aims to accomplish with our BSN curriculum; each PLO reflects what a student should know, think, do, value, and appreciate after completing the program. They include the skills, competencies, and extensive ideas students should articulate, implement, and utilize after completing their degree. Additionally, the PLOs serve as the basis for determining the effectiveness of the curriculum. The following PLOs have been identified and provide the underpinnings of the RN-BSN Completion Track.

Incorporate theoretical and empirical knowledge, fundamental skills, therapeutic behaviors, critical thinking, and reasoning to promote caring practices that affect individual and population wellness and influence health.

Collaborate and communicate effectively, professionally, and compassionately with patients, families, interdisciplinary clinicians, and associated care providers to promote positive working relationships and support delivering focused and meticulous care.

Perform the role of the patient advocate in promoting health and minimizing risks by practicing in a manner that is evidence-based, collaborative, purposeful, and meaningful for others.

Integrate practical learnings, proficiencies, and performances by delivering intentional, competent, and appropriate care to diverse populations across lifespans, healthcare settings, and multicultural environments while improving access to care and wellness services. 

Engage in the continual, voluntary, and self-motivated pursuit of nursing knowledge to sustain, heighten, and enrich competence in practice, education, research, and policy.

Apply current research, evidence-based practice, cognitive judgment, and health literacy to ensure optimum care when merging advanced systems and technologies with the nursing process.  

Demonstrate consistent application of the core values of nursing and the universal standards of moral and ethical conduct to advocate for and continue advancing nursing policies, processes, and practices.

Admission Criteria

Admission Requirements

The online RN-BSN Completion Track at Lindenwood University adheres to the principles of a holistic admission process in which selection criteria are broad-based and linked to the institution’s mission, vision, philosophy, graduate attributes, and goals. While considering academic metrics, we also reflect on applicant experiences, features, potential for success, and how prospective students may contribute to the learning environment and nursing profession.

Licensure Disclosure and State Requirements

To be considered for this program, applicants must have completed:

An associate degree program, a hospital diploma program at a regionally accredited institution, or a state board of nursing-approved program.

The National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN), the nationwide examination for licensing nurses in the United States, and retain an active, unencumbered registered nurse license before the start of the first nursing course (NURS 301000 – Professional Identity and Practice: Transitioning to Nursing Leadership) and before awarding experiential credits.

Applicants without a current registered nurse license may enroll in Lindenwood University to complete the required general education and elective courses.

However, applicants must have completed the NCLEX-RN and retain an active, unencumbered registered nurse license before beginning nursing courses.

A criminal background check before beginning clinical nursing courses.

Prior Education, Transfer, and Prerequisite Courses

Individuals with post-secondary education are required to meet the Lindenwood University standards for university admission as a transfer student. Before entry, the following general education and cognate courses must be completed or taken concurrently with the RN-BSN Completion Track courses. The prerequisite courses may be completed at Lindenwood University, a community college, or a regionally accredited college or university. There is no time limit for acceptance of academic credits.

A $250 administrative fee is charged instead of a per-credit cost for experiential credit. All students in this track will be charged the fee regardless of how previous nursing education credit was obtained.

Accreditation

The RN-BSN Completion Program at Lindenwood University is approved and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and is pursuing initial accreditation by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Applying for accreditation from the CCNE does not guarantee accreditation will be granted.

Admission Process

The selection process for admission into the nursing program is based on a review of the applicant’s personal and academic records.

Applicants apply through Lindenwood University. New cohorts start each fall, spring, and summer (August, January, and May).

Program Requirements

Applicants must submit proof of a background check before beginning nursing courses comprising clinical components: NURS 44100 – Interprofessional Communication, Collaboration, and Leadership in Healthcare for the Registered Nurse; and NURS 49100 – BSN Capstone for the Registered Nurse. The courses occur in the final term of the BSN curriculum.

Students may also be required to complete a drug screening and provide proof of adequate immunizations per clinical partners' requirements before beginning clinical-inclusive nursing courses.