Online RN-BSN Completion Program

Our Story Is Your Story

Nursing is not just your job -- it's your way of life. It's what brings you joy and satisfaction and is apart of who you are. At Mount Carmel College of Nursing, we support your calling to continue your nursing studies and want to make sure you are prepared for your next chapter in compassionate caregiving.

"The feedback I was able to receive from the faculty improved my confidence with each assignment and made me feel valued as a nurse and a student."

It's Your Story

RN to BSN

Course Descriptions

Nursing Courses
Core Option
Students in the RN to BSN major do not follow a regular course sequence due to the individual credits that have been transferred to York College and the requirements that an individual needs to complete the degree.  Students must work closely with their Academic Advisor to establish a degree completion plan. The minimum number of required credits to graduate is 30 nursing credits (see 10 core courses).

Students must also meet the total number of program credits and may need additional courses beyond the core to get to this number.  These additional credits can be satisfied from any of the program elective courses.

The RN student must have a current, unencumbered state license*. No nursing proficiency or placement exams are required for admission. Through RN licensure and prior academic credit, applicants may have earned credit [42 semester credit hours in nursing and 48 semester credit hours in general education] transferred in toward the BSN degree. A transcript evaluation will be done for all incoming students to determine if additional courses are required to fulfill Mount Carmel College of Nursing graduation requirements. The prospective student's transcript must demonstrate that they have taken the following courses: Statistics, English Composition, Business in Healthcare, Health Policy & Resiliency and Professional Nursing Development course. If the transcript does not demonstrate an equivalent course has been taken, the student will be required to take any course(s) in addition to the nine required courses to fulfill graduation requirements.

Priority consideration is given to applicants from ACEN (formerly NLNAC) accredited pre-licensure nursing programs. MCCN will evaluate applicant packages and may consider admission for those from non-ACEN (formerly NLNAC) accredited pre-licensure nursing programs on an individual basis.

Nurs 301

Nursing Informatics
This is an introductory course to computers and nursing informatics. The focus is on the integration of nursing, computer, and information science for the support of professional nursing practice. Students will be able to define nursing informatics and information science. They will learn to evaluate information according to information literacy standards and assess the role of the nurse in the application of nursing informatics. Discussion and examination will be conducted of: ethical considerations in nursing informatics, use of social networking tools, handheld computers, and e-portfolios in health care environments.

Nurs 360

Nursing Research and Evidence-Based Practice
Enrollment is restricted to students in the Online RN-BSN Program. This course introduces the student to the research process and to evaluation of scientific evidence for use in evidence-based practice. The focus is on interpretation, evaluation and utilization of research findings applicable to the profession and practice of nursing.

Nurs 400

Conceptual Foundations of Nursing
This course introduces the returning registered nurse student to the many dimensions of professional nursing. Issues germane to the practice of professional nursing including the dynamics of professional development, the knowledge bases of professional practice, the changing health care environment, and professional practice strategies will be covered in the course. Discussion and analysis of various theories and conceptual frameworks related to the practice of professional nursing takes place. The philosophy and curriculum of the College of Nursing is discussed. All lecture, discussion, and student assignments are intended to stimulate critical thinking skills. Registered nurse students gain a thorough understanding of the concepts covered in the course and will be able to apply those concepts not only in the remainder of the RN-BSN curriculum, but also in nursing practice.

Nurs 402

Caring Health Practices Within the Leadership Role
This course focuses on providing caring interventions within the leadership role that are inherent in professional nursing. The course introduces nursing leadership and management concepts and theories related to change, group dynamics, conflict resolution, and organizational systems. It examines legal, political, economic, and ethical aspects of nursing.

Nurs 403

Caring Health Practices Within the Community
This course examines the concept of nursing care of the community and aggregates and explores epidemiology, health promotion, prevention, and environment, and current community health issues. The course focuses on health, wellness, and strengths of aggregates, and nursing interventions in the care of the community as client.

Nurs 415

Healthcare Quality and Safety
This course explores the role of the nurse in relation to quality and safety of nursing care. Models and concepts related to quality improvement and safety will be identified. Concepts from QSEN (Quality and Safety Education of Nurses), Plan, Do, Study, Act (PDSA) cycle, and Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) will be included. Course concepts provide the foundation for learner examination and evaluation of strategies used to create and sustain safe healthcare systems and care delivery based on evidence and best practices.

Nurs 420

Interprofessional Practice and Team Based Care
This course focuses on interprofessional practice and interdisciplinary collaboration in patient care and the impact on the safety and quality of care. The course will incorporate best practices and national core competencies for healthcare professionals to work as effective members on interprofessional teams. The triple aim approach of improving the patient experience, improving the health of populations, and reducing healthcare costs will serve as the framework for optimizing learning relating to interprofessional practice and team-based care.

Nurs 490

Capstone Experience
This course provides students with the opportunity to synthesize and utilize knowledge and skills gained through the Online RN-BSN Completion Program of study. Concepts of nursing informatics, leadership, teaching –learning principles, communication, nursing research, evidence based practice, critical thinking, and health promotion are utilized in the development of a student project related to an identified PICO question.

Students will be required to take one of the course options listed below.

Humn 420

Ethical Issues
The course explores a variety of ethical and legal issues that impact health care delivery systems. The course focuses on societal, ethical, and legal issues, and will also involve clarification of individual values and the process of ethical and legal decision making. Special emphasis is placed on ethical and legal issues which impact the health care professions and the delivery of health care to the individual, family, and community.

Humn 425

Religion and Spirituality
This course examines selected Christian and non-Christian religions. It addresses the role of religion, faith, and spirituality in culture, personal growth and development, and in the health care profession. The course expects, anticipates, and promotes openness to the religious beliefs and practices of others.

Nurs 3533

Transcultural Concepts Seminar
In this seminar students discuss transcultural nursing concepts and their application to nursing care across the lifespan. Students examine topics of cultural and gender bias, ethnocentrism, cultural blindness, cultural imposition, and legal trends, as well as select ethical and moral issues and dilemmas encountered when caring for culturally diverse patients and families. An exploration of the health beliefs and practices of several cultural groups and sub-groups in the United States is conducted. Current nursing research is used to inform the study of transcultural nursing and cultural competence.