Online RN-to-BSN Program

Please see the Admissions Requirements section of the RN-to-BSN student handbook.

Please plan on allocating 3–4 hours per week per credit hour to complete the didactic coursework. For example, if you are enrolled in a 3-credit hour course, you should anticipate spending approximately 9–12 hours per week completing coursework.

This time will be spent completing readings, viewing lectures, participating in discussion boards, and accessing information in the online library. This does not include the time needed to complete and submit assignments in the course.

Additional information, including a list of non-nursing program requirements, is available in the program handbook.

You can begin the RN-to-BSN program by taking nursing courses (NUR), non-nursing courses, or both simultaneously. Refer to your course map from your PNW advisor as your guide for which non-nursing courses you will need.

Once you are admitted to the program and begin taking classes, you may sit out as needed. Taking courses at other schools that will satisfy program requirements is not considered sitting out. Sitting out is defined as not taking any classes whatsoever.

• In the event that you need to sit out, you must contact your PNW academic advisor so that the University is aware of your intentions.

• In the event of an extended absence, your status as a student will remain active for one year from the last course taken. If an absence extends over one year, then you must contact PNW admissions and re-apply to the program in order to resume.

• In the event that you are admitted to the program, but do not begin taking courses at PNW in that semester, you must contact PNW admissions and re-apply to the program for subsequent semesters in order to proceed.

Program policies are listed in the program handbook.

Students may complete all non-nursing coursework in the beginning of the program or opt to take non-nursing courses as they are progressing through the nursing core. However, students may only have 6 credit hours of outstanding non-nursing credit left when registering for NUR 49800 Nursing Capstone course.

A promotional scholarship for new students is applied by the Office of Financial Aid after you have been admitted and have registered for classes. Additional tuition reductions/scholarships are available to eligible individuals based on employment with a partnership hospital or attendance at a partner community college.

If you need help clarifying your eligibility for a promotional scholarship/tuition reduction, please contact your PNW Enrollment Specialist.

Promotional scholarships are awarded based on the information submitted on your application. To update/confirm that your records correctly reflect any promotion eligibility, you must contact PNW Admissions.

Tuition rates are adjusted prior to the start of courses. You must first be registered in order to see tuition adjustments related to a promotional scholarship/tuition reduction.

You can access the RN-to-BSN student handbook online.

Students that choose to withdraw from their course(s) can email their registration coordinator for assistance. Please note that you will not receive a refund. 

View the Withdrawal Policy

Schools or third-party transcript services can send your official electronic transcripts to bsn_adms@pnw.edu.

The mailing address for transcripts is:

Office of Undergraduate Admissions
Lawshe Building, Room 259
Purdue University Northwest
2200 169th Street
Hammond, IN 46323-2094

For more questions about transcripts, visit our general nursing FAQs page.

You can find information on the application process at the following link:
https://nursingonline.pnw.edu/admissions/rn-to-bsn/

You could be eligible for a $1,000 scholarship if you are employed by one of Purdue Northwest partner hospitals located in Indiana, Illinois, and Wisconsin or are a Pathways student with one of the Purdue Northwest partner institutions.

In addition, you may be eligible for a new student scholarship for $1,000.

Clinical requirements are satisfied in several ways. You will be assessing virtual patients in NUR 38801 – Health Assessment For The Nursing Professional with a product called Shadow Health. Likewise, in NUR 48300 – Community and Public Health Nursing, you will use Sentinel City to virtually assess the needs of a community. Your NUR 49800 – Capstone Course in Nursing will require that you perform an evidence-based project with an identified local community need. The purpose of this experiential learning course is to provide you with the opportunity to apply and integrate knowledge from previous coursework in the development of an evidence-based practice proposal.

We hope that the flexibility of the coursework will allow you to finish the course you are currently taking. If you cannot continue and you withdraw from the course, you can retake the course you dropped when it is offered. The last day to withdraw from a course is Friday during the fourth week of the course. Students who need to take an Interruption in the Plan of Study should consult that section of the handbook.

The curriculum is designed to have students focus on one course over a 5-week period with the exception of NUR 39100 and NUR 39401, which are taken concurrently. Students who choose to progress quickly can complete at least three courses over each semester. Students may also take non-nursing courses at the same time as nursing courses if they need to complete any general education requirements.

All outstanding nursing and non-nursing courses must be completed before enrolling in NUR 49800 – Capstone Course in Nursing.

Yes. Students may look into taking non-nursing courses at another school, perhaps a local community college. Students who choose this option must confirm with their Academic Advisor that the course will satisfy the requirements. Students can email their advisor the name of the school, course number, and a course description before enrollment to confirm the course will satisfy the requirements.

This program can be completed in as few as 16 months, pending review of all transfer credits. While there is no time limit to finishing the program, degree completion requirements are subject to change over time.

All textbooks required for the nursing curriculum are listed on the website via the RN-to-BSN Student Handbook. Textbook costs will vary, but many required texts are used in multiple courses.

Faculty teaching in the RN-BSN Completion Program are rated as excellent instructors and expert practitioners. The faculty teaching hold advanced degrees, many are active in nursing practice and research, as well as certified as advanced practice nurses.

Academic coaches play a crucial role in creating support for the student and connecting students with faculty. All hold advanced degrees; many are active in nursing practice and research and are certified as advanced practice nurses. Academic coaches:

• Track student participation and monitor student progress
• Reach out to students to determine if and when help is needed
• Direct students to resources in the course (or outside the course)

In an accelerated, online learning environment, strong communication is essential to successful course/program completion. Contact your academic coach or faculty with course-specific questions. They are the best qualified to assist you with questions related to course content, course progress, or the award of final grades.

Likewise, if you are struggling in class, your academic coach and faculty provide strategies for success. Your faculty and academic coaches may be a resource when seeking letters of recommendation for graduate education. Email is the preferred and quickest method of communication for the RN-BSN program as it provides a written record, time stamp and can be sent directly to the people who can best assist in a particular situation.

Additional communications between students and university personnel may be arranged directly. Please see your syllabus for contact information. If you cannot reach your academic coach or faculty, please contact the Director of Online Programs, Barbara Pudelek, at bpudelek@pnw.edu for assistance.

The refund policy for the online RN-to-BSN program is as follows:

• Before the first session class day, 100% refund for drops or session withdrawals
• No refund for drops or withdrawals after the first class day

The RN-to-BSN program consists of 12 required nursing courses. The RN-to-BSN program is 120 credit hours. The credit hours break down as follows:

• Nursing courses taken with PNW: 34 credits
• Non-nursing courses: 56 credits (32 credits are completed prior to admission; you can transfer in the remaining 24 credits or choose from our wide array of electives)
• Nursing transfer credit for your ASN/ADN: 30
• Total RN-to-BSN credits: 120

View the program handbook for more information on nursing courses and credit requirements.

The RN-to-BSN degree program can be completed in as few as 16 months with our standard track, or as few as 10 months with our PowerPath track, when applying transfer credit toward non-nursing courses. The time frame is based on the 34 nursing credits required at PNW; additional courses may increase the time required to complete the program.

We hope that the flexibility of the coursework will allow you to finish the course you are currently taking. If you cannot continue and you withdraw from the course, you can re-enter later in the sequence and take the course you dropped when it is re-offered. You must withdraw by the drop deadline posted under Important Dates to receive a “W.”

There are no clinical requirements in the traditional sense. Because you are a practicing RN, clinicals are accomplished virtually through simulation and projects that can be completed close to home.