RN to BSN

A BSN program designed especially for the working RN.

Tailored to the working RN, with each class in the program taught in a 10-week span, this program can be completed in 19 months. This allows the student to focus on fewer subjects at a time and gain a deeper understanding of the material.

RN to BSN

RN to BSN Curriculum
West Coast University's RN to BSN courses focus on the skills and experiences nurses bring to the educational setting. The curriculum includes nursing courses designed and delivered specifically for current RNs, along with required general education coursework. Courses are designed to develop leadership and management skills for the nursing professional.

At our Dallas and Los Angeles campuses, we offer the program in a bookend format where you attend the first and last classes onsite and complete the balance of the curriculum online.

Applicants must have an ADN and hold a current RN license in the U.S.

Career Opportunities
Graduates will be equipped for nursing positions across a broad range of interests including:

  • Pediatrics
  • Medical-Surgical Nursing
  • Gerontology
  • Psychiatric/Mental Health
  • Community Health
  • Home Care Nursing

Demand for Nurses
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics project, there will be continued demand in the labor market for nurses.

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-11 Edition

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Program Mission

The mission of the College of Nursing is to provide evidence-based and innovative nursing education to culturally diverse learners; preparing nurses to provide quality and compassionate care responsive to the needs of the community and the global society.

Program Philosophy

The philosophy of the College of Nursing is that education is a continuous process occurring in phases throughout an individual's lifetime.  Nurses are lifelong learners and critical thinkers. 

Program Learning Outcomes

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing program has established the following Program Learning Outcomes, which flow directly from the College of Nursing’s mission and philosophy. These outcomes reflect what students should expect to have learned upon graduation.

  1. Apply concepts or theories from biological, physical or natural sciences as basis for professional nursing practice.
  2. Utilize nursing processes in health promotion, restoration and disease and illness prevention.
  3. Apply evidence-based practice in providing therapeutic nursing interventions for patients and families in a wide variety of health care and community settings.
  4. Apply critical-thinking skills in providing culturally sensitive and developmentally appropriate nursing care to patients who are experiencing simple and/or complex health problems in a variety of settings.
  5. Provide health care education to individuals, families and aggregates.
  6. Develop measurable goals that demonstrate the willingness to become a life-long learner in building expertise as a member of the nursing profession.
  7. Utilize effective communication skills to interact with patients, families and the interdisciplinary health team.
  8. Assume responsibility for the delegation and supervision of the delivery of nursing care to subordinates based on the subordinate’s legal scope of practice and ability.
  9. Demonstrate knowledge in applying client care technology skills such as computer and informatics skills when providing health care in a variety of settings.

Program Requirements

Students interested in applying for the RN to BS in Nursing track must have an earned Associate's Degree in Nursing from an accredited college or university and proof of an unobstructed professional license as a Registered Nurse in the United States. Students must also achieve passing scores on WCU entrance evaluations and meet the prerequisite requirements. The University Catalog provides detailed information regarding how students may be eligible to take challenge examinations for certain courses, and thereby fulfill the course requirements.

Cost

California Campuses

 Program1 Degree Number of Semesters (Full-time) Full-time2
Status
(12 to 18 Credits)
3/4-time Status   ( 9 to 11 Credits) 1/2-time Status
(6 to 8 Credits)
Less than 1/2-time Status

Total Tuition Cost (Full-time )- not including additional fees

Total Estimated Program Costs (Tuition + Fees) 
Nursing, RN to BSN BS 4 $5,625   Under 12 Units
$535.71 per credit
    $22,500   $24,591

2011-2012 Catalog Addendum

List of Textbooks

California Program Fees

 Program Registration (Non-refundable) Total Book Cost*
Book Shipping Cost Estimate for Uniforms Estimate for Euipment and/or Supply  Kits 3
Nursing, RN to BSN $75 $1,720 $296 Not Applicable $0

*The Total Book Cost reflects the Manufactures Suggested Retail Price totals compiled in December 2011

Note:  Students who wish to take Challenge Exams will be subject to a fee of $100 for each Challenge exam.  Please see your campus Business Office for a full price listing.

1 West Coast University also offers certain online courses to students enrolled in on-ground programs.  If a student enrolled in an on-ground program chooses to take a course or courses offered online, he/she will be subject to a Technology fee of $50 per credit hour per course in addition to the tuition charges listed above.

2 All credits taken in a single semester which exceed 18 credits will be charged at $800 per credit with the exception of students in the core requirements of Dental Hygiene.

3 The Uniform and Supply costs are based on the Manufacture Suggested Retail Price as of December 2011 and are subject to change. 

Note: Tuition fees may change from year to year.

 

Texas Campus

 Program1 Degree Number of Semesters (Full-time) Full-time2
Status
(12 to 18 Credits)
3/4-time Status   ( 9 to 11 Credits) 1/2-time Status
(6 to 8 Credits)
Less than 1/2-time Status

Total Tuition Cost (Full-time )- not including additional fees

Total Estimated Program Costs (Tuition + Fees) 
Nursing, RN to BSN BS 4 $4,763 Under 12 Units
$680 per credit
$19,052 $21,172

 

 Program Registration (Non-refundable) Total Book Cost*
Book Shipping Cost Estimate for Uniforms  Estimate for Equipment and/or Supply  Kits 3    
Nursing, RN to BSN $75 $1,749 $296 Not Applicable $0

*The Total Book Cost reflects the Manufactures Suggested Retail Price totals compiled in December 2011

Note:  Students who wish to take Challenge Exams will be subject to a fee of $100 for each Challenge exam.  Please see your campus Business Office for a full price listing.  

  1.   West Coast University also offers certain online courses to students enrolled in on-ground programs.  If a student enrolled in an on-ground program chooses to take a course or courses offered online, he/she will be subject to a Technology fee of $50 per credit hour per course in addition to the tuition charges listed above. 
  2. All credits taken in a single semester which exceed 18 credits will be charged at $800 per credit.
  3. The Uniform and Supply costs are based on the Manufacture Suggested Retail Price as of December 2011 and are subject to change.  

Note :  Tuition fees may change from year to year.

Transcript Review

With  respect to the currency of the credit being considered, all General Education and Science course(s) must have been taken within the last five calendar years, unless the student possesses a degree or advanced degree in the specific field of study for which the student is seeking transfer credit. For nursing credits to be considered for transfer credit, there can be only one year between the end of the last nursing course taken at a previous institution and the beginning of the first nursing course at West Coast University. The student must be listed in good standing with the prior institution.


More information on Transfer Credits

To learn more about this program, click here or call us toll free at (866) 508-2684.

Program Information Disclosure

Data provided for July 2009 - June 2010 Award Year
The California campuses are programmatically accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). 

O*Net Occupation Titles Soc Code Links to Occupational Profiles on O*Net
Registered Nurse (RN), Staff RN (Staff Registered Nurse), Staff Nurse, Charge Nurse, Oncology RN (Oncology Registered Nurse), Relief Charge Nurse, Cardiac Care Unit Nurse (CCU Nurse), Coronary Care Unit Nurse (CCU Nurse) 29-1111 www.onetonline.org/link/summary/29-1141.00
Acute Care Nurses, Nurse Manager, Nursing Director, Progressive Care Unit Registered Nurse 29-1141.01 www.onetonline.org/link/summary/29-1141.01
Clinical Nurse Specialist, Psychiatric Nurse 29-1141.02 www.onetonline.org/link/summary/29-1141.02
Critical Care Registered Nurse (CCRN), Intensive Care Unit Nurse, Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory Registered Nurse, Burn Center Nurse 29-1141.03 www.onetonline.org/link/summary/29-1141.03
On-time Completion Rate
Los Angeles Orange County Ontario Dallas Consolidated Rate
85.19% 100% N/A N/A 87.1%

California Campuses:
Current Estimated Program Costs: Tuition - $22,500, Fees - $140, Books - $3,174; Book Shipping- $296.

Texas Campus:
Current Estimated Program Costs: Tuition - $19,052, Fees - $140, Books - $3,174; Book Shipping- $296.

Placement Rate Reported to ACICS
Los Angeles Orange County Ontario Dallas
96.3% 100% N/A N/A
Median Loan Debt
  Los Angeles Orange County Ontario Dallas Median for Program
Title IV HEA Programs: $21,822 $12, 063 N/A N/A

$22,875

Private Loans: 0 0 N/A N/A 0

On-time Completion Rate/Placement Rate Reported to ACICS/Median Loan Debt: The RN to BSN degree program for Dallas will be launched in 2012. It has not been running long enough to have had graduates during the reporting period, thus there is no data to report.

N/A represents no graduates.

To review the terms and definitions for the chart above, or to see the outcome information for WCU's other programs, and to view state disclosure information, go to westcoastuniversity.edu/disclosures.

Disaster Management

West Coast University has a strongly held value that future health care leaders must be prepared for both local and international disaster response. As a result, our curricula includes a full, nine weeks of disaster training and response. Our disaster management courses are hands-on in nature, not theoretical.

In 2010, WCU students participated in a Statewide Disaster Drill at three local hospitals, acting in roles as both nurses and victims. Through this drill, students learned first-hand about the Hospital Incident Command System (HICS), and the logistics of what happens during a disaster in a hospital setting.

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