B.S. in Nursing (RN-BSN)
120
Credit Hours
75%
Max Transfer Credit
Class Type
Online coursework, 6 & 12-week courses
Next Start Date
Apr 1, 2024
Cost Per Credit
Accreditation
CCNE

Earn your online RN to BSN in as few as 12 months

In nursing, a baccalaureate-level education matters. A 2020 AACN survey of healthcare organizations found that over 41% of hospitals and facilities require RNs to hold BSNs. Why? Studies show that when the percentage of baccalaureate-prepared nurses is higher, so are patient outcomes. Elevate patient care while you accelerate your career with Franklin University’s B.S. Nursing. Our RN to BSN online program can help strengthen both your clinical and leadership competencies.

Program Availability

Online
On Site

Maximize Transfer

Finish faster and spend less by transferring up to 90 credits toward a BSN.

$3,000 Smart Start Scholarship

New students in the RN-BSN program qualify for an automatic $3,000 scholarship.

Accredited

The master's degree program in nursing at Franklin University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

Real-World Practitioners

Benefit from the experience of healthcare professionals.

Industry-Aligned Curriculum

Learn from a curriculum informed by leading professional standards.

Online Coursework

Balance earning your degree with other work-life commitments.

Hands-On Simulations

Gain practical experience through media-rich virtual activities and gaming.

Program Overview

Prepare for management with our accelerated online RN to BSN program

Our transfer-friendly B.S. in Nursing (RN to BSN) degree-completion program is designed specifically for registered nurses with an associate degree (ADN) or nursing diploma. Earn your online RN to BSN fast, with our accelerated program comprised of 9, six-week, online courses that fit your life and schedule.

The accelerated online RN to BSN program at Franklin will make you more marketable. Thanks to the industry’s need for quality nurses to replace an aging workforce combined with organizations seeking Magnet Recognition, employers are becoming more selective about their hires. Many are looking to hire, promote, and retain nurses who’ve earned their BSN. That’s why demand for credentialed nurses and nurse leaders is projected to grow at a rate faster than the national average through 2025.

Engage in rigorous coursework that takes you to the next level

Franklin’s rigorous coursework is an efficient way to build on your existing education and experience, helping you acquire the expertise needed to advance your career. You’ll gain the skills healthcare providers are actively looking for in these key areas: nursing leadership and management, clinical competence, personalized medicine, evidence-based practice, community and population health, health informatics, and healthcare law and ethics.

You’ll complete your degree online through a series of engaging, media-rich, hands-on classes. And because Franklin’s RN to BSN degree program addresses current nursing trends and evidence-based practice, your education and credentials will be more attractive to hiring managers, and provide strong preparation for graduate-level coursework.

Get prepared to meet contemporary, on-the-job challenges

With the latest technology-based learning and assessment tools, our fast track RN to BSN program features simulations, gaming, video, audio, and live classroom activities through a convenient online format.

In fact, you’ll be involved in clinical scenarios which are played out through virtual community simulations and activities. In these virtual scenarios, you’ll be immersed in following patients’ start-to-finish health issues, utilizing the same skills you'll need in real clinical situations.

Earn an accredited RN-BSN

The baccalaureate degree program in nursing at Franklin University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org). 

Our nursing program curriculum reflects The Essentials of Baccalaureate Education for Professional Nursing Practice, as established by The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN). Coursework is also informed by the American Nurses Association (ANA) Code of Ethics, Healthy People 2020, and Quality and Safety in Education of Nurses (QSEN), so you can be confident your degree will prepare you with the up-to-date knowledge you need to advance your nursing career.

Save money and get the latest information impacting nurses

What you won’t have as a nursing student at Franklin is a list of costly nursing textbooks to buy. There are no required textbooks, e-books, or software purchases for BSN courses. You’ll fuel your learning with the most up-to-date information provided through online library resources. Your sources include videos, research from outside organizations, and e-books that are integrated into your coursework at no cost. 

In addition to saving hundreds of dollars, you’ll benefit by getting different perspectives on trending issues and the latest treatment options rather than being limited to those from one author or publisher. Also, since all the resources are online – you’ll have your course materials readily available anywhere you have an internet connection. 

Earn your degree from a university built for busy adults

Earn your degree on your terms by taking classes online. Accredited and nonprofit, Franklin was built from the ground-up to satisfy the needs of adult learners. Our seamless transfer process and team of academic advisors will help ease your transition to becoming a student, while our flexible course schedules help to balance your education with work, family and life. Get started on your future today.

Read more >

Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Master of Science in Nursing, post-graduate APRN certificates, and Doctor of Nursing Practice programs at Franklin University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org).

 

Future Start Date

Start dates for individual programs may vary and are subject to change. Please request free information & speak with an admission advisor for the latest program start dates.

Spring 2024
April
1
Recommended Register By:
Mar 22
Summer 2024
May
20
Recommended Register By:
May 10
Summer 2024
July
1
Recommended Register By:
Jun 21
Fall 2024
August
19
Recommended Register By:
Aug 9
Fall 2024
September
30
Recommended Register By:
Sep 20
Fall 2024
November
11
Recommended Register By:
Nov 1
Spring 2025
January
6
Recommended Register By:
Dec 27
Spring 2025
February
17
Recommended Register By:
Feb 7
Spring 2025
March
31
Recommended Register By:
Mar 21

Your Best Value RN-BSN

Choose Franklin’s transfer-friendly RN-BSN and you’ll get more for your money while you make the most of your time. Complete your B.S. in Nursing online in as few as 12 months with no fees for embedded clinicals, BSN textbooks, e-books and software. 

Affordable Tuition

$298
PER CREDIT HOUR

Affordable tuition rates for the accredited RN-BSN provide value and quality.

Average Transfer Hours

74
AVG TRANSFER HOURS

On average, students transfer in nearly 2/3 of the credits required for the BSN.

BSN Cost with Transfer

$8,940
Tuition with Max Transfer
$3,000
Automatic Scholarship
$5,940
Tuition After Transfer Credit + Scholarship

Franklin's generous transfer policy, competitive tuition rate + Smart Start Scholarship put your RN-BSN within reach.

Partner? Pay Less.

Search below to see if you could save tuition through an employer or professional organization partnership.

$35,760
Total Tuition
(After Partner Discount)
×

Curriculum & Course Descriptions

120 Semester Hours
Fundamental General Education
English Composition
ENG 120 - College Writing (4)

In this course, students acquire the writing competencies necessary for completing analytical and argumentative papers supported by secondary research. A variety of assignments, beginning with personal reflections, build upon one another, as students develop ideas that respond to, critique, and synthesize the positions of others. Students systematize and organize knowledge in ways that will help them in all their courses. The course also emphasizes the elements of critical reading, effective writing style, appropriate grammar and mechanics, clarity of language, and logical and cohesive development. It culminates in submission of an extended, documented research paper.

Mathematics
MATH 160 - College Algebra (4)

This course is designed to prepare students for Applied Calculus and Discrete Mathematics and to provide the mathematical background needed for the analytic reasoning used in other courses. Topics include functions and their graphs, including exponential and logarithmic functions; complex numbers; systems of equations and inequalities; matrices; basic principles of counting and probability; and other selected topics. Note, this course has proctored exam(s).

OR MATH 215 - Statistical Concepts (4)

This course introduces you to statistics with applications to various areas. The course covers both descriptive and inferential statistics. Topics included are: sampling techniques, data types, experiments; measures of central tendency, measures of dispersion, graphical displays of data, basic probability concepts, binomial and normal probability distributions, sampling distributions and Central Limit Theorem; confidence intervals, hypothesis tests of a mean, or a proportion for one or two populations, and linear regression.

Choose MATH 150 Fundamental Algebra as the prerequisite for MATH 160. Choose either MATH 140 Introduction to Quantitative Reasoning or MATH 150 Fundamental Algebra as the prerequisite for MATH 215. Course can count as a University elective.

Social and Behavioral Sciences

6 credits from the following types of courses:
Choose from the Anthropology, Geography, History, Political Science, Psychology, or Sociology disciplines.

Science

6 credits from the following types of courses:
Two courses from the Science discipline. One course must have a lab component.

Arts & Humanities

6 credits from the following types of courses:
Choose from the Art, English Literature, Fine Arts, Humanities, Music, Philosophy, Religion or Theater disciplines.

Additional General Education
PF 121 - Basic Learning Strategies (2)

This course prepares students to be successful lifelong learners both academically and in their chosen careers. Franklin courses require a high level of self-directed learning and focus on the skills required in the workplace and the classroom that are easily transferrable between the two environments. The course includes strategies for time management, goal setting, reading comprehension, and advancing communication skills, including the use of electronic tools to participate in virtual environments.

OR PF 321 - Learning Strategies (2)

This course prepares students to be successful lifelong learners both academically and in their chosen careers. Franklin courses require a high level of self-directed learning and focus on the skills required in the workplace and the classroom that are easily transferable between the two environments. The course includes strategies for advancing communication skills, including the use of electronic tools to participate in virtual environments. The assignments and activities in the course are created to closely simulate teamwork found in the workplace.

COMM 150 - Interpersonal Communication (4)

By using applied critical and creative thinking, students in this course will develop a set of communication skills that will enhance their personal and professional relationships and endeavors. This course will focus on skill development in key areas such as self, perception, listening, verbal messages, conversations, relationships, conflict management, persuasion, and presentation skills.

OR SPCH 100 - Speech Communication (4)

This basic public-speaking course intends to improve the student's ability to think critically and to communicate orally. Theory and practice are provided in various speaking situations. Each student is required to speak before an audience, but class work also involves reading, gathering and organizing information, writing, and listening.

6 credits from the following types of courses:
Any General Education course at the 100 or 200 level

Technical Credit

24 credits from the following types of courses:
Transfer credit from a diploma or associate degree registered nursing program.

Major Area Required
HIM 350 - Health Informatics (4)

This course will cover the history of health informatics, design and challenges of informatics infrastructure, and current issues. Topics will include HIPAA and other legislation, application of electronic health records, and other clinical and administrative applications of health information systems.

OR HIM 702 - Health Information Governance (4)

This course covers the broad spectrum of strategic issues in healthcare including policies, guidelines, standards, processes, and controls required to manage and implement enterprise-level information. Treating information as a strategic asset to healthcare organizations, processes to manage various risks to the quality of information and ensure its appropriate use are covered.

HCM 442 - Legal Aspects of Healthcare Management (4)

Understanding cultural competency, ethics, policy, and law is necessary for healthcare professionals in a continuously evolving healthcare system. This course will provide students with practical knowledge and methods for applying ethical, legal, and cultural decision-making frameworks to mitigate risks. Topics will include regulatory compliance, patient consent, privacy and confidentiality, and cultural competence.

OR HCM 742 - Healthcare Laws and Ethics (4)

In this course students will develop a strong foundation in health law, enabling them to deal with the common legal, practical, moral, and ethical issues that healthcare organizations face on a daily basis. Topics will include statutory law, rules and regulations, tort law, criminal law, contract law, civil procedures, and trial procedure.

OR HCM 752 - Health Policy (4)

This course will explore the essential conceptual and analytical understanding of health policymaking and politics, including their impact on health administration and leadership. Selected policy issues will be explored through the application of political concepts and behavioral models, including a system model of policymaking. The emphasis will be on understanding the health leader?s approach to the policymaking system, become involved in it, and work through it to attain their objectives and those of their organization.

NURS 310 - Transition to Professional Nursing (4)

This course is designed to facilitate transition into the study of professional nursing. The course introduces the scope and theoretical foundations of the nursing profession, with emphasis on the societal mandate for nursing, legal parameters of practice, critical thinking and communication.

NURS 325 - Health Assessment & Promotion (4)

This course is designed to broaden and enhance the professional nurse's knowledge and skills in health promotion and holistic assessment of individuals across the lifespan. Students will explore concepts of assessment and health promotion, disease, and injury prevention. Emphasis is placed on recognizing deviation from normal and assessing physiological, psychosocial, developmental, spiritual, environmental, genetic, and cultural dimensions while completing a comprehensive health assessment.

NURS 425 - Genetics in Nursing & Healthcare (2)

This course explores genetic concepts and principles related to human variation in health and disease. Current evidence on selected disorders including immunity and cancer will be explored with emphasis on clinical application. Political, social, and ethical issues impacted by recent advances such as genetic engineering, gene therapy, reproductive technology and the Human Genome Project will be analyzed. This clinical application of moral, ethical, and legal issues will be integrated throughout the course.

NURS 435 - Nurs Research & Evidence-Based Practice (4)

This course provides an overview of the research process including methodology, design and interpretation of findings. Students will study basic statistics relevant to interpreting research findings. The emphasis in the course will be on the integration of current evidence, including nursing and health care research, to guide nursing practice and promote high quality and safe patient care outcomes.

NURS 445 - Community Health Nursing (4)

The focus of this course is the professional nurse's role in working with aggregates in the community. This course presents the theory, concepts and practice of community health nursing. The components of health promotion and disease prevention at the individual and population level in order to improve the health of individuals, families, groups, communities and populations are emphasized. The health attitudes, beliefs and practices of culturally diverse populations are explored.

NURS 455 - Leadership & Mgmt for Professional Nurse (4)

This course focuses on theories and principles of leadership and management in healthcare environments. Organizational mission, vision, and strategic planning, along with quality improvement, patient safety, and motivation and change theory as applied to healthcare systems are explored. Effective communication with healthcare professionals, individuals, and groups to promote high quality and safe patient care is emphasized.

NURS 498 - Nursing Capstone (4)

This culminating course is designed to provide the baccalaureate nursing student with an opportunity to demonstrate synthesis of knowledge and skills acquired throughout the RN-BSN program. Students will integrate theories and concepts from arts, humanities, science, and professional nursing to develop a capstone project.

University Electives

24 credits from the following types of courses:
•Any undergraduate courses offered by the University except developmental education courses.

Additional Requirements

All students are required to pass College Writing (ENG 120), and either Basic Learning Strategies (PF 121) or Learning Strategies (PF 321) prior to enrolling in any course at the 200 level or above. Students who enroll at Franklin with 30 or fewer hours of transfer credit are required to pass PF 121 Basic Learning Strategies in place of PF 321 Learning Strategies. Interpersonal Communication (COMM 150) or Speech Communication (SPCH 100) must be taken prior to enrolling in any course at the 300 level or above. Students must also meet the University algebra competency requirement.

Academic Minors

Personalize your degree with a minor. Explore available minors, learn how minors can benefit you, and find out what requirements you must meet to earn a minor.

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B.S. in Nursing (RN-BSN) Program Details

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Career Opportunities

Community Agency Director

Community agency directors plan and execute strategies that produce optimum outcomes related to population health, disaster planning, and community assessment.

Director of Nursing

Directors of Nursing oversee the performance of nurses and aides, while also implementing patient care services, and managing departmental reporting and budgets.

Nurse Manager

Nurse Managers plan unit activities and supervise personnel charged with nursing care services.

Nursing Unit Manager

Nursing Unit Managers direct nursing activities for a specific unit of a facility, such as critical care or pediatrics, ensuring appropriate clinical practices and quality patient care.

Options for RNs

At Franklin University, we offer several options to help you achieve your ultimate career goals. Designed for RNs with an associate degree (ADN) or nursing diploma, Franklin’s BSN program and the RN to MSN pathway cater to the demanding schedule of a working nurse. 

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RN to BSN
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RN to MSN (Leadership Tracks)
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RN to MSN (APRN Tracks)

What is it? 

A nursing bachelor’s degree (BSN) program for registered nurses who have earned an associate degree or nursing diploma.

What can I do with it?

Elevate your nursing practice and improve patient outcomes. Many healthcare systems prefer to hire, retain and promote RNs who have earned the BSN.

What will I learn?

Beginning nursing theory, practice and research.

Is there a clinical/capstone or practicum?

The capstone course requires a project. The RN to BSN can be completed 100% online. There is no clinical component.

How many courses are in the program?

120 credit hours with 34 hours (9 courses) in nursing; transfer credit from the associate degree (up to 90 credits) includes 24 hours of nursing coursework.

How quickly can I complete the program?

12 months

How much does the program cost?

See tuition and fees > 

Where can I learn more? 

See the RN to BSN program page > 

What is it? 

A pathway to a nursing master’s degree (MSN) for registered nurses who have earned an associate degree or nursing diploma.

What can I do with it?

Take on administrative and leadership roles, as well as nurse educator positions.

What will I learn?

Advanced nursing theory, practice and research; focus on administration, education and informatics.

Is there a clinical/capstone or practicum?

The capstone course requires 80 hours of clinical time spent on-site with a preceptor at an approved healthcare setting.

How many courses are in the program?

37-42 credit hours; 10-12 courses 

How quickly can I complete the program?

19-21 months

How much does the program cost?

See tuition and fees >

Where can I learn more? 

See the MSN program page >

What is it? 

A pathway to a nursing master’s degree (MSN) with an APRN specialization for registered nurses who have earned an associate degree or nursing diploma.

What can I do with it?

Expand your clinical capabilities to manage patient care within the primary care setting as an adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioner, a family nurse practitioner, or a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner.

What will I learn?

Advanced nursing theory, practice and research; focus on clinical application.

Is there a clinical/capstone or practicum?

Clinical/Practicum courses: NURS 700 is 16 lab hours, and there are four additional clinical courses for each track - each requires 150 clinical hours with a preceptor at a healthcare site.

How many courses are in the program?

45-46 credit hours; 14 courses

How quickly can I complete the program?

30-31 months

How much does the program cost?

See tuition and fees > 

Where can I learn more? 

See the MSN-FNP program page >

See the MSN-AGPCNP program page >

See the MSN-PMHNP program page > 

Employment Outlook

13%

From 2021-2031 jobs in Nursing are expected to increase by 13%

All Occupations

2021
3,870,046 jobs
2031
4,370,600 jobs
Show Details >

Medical and Health Services Managers

2021
446,933 jobs
2031
568,713 jobs

Registered Nurses

2021
3,133,126 jobs
2031
3,403,262 jobs

Nurse Anesthetists

2021
46,694 jobs
2031
53,111 jobs

Nurse Midwives

2021
8,118 jobs
2031
9,040 jobs

Nurse Practitioners

2021
235,175 jobs
2031
336,473 jobs


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