RN to BSN Online Program (2024)

Admissions

Who is accepted into the RN-BSN Program?
The RN-BSN program track is designated only for Registered Nurses who are completing a Bachelor of Science Degree (BSN) in Nursing.

What are the eligibility requirements for admission?
Candidates must hold a current valid Nursing License, overall grade point average of 2.5, and be on good academic standing at all previous nursing programs attended. The nursing grade point average is calculated in the School of Nursing and based only on the required core courses. If your GPA is between 2.0 and 2.49, conditional admission may be requested for the first session. The student must make a C or higher in the courses during this session. Introduction to Statistics is a prerequisite for NURS 3195 Evidence Based Nursing. This prerequisite can be taken while in the program.

How do I apply to Columbus State University?
You can apply online to the RN-BSN program at Columbus State University. When applying, be sure to select "RN-BSN" as your major. Please see our Apply Now section for detailed steps to admission. Send official transcripts from all previously attended institutions as soon as possible.

What is the RN-BSN application deadline?
We accept three times per year (Fall, Spring and Summer). Please see the RN-BSN academic calendar for specific dates.

Do I need a current Nursing License to be admitted?
You must have a current unrestricted license in the state you plan to complete your clinicals as a Registered Nurse to enroll in the RN-BSN program. If the license is limited or restricted, the potential applicant must disclose the terms of the consent order and any restriction on practice as a condition of admission. The RN-BSN Admissions and Progression Committee will review these students on an individual basis.

Do I need to be currently working in the nursing field to be eligible for this program?
Pre-admission testing is not required if the Registered Nurse has 1000 hours of clinical nursing practice in the last 3 years. Registered nurses who have been professionally inactive for four or more years will be required to validate nursing knowledge prior to acceptance and enrollment in nursing coursework. Validation testing may include standardized exams and/or clinical competencies and the student is responsible for the cost of the test. The RN-BSN Admissions and Progression Committee will review these students on an individual basis.

What if I graduated out of the country?
Candidates who are international graduates are required to have transcripts evaluated such as by Josef Silny & Sons, Western Educational Services (WES), or Education Credential Evaluators (ECE).

What would make me ineligible to enroll in the RN-BSN program?
Patterns of withdrawal from courses/schools, grades of D's and F's and retaking courses several times and failing grades in science courses. Candidates that have been dismissed from another nursing program, since graduating from their ASN program, for any reason are ineligible for admission to the RN-BSN program.

Program Information

7 Year Policy – RN to BSN nursing courses expire after 7 years and you will need to earn your degree within a 7 year time frame.

Is the RN-BSN program full or part-time?
RN-BSN courses are offered in 7-week sessions, and students may attend either full or part-time. Students will work with the nursing advisor to design a schedule that best fits their needs.

Am I ever required to be on campus?
No. The RN-BSN program is completely online and a student can complete the entire program from his/her own geographical location.

Do I have to be online at a certain time for class?
No. Classes in the RN-BSN program are asynchronous. In some courses, you may work ahead of schedule to complete your module work at your convenience.

What textbooks are needed for the program?
Open Educational Resources (OERs) are used in all RN-BSN online courses, which are digital textbooks available inside the course at no cost to the student.

How will I complete the clinical requirements for the program?
All clinical requirements are completed in NURS 4698 Senior Project. Students collaborate with the faculty facilitator for that course to choose appropriate facilities to complete the clinical assignments in this course. Projects and assignments are required to complete the clinical course.

What is the Georgia RN-BSN Articulation Model?
Columbus State University supports the Georgia RN-BSN Articulation Model. The purpose of this model is to facilitate the educational mobility of registered nurses who elect to pursue a baccalaureate degree in nursing. RN-BSN students are awarded 32 nursing credit hours after successfully passing the first nursing clinical course, NURS 3197 Professional Nursing Practice.

How are tests administered in the online courses?
All evaluation of learning are done via electronic submissions and/or testing in the course management system.

What about joining ROTC at Columbus State University?
ROTC Website

Registration and Degree Requirements

What students are exempt from taking the physical education classes?
Students 40 or over, students who have served in the military for one year or longer and post-baccalaureate students are exempt from the wellness requirement (PHED 1205/1206) and any one hour PEDS course. Military students are responsible for submitting their DD 214 if discharged from active duty. If the student is active-duty they would need to submit their ARTS transcripts to Admissions.

Do I need to take two science courses?
RN-BSN students are required to have taken Human Anatomy 1 & 2 and Microbiology (Area F courses) with a grade of C or better and are also required to take two science sequenced lab courses to satisfy Area D.

I already have one degree; does that mean I have to take fewer courses than other students?
RN-BSN, Post Baccalaureate students are considered to have met the core with the exception of Area D science-sequence courses and all of Area F. Area D courses include: Biology 1 and 2 (see your advisor for more information), CHEM 1151 and 1152 and the labs, CHEM 1211 and 1212 and the labs, or a Physics sequence per Georgia Board of Regents Requirement. Area F includes BIOL 2221K and 2222K(A&P 1&2), BIOL 2225K (Micro), STAT 1401 (with a grade of C or better), and PSYC 1101.

Will all students have to meet CSU's General University Requirements?

• Yes, this includes the legislative requirement. An act of the General Assembly of the State of Georgia requires that all candidates for degrees possess and demonstrate knowledge of US History, Georgia History, US Constitution and Georgia Constitution. Courses that satisfy these requirements are HIST 2111 or HIST 2112 and POLS 1101. US History taken in Georgia satisfies the US/GA History general university requirements. US History taken in Alabama (for example) satisfies only the US History requirement and a student must successfully test on Georgia history.
  RN-BSN post-baccalaureate students who did not take US History or American Government as part of their BS/BA degree will need to take the US/GA History and US/GA Constitution proficiency tests.
  In addition, every undergraduate student must take the Outcomes Assessment/Senior Survey during their final semester.

Accreditation

Is Columbus State University's RN-BSN program accredited?
Yes, The Bachelor of Science in Nursing program is accredited by the Georgia Board of Nursing and is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Columbus State University is accredited by the Southern Commission of Colleges and Schools (SACS).

Does the nursing program I graduated from have to be accredited?
Yes, by the National League of Nursing (NLN); now Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN).

What if my nursing program was not accredited by the NLN/ACEN?
CSU offers an exam for students that graduated from a Non-ACEN (Non-NLN) Accredited RN program. The RN-BSN exam is ONLY for students who did not graduate from an accredited NLN/ACEN school. This exam is required to satisfy the Georgia Board of Nursing Articulation Agreement for entrance into the RN-BSN program. This is not a General University Requirement Test. Before registering for this exam, you must be accepted to CSU and have met with the RN-BSN advisor. You may register for the RN-BSN exam on the CSU testing website. There is a fee associated with this exam.

Tuition and Fees

What is the tuition for the RN-BSN online program?
Tuition for RN-BSN courses through eMajor is $199 per credit hour. Institution fees are required and will affect the total cost. Prerequisite courses may be required and will also affect the total cost.

Are there any additional fees that I will have to pay?
In addition to tuition, there are additional fees that will be assessed for the RN-BSN program. Please see the RN-BSN tuition and fees page for a complete list of current fees.

Are there out of state fees associated with this program?
The RN-BSN online nursing courses do not have out of state fees attached.

How do I apply for financial aid?
Please see the CSU Financial Aid website.

How do I pay for my classes once I register?
Payments should be made in MyCSU. Once logged into the MyCSU portal, go to the financial and records tab at the top to view and pay invoices. Check your invoice to ensure it has a zero balance.

USG eMajor

What is USG eMajor?
USG eMajor partners with public institutions to provide quality, affordable, high-demand post-secondary degrees and credentials that address the workplace needs of Georgia and beyond. CSU and USG eMajor began a partnership in Spring 2019, and due to this, students have access to additional support services!

Where do I log in to access my courses?
RN to BSN students will access their courses through GoVIEW, accessible here: go.view.usg.edu

Clinical Requirements

NURS 4698 Senior Project is offered three times per year. Prior to taking this course the following requirements must be met three (3) months prior to the start date of the course.

Start Dates and Deadlines for NURS 4698 Senior Project:

• Fall Term 2 (October) clinical requirements must be submitted by July 15
• Spring Term 2 (March) clinical requirements must be submitted by December 15
• Summer Session (June) clinical requirements must be submitted by March 15

Employees at Wellstar Hospital

Your facility must have your request in earlier than the advertised times in the RN to BSN program. Please contact son_clinicals@columbusstate.edu ASAP to ensure your placement.

• If you plan to take NURS 4698 Senior Project in the Fall- requests must be made in April
• If you plan to take NURS 4698 Senior Project in the Spring - requests must be made in September
• If you plan to take NURS 4698 Senior Project in the Summer- requests must be made in February

RN-BSN Pre-Clinical Requirements:

• Verification of professional employment. You can turn in a photocopy of your name badge or paycheck stub (mark out all confidential information).
• Verification of unencumbered RN license - If the license is limited or restricted, the potential applicant must disclose the terms of the consent order and any restriction on practice, as a condition of admission. The RN-BSN Admissions and Progression Committee will review these students on an individual basis.
• Complete Clinical Planning Forms A and B (typing the form is appreciated except for signatures).
• Preceptor Requirements: A Registered Nurse with a BSN and/or three (3) or more years’ experience as an ADN. Your preceptor is referred to as your “Clinical Supervisor” in your Clinical Planning Forms.
• If CSU does not have a current contract with the facility you have chosen, a new contract will need to be obtained. If a contract is needed, our Clinical Placement Coordinator (Mrs. Jessica Bauer) will contact the student from the email son_clinicals@columbusstate.edu to initiate an Applied Learning Experience agreement or Affiliation Agreement prior to the clinical start date (sometimes this may take 6 -12 months to obtain).
• The School of Nursing under the directions of the Clinical Placement Coordinator will file all contracts and ensure appropriate signatures and dates prior to your start date.
• All students will have a background check prior to entering clinicals using the school designated vendor. All students will be drug tested prior to entering clinicals using the school-designated vendor.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. May I complete NURS 4698 Senior Project where I work? The School of Nursing does not prohibit students from completing clinical practice experiences at their place of work as long as it is appropriate to the expected student learning and program outcomes. You cannot complete your clinical hours on the floor/unit where you work but you can stay at the facility. Your school assignments should not be completed during your scheduled work hours.
2. Who may sign the clinical form A and B? The Clinical Supervisor must be a Registered Nurse. This person will sign the form agreeing to help the student complete his/her clinical goals and activities/projects for the class. The clinical supervisor will know each time the student is in the facility and will help facilitate networking and/or space for you to accomplish leadership projects, assignments, or teaching.
3. Can I complete my clinical outside the state of Georgia? States expect that institutions obtain approval before enrolling students in their state. The requirements as to which activities require authorization vary greatly from state-to-state. Please turn in your Clinical Supervisor Form A and B for us to check the state where you plan to complete NURS 4698 Senior Project. It is the student’s responsibility to let us know if you move out of state while in the program.
4. I live in Alabama and plan to complete my clinicals in Georgia. Please complete the clinical form A and B.
5. I live in Alabama and plan to complete my clinicals in Alabama. Alabama requires the SON to turn in information (located on the clinical form A and B) on each Alabama resident who is completing his/her clinicals in Alabama 30 days prior to clinicals starting. Just complete the forms and get them in by the due date.
6. I live outside the United States. The RN to BSN program includes practic*ms, clinicals or other forms of field experiences as part of the mandatory program requirements. You will not be able to participate in any field experiences outside of the United States in order to complete these requirements. Participation in field experiences in the U.S. (outside of Georgia) is limited to states where CSU has authorization to operate. If a student does not work and live in the state of Georgia, they may contact state_authorization@columbusstate.edu
   • o The State Authorization office will approve foreign nursing clinical placements, taking place outside of the U.S., for students located overseas on U.S. Military bases. Three conditions must be met in order for these clinical placements to be approved:
     1. The student must be active-duty military, or the spouse or dependent of someone who is active-duty military and must be physically living on a U.S. Military base.
     2. The student must conduct all clinical work at a facility that is located on a U.S. Military base.
     3. The student must hold an appropriate, unencumbered RN license to legally practice nursing at a U.S. Military facility.
7. What immunizations will I need?
   Hep B- 3 series vaccine OR a positive titer
   MMR- 2 vaccines OR a positive titer
   Varicella- 2 vaccines OR a positive titer
   TDap- within lifetime, TD Booster within 10 years
   PPD- negative, less than one year old
   If positive, chest x-ray within program year, no less than 2 years old with TB Questionnaire showing student is free of symptoms
   Physical Exam- must be performed using CSU approved form
   Flu Vaccine or Declination Documentation
   Health Insurance Verification or Declination
   BLS for the Healthcare Provider- must be AHA course, ACLS also accepted
   Columbus State University does not require the Covid-19 vaccine, but it is possible the requested clinical site may require the vaccine
8. Is the RN-BSN program accredited? Columbus State University nursing programs are nationally accredited by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing- Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), following the AACN Essentials, and have the approval of the Georgia Board of Nursing. Columbus State University is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Commission on Colleges.
9. Do I need to take time off work? You will need to spend 48 hours of your clinical time with your clinical supervisor. The remaining clinical hours will be met in class through assignments and projects. On the days you are spending time with your clinical supervisor, you are not allowed to use as work hours.
10. Is there a dress code? Yes. Clinical attire: When going to your clinical sites you are required to be in professional business attire, with a lab jacket (short or long), and a name badge (name should read first and last name, Columbus State University RN-BSN Student). Apparel that is not acceptable in a healthcare environment includes blue jeans, t-shirts, shorts, short skirts, athletic, camouflage, capri-length pants, tank tops, crop tops, low cut blouses, baseball caps, jelly shoes, beach type shoes, and/or high heels. Apparel that is “see through”, low cut, too short, “skintight”, or excessively baggy, is torn, patched, or discolored in an irregular manner, exhibits slogans, advertising, etc. are also not acceptable. Nails Nail length is important because even after careful handwashing, Health care workers (HCWs) often harbor substantial numbers of potential pathogens in the subungual spaces. Numerous studies have documented that subungual areas of the hand harbor high concentrations of bacteria, most frequently coagulase-negative staphylococci, gram-negative rods (including Pseudomonas spp.), corynebacteria, and yeasts. Natural nail tips should be kept to 1⁄4 inch in length. No fingernail polish allowed. A growing body of evidence suggests that wearing artificial nails may contribute to transmission of certain healthcare associated pathogens. Healthcare workers who wear artificial nails are more likely to harbor gram-negative pathogens on their fingertips than are those who have natural nails, both before and after handwashing. Therefore, artificial nails should not be worn when having direct contact with high-risk patients. CDC Hand Hygiene (PDF)
    False Eyelashes or extensions No false eyelashes or extensions will be allowed due to the risk of infection.
11. Why is the deadline so early? We must have an Affiliation Agreement (Contract) on file with the facility you select. This is why it is important for you to turn in form A and B completely filled out by the due date because of a possible 6-12 month waiting period if a contract is needed.
12. What type of assignments will I complete in NURS 4698, Sr. Project? Initiating and participating in a quality improvement (QI) project often allow you to achieve incremental and measurable changes which make a real difference to patients' experience in the hospital/agency setting. Quality improvement projects allow clinicians/students, working within a team, to identify an issue and implement interventions that can result in true improvements in quality. The purpose of the Quality Improvement (QI) Project Plan is to provide a formal ongoing process by which the organization and stakeholders utilize objective measures to monitor and evaluate the quality of services, both clinical and operational, provided to the patients. Due to time constraints (8-week class) you will not actually carry out the project but have it ready in place to carry out if desired by the agency at a later date (on your own time - not a part of this course). You will select a QI topic, complete a fishbone diagram, literature search, write a change project proposal, develop a power point slide presentation on your project and keep an accurate clinical activity log.

Last Updated 8/23/21 AH/JB/BG/MC

*Please always include your student ID number with any correspondence.

The RN-BSN Advisem*nt part of the website is to be used as a guideline only. You must be advised by a RN-BSN advisor for an official evaluation. New students should apply to Columbus State University (CSU) and request all official transcripts to be mailed to Enrollment Services. Courses are not evaluated until all transcripts are received. Once your courses are evaluated and you have been notified of your admission to the RN-BSN program, please email pace_rnbsn@columbusstate.edu to request an advisem*nt appointment.

Core Academic Requirements

The RN to BSN Degree Progress Worksheet (PDF) provides a listing of core classes required to enter the RN-BSN program.

You may have courses that are transferable but are not shown on this list. Almost all courses from SACS accredited schools will transfer to CSU. Please utilize the CSU Transfer Equivalency Lookup to see if your school and courses are transferable.

Residency Hours

31 hours are required to be taken at Columbus State University for residency. The RN-BSN program is 28 hours. An additional three hours are required for graduation.

Additional Questions

For Financial Aid information, please contact the Financial Aid Department at sfs@columbusstate.edu
Phone: (706) 507-8800
Fax: (706) 568-2230

Visit the academic catalog website for the latest course descriptions.

For students who are working on an Associate Degree in Nursing at Columbus Technical College and want to pursue a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing at Columbus State University.

We have a partnership! On May 31, 2023, Columbus State University and Columbus Technical College signed an academic pathways articulation agreement.

Wiregrass - CSU course credit schema (PDF)

Transfer Articulation Agreements

Email: rnbsn@columbusstate.edu
Phone: 706-507-8560
Fax: 706-565-1490

School of Nursing
Frank D. Brown Hall
4225 University Avenue
Columbus, GA 31907-5645

1. Submit your application for admission to Columbus State University.
   Be sure to select RN to BSN as your intended major.
2. Complete the RN-BSN Supplemental Information application.
   *A Columbus State University application for admission must be completed prior to this step.
3. Submit all official transcripts to:
   Columbus State University
   Attention: Enrollment Services
   4225 University Avenue
   Columbus, Georgia 31907-5645
4. Once accepted to CSU, email rnbsn@columbusstate.edu to set up an appointment with the RN to BSN advisor.
5. Complete the eMajor Introduction Quiz using your Columbus State student email address.

Committed to Caring: Meet Kristian Kirkland, Online RN-BSN Graduate and Registered Nurse