Bellevue University offers a 100% online RN to BSN degree program designed specifically for working registered nurses seeking career advancement.
Bellevue’s unique approach allows students to complete coursework online and fulfill their 36-hour practicum requirements in their local communities, offering greater flexibility than other programs.
The practicum is integrated strategically with courses to develop deeper connections between studies and real-world nurse leader and manager roles, allowing application of concepts in real time.
The program develops critical skills in decision making and nursing leadership preparing students to advance their careers.
RN to BSN Admission Summary
Basic Requirements
- Current unrestricted RN license to practice in U.S. state
- Currently practicing as licensed RN (verification form completed and signed by supervisor or employer)
- International applicants must validate credentials with Commission of Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools before applying for RN licensure
- Complete online application
- Show completion of high school, homeschool, or GED
Prerequisite Course Requirements
Copy of all transcripts documenting earned grade of C- or higher in following prerequisite courses:
- English Composition (3 semester credits or equivalent)
- College Level Mathematics (3 semester credits or equivalent)
- Physical or Life Sciences (6 semester credits or equivalent) – examples: Chemistry, Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Biology, Genetics, Physics
- Social Sciences (3 semester credits or equivalent) – examples: Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology
Mathematics Provisional Status
If student does not fulfill mathematics requirement on admission, provisional status may be granted with requirement to:
- Take MA 101 concurrent with BSNU coursework, OR
- Take MA 101 after completion of BSNU coursework
Transfer Credit Policy
Thanks to generous credit transfer policy, students can avoid retaking classes already completed. Transfer credits must be from regionally accredited college or university. Students with associate degrees can transfer full associate degree or even A.A.S. to accelerate bachelor’s degree completion.
Military students may receive credit for military experience and training. Acceptance of transfer credits subject to official transfer credit evaluation by Bellevue University.
State Authorization
Students must check state authorization for RN to BSN program eligibility based on state of residence.
Important Disclaimers
- Admission into Bellevue University does not guarantee admission into RN to BSN degree completion program
- Admission into RN to BSN degree completion program is contingent upon successfully meeting program-specific admission requirements
- Program is considered post-licensure degree and not intended for those seeking initial licensure in nursing profession
- Students admitted to program must hold current unrestricted RN license prior to admission
Curriculum
The RN to BSN program requires 127 total credits including 32 major requirements credits, 58 elective credits, plus general education courses and Kirkpatrick Signature Series requirements (9 credits).
Major Requirements (32 credits)
BSNU 360 – Fundamentals of Professional Nursing (4 credits) Serves as foundation for transition to professional nursing, introducing concepts useful for advancement into leadership and/or management role in healthcare. Principles of professional nurses’ role, effective leadership, and promotion of profession highlighted.
BSNU 380 – Professional Collaborative Strategies for Nurses (4 credits) Essential for nurse leader/manager as healthcare team member, identifying process for group collaboration for decision-making. Focus on development of effective leadership skills and strategies for collaboration and conflict management.
BSNU 400 – Nursing Leadership (4 credits) Explores concepts and strategies influencing decision making, including negotiation strategies and considerations for implication of professional values, motivation, education, and cultural competence.
BSNU 410 – Nursing Informatics (4 credits) Introduces nurse’s role in sending and receiving healthcare information. Emphasis includes methods, tools, resources, and technology systems used in healthcare information exchange and decision-making.
BSNU 420 – Nursing Research and Evidence Based Practice (4 credits) Focuses on consumer-ship of healthcare research and application to evidence-based nursing practice. Introduces types of research, data collection, analysis of data, and interpretation of data for implementation into practice.
BSNU 435 – Population Health (4 credits) Provides nurse with broadened, population-based approach to health and healthcare. Includes principles related to social determinants, social justice, health equity, diversity, and inclusion. Students develop understanding of nurse’s role in creating culture of health for population and design evidence-based population health intervention plan for population at risk.
BSNU 440 – Healthcare Regulation (4 credits) Examines regulation of healthcare through ethics, law, and policy. Emphasis placed on implications for healthcare delivery as well as nursing leadership and management.
BSNU 475 – Healthcare Quality and Leadership for Professional Nursing (4 credits) Examines role of nurse leader in complex healthcare delivery systems and explores how professional nurse contributes to transformation and performance improvement in healthcare organizations. Nursing employment trends, recruitment and retention, staffing and delegation, finance and budgeting, and strategic planning emphasized. Includes 36-hour practicum experience focused on strategic leadership and performance improvement.
Kirkpatrick Signature Series Requirements (9 credits)
All Bellevue University students must complete Kirkpatrick Signature Series in addition to major requirements:
LA 400 – American Vision and Values (3 credits) Focuses on political and philosophical traditions of American republic, especially as embedded in ideals, values, traditions, founding documents, and institutions of United States. Considers how these traditions relate to individual citizenship and global society. Prerequisite: 60 Credit Hours.
LA 410 – Tradition and Change (3 credits) Focuses on creative tensions between forces of tradition and change as country undergoes social, cultural, and political change. Considers manner in which change can renew vitality of republic. Prerequisite: 60 Credit Hours.
LA 420 – Freedom and Responsibility (3 credits) Examines civic engagement in relation to individual freedoms and responsibilities. Fosters engaged citizens empowered to effect positive change. Prerequisite: 60 Credit Hours.
General Education Courses
Take general education courses that build foundational skills applying to any career—critical thinking, qualitative reasoning, and ethical leadership. Courses can be taken individually or in course clusters connecting three courses around one theme, building skills as you go.
Elective Courses
58 elective credits allow students to select courses related to major or expand perspective in other areas of interest.
More curriculum details available here
Clinical Requirements
36-Hour Practicum Experience
In the latter part of online nursing program, students participate in practicum learning experience in their workplace or at health agency local to their area. Courses are entirely online with practicum completable without travel or other residency requirements.
The practicum is integrated into BSNU 475 Healthcare Quality and Leadership for Professional Nursing course, focusing on strategic leadership and performance improvement. Students must meet all practicum requirements before enrolling in BSNU 475.
Practicum develops deeper connections between studies and real-world nurse leader and manager roles, allowing application of concepts in real time. Experience emphasizes role of nurse leader in complex healthcare delivery systems and how professional nurse contributes to transformation and performance improvement in healthcare organizations.
Program Outcomes
Upon completion of online RN to BSN degree program, nursing students will demonstrate proven skill set of assessing, planning, and executing strategic vision—great asset to any health organization.
Graduate Competencies
Graduates of Nursing (RN to BSN) Degree program will be able to:
- Promote principles of professional nursing practice by synthesizing theories and concepts based on social, physical, and life sciences including humanities and liberal arts education
- Apply leadership concepts and skills to promote safe, quality care across variety of healthcare settings
- Translate research findings to incorporate into evidence-based nursing practice
- Incorporate patient care technology to manage information for delivery of quality patient care
- Use knowledge of healthcare policy, finance, and regulatory systems to provide safe, high-quality professional practice
- Demonstrate inter- and intra-professional communication and collaborative skills promoting evidence-based, patient-centered care across healthcare continuum
- Apply principles of health promotion, wellness, and disease prevention positively impacting individuals, families, groups, and communities
- Integrate professional nursing values, ethical, moral, and legal conduct into professional practice
- Articulate value of practice excellence, lifelong learning, and professional engagement promoting personal and professional growth and development
- Provide patient-centered care using evidence-based practices respecting diversity and complexity of patients across healthcare continuum
Professional Certification Eligibility
Upon graduation, students can:
- Complete final requirements towards certification from Sigma Theta Tau, increasing marketability as professional registered nurse
- Sit for certification exams in nursing leadership and management (coursework aligned with American Organization for Nursing Leadership competencies)
Tuition
2025-26 Academic Year Tuition Rates
Standard Cohort Bachelor’s Rate:
- Cost per credit: $459
Military Preferred Rate:
- Cost per credit: $250
Program Cost Calculation:
- 32 major requirement credits × $459 = $14,688 (standard rate)
- 32 major requirement credits × $250 = $8,000 (military rate)
Additional fees may apply to individual courses within major requirements. Bachelor of Science in Nursing tuition rate may not be combined with other offers.
Additional Costs
Total Program Requirements: 127 credits
- 32 major requirements credits
- 9 Kirkpatrick Signature Series credits
- 58 elective credits
- General education courses (if not previously completed)
Only pay for credits needed. Students should consult with admissions counselor to determine eligible transfer credits and verify minimum graduation requirements. Transfer credits must be from regionally accredited college or university.
Financial Aid
Bellevue University counselors guide students to find financial aid plan that works. Multiple options available to help pay for degree including:
- Federal financial aid
- Scholarships
- Military benefits
- Employer tuition assistance
See the official tuition page for more details
Program Mission and Values
Bellevue University’s RN to BSN program provides cutting-edge online education to establish tomorrow’s effective transformational nurse leaders and managers in influence of healthcare outcomes and enhance quality of life for individuals, communities, and global populations through advancement of nursing science.
Mission Focus
- Enhance quality of healthcare through education and development of innovative nurse leaders
- Prepare nurses to influence change and help healthcare organizations adapt to provide exceptional patient care
- Develop critical skills in decision making and nursing leadership for career advancement
- Provide flexibility working nurses need to reach goals without sacrificing work-life balance
Core Values
Values driving mission and vision are:
- Professionalism
- Collaborative leadership
- Personal development
- Excellence
- Innovation
Student Support
Student Coach
Stay on track with help of Student Coach—with students from day one to graduation providing personalized support throughout program.
Flexible Online Learning
100% online courses designed to bring quality learning into format fitting schedules without sacrificing meaningful faculty feedback and collaboration with peers across country.
Faculty Expertise
Learn from professors with real-world healthcare experience who provide hands-on insights and support as students advance through program.
Accreditation
The RN to BSN baccalaureate degree program in nursing at Bellevue University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Program has been CCNE-accredited since 2018 with reaffirmation extending accreditation through 2033.
Bellevue University is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org), providing additional stamp of quality on top of specialized CCNE accreditation.
According to Program Director Dr. Candida Constantine-Castillo, “CCNE accreditation further promotes Bellevue University’s mission. Employers know our graduates possess the skills needed to fulfill roles today and into tomorrow.”
CCNE’s specialized accreditation approves quality and integrity of baccalaureate and residency programs in nursing. Graduating from CCNE-accredited program provides nurses with solid foundation upon which to build careers and pursue opportunities within organizations and nursing profession.
Related Programs at Bellevue University
Health and Healthcare Management Programs:
Undergraduate Degrees:
- Biology – B.S.
- Communication Studies – B.A.
- Health and Human Performance – B.S.
- Health Science – B.S.
- Healthcare Management – B.S.
- Kinesiology – B.S.
- Public Health – B.S.
Graduate Degrees:
- Healthcare Administration – M.H.A.
- Human Services (Cohort) – M.A.
Certificates:
- Mental Health Technician Certificate
- Organizational Communication – Minor
Program Benefits:
- Transfer in existing college credits to save time and money on bachelor’s
- Get real-time learning through internship or practicum opportunities
- Learn from professors with real-world healthcare experience
- Blend current work in field with flexible schedule
- Enter master’s program without taking GRE or other standardized tests
More RN to BSN Programs in Nebraska
- Clarkson College - Omaha
- Midland University - Fremont
- Nebraska Methodist College - Omaha
- Union Adventist University - Lincoln
- UNMC - Omaha