Nursing

RN-BSN

Major Area of Emphasis

Students must complete requirements in one of the following areas of emphasis:

  • RN-BSN Completion
  • RN-BSN Completion (Accelerated) - Integrated with graduate Master of Science in Nursing Leadership and Management program

Overview of the RN-BSN Program

UW-Green Bay has a rich history of offering RN to BSN both on campus and online as a part of the collaborative UW BSN@HOME program. The RN-BSN program is designed for associate degree registered nurses looking to advance their career. This accredited, high quality program is designed to be nurse friendly, flexible, and meet the needs of adult learners and working registered nurses. Faculty employ innovative, media enhanced technologies to engage students.

The program consists of 120 credits for the BSN degree that builds on the foundation of the associate degree or diploma in nursing. Prior learning is acknowledged through liberal credit transfer. The RN transfers at least 60 credits through articulation agreements. Additional credits completed at other universities, colleges, or community colleges may also transfer. The curriculum includes general education (18 credits), nursing support courses (12-15 credits), and upper level RN-BSN courses (30 credits).  The online upper level RN-BSN courses are offered in 7 and 14-week sessions including the summer term.  

The curriculum is designed to help students:

  • Discover the latest evidence based nursing practice

  • Understand how health policy impacts practice

  • Expand knowledge of population health through practicum experiences close to home

  • Examine cultural and global health issues facing nurses

  • Learn recent advances in informatics & innovative healthcare technologies

Admission Requirements:

  •  Earned Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or diploma in nursing

  •  Grade point average of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent) on post-secondary coursework

  •  Current, unencumbered RN license from any state

Nurse 1-2-1

This unique program is designed for high school students who would like to earn a BSN through the combined resources of the nursing programs at UW-Green Bay and Northeast Wisconsin Technical College (NWTC). Prospective high school students admitted to UW-Green Bay complete a NURSE 1-2-1 application in fall of their senior year.  Students complete general education and support courses in Year 1 at UW-Green Bay; complete the Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) at NWTC in Years 2 and 3; and return to UW-Green Bay Year 4 to complete the BSN degree.

BSN- MSN Accelerated Leadership Option 

UW-Green Bay offers an accelerated path to the MSN Leadership and Management degree for qualified RN-BSN students (see below for eligibility criteria).  Pay undergraduate tuition rates while you earn up to nine graduate credits. This option allows qualified undergraduate students to enroll in three specific MSN courses (NUR 737 Leadership in Complex Systems; NUR 734 Evaluation and Evidence-Based Practices; NUR 760 Informatics for Nursing Leaders). 

 These courses: 

  • satisfy both the undergraduate (RN-BSN) and graduate course requirements (after admission to the MSN program), 
  • provide more advanced content than the equivalent undergraduate course. Refresher content is available for reference, 

BSN-MSN Accelerated Leadership Option Eligibility Criteria

  • Experience in a leadership role
  • Completion of at least six RN-BSN upper level credits with a cumulative GPA of 3.25 or higher

For more information about the BSN-MSN Accelerated Leadership Option click here https://www.uwgb.edu/rn-bsn/ ; For more information about the MSN program, click here  https://www.uwgb.edu/msn/

Traditional 4yr  

Overview of the Traditional BSN Program

The Traditional BSN program prepares nurse generalists to work in hospitals, long-term care, and community settings. The professional (BSN) portion of the curriculum includes 65 credits and is designed to be completed in five semesters of full time study. A concept-based approach is used to foster development of clinical reasoning by assisting students to sort, analyze, and find connections in health information.

The concepts are categorized around three main categories: Healthcare Recipient Concepts (e.g., Functional Ability, Family Dynamics, Culture), Health and Illness Concepts (e.g., Homeostasis, Protection, Mood), and Professional Nursing Concepts (e.g., Nursing Roles, Collaboration, Population Health, Healthcare Economics). The concepts are introduced and reinforced throughout the curriculum using exemplars or case examples that a nurse will experience in their practice.  For example, the concept of immunity may be taught as a primary or interrelated concept at several points in the curriculum using exemplars such as rheumatoid arthritis, vaccination of children and adults, allergic reactions, or when understanding the immuno-compromised state a patient experiencing cancer treatment often faces.  Students and faculty will engage in active learning strategies designed to emphasize application of material rather than rote memorization. 

Graduates will be prepared to sit for the National Council of State Boards of Nursing Licensure Exam (NCLEX-RN).

Admission Requirements- Prospective nursing students apply in March the year prior to starting the Traditional BSN program.  

To be considered for the Traditional BSN Program, applicants must have:

  • 30 completed college credits including at least 3 of the following 4 science courses completed or in progress 
  • Minimum 3.0 college GPA with no required science course grade lower than a "C" 
  • Preferred criteria:
    • Completion of Nursing Assistant Course (must be completed prior to starting nursing courses)
    • Healthcare experience
    • Community service/Volunteer experience
    • Bilingual

Admission to the Traditional Nursing program is competitive.  Completion of the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission to the nursing major.  

For application information including a link to the application click here https://www.uwgb.edu/bsn-traditional/admission-requirements/ 

Admitted students must complete a Criminal Background Check (cost incurred by student) and results must comply with standards required for clinical placement. 

Traditional BSN Program Outcomes

By the end of the Traditional BSN program, graduates will be able to:

  1. Engage in professional nursing practice that is patient-centered and culturally appropriate for individuals, families and communities. 
  2. Demonstrate clinical judgement through the delivery of evidence-based nursing care across the lifespan. 
  3. Integrate principles of quality improvement, safety, and sustainability into nursing practice within healthcare organizations and systems. 
  4. Use knowledge sources effectively to deliver health promotion, disease prevention strategies designed to improve population health outcomes.  
  5. Demonstrate leadership and caring behaviors via advocacy, fiscal awareness, and analysis of health policy in dynamic healthcare environments.  
  6. Engage in effective communication and interprofessional collaboration in the delivery of health care for quality patient outcomes. 
  7. Use technologies for the management of information, delivery of patient care, and to support nursing innovation. 
Supporting Courses
Required:18
Principles of Biology: Cellular and Molecular Processes
Principles of Biology Lab: Cellular and Molecular Processes
Survey of General, Organic and Biochemistry
Survey of General, Organic, and Biochemistry Laboratory
Laboratory Safety
Introduction to Psychology
Introduction to Lifespan Development
Adult Development and Aging
Microbiology: Choose one of the following4
Principles of Microbiology
and Principles of Microbiology Laboratory
Medical Microbiology
and Medical Microbiology Lab
Anatomy & Physiology: Choose one of the following5-8
Anatomy and Physiology I
and Anatomy and Physiology II
Anatomy and Physiology
and Anatomy and Physiology Lab
Statistics: Choose one of the following4
Introductory Statistics
Social Science Statistics
Nutrition: Choose one of the following3
Ethnic Influences on Nutrition
Art and Science of Healthy Food Preparation
Food and Nutritional Health
World Food and Population Issues
Human Nutrition
Communication: Choose one of the following3
Introduction to Communication
Fundamentals of Public Address
Fundamentals of Interpersonal Communication
Small Group Communication
Required Nursing Courses:14
Introduction to Professional Nursing Concepts
Communicating and Managing Healthcare Information
Health Assessment for Nursing Practice
Basic & Intermediate Nursing Skills and Simulation
Pathophysiology Concepts for Nursing Practice
Foundations of Nursing Practice: Practicum/Experiential Learning
Upper-Level Courses
Required Nursing Courses51
Pharmacology for Nursing Practice
Healthy Aging and Chronic Care Management
Health & Illness Concepts I
Health & Illness Concepts I: Advanced Nursing Skills/Simulation
Health & Illness Concepts I: Practicum
Quality Improvement
Professional Development I: Nursing Theory, Image and Ethics
Health & Illness Concepts II
Evidence-Based Practice: Translating Research to Practice
Alterations in Health & Illness II: Practicum/Simulation
Leadership for Sustainable Healthcare: Health Disparities, Health Equity, & the Nursing Profession
Nursing Care of the Childbearing Family
Behavioral Health Care Management
Nursing with Diverse Populations Practicum
Population/Community Health Nursing Theory
Population/Community Health Nursing Practicum
Health & Illness Concepts III: Complex Care
Care Transitions Practicum Immersion
Professional Development: Navigating the Nursing Profession
Leadership: Nursing in an Evolving Healthcare System
Total Credits102-105

Faculty

Christine L Vandenhouten; Professor; Ph.D., Marquette University, chair*

Myunghee Jun; Associate Professor; Ph.D., Seoul National University*

Susan Hopkinson; Assistant Professor; Ph.D., University of Maryland - Baltimore*

Jenna Liphart-Rhoads; Assistant Professor; Ph.D., Capella University*

Cheryl Passel; Assistant Professor; Ph.D., Marian University

Jaclyn Holm; Associate Teaching Professor; M.S., Bellin College

Sharon Gajeski; Assistant Teaching Professor; M.S.N., University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh

Elizabeth Luecht; Assistant Teaching Professor; M.S.N., University of Phoenix

Erica Rollin; Assistant Teaching Professor; M.S., University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh

Curriculum Guides  

The following are curriculum guides for a four-year Nursing degree program and are subject to change without notice. Students should consult a Nursing program advisor to ensure that they have the most accurate and up-to-date information available about a particular four-year degree option.

  • RN-BSN
  • Nursing 1-2-1
  • Traditional 4yr Nursing