Online RN-to-BSN

Conceptual Framework and Threads

Person:

Persons are viewed as developing across the life span and are holistic, dynamic, complex and autonomous. As citizens of the world and members of a larger network of families, groups and communities, individuals strive to meet their basic human needs. Individuals are in constant interaction with other open systems and interpret the world according to their own contextual reality. In doing so, persons create their own subjective meanings about health, illness and well-being. As a result, they have the right to fully participate in health care decisions that affect their quality of life.

Environment:

Environment is the arena for life span development and provides the conditions for persons to grow, change and meet (or not meet) their basic human needs. Additionally, the environment exerts social, cultural, political and religious norms that influence the behavior of individuals, families, groups and communities. Reciprocally, individuals, families, groups and communities influence the nature of the environment.

Nursing:

Central to the practice of professional nursing is respect for the autonomy and dignity of all individuals without regard to gender, ethnicity, religion or class. The values of the profession are rooted in a caring philosophy and encompass ethical standards, a commitment to advocacy and social justice, scientific theory, intuitive ways of knowing, aesthetic ways of knowing and tradition.

The context of nursing is health promotion, health maintenance, health restoration and palliation. The practice of nursing should be person-centered and exert significant influence on the safety, health and welfare of individuals, families, groups and communities. This is accomplished by utilizing the nursing process and critical thinking to provide holistic interventions based on a unique body of knowledge that assists individuals to meet their physiological, safety and security, self-esteem, love and belonging, and self-actualization needs and by promoting the health and welfare of families, groups and communities. The process by which this is achieved is through the implementation of an evidence-based practice model that utilizes the best available international evidence, clinical expertise, and patient preference, within the context of available resources.

Professional nurses are educated to employ expert communication skills in order to influence health policy, provide professional leadership in resource management, utilize information technology effectively, and to motivate and supervise others. Through a process of collaboration with the interprofessional team nurses maintain standards of care, focus on professional team improvement, act as a change agent, implement evidence-based models for practice, and influence the profession through political awareness and activity.

Health:

Health is a subjective state, rooted in experiences, values, and beliefs and is culturally defined and practiced. Health is reflected in a person’s ability to pursue their goals and desires, meet their basic human needs and achieve quality of life as defined by the person.

Teaching-Learning Process:

The faculty believe that teaching-learning is a dynamic, mutual, constantly evolving process that provides the opportunity to both inspire and empower nursing students. Through this process, nursing students are inspired to value change through the role modeling of faculty and empowered through didactic and clinical instruction to create their visions regarding the role of the nurse. More notably, through the critical thinking process students should be empowered to challenge traditional nursing practices that are void of research or evidence-based support. Further, the teaching-learning process is viewed as the linking of nursing faculty expertise with evidence-based teaching strategies that enhance student learning, promote effective communication and cultivate a value for lifelong learning. Accountability of the educational process is demonstrated by evaluation of student learning outcomes.

Conceptual Threads of the College of Nursing:

H= Horizontal thread: provide the elements of the framework that are foundational and gain breadth as students progress throughout the curriculum while being exposed to various experiences.

• Communication (H): The activity of conveying information therapeutically and effectively with all stakeholders of the healthcare team.
• Person-Centered Care (H): Holistic care that encompasses individuals, families and communities with respect for the uniqueness and complexity of all as open systems. It includes science theory, advocacy, caring, ethical standards and attention to social, cultural, racial, political, and religious diversity.
• Basic Human Needs (H): A hierarchy of human needs that includes physiologic needs, safety and security needs, love and belonging needs, self-esteem needs and self-actualization needs.
• Nursing Process (H): An organized method of planning and delivering care that is composed of five steps: assessment, diagnosis, outcome identification, implementation and evaluation.
• Evidence-Based Nursing Practice (H): A practice model that utilizes the best available international evidence, clinical expertise, and patient preference within the context of available resources.
• Professional Values (H): Application of legal and ethical standards that guide the profession of nursing to include accountability for practice and principles of altruism, autonomy, human dignity, integrity, social justice, and ethics.
• Critical Thinking (H): The process of conceptualizing, analyzing, synthesizing and evaluating information that facilitates a healthy skepticism and results in a willingness to act on new information.

V=Vertical Thread: consists of those concepts, which progress from the simple to the complex as students gain increasing sophistication in their understanding of professional nursing. Helps students gain breadth and depth.

• Professional Leadership (V): The ability to manage resources, influence, motivate and supervise others, collaborate with an inter-professional team, maintain standards in the provision of care, focus on quality improvement, act as a leader, change agent and educator in order to implement evidence-based models of practice in a fiscally responsible way.
• Quality and Safety (V): Knowledge and skills to minimize risk and to improve structure processes and outcomes.
• Health Care informatics (V): The use of information and technology to communicate, manage knowledge, gather data, mitigate error, and support decision-making.
• Health Policy (V): Decisions, plans, and actions, that are undertaken to achieve specific healthcare goals in a society.
• Collaboration (V): The process whereby nurses work jointly and cooperatively with patients, families, groups, and intra-professional and inter-professional teams for the purpose of improving quality healthcare.
• Levels of Prevention (V): Providing primary, secondary and tertiary nursing care to individuals, families, groups and communities in the context of health promotion, screenings, restoration, maintenance, and palliation.
• Life Span Development (V): A dynamic process that occurs from conception to death in which there is an orderly pattern of growth and change affecting structure, cognition, socio-emotional, moral and spiritual dimensions.

Nursing Standards:

The faculty developed the curriculum, student learning outcomes/program objectives and program outcomes based on the following standards and guidelines: Indiana Nurse Practice Act, the American Nurses Association (ANA) Nursing Scope and Standards of Practice (2015), the ANA Social Policy Statement (2010), the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) (2017), Healthy People 2020, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) report on Health Professions Education (2003), the IOM report on the Future of Nursing (2011), the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) Essentials of Baccalaureate Education (2008) and the Quality and Safety Education for Nurses (QSEN) Competencies (2007).

Student Learning Outcomes of Undergraduate Degree Nursing Program Options

1. Utilize the nursing process to implement principles of person centered care within the framework of basic human needs and life span development.
2. Demonstrate effective communication while collaborating therapeutically and effectively with healthcare system stakeholders.
3. Demonstrate professional leadership in the coordination of healthcare that minimizes risk, promotes safety, and manages resources by creating a culture of continuous quality improvement.
4. Implement the principles of evidence based nursing practice in policy development and the provision of person centered care in an evolving healthcare environment.
5. Utilize information technology to coordinate and support decision-making in the provision of person centered care.
6. Implement critical thinking strategies in the context of health promotion, health maintenance, health restoration and palliation to maximize optimal person centered health outcomes.
7. Exemplify professional values to include accountability for practice, and principles of altruism, autonomy, human dignity, integrity, social justice and ethics.

Welcome to Purdue University Northwest College of Nursing Online RN-to-BSN Baccalaureate Completion Program! The baccalaureate program maintains a commitment to quality, evidence-based nursing education and has a reputation for nursing excellence. The program keeps pace with the ever-changing healthcare delivery systems and technological advances while being rooted in fundamental humanistic philosophies. We are excited you are here and have chosen PNW to complete your baccalaureate degree. The Undergraduate Online RN-to-BSN Nursing Handbook is intended to provide students information regarding programs of study, requirements, policies and procedures that pertain to students while enrolled in the College of Nursing. Students are responsible for the information contained in this Handbook; please use it as a reference. Purdue University Northwest College of Nursing reserves the right to make changes to the Undergraduate Nursing Handbook. The Faculty and Staff of Purdue University Northwest College of Nursing would like to welcome you and are here to assist in your journey.

It’s imperative that all online students follow the specific deadlines, policies and calendar dates associated with the online RN-to-BSN program.  This program operates on a different calendar than the rest of the University.

All processes for the following items are unique to your program and differ from the traditional PNW programs.

• Tuition Deadlines
• Registration Deadlines
• Tuition and Fees
• Start and End Dates

Establishing your PNW Account

• MyPNW is the hub of Purdue Northwest’s online content. It is a web portal enabling you to access many of the university’s online resources from a central location by entering a single username and password.
• A user name and 10-digit PUID number are assigned to you when admitted to the University and can be found on your Letter of Admission.
• To activate, choose Account Activation (New Students Only)
• The Office of Instructional Technology provides resources for all PNW supported technology as well as troubleshooting.
• Students experiencing technical difficulties with their PNW username and/or password can contact the Customer Service Center for assistance.

PNW Gmail account

• All PNW students are provided with a student Gmail account
• Student e-mail addresses are set to your PNW account username@pnw.edu.
• The College of Nursing at Purdue University Northwest requires that all RN-BSN students use only their student Gmail accounts when contacting university personnel.
• All official University information will be sent to this account. Check for messages frequently.
• You can access Gmail through the myPNW portal. This is your personal e-mail box and should be treated as such.
• Do not share your login information or password with anyone.
• Students experiencing technical difficulties with their PNW username and/or password can contact the Customer Service Center for assistance.

Access Brightspace

• Brightspace is the learning management system for courses in the RN-BSN program
  • RN-BSN Nursing Courses
  • RN-BSN Non-nursing Courses
  • Orientation for the Online RN-BSN Nursing Program
    • Your Brightspace orientation course is titled (Semester)-(Year)-ZNRS-10100-100
• There are multiple ways to access Brightspace
  • myPNW portal
  • Directly into Brightspace
• The Office of Instructional Technology is an excellent resource. Please visit their website as it provides tutorials on using Brightspace.
• Students experiencing technical difficulties with Brightspace can contact the Customer Service Center for assistance

The following is a checklist of minimum computer hardware/software requirements, recommendations for new computers and basic computing skills that are necessary for all students. Minimum Hardware Requirements

• 8 GB of RAM
• Windows 10 or higher operating system for a PC
• OSX 10.13 High Sierra or higher for a MAC
• At least one USB port
• 11ac Wi-Fi adapter
• 256 GB or larger of storage (either internal, external or cloud)

New Computer Hardware Specifications

Information Services recommends the following minimum specifications for new computer purchases.

• Processor: Intel Core i5
• Memory: 16GB or more of RAM
• Storage: 256 GB (or larger) SSD hard drive
• Display: 13” or larger display with 1920 x 1080 pixels or higher resolution.
• Wired Internet: Ethernet port or USB Ethernet adapter
• Wireless Internet: 802.11ac Wireless Card

If you need to purchase a new computer, you can receive major discounts due to your affiliation with PNW!  Many computer vendors, including Apple, Dell, and HP offer discounts to PNW students, faculty, staff. Purdue has licensed Office 365 from Microsoft to make it available for free on an individual basis to students, faculty and staff, including use on their personally owned machines *Chromebooks/iPads are not recommended as students may experience software incompatibility issues.

Software

• Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Anti-Virus software
• Mozilla Firefox – for either PC or Mac
• Google Chrome – for either PC or Mac
• Adobe Acrobat DC

*PNW students may be eligible for discounted software. More details are available at the Customer Service Center.

Required Computer Skills

• Keyboard and use a mouse
• Basic windows functions (maximize, minimize, move windows)
• Word processing
• Create text
• Cut, copy, paste
• Change fonts
• Name, rename and save files to a variety of storage devices
• Create tables
• Insert an object
• Create a PowerPoint presentation
• Create directories/folders, manage files
• Attach files, send e-mail
• Use “help”
• Access the Internet
• Search the Internet
• Identify the type of Internet source
• Download a file/application
• Install a downloaded application

Additional Computer Resources

• Customer Service Center Steps for Students Success – this link includes the most updated information about technology requirements for distance learning courses.
• Brightspace System Checker – This checker will ensure the student’s technology meets the requirements to properly run Brightspace.

Customer Support Center The CSC is available by phone, chat or email during the following hours:

Monday to Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Email: csc@pnw.edu

Phone: (219) 989-2888

Virtual Help Desk: Zoom

Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

• Information Services for Students
• Student Brightspace Resources

We want you to feel connected to the faculty and staff at Purdue University Northwest and the College of Nursing. Contact information for commonly contacted staff and departments are listed below. The PNW CON faculty and staff will respond to emails within 48 hours during the business week. If you are unsure who to contact, please start with the RN-to-BSN Office Secretary, Dawn Wasek. She will help direct your question to the appropriate person or department. Your academic advisor is another great resource in your journey through the program.

College of Nursing

• College of Nursing
• RN-to-BSN Office: (219) 989-8450, Business hours for the RN-to-BSN program are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. CST

• Barb Pudelek: Director, Online Programs (219) 989-2399
• Patricia Mellon: Academic Advisor: Last names A-K (219) 989-2110
• Nicole Hartford: Academic Advisor: Last names L-Z (219) 989-2245
• Dawn Wasek: RN-BSN Program Secretary (219) 989-8450
• Joe Verble: Project Manager (219) 989-2841

Office of the Registrar

• Susan Standley: Registration Coordinator: Last Names A-K  (219) 989-8352
• Jade Lopez: Registration Coordinator: Last Names L-Z (219) 989-2315

Office of Financial Aid

• Mark Montella: (219) 989-2018

Office of Admissions

• Diane Sullivan: (219) 989-2289

Course Related Support

• Customer Service Center (PNW Gmail / MyPNW): (219) 989-2888
• Office of Instructional Technology:  (219) 989-2888

Tuition and Payment

• Office of the Bursar (Pay Online or in Person only)
• Donna Gonzalez – Billing Information: (219) 989-2735

Library

• Library Hammond: (219) 989-2224, Westville: (219) 785-5248
• Marcia Keith – Reference Librarian for AP Program (219) 989-2523

Dean of Students

• Dean of Students

PNW Accessibility Center

• PNW Accessibility Center

Admissions Requirements Only applicants from Indiana, Illinois or Wisconsin, or Purdue Northwest alumni are authorized to enroll in the online RN-to-BSN program. Applicants must have:

• Graduated from a regionally accredited institution
• Completed a nursing program that had national nursing accreditation at the time of attendance and graduation (ACEN, CNEA or CCNE)
  • Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing: ACEN (formerly NLNAC) is a national accrediting body that provides accreditation to diploma and associate’s degree programs. A list of ACEN-accredited nursing programs can be found on the ACEN website (http://www.acenursing.org).
  • National League for Nursing Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation: CNEA is a national accrediting body that provides accreditation to LPN/LVN, diploma, and associate’s degree programs. A list of CNEA-accredited nursing programs can be found on the CNEA website (https://cnea.nln.org/accredited-programs)
• Possess an active, unencumbered RN licensure in the current state of residence and/or practice
• A minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 2.3 from an accredited associate’s degree or diploma program in nursing. Applicants with a GPA between 2.0 and 2.29 may submit a petition letter to the director of the online program that will be reviewed by the RN-to-BSN Admission, Progression and Graduation Committee and documents the following:
  • What circumstances caused the low GPA?
  • What is different now to control those issues?
  • What mechanisms are in place to ensure academic success?
  • A list of career/employment accomplishments
• In addition to meeting the RN-to-BSN admissions requirements stated above, an applicant transferring from another college must submit:
  • A completed application for admission
  • $30 transcript evaluation fee
  • $25 application fee
  • Official college/university transcripts from each institution attended
  • Copy of RN license number

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores may apply if applicant’s native/first language is not English and the applicant does not hold a bachelor’s degree or higher degree.

Registered Nurse License

• All students enrolled in the program must keep their RN license current/active.

Communication

• The College of Nursing requires that current students only use their PNW student email accounts to contact university personnel.
• Email is the preferred and quickest method of communication for the RN-to-BSN program as it provides a written record, time stamp, and can be sent directly to the people that can best assist in a particular situation. Additional communications between students and university personnel may be arranged directly.
• Students in the Online RN-to-BSN Completion Program may not enroll in traditional 16 week classes offered at PNW while taking courses in the Carousel of Classes. Likewise, students who are not admitted into the RN-to-BSN Completion program are unable to enroll in online courses offered in the Carousel of Classes, including non-nursing coursework.

Power Path

The Power Path is a 10-month track for the Online RN-to-BSN Program.  It is the same RN-to-BSN curriculum.  This track is only a change of pace in which you complete the program.  This track is meant for those students who have minimal outside obligations.  Students must discuss with their advisor if they want to opt into the Power Path.

RN-to-BSN students who are NOT eligible for the Power Path:

1. Students who have any outstanding non-nursing coursework to complete
2. Students who have failed a nursing course
3. Students who have already started the Standard 16-month Online RN-to-BSN
4. Students who are on Academic Notice by the university

Who is my Academic Advisor? The academic advisors for the RN-to-BSN Completion Program are Patricia Mellon and Nicole Hartford. Students are assigned their advisor based on the first letter of their last name.

A—K Patricia Mellon

L—Z  Nicole Hartford

The Role of the Academic Advisor

• Guide you through your program and help you along your educational pathway
• Direct you to the appropriate people and resources for help
• Make sure you are getting the answers about the different areas relating to school and the program
• Conduct admissions/graduation/periodic audits
• Confirm the application of transfer credit toward program requirements
• Track and monitor student progress and progression

Contacting your Academic Advisor

Contact your advisor for additional help when you have questions. Again, email is the best and quickest method for the RN-to-BSN program as it provides a written record and time stamp. Additional communications may be arranged directly between advisors and students as needed. The RN-to-BSN program is designed for students to be able to be self-sufficient and actively engaged in their education with guidance as needed. Therefore, it is essential that students are familiar with and understand all the provided materials and resources. Contact your advisor periodically. Since the program moves at such a fast pace, it is recommended at least once a semester. It is important that it is noted in your file how you are doing and that you are making progress. You should also let your advisor know if you will be stepping out of the program at anytime or make any changes to your plan.

Faculty Faculty teaching in the RN-to-BSN Completion Program are rated as excellent instructors and expert practitioners. The faculty teaching you hold advanced degrees, many are active in nursing practice and research, as well as certified as advanced practice nurses.

• College of Nursing Faculty and Staff

Academic Coaches Academic Coaches play a crucial role in creating support for the student and connecting students with faculty. All hold advanced degrees, many are active in nursing practice and research, and certified as advanced practice nurses. Academic coaches:

• track student participation and monitor student progress.
• reach out to students to determine if and when help is needed.
• direct students to resources in the course (or outside the course).

Contact your Academic Coach or Faculty In an accelerated, online learning environment, strong communication is essential to successful course/program completion.  Contact your academic coach or faculty with course specific questions. They are the best qualified to assist you with questions related to course content, course progress, or the award of final grades. Likewise, if you are struggling in class, your academic coach and faculty provide strategies for success. Your faculty and academic coaches may be a resource for when seeking letters of recommendation for graduate education. Email is the preferred and quickest method of communication for the RN-to-BSN program as it provides a written record, time stamp, and can be sent directly to the people that can best assist in a particular situation. Additional communications between students and university personnel may be arranged directly. Please see your syllabus for contact information. If you cannot reach your academic coach or faculty, please contact the Director of Online Programs for assistance.

Are there clinical requirements for the RN-to-BSN degree? Clinical requirements are satisfied in several ways. You will be assessing virtual patients in NUR 38801 Health Assessment for the Professional Nurse with a product called Shadow Health. Likewise, in NUR 48300 Community Health Nursing, you will use Sentinel City to virtually assess the needs of a community. Your NUR 49800 Capstone Course in Nursing will require that your perform an evidence-based project with an identified local community need. The purpose of this experiential learning course is to provide you with the opportunity to apply and integrate knowledge from previous coursework in the development of an evidence-based practice proposal.

Can I take more than one nursing course in the Carousel of Nursing Courses at a time? Students are only allowed to take only one (1) nursing course during a 5-week session. The only exception is NUR 39100 & 39401, which are offered concurrently. The curriculum was designed with this in mind. If you feel you would like to take a heavier load, students may add non-nursing courses while taking their nursing core.

What if I have to take a temporary break from the program? We hope that the flexibility of the coursework will allow you to finish the course you are currently taking. If you cannot continue and you withdraw from the course, you can re-take the course you dropped when it is offered. The last day to withdraw from a course is the Friday during the 4th week of the course. Students who need to take an Interruption in the Plan of Study should consult that section of the handbook.

Must I be connected to the Internet to complete the coursework? Yes. You will need Internet access to download your individual course and online readings onto your computer and to periodically submit and receive feedback on assignments and assessments as well as participate in online discussions.

Are refunds given for courses? Effective spring 2021, the refund policy in the online RN-to-BSN program is as follows:

• Refunds are offered to students who officially withdraw from their course no later than the second day of class by 4:00pm CST. Students who receive financial aid should check with the Office of Financial Aid to determine the effect withdrawing has on their financial aid obligation.
• If you withdraw later than Tuesday of the start of classes, and feel that you have extraordinary circumstances, you may contact a student advocate in the Office of the Dean of Students to provide documentation and ask for a refund.

How much preparation time should I expect to commit to my courses? Please plan on allocating 3 – 4 hours per week per credit hour to complete the didactic coursework. For example, if you are enrolled in a 3-credit hour course, you should anticipate spending approximately 9 – 12 hours per week completing coursework. This time will be spent completing readings, viewing lectures, participating in discussion boards and accessing information in the online library. This does not include the time needed to complete and submit assignments in the course.

Can I take the capstone course when I have completed the nursing credits, but not the non-nursing courses? All outstanding nursing and non-nursing courses must be completed prior to enrolling in the NUR 49800 Capstone course.

Can I submit transcripts after I have already been admitted? The full disclosure policy at Purdue University Northwest – College of Nursing requires that upon admission to the university, students must submit all official transcripts from all previous schools attended. For students enrolled in the RN-to-BSN Completion program, these transcripts are factored into a cumulative GPA, which must be a 2.30 or higher in order to gain admission to the program. Transcripts that were not presented at the time of admission to the online RN-to-BSN Completion program may not be accepted by the College of Nursing and may not be applied toward transfer credit. In addition, students enrolled in the online RN-to-BSN Completion program prior to the academic year who have withheld transcripts may not be permitted to apply them as transfer credit towards graduation.

Can I complete non-nursing course work at another school after I have been admitted to PNW? Yes. Students may look into taking non-nursing courses at another school, perhaps a local community college. Students who choose this option must confirm with their academic advisor that the course will satisfy the requirements. Students can email their advisor the name of the school, course number, and a course description prior to enrollment in order to confirm the course will satisfy the requirements.

Can I use my personal email address for communications related to the RN-to-BSN Completion program? The PNW online RN-to-BSN Completion Program requires that all students enrolled must communicate through their PNW student Gmail accounts. This is the method that instructors, coaches, advisors and other university personnel will be using to contact you. In addition, please include your full name and PNW ID number as this information can facilitate the process of retrieving information.

How do I know what the rules and program policies are or who to call about anything in my program? The Online RN-to-BSN Student Handbook should be used as your source for program policies and information throughout your time in the program. There is also a mandatory orientation that you must complete in Brightspace before taking your first nursing course. This orientation will answer many of your program questions. If you still have questions, please contact your academic advisor.

Where can I find a list of the nursing courses that I am supposed to take? The online RN-to-BSN Student Handbook and Module 2 of your Orientation review the courses in the program and the order that they must be taken. Please review How to Choose Courses in the RN-to-BSN Handbook.

Where can I find non-nursing courses or elective classes to take for my program? These non-nursing and elective courses are designed to fit with your program. They run on the same session dates as your nursing core courses. These courses are all completely online. Please refer to the Handbook Non-Nursing Courses.

Where can I find textbooks for courses in the online RN-to-BSN Program?

• Nursing Textbooks please use the Online RN-to-BSN Text Book List to find texts for your nursing courses courses and review the Instructional Materials Access program.
• Non-nursing Textbooks can be found each semester by going to the following link:
  • Go to the Hammond Campus Bookstore Select the appropriate term
  • Select the Department that your course is being offered – i.e., English 10500 (Department – ENGL)
  • Select the Section for your class – You will need to look at your schedule to make sure you know the section numbers for your classes.
  • If purchasing materials for your courses, be sure to first review and opt-out of the Instructional Materials Access program.

Instructional Material Access

Instructional Materials Access (IMA) is a convenient program designed to ensure every Purdue University Northwest student has affordable access to ALL required course materials they need to succeed.  This includes textbooks, software or other supplemental materials needed for classes.  While PNW has chosen to include all courses in Instructional Materials Access, students have the choice to opt out of the program. For more detailed information, please visit the following website:  https://www.pnw.edu/bursar/tuition-and-fees/instructional-materials-access/

• The fee for the IMA is a flat rate per semester
  • $299 fall semester
  • $299 spring semester
  • $175 summer semester
• All required materials including textbooks and software for the online RN-BSN program are covered under the IMA program
• If you’re having trouble accessing your materials, please contact the book store by email 0154mgr@follett.com or call 219-844-1081

If you choose to opt-out of the Instructional Materials Access program, please be sure to view the textbook list below to purchase your books through a third-party vendo.

RN-to-BSN Textbook List

If you choose to purchase your textbooks, please be sure to review and then opt-out of the Instructional Materials Access program.

RN-to-BSN students are strongly encouraged to review this list prior to purchasing or renting textbooks as textbook editions will change from time to time. Students should make every effort to purchase books and have them delivered prior to the first day of class. This is especially important in a five-week course. Textbooks may be purchased directly from the publisher’s website or from third-party vendors such as efollett.com, Amazon.com or Barnes & Noble Online. The efollett.com site also offers textbook rentals at a significant savings. When purchasing or renting textbooks, students are encouraged to search for textbooks using the ISBN number and not the author name, textbook title, or textbook edition.

Note: This list was last updated September 25, 2024

NUR 18200 – Conceptual and Theoretical Thinking in Nursing 

• Alligood, M.R. (2021). Nursing theorists and their work (10th ed.). Elsevier. ISBN: 9780323757027
• American Psychological Association. (2020). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.). American Psychological Association. ISBN: 9781433832178 (Spiral), 9781433832154 (Hardcover) 9781433832161 (Paperback)
• Hopp, L., & Rittenmeyer, L. (2021) Introduction to evidence-based practice: A practical guide for nursing (2^nd ed.). F. A. Davis. ISBN: 9780803666634

NUR 45200 – Quality and Safety in Professional Nursing Leadership

• Kelly Vana, P., Vottero, B., & Altmiller, G. (2022). Quality and safety education for Nurses: Core competencies (3rd Ed.). Springer. ISBN: 9780826161444
• American Psychological Association. (2020). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.). American Psychological Association. ISBN: 9781433832178 (Spiral), 9781433832154 (Hardcover) 9781433832161 (Paperback)
• Hopp, L., & Rittenmeyer, L. (2021) Introduction to evidence-based practice: A practical guide for nursing (2^nd ed.). Philadelphia: PA: F. A. Davis. ISBN: 9780803666634

NUR 39000 – Nursing Research

• American Psychological Association. (2020). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.). American Psychological Association. ISBN: 9781433832178 (Spiral), 9781433832154 (Hardcover) 9781433832161 (Paperback)
• Hopp, L., & Rittenmeyer, L. (2021) Introduction to evidence-based practice: A practical guide for nursing (2^nd ed.). F. A. Davis. ISBN: 9780803666634
• LoBiondo-Wood, G., & Haber. J. (2021). Nursing research: Methods and critical appraisal for evidence-based practice (10th Ed.). Mosby. ISBN: 9780323762915

NUR 39100 – Professional Ethics

• Butts, J., & Rich, K., (2023). Nursing ethics: Across the curriculum and into practice (6^th ed.) Jones & Bartlett Learning ISBN: 9781284259247
• American Psychological Association. (2020). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.). American Psychological Association. ISBN: 9781433832178 (Spiral), 9781433832154 (Hardcover) 9781433832161 (Paperback)

NUR 39401 – Health Promotion and Education

• Miller, M., and Stoeckel, P. (2019). Client education: Theory and practice (3^rd Ed). Jones and Bartlett Learning. ISBN: 9781284142631

NUR 39700 – Nursing Care of the Aged, Disabled and Chronically Ill

• Touhy, T.A., & Jett, K. (2023). Ebersole & Hess’ toward healthy aging: Human needs & nursing response (11^th ed.). Elsevier/Mosby. ISBN: 9780323809887

NUR 48200 – Nursing Leadership and Management

• Huston, C. J. (2023). Leadership roles and management functions in nursing: Theory and application (11th ed.). Wolters Kluwer. ISBN: 9781975193065
• Huston, C.J. (2023). Lippincott CoursePoint Enhanced for Huston: Leadership roles and management functions in nursing (11^th ed.). LWW ISBN: 9781975215132

NUR 41500 – Pathophysiology

• Huether, S. E., & McCance, K. L. (2020). Understanding pathophysiology (7th ed.). Mosby. ISBN: 9780323639088

NUR 38801 – Health Assessment for the Nursing Professional

• Shadow Health –Health Assessment ISBN: 9780323753678, Course ID: 165730_pnursing12_5001
• Jarvis, C., &  Eckhardt, A. (2024).  Physical Examination and Health Assessment (9^th ed.). Elsevier. ISBN: 9780323809849

NUR 48300 – Community Health Nursing

• American Psychological Association. (2020). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.). American Psychological Association. ISBN: 9781433832178 (Spiral), 9781433832154 (Hardcover) 9781433832161 (Paperback)
• Sentinel City https://healthcarelearninginnovations.com/sentinel-city/ Instructors will send out purchase and registration instructions prior to the course start date. Cost is TBD

NUR 45100 – Nursing Informatics

• American Nurses Association (2022). Scope and standards for nursing informatics practice.  3^rd ed.ISBN: 9781953985002

NUR 49800 – Capstone Course In Nursing

• No text required.

NON-NURSING TEXT BOOKS:
Go to the PNW Bookstore

Select the appropriate term
Select the Department that your course is listed – i.e., English 10500 (Department – ENGL) or SOC 38200 (Department – SOC)
Select the specific section number for the course – You will need to look at your schedule to make sure you know the section numbers for the courses you are registered

Nursing Coursework The nursing core consists of twelve, 5-week, accelerated, online upper division nursing courses.

Course Descriptions:

• NUR 18200 Conceptual and Theoretical Thinking in Nursing (2 credits)

This course examines the concepts that form the philosophical and theoretical basis of nursing science and patient centered care. The content is leveled to provide undergraduate students a foundational understanding of nursing as a discipline and profession. The conceptual framework and philosophy of the school of nursing will be studied. Special emphasis will be placed on the relationship between nursing philosophy, knowledge, research, and practice.

• NUR 38801 Health Assessment for Nursing Professionals (3 credits)

Principles of physical assessment builds on previous knowledge and skills gained from the sciences, humanities, and nursing. This course uses a systematic approach to patient history-taking, review of systems, physical exam and documentation of findings for individuals across the life span.

• NUR 39000 Nursing Research (3 credits)

This course examines the research process and use of research based evidence as a foundation for nursing. A review of both quantitative and qualitative methodologies will be incorporated. Distinguishing among non-research based primary and meta-sources of evidence will be emphasized. Critical thinking skills will be used to read and evaluate published research.

• NUR 39100 Professional Ethics (2 credits) **

Theoretical and practical applications of ethical principles are applied to nursing and patient centered care. Particular attention is given to the ideas of advocacy, autonomy, and authority in beginning professional nursing practice.

• NUR 39401 Health Promotion and Education (2 credits)**

The role of the nurse as a health educator is implemented. Nursing and non-nursing theories related to health promotion and teaching-learning processes are examined. Principles of health literacy related to patient education are emphasized. Evidence-based nursing projects related to health education within a community environment are implemented.

• NUR 39700 Nursing Care of the Aged, Disabled and Chronically Ill (3 credits)

Basic human needs of the aged, person’s living with chronic health problems and/or disabilities are introduced. Principles of health promotion, health restoration and palliation are examined. Evidenced based nursing practice is emphasized within the context of patient centered care.

• NUR 41500 Pathophysiology (3 credits)

The most common morbidity problems manifested throughout the lifespan are studied. Pathophysiologic concepts and physiologic responses are integrated with the nursing process. The application of evidence based nursing practice modalities provides a basis to address basic human needs.

• NUR 45100 Nursing Informatics (3 credits)

This course provides a basic understanding of nursing science, computer science, and information science to prepare students to effectively and efficiently use technology to identify, collect, process, and manage health care information. A focus on technology based health applications which support clinical, administrative, research, and educational decision-making to enhance the efficacy of nursing is provided.

• NUR 45200 Quality and Safety for Professional Nursing Practice (3 credits)

Using a project-management focus, this course provides students the opportunity to synthesize and apply previous knowledge related to: patient-centered care, teamwork and collaboration, evidence-based practice, quality improvement, and safety in a professional leadership role.

• NUR 48200 Nursing Leadership and Management (3 credits)

Theories and evidence based practice related to leadership, organization and management are examined. Specific strategies for effective time management, priority setting, decision making, career planning and delegation are introduced. Approaches to the evaluation of quality nursing practice within a complex work environment are discussed.

• NUR 48300 Community and Public Health Nursing (4 credits)

Concepts of community and public health nursing are introduced. Community health nursing roles related to evidence based practice, leadership, collaboration, quality improvement and political activism are explored. Critical thinking skills are applied in the assessment of vulnerable populations existing within various communities. The reciprocal influence of the environment on the patient, family and community relative to human needs is emphasized.

• NUR 49800 Capstone Course in Nursing (3 credits)

In collaboration with a nursing faculty and clinical liaison, students will plan and implement an evidence-based project consistent with the professional leadership role. Students will use critical thinking skills and evidence based practice to promote patient centered nursing in a health care environment of work complexities. This course will culminate with an evidence-based project that will be presented to peers and the academic community.

Order of Nursing Courses

Students will take classes in the following order: Phase I Nursing Courses

• Phase I Nursing Courses: NUR 18200, NUR 39100 & NUR 39401, NUR 39700, NUR 41500, NUR 48200
  • Students begin the program with NUR 18200. It is a pre-requisite to all subsequent NUR courses.
  • Students may then complete the following Phase I courses in any order.
    • NUR 39100 & NUR 39401**
    • NUR 39700
    • NUR 41500
    • NUR 48200
  • Phase I nursing courses, Statistics and English Composition II are pre-requisites to NUR 39000 Nursing Research
  • **NUR 39100 & NUR 39401 are taken simultaneously in the same 5 week session. Students must register for both in the same session to remain on track.

Milestone Course

NUR 39000 Nursing Research is considered the milestone course Phase II Nursing Courses

• Phase II Nursing Courses are: NUR 38801, NUR 45100, NUR 45200, NUR 48300, NUR 49800

• Upon the successful completion of NUR 39000 Nursing Research, students will then complete the following Phase II nursing courses in any order:
  • NUR 38801
  • NUR 45100
  • NUR 45200
  • NUR 48300
  • NUR 49800*

• NUR 49800* Capstone Course in Nursing is the last nursing course you will take. All prior nursing courses are pre-requisites to NUR 49800 (Capstone).
• All outstanding nursing and non-nursing courses must be completed prior to enrolling in the NUR 49800 Capstone course.

General Information

• In most cases, lower division nursing courses are not transfer equivalents to PNW upper division nursing classes.
• NUR course descriptions are available on the RN-to-BSN program website.
• A semester-by-semester breakdown of nursing course offerings is available by reviewing the Carousel of Nursing Courses

Non-Nursing Coursework In addition to the upper division nursing courses, students admitted to the RN-to-BSN program are required to complete the following non-nursing requirements.

• 17 credit hours in Math/Science
• 6 credit hours in English Composition
• 3 credit hours in general psychology
• 6 credit hours in Social Science electives
• 30 credit hours in Lower division nursing courses**
• 3 credit hours in Statistics
• 3 credit hours in Communications electives
• 6 credit hours in Humanities elective
• 12 credit hours in general electives

**In most cases, Lower division nursing courses are not transfer equivalents to PNW upper division nursing classes. General Information for Non-Nursing Courses

• Statistics and English Composition II are pre-requisites to NUR 39000
• Additional elective program requirements are not prerequisites to NUR courses. They can be completed at any time while enrolled in the program and taken simultaneously with NUR courses.
• Please email your academic advisor with questions regarding the program requirements.
• Students may satisfy some/ most of these requirements with transfer credit upon admission.
• All non-nursing courses are 5 weeks unless noted by * which indicates it is a 10-week accelerated course.
• All non-nursing courses are 3 credit hours – with the exception of NUR 39900 which is 1 credit hour

Choosing your Non-Nursing Courses Purdue University Northwest non-nursing courses can be found on the Registration/Course Offerings for RN-to-BSN Program

Transferring in non-nursing Courses Students may choose courses from other schools to transfer toward non-nursing program requirements. Once courses have been chosen, students may email their academic advisor with the following information to review that the course would fulfill program requirements:

• name of the school
• course number and title
• course description (including credit hours) from college catalog

Reading the Carousel

Students can use this colorful Carousel of Nursing Courses (pictured below) when choosing courses per start date

• Begin by finding your start date; the start date for each five-week session can be found in RED at the top of the page
• Move to the bottom of the column. This will be the first course (NUR 18200 Conceptual and Theoretical Thinking in Nursing)
• Determine the rest of your courses by reading from left to right based on the start date
• Please make sure you are viewing the carousel that corresponds with your admission date in order to correctly map out your progression of courses

• Click the video above to watch How to Read the Carousel of Courses
• Video link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0LDLTaeeo8&feature=youtu.be

Order of Classes: Phase I and Phase II

• NUR 18200 Conceptual and Theoretical Thinking in Nursing is the first nursing course in the carousel and NUR 49800 is the last course in the nursing program.
• Students are only allowed to take only one (1) nursing course during a 5-week session. The only exception is NUR 39100 & 39401, which are offered concurrently. The curriculum was designed with this in mind. If you feel you would like to take a heavier load, students may add non-nursing courses while taking their nursing core.
• Progression in nursing course is dependent on whether the course is considered a Phase I, milestone or Phase II courses. Phase I courses must be taken before being allowed to register for NUR 39000 Nursing Research. NUR 39000 Nursing Research is considered a Milestone Course. Phase II courses can only be taken after completing NUR 39000 Nursing Research.
  • Phase One Courses: NUR 18200, NUR 39100 & NUR 39401, NUR 39700, NUR 41500, NUR 48200
  • Milestone Course: NUR 39000
  • Phase Two: NUR 38801, NUR 45100, NUR 45200, NUR 48300, NUR 49800
• Once you start Phase I or Phase II courses in the nursing carousel, it is highly recommended to NOT take a break during those phases. This may cause a delay in your progression due to courses being offered on a fixed rotational basis.
• Your Academic Advisor can help you in reading the Carousel of Courses and determining the best courses to register.

Registration Scenarios

These scenarios are provided to assist you in developing your schedule.

• Scenario 1: All non-nursing courses completed.

Only nursing courses are left to take. Starting Course: NUR 18200

• Scenario 2: You need social science and/or humanities electives, plus ENGL 10500 and SOC 38200, and the nursing core.

Starting Courses:  SOC 38200 and ENGL 10500 – both of these are 10 weeks long and are pre-requisite courses to NUR 39000.  Students also have the option of taking NUR 18200 while taking care of these prerequisites.  Many students opt to take care of their non-nursing courses in the beginning rather than waiting until the end. Session 1 – SOC 38200 or ENGL 10500 or Humanities / Soc. Sci. Elect. NUR 18200 or Session 2 – ENGL 10500 or SOC 38200 or Humanities / Soc. Sci. Elect. NUR 18200 Session 3 – Humanities / Soc. Sci. Elective or NUR 18200

Nursing Carousel 2022-2024

To enlarge the image, right-click and select “open image in new tab” or “open image in new page”.

Nursing Carousel 2023-2025

You can also save, download, and print from the right-click menu. Non-Nursing Carousel Students can use this Non-Nursing Carousel (pictured below) to choose available courses per start date.

• The start dates for each 5-week session are in RED at the top of the page.
• All courses are 5 weeks unless noted by * which indicates it is a 10 Week Course
• All courses are 3 credit hours – with the exception of NUR 39900 which is 1 credit hour

Please Note:

• Students in the Online RN-to-BSN Completion Program may not enroll in traditional 16-week classes offered at PNW while taking courses in the Carousel of Classes.

Non-Nursing Carousel for 2024

Non-Nursing Carousel for 2025

Civics Literacy Proficiency Requirement

In June 2021, the Purdue University Board of Trustees adopted a civics literacy graduation requirement for undergraduates, including all transfer students. This requirement applies to all undergraduate students who enter Purdue University Northwest in Fall 2022 or any subsequent semester. There is no fee for this requirement.

For students in the online RN-to-BSN, we recommend doing the Civics Literacy Podcast.  Instructions are outlined on the Civics Literacy Proficiency Page found here https://www.pnw.edu/academic-affairs/academic-regulations/civics-literacy-proficiency/ .  Below is some general information about the test:

• This requirement needs to be completed prior to registering for NUR 49800 Nursing Capstone.
• RN-to-BSN students may test remotely; no scheduling is required to test.
• No password is required for this exam.  If you get a prompt for a password, you are in the wrong exam.
• Take the test at your convenience through the Brightspace LMS.
• The name of the exam is Distance Learners Only Civics Knowledge Test– Requires Respondus Lockdown Browser.
• Respondus Lockdown is a custom browser that locks down the testing environment within Brightspace, meaning you are unable to navigate to other sites or applications while testing.
• Respondus will need to download to your computer prior to starting the Civics Literacy Exam. Once available, you can complete your test.

Once you have completed the Civics Literacy Requirement, you will see it completed (Checked off) in your myPNW PLAN in the PNW portal in about 2-3 weeks.

Students can see the grades themselves in the Brightspace course. You will pass the exam as long as you the following score or higher:

• 80% on all 12 podcast quizzes
• 80% score on Distance Learners Only Civics Knowledge Test

For general questions about the civics literacy specifics, please email pnwcivics@pnw.edu (Please specify you are an online RN-to-BSN student)

For questions about the Lockdown Browser or Brightspace Exam, please email csc@pnw.edu (Please specify you are an online RN-to-BSN student)

General Information

Nursing and non-nursing courses in the Online RN-to-BSN Completion Program are listed in the Online RN-to-BSN Handbook Please view the Nursing Carousel to view upcoming nursing course offerings per start date available in the RN-to-BSN program handbook. Please email your academic advisor with specific questions regarding course options. Students are encouraged to register for the entire semester in order to avoid missing registration deadlines.

Deadlines to register for Classes Students must register on or prior to the Monday before classes begin by 3:00pm CST. There are no exceptions made to this deadline date. This deadline applies to both new and returning students (who have already successfully completed a course within the program).

Directly email the RN-to-BSN registration coordinators to register for classes. The CON registration coordinators are:

• Susan Standley: Registration Coordinator Last Name A-K (219) 989-8352
• Jade Lopez: Registration Coordinator Last Name L-Z (219) 989-2315

Please email Susan or Jade with the following information to register for classes:

• Your Full name
• PNW Student ID number
• Courses and start dates

It is recommended that students map out the courses they plan to take from beginning to end before starting the program.  Students can see course offerings in the Nursing Carousel and the Non-nursing Course Rotation. There are a number of ways students can roll out their course progression. Students may complete all non-nursing coursework in the beginning of the program or opt to take non-nursing courses as they are progressing through the nursing core.  All non-nursing coursework, including the University Civics requirement, must be completed prior to enrolling in the capstone course NUR 49800.

There are certain things to consider when choosing courses:

Nursing Courses:

• NUR 18200 Conceptual and Theoretical Thinking in Nursing is the first nursing course in the carousel and NUR 49800 is the last course in the nursing program.
• Students are only allowed to take only one (1) nursing course during a 5-week session. The only exception is NUR 39100 & 39401, which are offered concurrently. If you feel you would like to take a heavier load, students may add non-nursing courses while taking their nursing core.
• Progression in nursing course is dependent on whether the course is considered a Phase I, milestone or Phase II courses. Phase I courses must be taken before being allowed to register for NUR 39000 Nursing Research. NUR 39000 Nursing Research is considered a Milestone Course. Phase II courses can only be taken after completing NUR 39000 Nursing Research.
  • Phase One Courses: NUR 18200, NUR 39100 & NUR 39401, NUR 39700, NUR 41500, NUR 48200
  • Milestone: NUR 39000
  • Phase Two: NUR 38801, NUR 45100, NUR 45200, NUR 48300, NUR 49800
• Once you start Phase I or Phase II courses in the nursing carousel, it is highly recommended to NOT take a break during those phases. This may cause a delay in your progression due to courses being offered on a fixed rotational basis

Non-Nursing Courses:

• Students who still have non-nursing requirements, such as humanities, social science, English Composition 2, or Statistics, have a choice on how to roll out their coursework.  Students may take their non-nursing in the beginning of the program. You do not have to start with a nursing course.
• It is up to you if you wish to take the first nursing course (NUR 18200) at the same time as a non-nursing course.  It is best to weigh your work schedule and life other obligations to gauge whether it is feasible for you to take two classes at one time. It may be best to  “ease” yourself in with one course to get used to the format and the online experience.
• Please Note: ENGL 10500 (Composition 2) and/or SOC 38200 (Statistics) are pre-requisite courses to NUR 39000 (Research).

Time Frame of Courses in the Program: All nursing courses are 5 weeks long in length.  A few of the non-nursing courses are longer being 10 weeks in length.  Those courses are SOC 38200, ENGL 10500.  When planning your schedule, please make note of the extended time for these courses. If you think of the courses in terms of semesters, please consider the following:

• PNW Fall Semester: Three (3) five-week online sessions available
• PNW Spring Semester: Three (3) five-week online sessions available
• PNW Summer Semester: Two (2) five-week sessions available

Enrollment/Grade Verification Enrollment verification services are provided for students who receive educational loans, good student auto insurance discounts, medical insurance, tuition reimbursement for employers and other situations in which official verification of enrollment status is needed. Students can email their registration coordinator to receive a letter of grade verification or a letter of program completion prior to the end of the semester. Feel free to browse the Office of the Registrar website for information on other services offered, such as:

• requesting a transcript
• changing your address or other contact information
• commencement

• Students must email their registration coordinator to register for classes
• Please remember:
  • You may register for the entire semester at one time (Meaning three 5 week sessions in Fall/Spring, two Five week sessions in summer)
  • All students receiving financial aid or loans must be registered for a minimum of 6 credit hours per semester.
  • Make sure to choose the correct courses based on your Nursing Carousel

Making Payments for Classes

• Tuition payments are due on or before the Friday before the start of class by 3pm CST.
• Missed payment deadlines will result in being dropped from the class.
• Invoices and periodic reminders regarding payment amounts due and payment deadlines are sent via email.

Payments for Tuition and Fees

• Can be made online
• Can be made in person at the Bursar’s Office
• Can be made by mail
• PNW Bursar’s Office no longer accepts payments by phone

View your Student Account in myPNW

• Log into myPNW
• On myPNW dashboard find Bill and Payments widget
• Select “Go to the Bill and Payment Portal”
• Under Student Account (center of page at the top) select view activity
• Select the drop-down box for the desired term

Make a Payment in myPNW

• Please pay the exact amount due as shown and do not round your payment up.
• Once you enter your credit card or check information, you can enter the amount you wish to pay
• Tutorial for paying online
• Log into myPNW

Please see the Important Contact Information for the RN-to-BSN Program page for Financial Aid contact information. How to Apply for Financial Aid Please visit the website for Financial Aid for the RN-to-BSN Online Partnership Program to learn how to apply for financial aid. All financial aid documentation must be submitted 10 days prior to the start of classes. Once an aid offer has been determined, please log into the PNW portal to view and/or accept your aid offer.

Financial Aid Contact Information:

• Mark Montella  Phone: 219-989-2018
• BSN Financial Aid

Types of Financial Aid

• Federal Pell Grant: The federal government offers Pell Grants to undergraduate students in need, which is the foundation of a student’s financial aid package. Eligible students must be enrolled in a minimum of 1 credit hour.
• Federal Direct Subsidized Stafford Loan: For students with financial need based on the results of your FAFSA. Recipients must be enrolled at least half-time (6 credit hours). Recipients are not charged interest while in school at least half-time and during grace or deferment periods.
• Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan: You are not required to demonstrate financial need to receive this loan. Interest accrues (accumulates) from the time it is first paid out. Recipients must be enrolled at least half-time (6 credit hours for the entire semester).

How enrollment is determined for Financial Aid, it is based on the total number of credit hours for the entire semester. Students must be enrolled in a minimum of 6 credit hours to be considered for Federal student loans.

• Federal Pell Grant awards will be based on your enrollment as of the second day of each five-week class in the semester/term and will be adjusted for subsequent increases or decreases in enrollment on the first day of each subsequent five-week class.
• Stafford Loans will be adjusted for changes in enrollment. If you fall below 6 credit hours your eligibility may change. If refunds have been issued, you may have to return funds to the university. Contact Mark Montella if you are considering withdrawing from any classes to discuss how this might affect your financial aid eligibility.

Please carefully read the NUR 49800 Nursing Capstone Course letter from the nursing faculty. The letter is intended to assist you prepare for the final course in the online RN-to-BSN program. Please review this information 2-3 months prior to the start of your NUR 49800 Nursing Capstone Course in order to assist you in your course preparation.

Capstone Course Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’S) 

What types of assignments are there in the course?

There is one major written assignment, the Evidence-Based Project Proposal that is divided into weekly writing assignments. As an individual, you will research a topic and evaluate the evidence. Then as a group, you will work together to refine a PICO question and write an evidence-based practice proposal over the next few weeks. In the final portion of the course, you will develop an EBP poster along with an oral presentation to disseminate your findings.

How many hours each week do I need to commit to the course?

This course is intensive. Each week, you are required to read the course readings, view the videos, review the course resources (sample papers, PowerPoints, Lecture Notes, helpful hints, etc.), synthesize all the material, and finally, complete the weekly assignment(s). A three-college credit hour course requires a minimum of 125 hours of dedicated effort. As a five-week course, you can expect to spend approximately 25 hours per week on coursework.

What skills do I need to bring to the course?

Time management and organizational skills are essential! All the knowledge related to the concept of evidence-based practice, and skills related to critical thinking, searching the literature, identifying research designs, appraising evidence, and writing. The faculty provides many resources for you to review in the NUR 49800 lib guide.

Preparing for Graduation

Upon enrollment in NUR 498, students should review the information provided in the pre-graduation guide. With the approval of the graduation audit by the academic advisor, students are invited to participate in graduation. To view commencement details, please view the following for information https://www.pnw.edu/commencement/

• Degrees are awarded at the end of each semester (Spring, Summer, Fall)
• Upon successful completion of all degree requirements, RN-to-BSN students may email their Registration Coordinator to request an official letter of completion while waiting for degrees to be awarded by the University. The letter will confirm all degree requirements have been completed.
• Once degrees have been awarded, students can order official transcripts through the Office of the Registrar.
• Diplomas may be picked up at the campus or mailed to students.
• Students can email their registration coordinator with questions regarding the specific timeframe in which diplomas will be mailed per semester.

The College of Nursing has established a grading scale to be used for all NUR courses taught in the Undergraduate Program. Grades will be assigned according to the following scale:

Students in the CON are expected to adhere to the ANA Code of Ethics.  The Code of Ethics for Nurses is a guide for carrying out nursing responsibilities in a manner consistent with quality nursing care and the ethical obligations of the profession. Students are responsible for acquainting themselves and adhering to the policies outlined in the document. Students in the CON are also expected to adhere to the PNW Civility Code as stated below: Purdue University Northwest places a priority on student learning. We value the inherent worth and dignity of every person, thereby fostering a community of mutual respect. We believe that in order to achieve these ideals, all Purdue University Northwest students are expected, while in the role as student or representative of the university, to exhibit and practice civil behaviors, defined as behaviors that:

1. Respect faculty, staff, fellow students, guests, and all  university property, policies, rules and regulations
2. Take responsibility for one’s choices and actions
3. Accept consequences of one’s inappropriate choices and actions
4. Communicate in a professional and courteous manner in all forms, and at all times, whether verbal, non- verbal or written.

Students Rights and Responsibilities Students have the right to a learning environment free of disruptive behaviors.  Students are expected to comply with regulations regarding civility, attendance, and appropriate classroom and clinical behavior.  Please refer to the Purdue University Bill of Student Rights for details. Faculty Rights and Responsibilities Faculty has the right and responsibility to define expected classroom behavior consistent with University policy, as well as address and manage disruptive student behavior.

Students are subject to the Purdue University Northwest Honor Code. Students are responsible for acquainting themselves and adhering to the policies outlined in the document. Students must be aware that academic dishonesty in any form may result in a failure in the course and a referral to the Dean of Students. A letter describing the incident will be placed in the student’s file. Further disciplinary action will be pursued according to the policies of the university. The College of Nursing has a zero tolerance policy on plagiarism.  Plagiarism, a form of academic dishonesty, in any assignment or discussion may result in a failure in the course and referral to the Dean of Students.

The responsibility for assessing student achievement and assigning grades rests with the Faculty, and except for unusual circumstances, the course grade given is final. If a student has concerns or complaints about grading or clinical evaluations, he/she should discuss these concerns with the faculty member responsible for teaching the course. If the student is not satisfied with the outcome of this discussion, he/she should bring the concerns to the Director of Online Programs. If the situation is not resolved to the student’s satisfaction after discussing the concern with the Director of Online Programs, the student will be directed to the PNW Grade Appeal policy.

It is the belief of the faculty and administration of the College of Nursing that if a student has a concern with a nursing course or faculty member, the student has the right to due process. The student should attempt to resolve the problem by following the appropriate Chain of Command depending on the type of issue (Academic, Policy):

ACADEMIC ISSUE

1. Faculty member involved, and if no resolution
2. Director of Online Programs; and if no resolution
3. Dean of the College of Nursing; and if no resolution
4. Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs or Dean of Students

POLICY ISSUE

1. Academic Advisor; and if no resolution
2. Faculty member involved (if relevant); and if no resolution
3. Director of Online Programs; and if no resolution
4. Dean of the College of Nursing

Interruption in Plan of Study

• Students interrupting their progression due to course withdrawal, failure or part-time study are subject to policy changes as they progress.
• Students who need to withdraw from nursing courses due to medical, military, or catastrophic life events should notify their academic advisor at the time of withdrawal for plan of study adjustments as needed.
• If students interrupt their progression for more than a year, they will need to submit a new application through PNW admissions before continuing their progression. Upon re-admission, students are subject to current policies including any changes that may have occurred to curricula or tuition rates.

• All students must meet the University requirement for graduation
• Students enrolled in the nursing curriculum must maintain a 2.0 cumulative GPA
• All course prerequisites and co-requisites must be met for progression in the nursing curriculum.
• All students must receive a “C” (2.0) or higher in both non-nursing pre-requisite courses and nursing courses in the major.
• Students who receive a grade less than “C” (2.0) in a nursing course must successfully repeat the course with a grade of “C” or better.
• Students who receive a second fail (grade less than “C” (2.0) in the same nursing course will be dismissed from the program.

• The faculty reserves the right to dismiss students who violate the Purdue University Northwest Honor Code and Student Code of Conduct.
• Students who receive a second fail (grade less than “C” (2.0)) in the same nursing course will be dismissed from the program.
• Students wishing to appeal the decision of a course grade are encouraged to follow the grade appeals procedure outlined in the Dean of Students web page
• Students who wish to appeal program dismissal should write a letter explaining the specific reasons that they believe warrants an overturn of the decision. The appeal letter should be submitted to the Director of Online Programs within 30 days of the notification of dismissal letter. The appeal, along with applicants’ academic transcripts, will be reviewed by the Undergraduate Admission, Progression and Graduation Committee. Students will be notified in writing the results of the Committee’s decision within 15 days of the committee meeting. If the decision to deny readmission is upheld by the Committee, applicants may submit a written appeal to the Dean of the College of Nursing. If applicants are not satisfied with the outcome of the appeal they may write to the Dean of the College of Nursing, or send a written appeal to the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs.

If you choose to withdraw from a course, please email your registration coordinator for assistance. Students can use the Nursing Carousel to adjust their schedule once they withdraw from a course. If you need help in adjusting your schedule, please email your academic advisor for assistance.  Refunds are offered to students who officially withdraw from the course no later than Tuesday of the start of classes by 4:00pm CT. Students who receive financial aid should check with the financial aid department to determine the effect withdrawing has on their financial aid obligation. If you withdraw later than Tuesday of the start of classes and feel that you have extraordinary circumstances, you may contact a student advocate in the Office of the Dean of Students to provide documentation and ask for a refund. Withdrawing from a course will impact your transcripts as demonstrated below: