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College of Nursing:
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)

In the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN-BSN) Completion Program, current registered nurses (RNs) who have a diploma or associate degree in nursing are provided with the opportunity to earn a BSN degree.

Walden’s Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)–accredited RN-BSN completion program is structured to support and equip RNs with specialized skills and current knowledge they can apply on the job immediately. Students may be eligible to transfer up to 75% of the required credits. Classes start every 6 weeks.*

Prospective Washington students: Walden University is approved by the Washington State Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission to provide practice experiences in Washington State for a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing; Master of Science in Nursing with a specialization in Nursing Education, Nursing Informatics, Leadership and Management, Family Nurse Practitioner, Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, and Psychiatric and Mental Health Nurse Practitioner; as well as the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program. For more information, go to the following website: https://www.doh.wa.gov/LicensesPermitsandCertificates/NursingCommission/NursingEducation/NursingPrograms.

 

Note: The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program is offered in two different learning modalities: the course-based modality and the competency-based modality, Tempo Learning®.

*, Start times do not apply to the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) (Competency Based) modality.

Accreditation

The baccalaureate degree program in nursing (BSN), master’s degree program in nursing (MSN), post-graduate APRN certificate program, and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program at Walden University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (www.ccneaccreditation.org).

Learning Outcomes

  1. Utilize technology and information systems to communicate, and support decision making for safe practice. 

  2. Use evidence, based on the sciences, humanities, and research to guide nursing practice across a diverse health-illness continuum in a variety of healthcare communities. 

  3. Evaluate the implications of policy on healthcare disparities including issues of access, equity, affordability, social justice, and social needs in healthcare delivery. 

  4. Demonstrate effective cooperation, coordination, and collaboration with interprofessional partnerships in delivering diverse and inclusive quality care to patients, families, and communities. 

  5. Implement collaboration across the health care system to provide population health nursing care to improve access to quality healthcare and equitable health outcomes. 

  6. Demonstrate leadership and accountability by expanding the contributions of nursing and committing to professional development, social change, and personal wellbeing. 

  7. Apply person-centered assessment skills across the lifespan based on social determinants of health, development, and culture to provide quality evidenced-based nursing care. 

Course-Based Program Tracks

RN-BSN Track

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) Completion Program provides current registered nurses (RNs) who have a diploma or associate’s degree in nursing with the opportunity to earn a BSN degree.

The program is specifically designed to provide students with the evidence-based practices that can be applied on the job immediately. At the same time, students will develop the skills of reflection, independent learning, and enhanced critical thinking that will enable them to stay current in their field throughout their career.

Degree Requirements

  • 181 total credits
  • General Education courses (45 credits)
  • Upper-level nursing core courses (46 credits)
  • Elective courses and prior nursing credit (90 credits)

Curriculum

General Education Courses (45 credits)

See the General Education section of this Walden University Catalog.

Upper-Level Nursing Core (46 credits)

  • Students may take this as a non-degree course.

OR

  • Students may take this as a non-degree course.

Elective Courses and Prior Nursing Credit (90 credits)

Students with less than 90 transfer credits can choose elective courses from the recommended list below or from any of Walden’s bachelor degree programs.

Note: A minimum of 10 quarter credits of electives must be completed at the 3000 or 4000 level in order to meet program requirements.   

  • Students may take this as a non-degree course.
  • Students may take this as a non-degree course.
  • Students may take this as a non-degree course.
  • Students may take this as a non-degree course.
  • Students may take this as a non-degree course.
  • Students may take this as a non-degree course.
  • Students may take this as a non-degree course.
  • Students may take this as a non-degree course.
  • Students may take this as a non-degree course.
  • Students may take this as a non-degree course.
  • Students may take this as a non-degree course.
  • Students may take this as a non-degree course.

RN-BSN-AIM Track

The RN-BSN-AIM program provides current registered nurses (RNs) who have a diploma and/or associate’s degree in nursing with the opportunity to earn a BSN degree as well as take three master’s-level courses that can be transferred* into a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree.

The program is specifically designed to provide students with the evidence-based practices that can be applied on the job immediately. At the same time, students will develop the skills of reflection, independent learning, and enhanced critical thinking that will enable them to stay current in their field throughout their career.

The RN-BSN-AIM program will provide a student with a bachelor’s degree. All students will enter the program with previously earned education credits. These credits may include:

  • Credits awarded for meeting competencies required to achieve the nursing license through either a diploma program or an associate’s degree program.
  • Transfer credits from undergraduate courses that they have taken at other universities.
  • 135 of the 181 quarter credits may potentially be transferred into the program (depending upon the qualifications the students bring as they enter).

*After completion of the BSN program, students must apply to the MSN program, and the three master’s-level courses can be transferred into an MSN degree if the students receive a grade of B or higher.

Degree Requirements

  • 181 total credits
  • General Education (45 credits)
  • Upper-level nursing core courses (46 credits)
    • NURS 5050, NURS 5051, and NURS 5052 will transfer into the MSN program with a grade of B or higher.
  • Elective courses and prior nursing credit (90 credits)

Curriculum

General Education Courses (45 credits)

See the General Education section of this Walden University Catalog.

Upper-Level Nursing Core Courses (51 credits)

  • Students may take this as a non-degree course.

OR

  • Students may take this as a non-degree course.

Elective Courses and Prior Nursing Credit (90 credits)

Students with less than 90 transfer credits can choose elective courses from any of Walden’s bachelor degree programs.

  • Students may take this as a non-degree course.
  • Students may take this as a non-degree course.
  • Students may take this as a non-degree course.
  • Students may take this as a non-degree course.
  • Students may take this as a non-degree course.
  • Students may take this as a non-degree course.
  • Students may take this as a non-degree course.
  • Students may take this as a non-degree course.
  • Students may take this as a non-degree course.
  • Students may take this as a non-degree course.
  • Students may take this as a non-degree course.
  • Students may take this as a non-degree course.

Tempo Learning® Program

RN-BSN Track

Degree Requirements

  • 180 total credits
  • General education courses (45 credits)
  • Upper-level nursing core courses (45 credits)
  • Elective courses and prior nursing credit (90 credits)

Core Curriculum

General Education Courses (45 credits)

See the General Education section of this Walden University Catalog.

Upper-Level Nursing Core (45 credits)

(Note: NURS 3021 is worth 5 credits, not 6, in the competency-based program.)

  •  XA3001 A Vision for Social Change in professional Practice & Advancing Nurses’ Health and Wellness 
    •  Analyze strategies that promote the nurse’s role as an agent of change in implementing social change for professional practice and community decision making.  
  • XA3002 Professional Communication 
    •  Apply professional communication strategies in various settings and modalities. 
  • XA3003 Prioritizing Social Determinants of Health 
    •  Assess how social determinants of health influences disparities in patient populations and efforts aimed at providing quality patient care. 
  • XA3004 Health Equity and Advocacy and Political Engagement 
    •  Analyze the impact of civic engagement on health equity. 
  • XA3005 Collaboration as Ethical Influencers and Scholars  
    • Collaborate for influence and social change. 
  • XH3001  Person Centered Communication 
    • Apply nursing knowledge to gain a person-centered holistic approach to ethical practice. 
  • XH3002 Critical Judgment through Assessment 
    • Apply clinical judgment skills to inform nursing knowledge.  
  • XH3003  Health History Across the Lifespan 
    • Analyze effective communication techniques to reflect variation across the lifespan. 
  • XH3004  Physical Assessment Across the Lifespan 
    • Analyze the impact of cultural competence in conducting a physical assessment. 
  • XH3005  Social Change and Social Determinants of Health  
    • Analyze the impact of social change and social determinants of health on care coordination and care outcomes. 
  • XI3001  Nursing Informatics: Shaping Care with Data 
    • Explain how information and communication technologies are used in nursing practice to gather data, create information, and generate knowledge. 
  • XI3002 Information and Communication Tools in Nursing Practices 
    • Evaluate information and communication technology tools used in the care of patients, communities, and populations.  
  • XI3003  Using Technology to Promote Save & Effective Care  
    • Evaluate information and communication technology tools used in the care of patients, communities, and populations. 
  • XI3004  Using Technology to Promote Communication 
    • Evaluate the use of communication technologies and informatics processes to deliver safe nursing care to diverse populations in a variety of settings. 
  • XI3005 Ethical & Legal Considerations  
    • Analyze use of communication technologies to deliver patient care in accordance with ethical, legal, professional, and regulatory standards and workplace policies. 
  • ST3001 Descriptive Statistics 
  • ST3002 Correlation and Regression 
  • ST3003 Normal Distribution 
  • ST3004 Hypothesis Testing 
  • XR4001  Research, Evidence-Based Practice and Theoretical Frameworks 
    • Explain the relationship between research, theoretical frameworks, and evidence-based practice. 
  • XR4002 Clinical Questioning and Ethical Implications  
    • Apply the PICO model to nursing research topics that adhere to ethical and legal standards for nursing practice.  
  • XR4003  Quantitative Data 
    • Evaluate quantitative research methods and their impact on nursing practice. 
  • XR43004 Qualitative Data 
    • Generate reasonable conclusions and recommendations based on published research findings. 
  • XR4005 Application of Research to EBP 
    • Apply research to the development of evidence-based practices in nursing. 
  • XQ4001  Safety & Quality Fundamentals 
    • Apply quality improvement and patient safety principles in care delivery. 
  • XQ4002  Culture of Healthcare safety 
    • Contribute to a just culture of patient, provider, and work environment safety. 
  • XQ4003  Data and Evaluation Performance 
    • Utilize benchmark and outcome data to inform performance management and clinical decision making. 
  • XQ4004  Quality Tools and Quality Process 
    • Analyze quality improvement methods, strategies and quality tools to improve patient care outcomes.   
  • XQ4005 Quality Improvement Plan 
    • Apply a change theory to a quality care problem in a healthcare setting. 
  • XL4001  Leadership in Policy Action 
    • Analyze concepts of leadership and health policy relative to the role of the professional nurse. 
  • XL4002  Economic and Social Influences in Policy 
    • Formulate leadership and advocacy strategies to reduce health disparities and advance ethical nursing as well as health policy engagement. 
  • XL4003 Advancing Workplace and Organizational Policy 
    • Propose leadership strategies to improve workplace and organizational policies. 
  • XL4004  Pursuit of Meaningful State and National Policy  
    • Advocate for improvement in healthcare delivery and health equity at the state and national levels. 
  • XL4005  Nurses’ Social Contract in Communities  
    • Apply leadership strategies to advocate for policies that improve patient healthcare in their local communities. 
  • XP4001  Managing Population Health 
    • Analyze concepts of population- based public health nursing relative to the role of the nurse. 
  • XP4002 Socioeconomic Impact on Healthcare Delivery 
    • Formulate leadership and advocacy strategies to reduce health disparities, advance ethical nursing, and promote health equity in policies. 
  • XP4003  Disaster Preparedness and Public Health Emergencies 
    • Propose leadership strategies to advance preparedness to protect population health during disasters and public health emergencies. 
  • XP4004  Advocacy Strategies of Population Health 
    • Advocate for improvement in population health with use of evidence-based practice, cultural competence, and strong community assessment and analysis.. 
  • XP4005  Population Health Evidence-Based Plan 
    • Apply theory to articulate a need for a change, engage stakeholders, implement messaging strategies, and evaluate effectiveness of advocacy actions. 
  • XC4001 Interprofessional Communication for Practice Change 
    • Apply interprofessional communication to a practice change that promotes positive health outcomes. 
  • XC4002  Data Analysis and Evidence to Plan Practice Change 
    • Evaluate data and evidence-based research to plan practice change. 
  • XC 4003 Leadership Strategies for Practice Change 
    • Apply leadership strategies in the collaboration process to develop a practice change to improve health outcomes 
  • XC 4004 Implementation of Practice Change 
    • Implement the educational components of a practice change to improve healthcare outcomes 
  • XC 4005 Evaluation of Practice Change 
    • Evaluate a practice change to improve healthcare outcomes. 

Elective Courses and Prior Nursing Credit (90 credits)

Students with less than 90 transfer credits can choose elective courses from the recommended list below or from any of Walden’s bachelor degree programs. 

Note: A minimum of 10 quarter credits of electives must be completed at the 3000 or 4000 level in order to meet program requirements.  

  • Students may take this as a non-degree course.
  • Students may take this as a non-degree course.
  • Students may take this as a non-degree course.
  • Students may take this as a non-degree course.
  • Students may take this as a non-degree course.

RN-BSN-AIM Track

The RN-BSN-AIM program provides current registered nurses (RNs) who have a diploma and/or associate’s degree in nursing with the opportunity to earn a BSN degree as well as take three master’s-level courses that can be transferred* into a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree.

The program is specifically designed to provide students with evidence-based practices that can be applied on the job immediately. At the same time, students will develop the skills of reflection, independent learning, and enhanced critical thinking that will enable them to stay current in their field throughout their career.

The RN-BSN-AIM program will provide a student with a bachelor’s degree. All students will enter the program with previously earned education credits. These credits may include:

  • Credits awarded for meeting competencies required to achieve the nursing license through either a diploma program or an associate’s degree program.
  • Transfer credits from undergraduate courses that they have taken at other universities.
  • 135 of the 180 quarter credits may potentially be transferred into the program (depending upon the qualifications the students bring as they enter).

* After completion of the BSN program, students must apply to the MSN program, and the three master’s-level courses can be transferred into an MSN degree if the students receive a grade of “B” or higher.

Core Curriculum

Degree Requirements

  • 180 total credits
  • General Education courses (45 credits)
  • Upper-level nursing core courses (45 credits)
    • NURS 5050, NURS 5051, and NURS 5052 will transfer into the MSN program
  • Elective courses and prior nursing credit (90 credits)

General Education Courses (45 credits)

See the General Education section of this Walden University Catalog.

Upper-Level Nursing Core (45 credits)

(Note: NURS 3021 is worth 5 credits, not 6, in the competency-based program.)

  •  XA3001 A Vision for Social Change in professional Practice & Advancing Nurses’ Health and Wellness 
    •  Analyze strategies that promote the nurse’s role as an agent of change in implementing social change for professional practice and community decision making.  
  • XA3002 Professional Communication 
    •  Apply professional communication strategies in various settings and modalities. 
  • XA3003 Prioritizing Social Determinants of Health 
    •  Assess how social determinants of health influences disparities in patient populations and efforts aimed at providing quality patient care. 
  • XA3004 Health Equity and Advocacy and Political Engagement 
    •  Analyze the impact of civic engagement on health equity. 
  • XA3005 Collaboration as Ethical Influencers and Scholars  
    • Collaborate for influence and social change. 
  • XH3001  Person Centered Communication 
    • Apply nursing knowledge to gain a person-centered holistic approach to ethical practice. 
  • XH3002 Critical Judgment through Assessment 
    • Apply clinical judgment skills to inform nursing knowledge.  
  • XH3003  Health History Across the Lifespan 
    • Analyze effective communication techniques to reflect variation across the lifespan. 
  • XH3004  Physical Assessment Across the Lifespan 
    • Analyze the impact of cultural competence in conducting a physical assessment. 
  • XH3005  Social Change and Social Determinants of Health  
    • Analyze the impact of social change and social determinants of health on care coordination and care outcomes. 
  • TN001 What is Informatics?
    • Analyze frameworks and tools for the role of the nurse as an informaticist and knowledge worker.
  • TN002 The Role of Nurse Informatics in Healthcare
    • Analyze the role of the nurse informaticist in nursing informatics projects to improve outcomes or efficiencies in healthcare organizations.
  • TN003 Data to Information to Knowledge to Wisdom
    • Analyze how standardized terminologies impact the practice of healthcare and nursing informatics.
  • TN004 Technologies Supporting Applied Practice and Optimal Patient Outcomes
    • Analyze nursing informatics research on the application of clinical systems to improve outcomes and efficiencies.
  • TN005 The Nurse Leader and the Systems Development Life Cycle
    • Define the role of the nurse for participation on an implementation team as a component of the systems development life cycle.
  • TN006 Policy and Regulation Supporting Informatics and Technology
    • Evaluate legislative policies and regulations for health and nursing informatics and their impact on improvement for outcomes and efficiencies in nursing practice.
  • ST3001 Descriptive Statistics 
  • ST3002 Correlation and Regression 
  • ST3003 Normal Distribution 
  • ST3004 Hypothesis Testing 
  • EB001 Evidence-Based Practice and the Quadruple Aim
    • Analyze the relationship between evidence-based practice and the Quadruple Aim in healthcare organizations.
  • EB002 Research Methodology
    • Analyze research methodologies described in peer-reviewed articles.
  • EB003 Clinical Inquiry, Problem-Intervention-Comparison-Outcome-Time (PICOT), and Searching Databases
    • Analyze relevant, peer-reviewed articles in support of PICOT questions.
  • EB004 Critical Appraisal, Evaluation/Summary, and Synthesis of Evidence
    • Recommend best practices based on critical appraisal of evidence-based research.
  • EB005 Evidence-Based Decision-Making
    • Recommend evidence-based organizational changes using an evidence-based practice approach to decision making.
  • EB006 Disseminating Evidenced-Based Practice Changes
    • Analyze dissemination strategies for evidence-based practice changes in healthcare.
  • XQ4001  Safety & Quality Fundamentals 
    • Apply quality improvement and patient safety principles in care delivery. 
  • XQ4002  Culture of Healthcare safety 
    • Contribute to a just culture of patient, provider, and work environment safety. 
  • XQ4003  Data and Evaluation Performance 
    • Utilize benchmark and outcome data to inform performance management and clinical decision making. 
  • XQ4004  Quality Tools and Quality Process 
    • Analyze quality improvement methods, strategies and quality tools to improve patient care outcomes.   
  • XQ4005 Quality Improvement Plan 
    • Apply a change theory to a quality care problem in a healthcare setting. 
  • PA001 Agenda Setting
    Evaluate federal agendas to promote healthcare issues within the policymaking system/process.
  • PA002 Legislation
    Advocate a position on a population health-related bill.
  • PA003 Regulation
    Analyze how regulations influence the nurse’s role and the delivery, costs, and access to healthcare.
  • PA004 Design and Implementation
    Analyze advocacy and the role of the nurse in healthcare program design and implementation.
  • PA005 Healthcare Program/Policy Evaluation
    Assess outcomes of population health program/policy evaluations.
  • PA006 Global Healthcare Issues
    Analyze the impact of nurse advocacy on addressing global health issues.
  • XP4001  Managing Population Health 
    • Analyze concepts of population- based public health nursing relative to the role of the nurse. 
  • XP4002 Socioeconomic Impact on Healthcare Delivery 
    • Formulate leadership and advocacy strategies to reduce health disparities, advance ethical nursing, and promote health equity in policies. 
  • XP4003  Disaster Preparedness and Public Health Emergencies 
    • Propose leadership strategies to advance preparedness to protect population health during disasters and public health emergencies. 
  • XP4004  Advocacy Strategies of Population Health 
    • Advocate for improvement in population health with use of evidence-based practice, cultural competence, and strong community assessment and analysis.. 
  • XP4005  Population Health Evidence-Based Plan 
    • Apply theory to articulate a need for a change, engage stakeholders, implement messaging strategies, and evaluate effectiveness of advocacy actions. 
  • XC4001 Interprofessional Communication for Practice Change 
    • Apply interprofessional communication to a practice change that promotes positive health outcomes. 
  • XC4002  Data Analysis and Evidence to Plan Practice Change 
    • Evaluate data and evidence-based research to plan practice change. 
  • XC 4003 Leadership Strategies for Practice Change 
    • Apply leadership strategies in the collaboration process to develop a practice change to improve health outcomes 
  • XC 4004 Implementation of Practice Change 
    • Implement the educational components of a practice change to improve healthcare outcomes 
  • XC 4005 Evaluation of Practice Change 
    • Evaluate a practice change to improve healthcare outcomes.. 

Elective Courses and Prior Nursing Credit (90 credits)

Students with less than 90 transfer credits can choose elective courses from the recommended list below or any of Walden’s bachelor degree programs. 

Note: A minimum of 10 quarter credits of electives must be completed at the 3000 or 4000 level in order to meet program requirements.   

  • Students may take this as a non-degree course.
  • Students may take this as a non-degree course.
  • Students may take this as a non-degree course.
  • Students may take this as a non-degree course.
  • Students may take this as a non-degree course.
  • Students may take this as a non-degree course.
  • Students may take this as a non-degree course.
  • Students may take this as a non-degree course.
  • Students may take this as a non-degree course.
  • Students may take this as a non-degree course.
  • Students may take this as a non-degree course.
  • Students may take this as a non-degree course.

Note on Field Experience and Relocating

Students who are considering relocating are advised to contact their student success advisor or Tempo coach prior to any decision to relocate in order to determine how relocation may impact progress in their program.  They can provide information and guidance on how relocating may result in possible changes, restrictions, and/or additional requirements affecting field experience. Each Board of Nursing and Higher Education Authority governs the field experience rules and regulations in their respective states, and students may be unable to complete field experience in the state in which they plan to relocate. While Walden is committed to working collaboratively with students to secure field sites across the United States, it is imperative that students contact their student success advisor or Tempo coach immediately when considering relocating.