Loyola University New Orleans is proud to offer a robust RN-to-BSN curriculum full of comprehensive and challenging courses that are expressly designed to expand your knowledge, skills, and career horizons. Our entire BSN curriculum is delivered completely online and in an asynchronous format so you can begin courses when it is the right time for you.
A minimum of 120 credit hours is required for the BSN degree. Upper division nursing courses are taught online at Loyola and there is a generous transfer credit policy. You may be able to transfer up to 90 credits, including 64 credits from your associate’s or diploma in nursing coursework.
Our curriculum is built on the CCNE Essentials of Baccalaureate Education. The BSN courses enhance your critical thinking and communication skills while covering various aspects of contemporary nursing—from appraising the health of individuals to becoming an informed consumer of research. This approach to curriculum development has been instrumental in contributing to the success of our graduates and prepares our students with the specific knowledge required to take their nursing careers to the next level.
LOWER LEVEL NURSING COURSES – 24 CREDIT HOURS
Credit for lower division nursing (i.e., adult health, parent-child health, mental health) is awarded by validation of transfer credit for associate degree graduates or validation of advanced placement credit for diploma nursing school graduates.
INTRODUCTORY REQUIREMENTS – 18 CREDIT HOURS
| Course | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| Critical Reading/Writing | 3 |
| Global History | 3 |
| Finite Math | 3 |
| Introduction to Philosophy/Reasoning | 3 |
| Christian Theology | 3 |
| Investigating Nature (can substitute A&P I) | 3 |
ADVANCED REQUIREMENTS – 12 CREDIT HOURS
| Course | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| Creative Arts & Culture | 3 |
| World Religions | 3 |
| Social Science | 3 |
| Writing About Literature | 3 |
NURSING ADJUNCT COURSES – 20 CREDIT HOURS
| Course | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| Anatomy & Physiology I (only required if substituting for Investigating Nature) | 0 |
| Anatomy & Physiology I Lab | 1 |
| Anatomy & Physiology II | 3 |
| Anatomy & Physiology II Lab | 1 |
| General Chemistry I | 3 |
| Microbiology | 3 |
| Nutrition | 3 |
| Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| Developmental Psychology | 3 |
UPPER-LEVEL NURSING COURSES – 27 CREDIT HOURS
NURS 364 Health Assessment (3 credit hours)
- This emphasis of this course is on providing the student with tools of assessment to appraise the health of individuals. Knowledge of biological sciences is used within the context of the nursing process to develop skill in systematic assessment of clients in all phases of the life cycle.
NURS 379 Nursing Leadership & Promotion of Quality Care (3 credit hours)
- This course emphasizes the role of nurse leaders in professional nursing practice and provides an introduction to the theory and practice of nursing leadership and management. The emphasis is on understanding the key components of the leadership/management process which include critical thinking, communicating effectively, handling conflict, delegating successfully, controlling resources, improving quality and safety and leading change. The focus is on the nursing role of leader/manager in practice settings and improving the quality and safety of patient populations.
NURS 384 Spirituality in Health and Illness (3 credit hours)
- The Jesuit Catholic tradition emphasizes the role of spirituality and faith in shaping the person. This course explores the relationship between spirituality and nursing and focuses on spiritual assessment of a diverse client population across the lifespan. Emphasis is placed on the role of the nurse in providing spiritual and nursing care. Key concepts explored in the course include; spiritual well-being, end-of-life issues, hospice, palliative care and bereavement.
NURS 452 Nursing Research and Evidence-Based Practice (3 credit hours)
- This course is an introduction to nursing research. Emphasis is placed on understanding how to search for research information, analyze and utilize research findings in the practice setting. The outcome of the course is for the student to become an informed consumer of research. Key concepts discussed in the course include the research process, evidenced-based practice and research utilization.
- Pre-requisite(s): Statistics
NURS 468 Advanced Topics in Nursing (3 credit hours)
- This course focuses on selected nursing topics (e.g. Spanish for Health-Care; Genetics)
NURS 482 Issues in Professional Nursing (3 credit hours)
- This course is designed to assist in the transition of the student to the role of the BSN-prepared professional nurse in a health care setting. Emphasis is placed on professional communication and current professional and health care issues that impact the professional nurse practicing in a contemporary health care environment.
NURS 483 Population Health (3 credit hours)
- This course focuses on the delivery of population-focused nursing care to aggregates, communities, or population groups. Emphasis is placed on health promotion and disease prevention of population groups and the nurse’s role in improving the population health of specified groups.
NURS 485 Information Mgmt & Patient Care Tech (3 credit hours)
- This course provides an overview of nursing informatics and the role of the nurse in managing health care information in a health care setting. Emphasis is placed on the application of technology and information management to support clinical decision-making that improves patient care outcomes. Key concepts explored in the course include history of health care informatics, basic informatics concepts, current issues, and health information management applications.
NURS 486 Intro to Health Care Delivery Systems & Policy (3 credit hours)
- This course provides the student with an introduction to health care delivery systems, URL health policy and policy formation, finances, and health care outcomes in the U.S. system. Emphasis is placed on improving delivery of care to population and vulnerable groups. Current trends and issues in the health care delivery system and nursing will be discussed.
Note: This course list is in alpha-numerical order, not necessarily the order in which courses are taken. Please request a RN-BSN Degree Progression Plan for details on the order in which you should enroll in courses.