Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN)

Welcome to the University of the District of Columbia (UDC) Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN) Program. UDC is the only exclusively urban-focused, public, land-grant university in DC. We are also designated as a Historically Black College and University (HBCU). Our mission is to provide graduates with a well-rounded nursing education that is grounded in theory and applicable to clinical decision-making. We provide a complete and diverse education to all communities, with special emphasis on underrepresented and vulnerable populations.

In fact, to reach and respond to the needs of the working nurse, the curriculum includes 11 courses that can be completed in 16 months. We offer all lectures and laboratory experiences online in addition to practicum learning experiences in various healthcare settings including the community.

We pride ourselves in providing licensed nurses with a supportive environment that facilitates their growth and development as bachelor’s prepared nurses. We want students to succeed because when students succeed, the program succeeds. Our vision is that every graduate of our program will rise to the highest level of human potential. Please consider joining our stellar program. If you have questions about the program, please contact Dr. Sharon F. Beasley, Director of Nursing Education, at sharon.beasley@udc.edu or (202) 274-5516.

In addition to being certified to teach online, the faculty also hold expertise in public and community health, nursing leadership, and information management. Faculty research interests include mindfulness in nursing students and retention of nursing students. The program is committed to improving health outcomes in diverse and underserved communities, focusing on the lifespan of individuals and families. Students will have opportunities to develop evidence-based projects of their choice to strengthen their clinical decision-making.

Admissions Process

Criteria for Admissions Consideration

• Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 2.7 or higher
• Diploma or associate degree from a regionally accredited institution
• An unencumbered Registered Nurse (RN) license from the United States
• Evidence of completion of pre-licensure courses, including the following:
  • College-level mathematics (minimum of 3 credits)
  • Anatomy & Physiology lecture and laboratory (minimum of 8 credits)
  • Microbiology or Chemistry lecture and laboratory credits (minimum of 4 credits)
  • College-level English (minimum of 6 credits)
  • A maximum of forty (40) pre-licensure courses

Deadlines:

The RN to BSN Program has a rolling, continuous admissions process. Please review the deadlines and course start dates below, then submit your materials, accordingly, for consideration.

Application Instructions:

Registered Nurse applicants must submit the following items to apply to the University of the District of Columbia RN to BSN Program:

1. Complete the NursingCAS application profile here.
2. Request official transcripts from all institutions attended. Upload the official transcripts into NursingCAS.
3. Upload a résumé in the documents section of NursingCAS.
4. Request that 2 letters of recommendation be sent through the NursingCAS recommender portal.
5. Submit your application (https://nursingcas.liaisoncas.org/apply/).
6. The Student Advising Specialist will confirm the submission of your application and will forward it to the Admissions, Program, and Graduate Committee for review and decision.
7. If admitted into the RN to BSN Program, students have ten (10) days after the start of their first class to visit: https://discover.castlebranch.com/to complete the following additional requirements. Use package code: IW51.

• Submit active CPR Certification
• Submit proof of health insurance coverage
• Submit evidence of physical examination (completed within the past 12 months)
• Submit evidence of Professional Liability Insurance
• Submit evidence of the following vaccinations: influenza, tetanus, varicella, measles, mumps, rubella, hepatitis B, COVID-19, plus tuberculosis screening status.

The student recruitment and advising staff will confirm the application submissions and forward applications to the RN to BSN Admission, Progression, and Graduate Committee for review and admission decisions.

International Applicant Instructions

International applicants who are F-1 visa holders are ineligible to enroll in this program.

Permanent U.S. residents must submit official transcripts and a credential evaluation for degrees earned outside of the United States. Secondary or university-level academic work must be evaluated by a member organization of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services, Inc. (NACES). Evidence of English language proficiency is required by submission of TOEFL or ILETS scores.

OVERVIEW

Vision

All nursing students will maximize their potential, increase the diversity of the nursing workforce, and improve the health of the residents of the District of Columbia and beyond.

Mission

The mission of the RN to BSN program is to produce well-educated, autonomous, competent, and resourceful graduates to practice nursing in today’s multiethnic, global, and technology-driven society.

Goals

1. Prepare graduates with specific knowledge, skills, and behaviors that demonstrate the professionalism of a baccalaureate nurse, and commitment to lifelong learning.
2. To foster characteristics for leadership, evidence-based practice, and clinical competencies to guide decision-making and the delivery of safe, culturally relevant nursing care across healthcare settings and the health continuum.

Outcomes

1. Facilitate employability and career mobility opportunities in a digital healthcare environment.
2. Promote degree completion within 100 percent of the time spanning the possible length of 11 online nursing courses (66 weeks or 16 months).
3. Prepare global citizens with technological proficiency that transcends physical boundaries in addressing individual, family, and community health in various settings.
4. Encourage lifelong learners to pursue graduate studies, achieve specialty certification, participate in professional organizations, complete continuing education, and assume leadership roles.
5. Provide appropriate didactic and experiential learning opportunities to meet UDC’s land-grant mission, and increase interprofessional collaboration in culturally diverse populations.

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

The RN to BSN Program requires the completion of 11 nursing courses that encompass a theory-based curriculum with clinical application. Each course is delivered online over a six-week period. Courses are designed to be taken one class at a time. The following curriculum fulfills the knowledge requirements of the baccalaureate nursing degree, approved by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) with 120 semester credit hours required to complete the BSN.

CURRICULUM

COST & FINANCIAL AID

Tuition rates for the University of the District of Columbia can be found here. Financial aid information for the University of the District of Columbia can be found here.

FACULTY CONTACT

Sharon F. Beasley, PhD, RN, CNE, NEA-BC
Director of Nursing Education/Associate Professor
College of Agriculture, Urban Sustainability and Environmental Sciences
University of the District of Columbia
4250 Connecticut Avenue, NW | Suite 5345
Washington, DC 20008
Telephone: (202) 274-5516
E-mail: sharon.beasley@udc.edu

ACCREDITATION REQUIREMENTS

The RN to BSN program is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). The ACEN contact information is as follows:
Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing
3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400
Atlanta, Georgia 30326
USA
Phone: 404.975.5000
Email: info@acenursing.org
Web: www.acenursing.org