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Accelerated Master's Pathway, BSN/MSN Option

School of Nursing and Health Sciences

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing accredited degree program (RN-to-BSN) prepares registered nurses for expanded professional nursing practice that impacts patient, systems, and population outcomes. In the program, learners develop and integrate knowledge and skills in patient-centered care, population health, interprofessional collaboration and teamwork, quality improvement, evidence-based practice, and informatics.

For more information see the Accelerated Master's Pathways section on the Offering Information page.

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Accelerated Master's Pathway, BSN/MSN option

Learners enrolled in the Accelerated Master's Pathway, BSN/MSN Nursing complete the following master’s-level courses in lieu of NURS4020 and NURS4030.

 

Master's-level courses

 

At least 12 quarter credits

NHS6004
Health Care Law and Policy

In this course, learners examine the political, legal, and regulatory issues impacting health care organizations and environments. Learners analyze the effects of health care policy on health care practice and service delivery, with particular emphasis on the strategies used to monitor and maintain legal and regulatory compliance. Learners also identify and apply health care policy and law concepts that promote organizational improvement.

4 quarter credits
NURS6011
Evidence-Based Practice for Patient-Centered Care and Population Health

Learners in this course acquire an understanding of the nature of evidence and its relative value and weight in making clinical decisions that impact patient and population outcomes. In particular, learners assess appropriate methods and analytic approaches in order to investigate, evaluate, and synthesize the best available evidence for potential solutions and innovations.  For BSN and MSN learners only.

4 quarter credits
NURS6016
Quality Improvement of Interprofessional Care

In this course, learners develop and demonstrate competence in the design, implementation, and evaluation of interprofessional quality improvement initiatives. Learners investigate models for quality improvement, with an emphasis on outcome identification and measurement. Learners also examine quality within the context of patient safety through adverse event and near-miss analyses.  For BSN and MSN learners only.

4 quarter credits

 

These courses are taken in addition to the general education and remaining required courses.

 

General Education Requirements

Choose 45 quarter credits with a minimum of 4 quarter credits from each category; see General Education Courses.

 

Additional Program Requirements

 

Foundational nursing courses

 

At least 30 quarter credits

 

Undergraduate nursing skills coursework totaling 30 quarter credits.

NHS4000
Developing a Health Care Perspective

In this course, learners build and strengthen the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to succeed in their program and in the workplace. Learners engage in interactive activities that help them develop and demonstrate a health care perspective and expand their academic success strategies including organizational, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. Learners also develop an understanding of ethics, information literacy, and effective writing. For School of Nursing and Health Sciences learners only. Must be taken during the learner’s first quarter. Cannot be fulfilled by transfer or credit for prior learning.

6 quarter credits
NURS4010
Leading People, Processes, and Organizations in Interprofessional Practice

Learners in this course gain the understanding and abilities needed to champion and lead changes in interprofessional health care practice. Learners use management theories and leadership strategies and apply interdisciplinary collaboration skills to improve systems outcomes while reducing the cost of care. For BSN learners only.

6 quarter credits
NURS4020
Improving Quality of Care and Patient Safety

In this course, learners build and demonstrate the skills necessary to contribute to the quality improvement of health care and patient safety. Learners analyze elements of successful quality improvements as well as factors that lead to patient safety risks. In addition, learners identify organizational interventions to promote patient safety and facilitate quality improvement processes to achieve desired patient, systems, and population outcomes. For BSN learners only.

6 quarter credits
NURS4030
Making Evidence-Based Decisions

Learners in this course interpret research and apply an evidence-based practice model to make informed decisions in care planning. Learners analyze the relevance and effectiveness of evidence in the processes of clinical reasoning and judgement to support interventions that result in desired patient, systems, and population outcomes.  For BSN learners only.

6 quarter credits
NURS4040
Managing Health Information and Technology

In this course, learners leverage technology to effectively and efficiently achieve desired patient, systems, and population outcomes. Learners develop and demonstrate generalist nursing practices needed to manage health information and patient care technologies. Learners also develop strategies to improve security of patient information.  For BSN learners only.

6 quarter credits
NURS4050
Coordinating Patient-Centered Care

Learners in this course apply the knowledge and skills needed to respond to the unique biopsychosocial attributes and situational context of each individual patient while recognizing the patient as full partner in all health care decision making. Learners collaborate and adapt practices to support patient-centered care and defend decisions based on the code of ethics for nursing.  For BSN learners only.

6 quarter credits
NURS4060
Practicing in the Community to Improve Population Health

In this course, learners analyze the community and public health milieu, with emphasis on health promotion and disease prevention for culturally diverse people within a variety of community settings. Learners apply principles of community and public health, health promotion, epidemiology, social determinants of health, and social justice to achieve equity, eliminate disparities, and create environments to improve health and safety. Learners also examine leading health care indicators, health policy, and emergency preparedness.  For BSN learners only.

6 quarter credits

 

 

Elective courses

 

 

At least 57 quarter credits

 

Choose 57 quarter credits of additional undergraduate courses.

 

 

Capstone course

 

 

At least 6 quarter credits

Taken during the learner’s final quarter:

NURS4900
Capstone Project for Nursing

The capstone course is the culmination of the BSN degree program and provides learners the opportunity to demonstrate the competencies they have gained during their program. Learners integrate new knowledge from the literature into practice via direct practicum hours in a patient, family, or group setting to demonstrate proficiency and create high-quality deliverables to apply in future practice. In the capstone experience, learners also further apply their knowledge of the program outcomes.  For BSN learners only. Must be taken during the learner's final quarter. Prerequisite(s): NURS4010, NURS4020, NURS4030, NURS4040, NURS4050, completion of or concurrent registration in NURS4060. Cannot be fulfilled by transfer or credit for prior learning.

6 quarter credits

 

 

Total

 

 

At least 180 quarter credits, including a minimum of 54 quarter credits from the 3000/4000 level

 

Honors Pathway

Learners enrolled in the honors pathway complete the following general education courses.

Honors courses

At least 15 quarter credits

PHI-H2005
Honors Seminar: Critical Thinking for the Professional World

This is the first course in the honors pathway. Learners apply critical thinking skills to develop a professionally relevant question in their discipline or program of study to investigate throughout the honors pathway. Learners gain the knowledge and skills necessary to ask questions and solve problems from multiple perspectives. Learners analyze their question from multiple perspectives and engage in enriching discussions with faculty and peers.  For honors pathway learners only. Cannot be fulfilled by transfer.

3 quarter credits
COM-H4005 *
Communicating and Integrating Solutions in the Professional World

In this course, learners apply communication skills, information literacy, and first-hand research to complete a final professional presentation and share their findings with their instructor and peers.  For honors pathway learners only. Prerequisite(s): SOC-H3005. Cannot be fulfilled by transfer.

6 quarter credits
SOC-H3005 *
Honors Professional Seminar

Learners in this course take a sociological approach to professional growth in the workplace. This course provides learners with the opportunity to complete a professional project that addresses an organizational need or solves a problem. Learners explore questions and develop their project with faculty and peers through engaging discussions and assignments. Throughout the course, learners use a sociological perspective to further develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills to address interdisciplinary issues.  For honors pathway learners only.  Prerequisite(s): PHI-H2005. Cannot be fulfilled by transfer.​

6 quarter credits


These courses are applied toward the general education requirement and taken in addition to the remaining required courses.

Total

At least 180 quarter credits, including a minimum of 54 quarter credits from the 3000/4000 level

* Denotes courses that have prerequisite(s). Refer to the descriptions for further details.

Learners who do not complete all program requirements within quarter credit/program point minimums will be required to accrue such additional quarter credits/program points as are associated with any additional or repeat coursework necessary for successful completion of program requirements.

† The BSN, MSN, and DNP degree programs at Capella University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, One Dupont Circle, NW Suite 530, Washington, DC 20036, (202) 887-6791.

Alabama and Washington residents are not eligible to enroll in this degree program.

The BSN degree program requires learners to maintain a current, independently verifiable, and unrestricted RN license throughout their program.

GuidedPath courses and FlexPath courses fulfill the program requirements and prerequisites for each delivery model.