RN to BSN Online

Study on Your Schedule

We know you’re eager to get started… and get finished! WCU degrees are designed so that you have the ability to earn your degree at a quick pace. However, we know that students’ circumstances vary, and that’s why we also offer flexible paths of study for those who may need it. Choose a study schedule that matches your goals and life schedule!

Hands-On Experience

WCU's RN to BSN program requires 135 hours of practice experience (which includes 90 supervised hours) so you can learn to make assessments and recommendations for care and interact with patients and other practitioners. While your coursework can be completed remotely, in-person experience is also required through clinicals completed in your local area so you can continue your career with confidence

Online Study

Because you’re already a licensed RN, you’ll be able to complete your WCU degree almost entirely online. Additionally, mobile-friendly content is available to make it easier for you to study between shifts.

RN to BSN Curriculum

We recommend reviewing your prospective RN to BSN curriculum in detail so you know what to expect in your program:

Credit Distribution

Academic Calendar

New academic terms begin, on average, every eight weeks. The number of trimesters required for your program depends on the program pace you choose. For the most updated start-to-completion schedule, view the Academic Calendar.

RN to BSN (Online) Admissions Requirements

Applicants to the program must meet the following standards:

1. Provide proof of a current unobstructed Registered Nurse (RN) license from the United States.
   1. Students awaiting their licensure exam may be admitted if they meet all other admissions criteria but must show proof of licensure prior to entering the third trimester of the program.  

2. Individuals with 15 or more college-level credits are required to have a 2.25 GPA in post-secondary education.  

   1. Applicants with 15 or more college-level credits and a GPA of 2.0-2.24 may be considered for probationary admission after meeting the following admissions requirements:
   1. The applicant must provide a letter of intent.  
   2. The applicant must be approved for admission following an interview with Program Dean/Director.  
   3. The applicant must satisfy program prerequisites and achieve a cumulative GPA of 2.0 on all coursework attempted over the first trimester (two terms).  Students failing to meet these requirements following the first trimester (two terms) will be withdrawn from the university. 
3. Submit official transcripts from a Board of Nursing licensed Associate Degree or Diploma in Nursing program;
   1. Applicants can be conditionally admitted into the first week of the program by providing unofficial transcripts or a copy of the conferred nursing degree.  Official transcripts which meet the requirements set forth must be received by the end of the add/drop period in order to be admitted in to the program.  
   2. Applicants with a valid license may be admitted with approved documentation of earned high school degree or equivalent pending receipt of official transcripts of nursing degree.  Official transcripts must be submitted to document program completion.  

*All students must have a current and unobstructed license in the United States prior to entering the third trimester of the program; an unobstructed license is required for degree completion and will be verified again prior to entering the practicum course.  Failure to present a valid RN license will result in dismissal from the university until such time license is current and unobstructed.  

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon graduation, RN to BSN students will:

1. Support professional nursing practice decisions with concepts and theories from the biological, physical, and social sciences
2. Plan preventative and population-focused interventions with attention to effectiveness, efficiency, cost, and equity
3. Support therapeutic nursing interventions for patients and families in a variety of healthcare and community settings using evidence-based practice
4. Apply nursing process and critical thinking when providing holistic, patient-centered nursing care to diverse populations
5. Design healthcare education for individuals, families, and communities
6. Comply with the professional standards of moral, ethical, and legal conduct in practice
7. Develop an effective communication style to interact with patients, families, and the interdisciplinary health team
8. Model leadership when providing safe and quality nursing care, when coordinating the healthcare team, and when tasked with oversight and accountability for care delivery
9. Use patient care technology and information systems when providing nursing care in a variety of settings

Career Services & Placement

A Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree could open the doors to a variety of career paths — and the West Coast University Career Services team can help you both prepare for and explore your career options. WCU Career Services offers career planning advice to leverage your BSN degree, assisting with everything from resume writing and interview preparation to job leads and more.³

Registered nurses work in a variety of healthcare settings. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, an RN typically works alongside physicians and other healthcare specialists, and they may oversee licensed practical nurses, nursing assistants, and home health aides. RNs may even work with specific patient groups, such as when they work in the following areas of care:

• Addiction treatment
• Cardiovascular care
• Critical care
• Genetics
• Neonatal care
• Nephrology
• Public health
• Rehabilitation⁴

Clinical Placements

At WCU, we have a Clinical Placements team that is dedicated to supporting you throughout your clinical practicum journey, from your first course all the way to graduation. Whether you need resources to help you identify the right preceptor and clinical site that aligns with your goals, assistance getting your preceptor and clinical site approved, or guidance on how to make your practicum experience a success, our team is here to help.

You will have an assigned coordinator of clinical relations who can provide you with coaching calls, so you’ll never have to feel alone as you complete this critical component of your program requirements. West Coast University has partnerships with reputable healthcare organizations, which can be of great value when it comes to helping students with clinical practice placements

Featured Faculty

George Byron Peraza-Smith, DNP, RN, AGNP-C, GNP-BC, GS-C, CNE, FAANP

Dean/Director, DNP, RN to BSN, AGPC-NP & Graduate Specialty Programs

Dr. George Peraza-Smith is a Fellow of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP). He obtained his Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) from Case Western Reserve University, as well as a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and Mast of Science in Nursing (MSN) in nursing administration from the University of Texas Medical Branch. He has both a gerontological nurse practitioner post-master’s certificate from the University of South Florida and an adult nurse practitioner post-doctoral certificate from Brandman University.

Dr. Peraza-Smith is board-certified as an adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioner (AGPCNP), a gerontological nurse practitioner, an APRN gerontological specialist, and a certified nurse educator. He is the immediate past president of the Florida Nurses Association and the immediate past inaugural president of the Gerontology Nursing Certification Commission (GNCC) for which he remains a trustee on the board. The GNCC offers an APRN gerontological specialist certification to distinguish APRNs who possess expert knowledge, experience, and skill in managing the complex health needs of older adults.

Dr. Peraza-Smith has been teaching in MSN and DNP online and hybrid programs for over 10 years. He has held academic leadership positions such as Professor, Program Director, Department Chair, and Associate Dean. Dr. Peraza-Smith resides in Zephyrhills, Florida with his husband and two children.