Program

30

Total Credits

8

Total Classes

Online

Format

Siena Heights University offers a CCNE accredited RN-BSN degree completion program for nurses who are interested in continuing to further their professional studies and careers.

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“The faculty and staff are there to inspire you to be better. They will make sure you are successful. I’m pretty sure you wouldn’t get that kind of one-on-one attention at a big online school.”
 
Nate Redlinger, BSN
Clinical Nurse Manager at Promedica Monroe Regional Hospital, Monroe, Mich.
Nate Redlinger, BSN

Learn More about Siena Heights University’s RN to BSN Program.

Siena Heights University offers a CCNE-accredited online RN to BSN degree completion program for nurses interested in continuing to further their professional studies and careers. The Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree (accelerated RN to BSN program) is designed for licensed Registered Nurses to earn a bachelor’s degree in nursing and can be completed within 16 months, completely online. This accredited Nursing Program is respectful of the dignity and worth of all people and SHU nurses are prepared to provide high-quality clinical nursing care in ever-changing health care systems.

Based upon a liberal arts foundation, the faculty and students collaborate in a dynamic teaching and learning environment that embraces caring, diversity and creativity. We listened to what working nurses told us they needed, and adapted our online RN to BSN courses to be practical and relevant to today’s health care professionals, allowing students to tie their personal and professional experience into the coursework.

Finish your bachelors degree in nursing in a time frame that works with your schedule – in as little as two years, depending on your remaining requirements and availability. A Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree is also available.

Siena Nursing is approved by the Michigan Board of Nursing and by the Higher Learning Commission for the North Central Association.


Erin Horkey
Director, Pre-Licensure Nursing Program; Associate Professor of Nursing
ehorkey1@sienaheights.edu
517-264-7216
Jean Dean
Associate Professor of Nursing
jdean@sienaheights.edu
517-264-7243
Joanne Yastik
Assistant Dean of Nursing and Health Sciences
jyastik@sienaheights.edu
517-264-7241
Karen Howatt
Director, RN-BSN and MSN Programs; Associate Professor of Nursing
khowatt@sienaheights.edu
517-264-7245
Kelli Kusisto
Associate Professor of Nursing
kkusisto@sienaheights.edu
517-264-7213

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree Completion for Registered Nurses (RN-BSN program) was designed for licensed RN’s to earn a bachelor’s degree in nursing. Students admitted to the RN-BSN degree completion program must have graduated from a Siena Heights Nursing approved program; either a two-year associate’s degree nursing program or hospital-based diploma degree program. Incoming students must have a valid RN license.

Requirements for admission into the RN-BSN program: 

  • An unencumbered license to practice as a registered nurse (RN)
  • 40 semester hours of transfer credit in approved nursing courses
  • Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5
  • Current professional resume

Requirements for graduation with a BSN:

A total of 120 credit hours with a minimum of 64 hours in approved nursing courses. Students can transfer up to 90 semester hours of required courses: 

  • English Composition: 6 
  • Anatomy/Physiology: 5-10
  • Microbiology: 4 
  • Social Science, Literature, History, Fine or Performing Arts: 3 
  • Mathematics Proficiency 

Residency Requirements (Classes are available online):

The required courses below constitute the 30 hours with Siena Heights. All students must apply and be accepted into the Nursing program before enrolling in nursing courses.

Required Nursing Courses: 

  • 24 semester hours with Siena Heights University:
  • 311 Foundational BSN Nursing Concepts
  • 321 Global & Population Health
  • 331 Systems Based Practice, Healthcare Policy, and Quality and Safety of Care.
  • 411 Holistic Nursing Care for the BSN, RN
  • 421 The Professional Nurse as an Emerging Leader
  • 431 SHU Professional Nursing Synthesis

Required Non-Nursing Courses:

6 semester hours with Siena Heights University: 

  • REL or PHIL course: 3 
  • LAS 401 Senior Seminar: Integrative Experience

Find out more on the course requirements for the RN to BSN program.


Siena Heights University’s (SHU) Online RN-BSN Program was recently ranked fourth on AllNurses “15 Best RN to BSN Programs in Michigan” for 2024.

With over 20 accredited Online RN-BSN programs in the state, AllNurses evaluated factors such as length of program, curriculum, cost, availability of online courses, academic reputation, specific nursing school accreditation, graduation rate, and more.

Siena Heights University was ranked fourth and was the first private institution to appear on the list. Notable features, as recognized by AllNurses, included SHU’s flexibility and commitment to recognizing prior learning. Siena Heights accepts credit for previous college work, certifications, work experiences, and licensures, which helps students earn their degree in the fastest, cheapest way pos sible. In addition, another stand-out feature regarded Siena Heights University’s Online Program, which has been recognized by the U.S. News & World Report for ten consecutive years. In most of these years, SHU was the top-ranked in the state of Michigan.

 


  • Siena Heights University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (HLC) at 230 S. LaSalle Street, Suite 7-500, Chicago, Illinois, 60604-1441, www.ncahlc.org.

  • The baccalaureate degree program in nursing at Siena Heights University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street, NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791.

  • The master’s degree program in nursing at Siena Heights University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org).


SIENA HEIGHTS UNIVERSITY’S MISSION

The mission of Siena Heights University, a Catholic University founded and sponsored by the Adrian Dominican Sisters, is to assist people to become more competent, purposeful, and ethical through a teaching and learning environment which respects the dignity of all.

 

SHU DIVISION OF NURSING MISSION

The Mission of the Siena Heights University Division of Nursing and Allied Health Sciences is to educate prospective and practicing health professionals at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Based upon a liberal arts foundation, the faculty and students collaborate in a dynamic teaching and learning environment that embraces caring, diversity, and creativity. Siena Heights University health professionals continually strive to become more competent, purposeful, and ethical in all interactions with individuals, groups, and communities while providing health care. Respectful of the dignity and worth of all people, graduates of the Siena Heights University Division of Nursing are prepared to provide high-quality care in the ever-changing healthcare systems

 

SHU DIVISION OF NURSING PHILOSOPHY

As a Catholic institution in the Dominican tradition, we believe in the dignity and worth of every human being. That philosophy is embedded into every aspect of SHU’s Nursing Program. When designing the Pre-Licensure Nursing program, Siena nursing faculty drew upon years of teaching expertise and wisdom, as well as national nursing standards. That means the courses are practical and relevant to today’s health care professional. Students are challenged in both traditional nursing courses such as Fundamentals and Health Assessment, and courses unique to Siena Nursing: Gerontology and End-of-Life Care; Ethical, Cultural and Spiritual Nursing Practice; and Care of the Client with Complex Needs.


Costs & Aid

We know that college can be expensive, but we don’t want cost to keep you from attending Siena Heights University! We offer numerous financial aid opportunities. Federal aid is available to students who qualify by completing the FAFSA. Feel free to contact us with questions about financial aid opportunities, or click on one of the links below.