---

RN to BSN Fact Sheet
Frequently asked questions:

How many hours do I have to take from MSU?

Because the RN to BSN program is part of the Extended Education Department, the RN is only required to take 28 hours of nursing and one other 3 hour course from MSU in addition to other requirements for the degree. All other courses for the four year degree can be met at the local community college. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO COME TO MURRAY, KY FOR CLASSES. Classes are offered at offsite locations by interactive tv, on-line, and by instructors at sites.

RNs receive 32 hours of nursing credit for content from their basic nursing programs.

Credit is received after successful completion of NUR 201 - Nursing Assessment and NUR 314 - the “bridge course”. This is termed credit received by validation.

The 32 hours cost $5.00 per hour and are placed on the student transcript during the last term the student is enrolled at MSU. Therefore, the total cost for the 32 hours is $160.00. No portfolio or additional class is necessary to receive this credit.

Yes, all courses from accredited institutions will transfer.

The length of time it will take a student to complete the program depends upon how many hours the student needs (general education hours), how much time the student has available to attend class, and willingness of the student to travel for some classes if necessary. All courses are not offered at every site every term, but are available at another site - Madisonville, Paducah, Hopkinsville or Murray. Some courses are taught in short summer term, online, and over interactive television, as well as taken offsite. Many students are able to complete the 31 hours from MSU within one year.

Courses at MSU for the 00-01 term are $111 per hour. At that rate, the actual classes for the degree would be $3441.00 (31 x $111) plus $160.00 for 32 hours of validated courses equaling a total of $3601.00.  Full-time is 12 hours per semester for $1278.

Most students with associate degrees need two chemistry courses, 9 hours of humanities, nutrition, statistics, and possibly another course in addition to the courses they have already taken at the community college.  128 total hours are needed for graduation.

MSU does not have a weekend program for nursing courses. Courses are taught usually from 3pm or later on weekdays. Some courses are available online also.

The RN has 5 years to complete the program after admission to NUR 314. NUR 201 Nursing Assessment, NUR 406 Research in Nursing and a nursing elective may be taken before admission to nursing.

Clinical components are part of NUR 314 the “bridge” course, NUR 403 Community Health Nursing, and NUR 404 Leadership and Management in Nursing. These clinicals are completed in a variety of ways that are flexible and student-arranged.

Transfer of nursing courses is done on a course by course basis. If a course is equivalent to one of our MSU nursing courses, credit will be given.

NLN Mobility II exams are not required for graduates of Kentucky Community Colleges or NLNAC accredited programs.

Yes, admission to nursing is separate from admission to MSU.

Admission to the RN to BSN program is open. There is no deadline.

Advising for RNs is done by the RN to BSN Coordinator and also by the Chair of the Department of Nursing.

Contact Karen Hartman, RN to BSN Coordinator 270 762-6665 karen.hartman@murraystate.edu  or

Marcie Hobbs 270 762-2193

Murray State University Department of Nursing mary.craig@murraystate.edu

The following forms are in PDF (portable document format). This allows users to read a document in its original format regardless of the machine platform used.

In order to view/print this form you must have Acrobat Reader 3.0 installed on your machine. This program is free to download from Adobe by clicking the following button:

If you already have Acrobat Reader 3.0 on your system you may download the form by clicking on the appropriate link below.

Nursing Homepage

Date Modified March, 2001