Transformation and Excellence in an RN-to-BSN Program: A Ten-Year Journey

An academic practice partnership was formed to develop a new RN-to-BSN program with a Unitary Caring Science (UCS) framework. The target population consisted of registered nurses in a large integrated health system in northern California who had not enrolled in one of the numerous RN-to-BSN options available. The nurses worked in a strong union environment with high salaries and low turnover. The primary return on investment sought by the practice partner was transformational cultural change. A mindfulness-based stress reduction course, offered in the first term, served as an experiential introduction to UCS. The faculty prioritized the affective learning domain to nurture phronesis and chose a cohort model to develop communitas. New ontological competencies were developed through a value-added proposition with four pillars to help nurses discover their vision, find their voice, tell their stories, and own their practice. Students gave examples of how the program changed their personal and professional lives. Practice leaders reported transformative behaviors in graduates and transformative changes in the culture. The academic-practice partnership achieved the goals of both organizations.