BS Nursing Domains

Areas of Study Within the
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN)

The WGU RN to BSN program is based on best practices for effective learning and national standards. It provides the knowledge and skills that enable graduates to expand their knowledge in areas of research, theory, community concepts, healthcare policy, therapeutic interventions, and current trends.

The following section includes the larger domains of knowledge, which are then followed by the subject-specific subdomains of knowledge.

Science Specialty Topics

This domain focuses on anatomy and physiology, human physiology, clinical microbiology and biochemistry.

Anatomy and Physiology
These courses focus on the following topics: nervous and sensory systems, circulation and hematology, respiratory and cardiovascular systems, muscular, skeletal and integumentary systems, lymphatic and endocrine systems, the digestive, hepatic, and urinary systems, the reproductive system, support, protection and movement, control and regulation of the systems in the human body, transportation, absorption and excretion, reproduction, growth and maturation and terminology and the body plan.

Clinical Microbiology
This course focuses on the following topics: structure and characteristics of microorganisms, bacteria, viruses, mold, yeast and fungi, protozoa and parasites, pathogenic sources and transmission of organisms, antimicrobial therapy, controlling microorganism growth, and techniques and procedures.

Biochemistry
This course focuses on the following topics: DNA and RNA, amino acids and peptide bonds, protein structure, protein function, myoglobin and hemoglobin, enzymology and catalytic mechanism, carbohydrate metabolism, adenosine triphosphate (ATP), and lipids.

General Education Domain

The general education domain focuses on basic subject matter knowledge that is typically included in baccalaureate level programs. Evaluation of your previous college transcripts may clear assessment requirements for some areas of the liberal arts domain, which could shorten your program of study by removing assessments. To waive or clear a subdomain, the transcript must show that you have taken equivalent classes in the subdomain content areas and passed those classes with a C grade or higher at an accredited institution of higher education.

Foundations
This course focuses on application of grammatical standards, reading skills, basic numeracy and calculation skills, basic algebra skills, basic geometry principles, and basic data and probability skills.

Survey in U.S. and World History
Content includes major themes in world history and United States history; basic economic concepts; and the nature and development of American government.

Language and Communication
Content focuses on collegiate reading skills, basic information retrieval skills, writing skills, and speaking and writing skills.

Literature, Arts, and the Humanities
Content focuses on content, concepts, terminology, methodology, models, and issues within and across the disciplines of the humanities.

Behavioral Science

These courses focus on the principles and concepts of anthropology, sociology and psychology.

Nursing Science

This domain focuses on the following areas of study: applied health care statistics and analysis, evidence-based practice and applied nursing research, professional roles and values, health assessment, care of the older adult, community and population health, information management and the application of technology, and organizational systems and quality leadership.

Applied Health Care Statistics and Analysis
This course focuses on obtaining and understanding data, probability and the normal probability distributions, hypothesis testing and significance levels, and correlation coefficients and linear regression.

Evidence-Based Practice and Applied Nursing Research
This course focuses on primary research, translation of research evidence and evidence summary, research integration and outcome evaluation.

Professional Roles and Values
These courses focus on the nursing profession, nursing theories and models, ethical comportment and integrity, professional accountability, self advocacy of the nurse, the professional nurse, the role of the nurse, interprofessional practices, and the healthcare work environment.

Health Assessment
This course focuses on analyzing the findings of basic physical assessments of the integumentary system, the eyes, ears, nose and throat, the respiratory system, the cardiovascular, peripheral vascular, and lymphatic systems, the gastrointestinal and renal systems, the musculoskeletal and nervous systems, the reproductive system, mental status and head-to-toe assessments.

Care of the Older Adult
This course focuses on compassionate and respectful care, health promotion, maintenance and living environments, the health needs, promoting independence and autonomy while reducing risk factors, and technology-assisted care of older adults. It also discusses the care of adults with alterations in functional ability and palliative and end-of-life care.

Community and Population Health
This course focuses on community health epidemiology, quality of life and functioning, environmental and global health issues, and emergency response.

Information Management and the Application of Technology
This course focuses on information management and security, leadership in information technology, health information systems, electronic health records, technology supporting quality improvement, and current and future technologies.

Organizational Systems and Quality Leadership
This course focuses on principles of leadership, interdisciplinary collaboration, quality and patient safety and healthcare utilization and finance.

Nursing Theory and Practice

This domain focuses on nutrition for contemporary society, community health nursing and nursing leadership experience.

Nutrition for Contemporary Society
This course focuses on basic nutrition, physiology of food digestion, plant derived nutrients, fats: essential for life, proteins, vitamins, minerals, fluid balance, healthy bodily weight, nutrition and physical activity, nutrition through the lifecycle, and nutrition issues: safety and security of food.

Community Health Nursing Practicum
This course focuses on community health epidemiology, community collaboration, community health programs, policies, resources and services, health promotion, risk reduction and disease prevention, quality of life and functioning, violence in families and communities, environmental and global health issues and emergency response.

Leadership Experience
This course focuses on the manager of a healing environment, the nurse as a scientist, the nurse as a detective, and inter-professional practices.