If you enrolled in nursing at Kaplan University and are now completing your degree under the Purdue Global name, you are not alone in feeling confused. The institutional transition was substantial — the name, ownership, and some processes changed — but the curriculum most students were midway through remained largely intact. This guide explains the context, clarifies what still applies from your Kaplan coursework, and helps you succeed in your nursing capstone under its current structure.
What happened to Kaplan University?
The Kaplan → Purdue Global transition (2018)
In March 2018, Purdue University acquired Kaplan University and rebranded it as Purdue University Global (Purdue Global), a public university under Indiana law. This was a notable shift because Kaplan was a for-profit institution, while Purdue Global operates as a public, nonprofit university — a status change with real implications for accreditation, federal financial aid treatment, and public perception.
Key facts about the transition:
- The transition was completed in March 2018; students who enrolled as Kaplan students were automatically continued as Purdue Global students
- Diplomas for students who completed before the transition bear the Kaplan University name; those who completed after bear Purdue Global
- The Nursing programs retained CCNE accreditation through the transition
- Course content, learning management system (initially Kaplan's, then migrated to other platforms), and faculty assignments changed at varying paces depending on program
- Prior Kaplan credits are recognized for Purdue Global degree completion — you do not need to repeat courses you completed at Kaplan
Nursing programs: then and now
| Program | Kaplan (pre-2018) | Purdue Global (current) |
|---|---|---|
| RN to BSN | HN300/HN499 capstone courses; EBP project format | NU300/NU499 or similar sequence; EBP project, same fundamental format |
| MSN — Nursing Administration | MSN capstone: healthcare admin project, practice change | Maintained; same competency domains, updated course codes |
| MSN — Education | Curriculum development or professional development project | Maintained; updated to current nursing education standards |
| MSN — Informatics | Systems implementation/evaluation project | Maintained; updated to current informatics standards |
| DNP | Practice Doctorate, QI or EBP project | Maintained under Purdue Global; CCNE accredited |
The Purdue Global nursing capstone format
The fundamental structure of the Purdue Global nursing capstone — whether you think of it as the Kaplan nursing capstone — has remained consistent: an evidence-based practice or practice improvement project that demonstrates integration of program competencies. The shift from Kaplan to Purdue Global did not fundamentally restructure what a nursing capstone looks like; it updated course numbering, refined some rubrics, and aligned the curriculum with Purdue's academic quality standards.
RN-BSN capstone core components
Whether your course code starts with HN (legacy Kaplan) or NU (Purdue Global), the capstone paper requires:
- Clinical problem statement — significance of the problem in the nursing practice setting, supported by epidemiological or outcomes data
- PICOT question — Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome, Timeframe; formatted with each element labeled
- Literature review and evidence synthesis — minimum 5–8 peer-reviewed sources; evidence table; narrative synthesis organized by theme, not source
- Theoretical/conceptual framework — Iowa Model, Lewin's Change Theory, or Donabedian Model most commonly accepted; must be applied (not just described)
- Implementation plan — step-by-step EBP implementation using PDSA or Iowa Model steps; stakeholders; timeline; resource needs; potential barriers
- Evaluation plan — how you will measure whether the intervention worked; pre/post design with specific measurable outcomes
- Conclusion — summary of key points; implications for practice; recommendation for future research
- APA 7th edition — references, in-text citations, title page, abstract (if required by your specific capstone course)
What former Kaplan students most commonly struggle with
- Updated APA requirements: Kaplan's capstone courses used APA 6th edition. Purdue Global has transitioned to APA 7th edition, which changed in-text citation format for multiple authors (6+ → use first author + et al.), removed the running head requirement for student papers, updated the reference list format for journal articles, and changed how DOIs are formatted. If you completed coursework under APA 6th and are now completing your capstone under APA 7th, make sure your references are in the new format.
- Updated rubric criteria: Purdue Global has refined capstone rubrics to be more explicit about evidence appraisal — it is no longer sufficient to list sources; you must demonstrate critical analysis of the evidence. Graders look for language like "this Level I meta-analysis provides strong evidence" rather than "this article says."
- Turnitin and plagiarism standards: Purdue Global uses Turnitin with institutional thresholds. Self-plagiarism (submitting your own work from a prior course) is flagged. If you wrote a PICOT paper or literature review in an earlier course, you cannot copy that text into your capstone without paraphrasing and re-citing it.
If you are still finding "Kaplan University" on your portal
Some legacy students who enrolled before 2018 may still see Kaplan University branding on older materials in their student portal. This is an archival artifact — your active enrollment is under Purdue Global. Your degree, upon completion, will be a Purdue Global degree. Confirm your current program code and catalog year with your academic advisor if you are uncertain which rubric or course requirements govern your capstone.
How our writers help Purdue Global / Kaplan nursing students
Whether your mental model of your program is "Kaplan" or "Purdue Global," the capstone challenges are the same: PICOT formulation, evidence synthesis, theoretical framework application, and APA 7th edition formatting. Our nursing writers have supported students through both the Kaplan and Purdue Global versions of these courses and understand what the rubrics expect at each program level.
Need help with your Purdue Global nursing capstone?
Our writers know the Purdue Global / Kaplan nursing capstone format — EBP structure, PICOT, evidence tables, and APA 7th edition. We've helped hundreds of online nursing students succeed.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes. Degrees awarded by Kaplan University before the March 2018 transition are legitimate and bear the Kaplan University name. Degrees awarded after the transition bear the Purdue Global name. Both types of degrees are from a CCNE-accredited nursing program and are recognized for nursing licensure (NCLEX eligibility), graduate school applications, and employer verification purposes. The Purdue University affiliation has generally improved the perception of the institution among employers compared to the Kaplan for-profit brand. If you are concerned about a specific employer or licensing board's recognition, you can contact Purdue Global's registrar for a letter confirming accreditation status and the institutional transition history.
Yes. Purdue Global maintains full academic records for all students who transitioned from Kaplan, including course transcripts, prior work submitted, and degree audit histories. Your academic advisor at Purdue Global can pull your full academic record, including courses completed under the Kaplan name. When you speak with faculty or advisors, it is fine to refer to courses by their Kaplan course codes — they have the crosswalk to understand what those courses were and whether they satisfy Purdue Global requirements. If you experience any records gaps or discrepancies (e.g., a course you completed showing as missing), contact the Purdue Global registrar directly — do not assume a Kaplan course was simply not transferred.
Almost certainly yes. The capstone is a degree requirement, not a writing course. Prior writing-intensive courses like your PICOT paper, literature review assignment, or theoretical framework paper contribute to your readiness for the capstone, but they do not fulfill the capstone requirement itself. The capstone integrates all program competencies in a single synthesized project — it is the culminating demonstration of your BSN or MSN education, not just another writing assignment. Check your current degree audit in the Purdue Global student portal to confirm your specific remaining requirements, and speak with your academic advisor if you believe any capstone-equivalent work has not been properly credited.