RN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degrees
Registered nurses (RNs) who have an associate degree or a nursing diploma can expand their career opportunities in many directions by pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree (BSN). The RN to BSN programs are designed specifically for RNs to take into consideration their previous training. These programs provide education in areas that are important for healthcare administration roles as well as more complex direct-care scenarios. For RNs, getting a BSN can mean:
- An increase in salary in their current position.
- An increase in responsibilities.
- Increased flexibility to work in non-hospital settings.
- Being prepared to pursue a master's degree in nursing.
- Being qualified for many management and administrative positions.
Degree Options
The RN to BSN degree is a general degree which covers all areas of nursing. Most programs allow students to chose some electives where they can delve deeper into a particular aspect of nursing such as holistic nursing, leadership or nursing education.
Schools
RN to BSN programs are available through hundreds of colleges and universities. These programs are typically designed for RNs who will continue working while attending school. They offer flexible schedules and often have multiple start dates during the year. There is also a trend for courses and even entire programs to be available online to provide even more flexibility. Many employers of RNs offer tuition reimbursement for RN to BSN programs.
The number of 100 percent online programs available for RN to BSN degrees is growing quickly, and some are nationally accredited. To provide clinical experience opportunities, some programs coordinate with a medical facility affiliated with the online school that is geographically as close as possible to the student.
Coursework
After fulfilling prerequisites such as anatomy, physiology, psychology and microbiology which may have been taken during prior schooling, nursing students will take courses similar to those described below:
- Health Appraisal – This course teaches students the skills required to assess a patient's health which include interviewing patients, taking and assessing vital signs, administering and assessing appropriate tests and communicating results to patient and other health-care providers.
- Nursing Care of Adults – Students learn to create nursing practice plans for care of adults who have acute or chronic illness. Topics include disease prevention, wellness education, pain management and communication and collaboration with other health-care providers.
- Community Health Nursing – This course focuses on the role of a community health nurse and covers topics such as health disparities, economic factors affecting health, disease prevention, at-risk populations and preventative care.
- Nutrition Health and Disease –The fundamentals of nutrition and the impact on a patient's health are covered. Nutrition's role in improving health and preventing disease as well the specific role of major nutrients may be discussed.
- Pharmacology – This course examines how various groups of drugs affect a patient's body systems including possible side-effects and interactions with other drugs.
- Nursing Leadership – Students learn the principles of management as they pertain to nursing including managing performance and quality, resource allocation, budgeting, delegation, conflict resolution and legal factors.
Clinical experience opportunities are coordinated through hospitals and other care facilities such as residential care, home health agencies, ambulatory clinics and public health departments.
Admission Requirements
Applicants must have earned an associate degree in nursing or a nursing diploma and in many cases, must be an RN in the state where they will attend school. Some RN to BSN programs require applicants to pass a pre-admission test called the National League for Nursing (NLN) pre-admissions exam. For the more competitive schools, prior GPA’s and SAT scores may also be considered.
Career Options
Earning a BSN opens up many new options for nurses since this degree is required for most managerial positions as well as many positions outside of hospitals. Below are some of the possible career opportunities:
- Head nurse
- Hospital Administrator
- School Nurse
- Pediatric Nurse
- Physician’s Office Manager
- Nurse Educator
- Home Health Care Manager
- Mental Health Nurse
- Clinical Consultant Manager
- Clinical Researcher
- Hospice Clinical Supervisor
Related Degrees
Once a nurse has received their BSN degree, they may decide to continue on to earn a Masters degree. All nurses with Masters Degrees are referred to as Advanced Practice Nurses (APNs). They will choose from one of the following degrees:
- Nurse Practitioner (NP) – These nurses are trained to provide primary care to patients and often substitute for primary care physicians in clinics and doctor's offices. Their education is focused on care for one type of population whether that be children, the elderly, mentally ill or another group.
- Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) – These nurses can work directly with patients or be involved in management, education or research. They often serve as expert resources in hospitals and other in-patient settings.
- Clinical Nurse Midwife (CNM) - These nurses are trained to provide health care services to women and newborns. Their education focuses primary care for women, gynecological services, pre-natal care, birthing and newborn care.
- Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) - CRNAs receive training which prepares them to provide anesthesia to patients during surgery and at other times when pain relief is needed.
How to Evaluate RN to BSN Programs
When comparing RN to BSN degree programs, RNs should take into consideration the following factors:
- Accreditation and state approval - Has the school been accredited by the National League for Nursing Accreditation Commission (NLNAC) or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)? Has the program been approved by states where licensure will be pursued?
- Application requirements - Does the school's nursing program require applicants to pass the NLN Pre-admission Exam?
- School and class size - Larger schools frequently offer more amenities, provide more options for financial aid, and are more affordable than smaller schools. How many students matriculate each year? What is the student-teacher ratio in popular courses?
- Clinical practice - How are internships arranged? Are there a lot to choose from in areas of particular interest? How many hours of supervised clinical practice are required?
- Flexibility for working adults – Flexibility is a common concern for working adults, who often also have a family. For on-campus programs, look at options for when and where classes can be taken. For online programs the most convenient structure is one that allows students to complete coursework and communicate with teachers and peers 24x7.
Resources
RN.org – Provide links to nursing organizations.
American Association of Colleges of Nursing - Provides school and career information for nurses.
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