Online RN to BSN Programs

Get matched to Online RN to BSN Programs for FREE!

Degree description image

WHAT IS AN ACCREDITED ONLINE RN TO BSN PROGRAM?

Accredited online RN to BSN programs are degree completion options for licensed registered nurses (RNs) with an associate’s degree in nursing (ADN) or diploma. Since many RNs are busy, the online RN to BSN format make it possible to earn a bachelor’s degree while at work. Students of online RN to BSN programs often hone nursing skills while learning how to lead, manage and research.

Some courses cover emerging trends in health care therapies and health assessment. Others may discuss health promotion and community nursing. A clinical aspect helps RNs get hands on practice and experience in a chosen nursing niche. Why earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)? Nurses with a BSN may take on a wider scope of professional duties and higher salaries than licensed vocational nurses (LVNs). Earning a BSN also puts you one step closer to a master’s degree or doctorate if your goal is advanced practice nursing.

If you are ready to take the next step in your nursing education, the demand for nurses who possess a bachelor’s degree in the U.S. is growing faster than average. There’s a need for qualified nurses to care for the elderly and those with chronic health issues. Since you may face some competition for these critical jobs, it might be a smart choice to pursue your BSN soon.

placeholder1140X599

TYPES OF ONLINE RN TO BSN DEGREE PROGRAMS

B.S. in Nursing, RN to BSN Purdue Global University

This program stresses leadership and management. Students may tailor studies with nursing elective courses aligned to certifications recognized by Magnet®

Course Examples:

  • Palliative Care Nursing
  • Case Management
  • Faith Community Nursing

Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)

Master of Science in Psychology

This program may empower students to practice nursing as ministry. It views nursing as both a sacred calling and a science

Course Examples:

  • New Testament
  • Population Health
  • Healthcare Informatics

CCNE

B.S. in Nursing, Registered Nurse RN to BSN

This program highlights ethical and Christian decision making while maximizing strengths of the adult RN learner

Course Examples:

  • Family centered Health Promotion
  • Professional Dynamics
  • Health Assessment

CCNE

RN TO BSN PROGRAM CURRICULUM

Accredited online RN to BSN program follow professional nursing standards and guidelines. These are set out in The Essentials of Baccalaureate Education for Professional Nursing Practice (AACN, 2008). While every program has some unique features, this framework ensures a program covers core nursing skills. A typical BSN degree may task students to complete 120 to 180 credit hours. Nurses who enter RN to BSN programs may have 50 to 90 of these credits done. To determine your track of study, a school will look at original transcripts from a completed nursing program.

WHAT DO RN TO BSN DEGREE COURSES LOOK LIKE?

The RN to BSN degree courses encompass various areas of study essential for nursing practice. These include health care leadership, case management, collaboration with peers, and exploring subjects like informatics and public health nursing. Consequently, graduates are equipped to navigate ethical challenges in both direct patient care and broader healthcare settings.

Many programs also delve into emerging healthcare trends and research, providing insights into the intricate demands of fields like population health. Scientific learning involves topics such as health assessment, health promotion, and family-centered nursing, offering the skills to translate scientific data into practical contexts.

Towards the program’s conclusion, students may undertake a project to address nursing practice issues. Some institutions may require the development of a Curriculum Vitae (CV) or an e-portfolio to showcase their skills to potential employers.

Some common courses include:

Regulatory Guidelines: This course may examine the way nurses help others and follow the rules. You could also learn about rules that apply to the nursing profession.

Care Management: You may learn about ways to care for patients and manage a schedule. Subjects could include research skills and strategies for treating patients.

Family, Community and Global Health: The best ways to keep families and communities healthy may be taught. You could learn ways to prevent the spread of diseases and then teach others.

Healthcare Informatics: Project management is an important part of nursing. You may learn the newest technology and how it is used to improve healthcare.

Public Health Nursing: You may be taught how proper nutrition affects public health. This course could include lessons on health promotion and disease prevention.

Professional Dynamics: Many who work in nursing write articles and give speeches on healthcare issues. This course may teach you to become a thought leader in healthcare.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO COMPLETE AN ONLINE RN TO BSN DEGREE PROGRAM?

If you are already a licensed RN and have an ADN, you might complete an online RN to BSN program in about two years.

For this to happen, you’ll need to start your ADN degree at another accredited college or university. This enables you to earn the transfer credits that reduce your BSN credit requirements.

degree-duration-subject-page-mobileImage

RN TO BSN DEGREE PROGRAM EXAMPLES

School# of Credits RequiredStart DatesMinimum Months to Complete
Purdue Global180Multiple18
Colorado Christian University120Multiple15
Grand Canyon University120Multiple12

HOW MUCH DOES AN ONLINE RN TO BSN PROGRAM COST?

The cost of an online RN to BSN program often depends on whether you study on a full or part time basis and how many transfer credits you have. For instance, of the 120 credits required for a BSN, RN students with an ADN degree may enter with 50 to 90 credits thus reducing the overall cost. There may also be ways to save such as discounts for veterans and military students.

Recent data also shows that there is a difference in the average in state tuition ($7,512) and out of state tuition ($33,157). Both rates are rising by 2.32% and 2.02% respectively.

School# of Credits RequiredCost Per CreditTotal Tuition Cost
Purdue Global University180$315$28,350 (with 90 transfer credits)
Colorado Christian University120$315$11,340 (with 84 transfer credits)
Grand Canyon University120$470$14,100 (with 90 transfer credits)

TOP SCHOOLS FOR ONLINE RN TO BSN PROGRAMS

Last check, there were 322,578 degrees awarded to students in registered nursing, nursing research and nursing administration. The majority of these for registered nursing at the bachelor’s degree level.

School2021 Degrees awarded2022/23 Tuition (out of state unless *)
Chamberlain University Illinois12,645$20,410*
Western Governors University13,940$8,010*
Grand Canyon University6,909$17,800*
Walden University5,207$12,483*
The University of Texas at Arlington4,803$29,299
Ohio University Main Campus2,209$23,720
University of Phoenix Arizona1,327$9,552

Estimated for full time, beginning undergrad students

CHOOSING  AN ACCREDITED RN TO BSN PROGRAM

There are several reasons why choosing an accredited RN to BSN program can make a difference to an online nursing student.

What does it mean to be an accredited nursing program? Accreditation is a voluntary and self regulatory process. When a school applies for approval, the agency evaluates the courses and faculty. It also makes on site visits.

These things ensure that the college is providing nursing education that is contemporary and ethical. They also check that support systems are in place to help students reach goals. This includes financial aid, transfer credit policies, library services and so on. Only accredited colleges and universities are eligible to offer financial aid. If you are hoping to take part in federal funding, this aspect is vital.

Also, when an institution receives an approval for its RN to BSN program, such a status lasts for a specific period of time. As such, the school cannot rest on its laurels. It has to keep the standards up and continually improve itself. For a student, this could mean studying current methods rather than outdated ones.

When you choose an accredited RN to BSN program, you’ll thus be able to see it has met professional nursing standards with integrity. You can also check the status of your school/program on an agency database.

Only regionally or nationally accredited colleges and universities are able to offer accredited RN to BSN programs.

Such programs may be approved by:
  • Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
  • Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)

As we have discussed, only accredited nursing schools allow students to transfer credits from one to another. This is important for now (transfer from ADN to BSN) as much as for later if you want to roll your bachelor’s into a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree. You should also know that to become licensed nurses must graduate from an approved nursing program. This will allow them to take and pass the National Council Licensure Exam (NCLEX RN). Likewise, other credentialing agencies will also ask for your transcripts.

CAREERS WITH A BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING DEGREE

Today, there are over 4.28 million people in the workforce comprising registered nurses, nursing education and nursing research, a number that is growing by 4.06%.

With an average workforce age of 42.8 and declining, the most common gender (86.7%) with a degree in this field is women.

TOP SALARIES BY STATE FOR NURSING DEGREE HOLDERS

Take a look below at the States with the highest employment level of Registered Nursing professionals.

StateEmploymentAnnual Mean Wage
California325,620$133,340
Hawaii11,800$113,220
Oregon37,400$106,610
Massachusetts94,100$104,150
Alaska6,730$103,310

WHAT CAN I DO WITH A BACHELOR’S DEGREE IN NURSING?

CRITICAL CARE NURSE

Critical care nurses operate within hospital intensive care units, tending to patients dealing with severe, intricate, and acute illnesses or injuries. Due to the critical nature of their conditions, these patients require vigilant monitoring and specialized treatment. Certain nurses may opt to specialize in particular diseases like cardiology or diabetes, or focus on specific demographics such as pediatrics or geriatrics.

According to 2022 O*NET data:

Median Salary: $81,220 per year

Job Growth Through 2032: 5% to 8% (Faster than average)

Typical Entry level Education: Bachelors Degree.

REGISTERED NURSE

RNs deliver and coordinate patient care, educate both patients and the public on diverse health conditions, and offer guidance and emotional support to patients and their families.

According to 2022 O*NET data:

Median Salary: $75,330 per year

Job Growth Through 2032: 5% to 7% (Faster than average)

Typical Entry level Education: Bachelors Degree.

TRAVEL NURSE OR REGISTERED NURSE

Travel nurses, usually employed by staffing agencies, perform similar duties to non-traveling nurses. They maintain precise patient records, manage medication administration, and collaborate on patient care across different hospital units. However, these nurses typically engage in short-term assignments as contracted employees, allowing their work to span across the country or even internationally.

According to 2022 O*NET data:

Median Salary: $81,220 per year

Job Growth Through 2032: 5% to 8% (Faster than average)

Typical Entry level Education: Bachelors Degree.

© Education Connection 2024. All Rights Reserved.

*https://nces.ed.gov/programs/digest/d20/tables/dt20_311.15.asp

Sources for school statistics is the U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics.

Disclosure: EducationDynamics receives compensation for the featured schools on our websites (see “Sponsored Schools” or “Sponsored Listings” or “Sponsored Results”).  So what does this mean for you? Compensation may impact where the Sponsored Schools appear on our websites, including whether they appear as a match through our education matching services tool, the order in which they appear in a listing, and/or their ranking.  Our websites do not provide, nor are they intended to provide, a comprehensive list of all schools (a) in the United States (b) located in a specific geographic area or (c) that offer a particular program of study.  By providing information or agreeing to be contacted by a Sponsored School, you are in no way obligated to apply to or enroll with the school.

This is an offer for educational opportunities, not an offer for nor a guarantee of employment. Students should consult with a representative from the school they select to learn more about career opportunities in that field. Program outcomes vary according to each institution’s specific program curriculum. Financial aid may be available to those who qualify. The financial aid information on this site is for informational and research purposes only and is not an assurance of financial aid.

1 You must apply for a new loan each school year. This approval percentage is based on students with a Sallie Mae undergraduate loan in the 2018/19 school year who were approved when they returned in 2019/20. It does not include the denied applications of students who were ultimately approved in 2019/20.

2 This promotional benefit is provided at no cost to borrowers with new loans that disburse between May 1, 2021 and April 30, 2022. Borrowers are not eligible to activate the benefit until July 1, 2021. Borrowers who reside in, attend school in, or borrow for a student attending school in Maine are not eligible for this benefit. Chegg Study® offers expert Q&A where students can submit up to 20 questions per month. No cash value. Terms and Conditions apply. Please visit http://www.chegg.com/legal/smtermsandconditions for complete details. This offer expires one year after issuance.

Sponsored Results

Study anywhere. Study any time.

Join the millions earning their degrees online.

7 million undergraduate and graduate students were enrolled in some form of online education in 2019!*

X