RN-to-BSN Online Programs
As the need for BSN prepared nurses increases, you may be thinking about moving from your RN license to a BSN degree. The Institute of Medicine (IOM) report The Future of Nursing has a goal of 80% BSN prepared nurses by 2020. You may have hit a wall in your place of employment because you don’t have the education you need for the role you want to be in.
You have a Registered Nurse (RN) license, but you have decided that you want to pursue further education. What are your options for getting a Baccalaureate degree in nursing (BSN)? You really have three options for continuing your formal education: a bricks-and-mortar school at a college or university, an online program, or a hybrid of these two.
What are the Prerequisites for an Online RN-to-BSN program?
Although specific requirements will vary from school to school, all RN-to-BSN programs will require:
- Graduation from an accredited school of nursing,
- Successful completion of the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN), and
- A current registered nurse license.
Depending on the program you select, you might also be required to have a minimum grade point average in your basic nursing program. Although most programs will accept an ADN or Diploma degree, you should always check the specific requirements for the programs you are interested in. Depending on the program, you may also be able to transfer credits you already have from your Diploma or ADN program. Some online programs even offer testing programs that will allow you to show your competency by taking an online examination to “test out” of some of the basic course.
Another factor to consider is that you must have reliable access to a computer and the internet. Questions to ask about technological requirements include:
- What internet browsers (Firefox, Safari, Internet Explorer, etc.) are supported in the program?
- Do I need any specific software programs?
- Does my computer have to have any other specifications?
Is an Online RN-to-BSN Program Right for Me?
An online RN-to-BSN program is perfect for a nurse who is self-motivated and will actually sit down and do the work independently. If you need structure in order to get work done or if you crave face-to-face interaction in a classroom, the online pathway is probably NOT for you! However, it is a great option if you are working and cannot afford to take time off from your current job. If you do not like technology and using a computer is a chore for you, you might want to think twice about starting an online nursing program. You do NOT want to be fighting technology while you are trying to learn new material!
What RN-to-BSN Programs are Available Online?
The good news is that there are a TON of online RN-to-BSN programs available and the number is growing every day. A good place to start looking for programs is with your local college or university. Call the Registrar’s office and see if they have an online RN-to-BSN program. Of course, because these programs are totally online, you do not have to be restricted to a program that is close to you. You could conceivably take courses from a college or university located thousands of miles from your home. One consideration is that some online programs continue to charge in-state versus out-of-state fees.
When searching for online RN-to-BSN programs, consider if programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) or the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC). Certain states will not allow you to take the NCLEX unless your program is accredited. Also, employers may require their applicants to have graduated from an accredited program. The cost of online programs varies by institution, and your total cost is also impacted by how many eligible credits you have to transfer to the program. By using the National Center for Education Statistics’s College Navigator tool, you can easily compare factors like cost, accreditation, and online offerings between the institutions that most interest you.
