The Best Online Nursing Programs
UF ranks among the top public schools nationwide, and U.S. News & World Report places the university’s online learning division 3rd in the country. UF’s 60-credit online registered nurse to bachelor of science in nursing bridge program does not include any in-person components. However, learners must complete 90 clinical hours. Core courses include professional nursing in the evolving healthcare system, legal and ethical issues in nursing, and professional nursing transformation.
Admission requirements include an associate degree in nursing from a program accredited by the National League for Nursing Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation or the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, an unencumbered Florida RN license, and a minimum 2.8 GPA. UF awards students up to 30 credits for professional portfolios and prior learning.
- Program: RN-to-BSN
- Campus: Gainesville, Florida
- Type: Public
- Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
- Tuition: $129 per credit for in-state $553 for out-of-state
- Admission Requirements: ADN Florida RN license minimum 2.8 GPA a grade of C or higher for all prerequisite courses
- Minimum Time Commitment: About five semesters
- On-Campus Requirements: No
Can You Take An Online Bsn Program In Another State
Yes! This is one of the beautiful aspects of online BSN programs. Nurses can take a program from anywhere in the country. With that being said, there may be some exceptions. Some programs, especially if associated with a brick-and-mortar university, may require nurses to obtain their RN license in that state. Even if the nurse will never practice there, this could be required.
An Accelerated Nursing Degree Track
If you decide to pursue an online nursing program in Texas, you can earn a BSN from Concordia University in as few as 16 months. Thats because we take your previous education into account, allowing you to graduate sooner. To enroll in the CTX ABSN track, you must have completed 60 credit hours either through your prior education or by completing nursing prerequisites online at Concordia University Texas.
Although you may be required to complete prerequisite coursework , unlike many nursing tracks, CTX puts no expiration on science courses. So even if you took microbiology 10 years ago, you will not have to retake it as long as you passed with a grade of C or higher.
Once you are enrolled in our online nursing track, you will complete 63 credit hours over four 16-week semesters. This includes online coursework, skills and simulation labs, and various clinical rotations at area healthcare facilities.
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Should I Get An Associates In Nursing
When a person decides if a career in nursing is worth it, its important to understand that there is funding available for nurses on a state and local level. Therefore, when a person asks is an ADN worth it, he or she should consider the fact that he or she may be able to go to school at little to no expense to him or her. A person should also consider the options of employer reimbursement as well as private grants and scholarships when considering is an ADN worth it. These can also help make the degree program more affordable.
In addition, its important to consider pay. An average registered nurse makes anywhere from $52,080 to $111,220 per year, with the median wage being $73,000 annually. Therefore, when a person is questioning is an associates in nursing worth it, a person should consider the wages before deciding if the degree is worth it. A person should also further research because the average salary of an RN varies based on location as well as specialty.
Rn To Bsn Bridge Programs

An RN to a BSN program is appropriate for anyone who has already earned their associates degree to become an RN and wants to add a Bachelors degree to their resume. RN-BSN programs are one of the most popular online programs available and can be completed entirely online, since you have already done the clinical nursing portion.
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What Housing Situation Do You Want
Depending on where you study, housing can end up being a significant cost. If you decide to move away from home to earn your degree, you’ll need to figure out where to live. Fortunately, you have a few options.
University housing, such as dorms or apartments, provides a location close to your courses. However, university housing is often more expensive than off-campus housing.
Off-campus housing lets you live nearly anywhere you want. You may be further from campus, but this could place you closer to clinicals.
If you live off-campus, you’ll need to pick the best neighborhood for your situation. Busy cities like New York, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles can be expensive, and living in the suburbs could be the most affordable option.
College towns like Chapel Hill in North Carolina and Ann Arbor in Michigan tend to have the most choices for student housing off-campus.
How To Get A Registered Nursing License In California
An RN provides a wide range of patient servicesâÃîfrom hands-on critical care to educating patients on the management of their condition and providing emotional support. Being licensed by the California Board of Registered Nursing is a requirement to practice as an RN in the state. To obtain a California RN license, an applicant must earn an Associate Degree in Nursing , Bachelor of Science in Nursing or Entry-Level Master’s in Nursing from an accredited program.
According to the BRN, the steps for receiving a California nursing license include:
- Applying online or obtaining an application packet and detailed instructions from the BRN website
- Forwarding school transcripts to the BRN
- Completing a fingerprint background check
- Taking and passing the National Council Licensing Examination
Applying for an interim permit is possible for those who wish to work while awaiting the results of their examination.
Applications are processed in order of date received. The average processing time to receive a permanent license is 10-12 weeks. An interim permit will be issued within 24-48 hours after an individuals exam application has been approved.
An RN license is valid for two years. To renew a license, an individual must complete 30 hours of continuing education through a continuing education provider recognized by the BRN.
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Careers For Nursing Majors
Nurses can work in various medical facilities, such as hospitals and clinics. However, nurses with bachelors degrees often have the ability to specialize in certain types of patient care.
For instance, some become cardiovascular nurses or addiction nurses. Others become neonatal nurses, which emphasize care to newborns. Still more may become critical care nurses, who spend lots of time in the emergency room and care for patients who are seriously ill or injured.
Those nurses who proceed into a masters degree for nursing can specialize even further. Some can become nurse anesthetists, who are trained to apply anesthesia to patients before and after an operation.
Online Bachelor In Nursing Curriculum
Course offerings vary by nursing school, but typical offerings for students earning bachelors degrees in nursing include anatomy and physiology microbiology psychology pathophysiology evidence-based nursing practice and statistics health care information and technology quality care and patient safety health across the lifespan topics in clinical nursing advocacy through health care policy and family theory.
Also possibly required are general courses required of any bachelors degree: English/composition, history, communications, social sciences, literature, art and physical education.
Students in online Bachelor of Science in Nursing programs also can take elective courses of interest. These can be in disciplines such as gerontology, pediatrics, womens health, pharmacology, mental health, ethics in nursing, faith-community nursing, holistic nursing, leadership management, population health or clinical theory.
You will be required to do a certain number of clinical practice hours to earn your degree. But there is some flexibility in how these hours can be accomplished, including virtual simulation exercises. Its common for online nursing programs to help their students find preceptorsestablished nurseswho function as teachers/mentors/leaders during clinical practice.
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Explore Our Online Rn To Bs Program
Stevenson University Onlines RN to BS Program offers working registered nurses the opportunity to advance their careers by earning their bachelors degree.
With no application fees, we make it easy for nurses aspiring to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing online to join one of the top RN to BS programs in Maryland. Our online RN to BS program offers students:
- Career-focused programs that are built to enhance professional competencies.
- Personalized attention in a supportive community, with the ability to have on-site instruction.
- Convenient, online sessions that are tailored for the professional needs and demanding schedules of working registered nurses.
The baccalaureate and master’s degree programs in nursing at Stevenson University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education .
Online Graduate Nursing Programs
Thanks to demand, online graduate nursing programs continue to grow in number and scope. Youll find online RN to MSNs, direct entry MSNs and traditional MSN programs focusing on a particular specialty . If clinical work is required , a large number of universities will allow you to complete your practicums at a nearby hospital, health center or school.
Some universities have taken cyber education a step further and now offer online DNP, PhD and DSN programs. These are usually hybrid affairs. In the case of an online DNP, for example, you might take courses and talk to your supervisor via the Internet. Meanwhile, you would be conducting research and working on a capstone project in your local area.
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Top 10 Online Rn To Bsn Programs 2022
Thinking about going back to school to get your BSN? We know it never feels like the right time to make the jump, but the average nurse stands to make over $15,0001 more per year with a BSN! Not to mention it can open up more career opportunities.
Sure, getting your BSN isnt exactly easy. Its a big commitment! But you can use everything youve learned getting your ADN in this next step. Plus, you can do this online at your own pace.
If youre ready to make the leap, weve done the hard work vetting online RN-to-BSN programs for you. Our panel of nurses has chosen the best ones for 2022-2023, so all you need to do is read on!
Common Bsn Nursing Degree Courses

Pathophysiology explores underlying diseases that can develop across the lifespan, as well as therapeutic interventions for injury disease risk factors. This course includes clinical and theoretical principles regarding diseases that result from genetic, stress-based, and environmental causes. Coursework also requires students to identify psychosocial and cognitive characteristics of conditions and diseases.
This course instructs students to use research evidence, clinical expertise, and patient preferences to provide individualized patient care. Graduates will know how to investigate the most up-to-date healthcare research to determine courses of care and treatment for their patients.
Microbiology explores basic properties of archaea, bacteria, viruses, and eukaryotic microorganisms. Students learn to compare and distinguish microbes, examine major pathways of catabolism, and analyze major pathways of biosynthesis. Students are also able to identify common features of microbial pathogens and defense mechanisms against infection.
Human anatomy and physiology introduces students to the regulation and functions of major systems in the body. This course also examines how body parts collaborate to accomplish tasks. Topics include organ function, electrolytes, the digestive system, the lymphatic system, and the cardiovascular system.
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Choosing The Best Rn Program For You
Where you complete your RN program can help shape your future career in nursing and other health sciences. Your undergraduate degree can also influence which advanced practice degrees you choose to pursue later.
First you have to choose between a bachelor of science in nursing or an associate degree in nursing program. More and more employers require new nurses to have a BSN, though many will also hire ADNs who agree to complete their BSNs over the next couple years.
Youll also need to consider the economic side of each degreein some cases, it may be more affordable to get your ADN so you can start working as a nurse, then enroll to get your BSN online and qualify for employer tuition assistance but in other cases, it may actually be faster and more affordable to go straight for your BSN if thats your ultimate goal
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Then youll have to decide whether to enroll in a large or small nursing school, an accelerated or four-year degree, and much more. Each factor can influence your career.
Any given program might not work for some students but could be perfect for you. Nursing schools are intentionally different to best educate specific students.
The demands of your current life will also influence your choices. More and more leading universities offer online RN programs, especially in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
% Acceptance Rate: Santa Barbara Business College Santa Maria
If you want to be absolutely sure you get into an accelerated nursing program, apply at Santa Barbara Business College in Santa Maria, California. They have a 100 percent acceptance rate. This small program only admits 10 to 20 students per year, and faculty invest considerable time in making sure each student succeeds. Just be very sure you understand which nursing degree you are working on.
- Average Net Price to Students: $15,789
- Graduation Rate: 67%
- NCLEX Pass Rate: 94%
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How Do Online Nursing Schools Work
Accredited online nursing schools offer a more flexible format than their brick-and-mortar counterparts. Online programs provide coursework in either a synchronous or asynchronous format, meaning that you can attend class at a set time each week or complete the material at your own pace, working individually. Programs offer students either cohort-based classes, which move through the material with the same start date and end date, or individually-paced online classes, where students complete the program at their own rate. As an online nursing student, you will complete clinical hours just like in-person students online programs arrange local clinical preceptors to monitor your training.
Suny College Of Technology At Delhi
Positioned in the foothills of the Catskill Mountains, SUNY College of Technology at Delhi has over 3,300 students enrolled. SUNY Delhi is around three and a half hours from New York City and two hours from Albany. The college is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
SUNY Delhi offers two online options for students who are looking for a career in nursing. The school has an RN to BSN and a Master of Science in Nursing with an emphasis in Education. The RN to BSN degree completion program emphasizes practice skills and critical thinking necessary for management of patients within a regularly shifting healthcare climate. The program is 100% online.
Tuition for the RN to BSN program at SUNY Delhi is $257 per credit for residents and non-residents. The 2013 NCLEX pass rate was 71.7%. The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing provides accreditation for the nursing programs.
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Choosing An Accredited College
Accreditation is important to the value and usefulness of a degree. University HQ strongly recommends the selection of an accredited school and programs. The nursing profession has accreditation through specialized agencies in addition to regional accreditation from the primary Department of Education-approved agencies. Accreditation from the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education are favorable they provide additional assurance of quality nursing education when combined with regional accreditation.
Rankings: The 100 Best Nursing Schools In The United States
For our 2021 rankings, the research team at Nursing Schools Almanac collected data on over 3,000 nursing schools and campuses throughout the United States. We evaluated each school on three dimensions:
- The institutions academic prestige and perceived value
- The breadth and depth of nursing programs offered
- Student success, particularly on the NCLEX licensure examination
We then combined these assessments into an overall score and ranked the schools accordingly. For a detailed description of our assessment methodology and dimension weights, please see here.
#1:Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins School of Nursing is ranked among the top three MSN, DNP, and online nursing programs by U.S. News & World Report. The school has also earned three consecutive NLN Center of Excellence designations for enhancing student learning and professional development. Johns Hopkins educates approximately 1,200 diverse nursing students, including 500 fulltime and 700 parttime students. The university recently transitioned from a prelicensure BSN program to a direct entry MSN program. The first three graduating classes of the direct entry MSN have scored a stellar 94% NCLEX pass rate. Johns Hopkins offers two other MSN tracks, a DNP with seven advanced practice specializations, and a doctor of philosophy in nursing.
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Choosing The Best Online Nursing Program Is An Important Investment In Your Future
- Convenient, online sessions for working adults
- Personalized attention and accomplished faculty with real world experience
- Career-focused programs that provide specialized skills for growing industries
- Accessible and affordable with financial aid options
University Of New Brunswick

The four-year Bachelor of Nursing program at the University of New Brunswick provides students with the requirements to meet the worlds future and present healthcare needs.
As a top choice when in search of the best universities to study nursing in Canada, the University of New Brunswick offer hands-on clinical experience to students in their first year. Therefore, students graduate from this nursing school with the merit of more clinical practice, experience as well as one on one attention from their professors.
Other merits of studying in the universitys nursing school include
- Small class sizes
- Support for Indigenous nursing students
- Our 12-week practicum in the final year of study
- Most clinical courses offer a 7:1 student-to-faculty ratio
- Peer support from the Nursing Society
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