Why Online For An Rn To Bsn
An online RN to BSN program is one of the best ways for a working RN to earn his or her BSN credential. Online programs are flexible and allow RNs to continue working while earning their degrees. Being able to earn an income while advancing your education makes the degree more accessible and affordable.
“UTA makes the online program very easy to use.” — Lisa Schnoor, online RN to BSN graduate in San Bernardino, California
“The online format has worked out very well with my schedule.” — Michele Klippert, online RN to BSN student in Dover, Delaware
The online program does make it a lot easier for us working nurses, working mothers because we can work in the middle of the night, do our homework in the middle of the night when our children are sleeping.
— Shanise McKelvey
Online RN to BSN graduate
Rn Vs Bsn Deciding Which Is Right For You
Multiple factors go into choosing between BSN and RN courses. Aspiring nurses need to consider factors like:
- The affordability of the courses
- The minimum length of time it would take to graduate
- Their career needs and ambitions
- Where they see themselves in the world of medicine
Students who plan to live off campus must also consider the proximity of the BSN institute to their current address. Nurses who are worried about the costs of the BSN program should look into RN to BSN options. This option allows them to transfer credits earned during their ADN degree towards the BSN.
What Is The Difference Between An Adn And A Bsn
Though similar, an ADN and a BSN have key differences, including the length of time it takes to complete the degree and the costs involved. Another important difference is that a BSN may help prepare you for completing higher-level degrees, career advancement and additional specialty certifications. Other key differences include:
Leadership opportunities
While you dont need a BSN degree in order to obtain leadership positions within the health care field, the extra coursework you will complete as part of your BSN program will give you an advantage over candidates who did not obtain this degree. Where an RN with an ADN might work as an RN, its common for RNs with BSNs to advance into leadership positions and specialties such as nurse practitioners, nurse educators or doctors of nursing practice.
Higher salaries
Another key difference between an RN and a BSN is the earning potential. While nurses can typically enjoy substantial incomes, the differences in education level between an RN and someone with a BSN and a general RN can mean differences in salary level, too. For the most up-to-date salary information from Indeed, click on each salary link below.
According to Indeed’s salary guide, the national average salary for an RN with an ADN is . Someone with a BSN, conversely, may be able to earn a higher income as a clinical nurse at $77,080 per year, depending on the nursing specialty.
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Applicants Without A High School Diploma Or College Degree In The Us:
- If you do not have a degree from a U.S. high school, college, or university, you are required to demonstrate English proficiency.
- If you have completed coursework outside of the U.S., you must have your transcripts evaluated.
This program is not eligible for F-1 or J-1 student visa sponsorship by the University of Maryland, Baltimore due to the amount of online courses.
If you have questions regarding the admissions requirements or process, contact the Office of Admissions and Student Scholarships to avoid errors that could delay the processing of your application.
What Are The Benefits Of Getting A Bsn Degree
There are many benefits to getting your BSN. As mentioned, being a Registered Nurse with a BSN has two visible advantages to being a non-BSN RN:
- Expanded job opportunities
But there are many others too.
- Preparedness as a higher education graduate, you are ready to deal with patients more effectively in many areas. This has a positive impact on patients, too. Studies show that each 10% increase in BSN nurses leads to a 7% decline in mortality after common surgery. Also, thanks to their expertise, patient hospital stays are also 2% shorter, with 19% less chance of readmission.
- Leadership roles a BSN degree opens doors to leadership roles, including nurse unit managing positions.
- Specialty nursing getting your BSN degree often leads to more specialized nursing work.
- A path to progression to stand a better chance of securing an Advanced Practice Nurse job, with a salary closing in on six figures, you need to get a BSN.
- Its becoming a requirement. Because of the improved results in outcomes for BSN nurses, New York passed a law in 2017 that requires all licensed nurses to obtain a bachelor’s degree within ten years of initial licensure.
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Rn Vs Bsn: Salary Differences
The salary difference between RN vs BSN degrees is that those who hold a BSN degree are likely to make more than RN’s who only have their associates degree. A BSN degree is favored over just an associates degree for many entry-level nursing jobs, therefore a BSN has more opportunities to make more money. Also, in order to grow within the nursing field you may need to further your education to qualify for certain positions. Having a BSN degree allows for an easier and faster transition to obtaining a master’s or doctoral degree and will benefit you later in your career.
Why Should I Earn A Bsn
If you’re a diploma or associate degree-prepared RN and aren’t being required to get a BSN degree, why should you consider it? Research from the AACN indicates that nurses with a BSN result in better patient outcomes and lower mortality rates among their patients. Earning a bachelor’s degree also offers a sense of accomplishment and a sense of educational equality. Additionally, a BSN can help you expand your career options.
With all of the changes in the nursing field, and the Institute of Medicine wanting the majority of nurses to have a BSN by 2020, there were certain places I felt I couldn’t get into unless I had my bachelor’s degree.
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Job Outlook For Rn And Bsn
Nursing has been a solid career path for many years a trend that isnt expected to slow down any time soon. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates a 16 percent percent jump in nursing jobs by 2024 and attributes the increase to shifting health care reform policies and an aging population that will soon flood long-term and acute care facilities. In addition, the Institute of Medicine recommends that at least 80 percent of the U.S. nursing workforce hold a BSN by the year 2020 and many employers are working feverishly toward this goal.
According to the AACN, 39.1 percent of hospitals and other health care settings that employ nurses require a BSN for new hires, and another 77.4 percent voice a strong preference for BSN graduates over other credentials.
Educational Requirements For Becoming An Rn
Even with the steadily growing demand for healthcare professionals, currently predicted to grow by 9% between 2020 and 2030, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics , candidates without a formal nursing education cant legally qualify for RN positions. While professionals with limited nursing expertise can hold healthcare aide and nursing assistant positions, the role of an RN is available only to individuals with an Associate Degree in Nursing or a BSN who pass the NCLEX and earn an RN license from the states where they reside.
After completing BSN coursework, an RN should have a stronger comprehension of nursing theory, human biology and psychology, and cutting-edge care techniques. As with any professional field, a higher level of education can qualify nurses to take on more workplace responsibilities, allowing them to accelerate their nursing careers and step into more lucrative positions.
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Other Perks Of Being A Bsn Nurse
Advancing your education is never a bad idea, but its an excellent move for individuals looking to start their nursing career off on the right foot and for those simply looking to advance their current career. Some of the benefits you can experience from obtaining your BSN include:
- Youll make yourself available for more career options as you advance.
- You can work in a wider range of environments that are non-hospital settings, such as teaching, case management, and more.
- Youll have a higher level of preparation for your role in patient care, particularly if you work in a high-pressure setting.
- Youll have stronger credentials, which can help you stand out in a crowded employment space.
- Youll have more of a background in research, ethics, and informatics, which can better prepare you for upper-level roles.
- Youll have stronger clinical skills that can translate to lower mortality rates, lower failure-to-rescue rates, better patient care, and stronger diagnosis abilities.
- Youll have more job stability and a stronger résumé to present to potential employers.
- You can help your hospital attain Magnet status by adding your credentials to their list of RNs who have advanced education. Similarly, having a BSN can help you get a job at a Magnet status hospital.
- Youll have more opportunities for raises and promotions.
What Is An Associate Degree In Nursing
ADN two-year nursing degree programs include clinical topics such as pharmacology, medical surgical nursing, geriatrics, and . They also include nursing practice fundamentals, such as how to care for patients, administering tests and medication, monitoring patient health, patient communications, and legal/ethical issues.
Earning an ADN usually takes two years, but can take longer depending on the program. Students with advanced placement credits from high school can often apply those credits to ADN programs and receive the degree in less time. ADN programs do include clinical hours.
Many nurses begin their careers with an ADN and then earn their BSN after developing nursing experience. This approach lets them start nursing as a career without the full financial and time commitment a BSN requires. However, some healthcare providers require or strongly prefer nurses with a for positions beyond entry level.
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How Long Does An Rn To Bsn Program Take
Program completion time will vary for each student. If you don’t need any general education courses, you can complete the UTA online RN to BSN program in as few as nine months. If you need pre-reqs or co-reqs, it will take a little longer. Keep in mind that you can take your co-reqs at UTA online as well. All online courses in the program are accelerated. Nursing courses are five to 14 weeks long.
“I had been away from school for so long that it was like, ‘Okay, I’ll start with one class.’ Then, I did two. One semester, I had four classes.” — Brenda White, online RN to BSN graduate in Houston, completed the program in 18 months. She needed some general education courses to complete the program.
Jessica Prince finished the program in under 12 months despite taking a couple of breaks along the way.
Benefits Of Earning Your Bsn
Completing a BSN program exposes nursing professionals to subjects that enhance their ability to provide quality patient care. For example, liberal arts courses help them improve their communication skills, while courses in pharmacology and nursing management and leadership in contemporary healthcare coach them on how to be leaders in their field.
While a bachelors degree program doesnt always offer students the same hands-on skills they can learn through years of clinical practice, BSN programs are designed to provide in-depth knowledge of evidence-based healthcare processes. All nurses, regardless of whether they approach the field via an ADN or a BSN, must possess a desire to continue learning, because technology and treatment approaches are always advancing.
The primary objective of healthcare facilities is to ensure positive patient outcomes. The comprehensive education provided in a BSN degree program, which typically includes developing soft skills such as creative problem-solving and intercultural communication, can help RNs thrive.
Consequently, BSN degree holders may have more flexibility in the job market because of their higher proficiency in all aspects of nursing. This is a key advantage for those who hope to transition to positions that allow them to treat specific categories of patients in healthcare environments that suit their personal preferences.
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What Is The Difference Between An Rn And A Bsn
Whether you are an RN practicing with or without a BSN, your primary focus is on providing patient care. This includes performing physical exams and taking health histories, providing health counseling and/or education, administering medication and other treatments, as well as coordinating care with other health professionals, according to the American Nurses Association .
RNs with a BSN and an ADN can work alongside each other on the same medical team, carrying out similar duties. The difference is BSN-qualified nurses open themselves up to a broader career path that can include administrative positions requiring leadership skills in areas such as research, consulting and education, according to BLS.
BSN vs. RN Salary
Registered nurses earned a median salary of $75,330 in 2020, according to BLS, with the caveat that those salaries vary widely according to the type of nurse specialty, geography, facility type and years of experience in addition to education.
Payscale’s salary research showed it pays to advance higher education in the nursing field. The compensation platform reports that BSN degree holders make an average of $88,000 each year, while those with an ADN earn $72,000.
A recent survey conducted by the AACN found that 40% of hospitals and other health care settings require new hires to have a BSN, while more than 77% of employers express a strong preference for nurses with bachelor’s degrees.
How Did This Legislation Come About
Over 52 years ago, the American Nurses Association published its first position paper on educational requirements for entry into practice, advocating that the baccalaureate degree be the minimum degree for entry into registered nurse practice.
Over the years, numerous regulatory and accrediting bodies have recommended this change to nursing education minimum requirements as a means to address increasingly complex patient care resulting from shorter lengths of stay, higher acuity and more sophisticated interventions. This proposal is the result of a growing body of research evidence that additional education results in better patient outcomes.
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Is A Bsn Required For Some Nursing Jobs
According to a 2017 report from AACN, 49% of hospitals and other healthcare employers require new hires to have a bachelor’s degree in nursing 86.3% strongly prefer BSN nurses.
Magnet hospitals require 100% of their nurse managers and leaders to hold a BSN degree. There may also be an emerging trend of states requiring their nurses to earn bachelor’s degrees as well. New York, for example, passed a “BSN in 10” bill in December 2017 that requires nurses to obtain a BSN degree within 10 years of becoming an RN.
I worked in an ICU for about 23 years between two different hospitals. In order for me to change to a different department, I had to sign a contract saying I would go back for my bachelor’s degree.
online RN to BSN graduate in Arlington, Texas
The feedback we receive from employers of nurses is incredible. We use that in many ways. Not only are they telling us that our nurses, when they graduate, are able to practice in new and different ways, but it helps us refine our curriculum to ensure that we’re consistently relevant to the needs of our community and the populations that we serve.
— Dr. Beth Mancini
Sr. Associate Dean for Education Innovation, College of Nursing and Health Innovation
UTA online RN to BSN graduate, Rebecca Trupp, landed a new job as a nurse specialist of research at a research center in Bethesda, Maryland, after completing the degree program.
How Much Does An Rn To Bsn Program Cost
Tuition rates vary widely from school to school. Private universities and colleges tend to be the most expensive, while state schools are typically more affordable. Some for-profit schools advertise low tuition rates, but they often have caveats, such as flat tuition by designated periods of time. This sounds good to some students, but it may mean trying to do too much at once, cramming multiple courses in at the same time, which can be hard for a working nurse or parent.
UTA is a public, nonprofit university. As of October 2018, the tuition for nursing courses in the RN to BSN program totals $8,995. General education courses, if necessary, are at an additional per credit hour tuition rate of $362, or $1086 per 3-hour course. View the costs page to learn more.
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Best Online Bsn Programs
We rated the best online BSN programs and found that GCU is the top choice when considering factors like number of degree tracks, alumni outcomes, and other distinguishing features.
However, just because GCU earned our top spot doesnt necessarily make it the perfect fit for you. The school you choose to enroll at should be determined by your own personal goals and priorities.
The next four universities in our rankings of top online Bachelors of Science in Nursing programs were:
To learn more about all of these schools and more, check out our rankings of the 17 best online BSN programs.
Alternatively, to get matched up with an online undergraduate program tailored to your needs and interests.