Online Nursing Bridge Programs
Registered nurses seeking to increase their salary or change roles often seek higher education.
For RNs who hold an ADN at minimum and wish to pursue a BSN, many fully online bridge programs and accelerated Bachelor’s programs are available. These are available through online universities as well as brick and mortar universities and often have a short waiting list.
Bridge programs for RNs are:
- RN to BSN
Points To Ponder When Selecting The Right Nursing School
1. Location, Location, Location-Just as in real estate, youll need to give the biggest consideration to the schools location. Are you going to live at home and attend classes? Will you be looking for affordable housing options near campus? Does the school offer classes that mesh with your schedule? The location of your nursing school is a primary consideration.
2. Your Career Path-Finding a school that suits your chosen career path is just as important as the location of the campus. There are schools that offer only 2 year degrees for nursing assistants and those who will continue your education all the way to a doctorate. You need to be clear about where you see yourself in 5 years, 10 years and beyond. If you want to grow your education at some point, look for a nursing school that offers the two year certification program and will apply that program to your prerequisites should you decide to go for a 4 year degree or more later on.
3. Online Class Presence Do you want the option of completing some of your coursework online, from the convenience of your home?
4. Advanced Standing or Credit for Healthcare Workers If youre currently employed as a healthcare worker find out if the nursing school youre considering offers advanced standing, or fulfillment of credit, for some courses based on your work experience.
What To Expect From A Career In Nursing
Nursing programs at Ontario colleges come at varying levels for those in or interested in the field. Courses meet the needs of current Registered Nurses looking to diversify their skills as well as future nurses looking to get started.
Patient care demands exceptional attention to detail and a compassion for those in need. If you have these things and you see yourself starting or continuing in nursing education, heres what you need to know.
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Which Nursing School Accreditation Should I Be Looking For In A School
Accreditation is very, very important. These are issued by regulatory bodies that monitor education quality and maintain high standards for schools. Completing a nursing degree from an accredited school is especially important when hoping to advance education at a different school, as many schools will only accept degrees or credits from schools with certain accreditation.
The government regulatory body of accreditation commissions is the Council for Higher Education Accreditation and they recognize 6 agencies when considering schools for regional accreditation. The agencies below are from 2016-2017, so be sure to visit for the most current information.
- Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges Western
- Association of Schools and Colleges
- Middle States Commission on Higher Education
- Higher Learning Commission
- New England Association of Schools and Colleges Commission on Institutions of Higher Education
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
- WASC Senior College and University Commission
The best approach for an undergraduate is to research graduate schools and find out which accreditation they accept. Leaving this option open for the future is very wise.
For more on this see nursing school accreditation.
What Type Of Accreditation Should A Nursing School Have
Nursing schools should be accredited both at an institutional level and a programmatic level. At the institutional level, nursing schools should have an accredited status from the Accrediting Bureau of Health Schools or from one of the six regional accreditation bodies, depending on the state the school is based in.
At the programmatical level, nursing schools can be accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education , the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing or by an accrediting body for specialized nursing programs, such as the American College of Nurse-Midwives Division of Accreditation or the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs , depending on the type of program.
Since both national and regional accreditations are just as authoritative, it is not mandatory for nursing schools to have either one or the other, they can opt for any of them, or both.
What type of accreditation should an online college have?
Accreditation is just as important for online colleges, if not more important. Employers pay even more attention to nursing college graduates resumes and are keen on verifying the accreditation of any online nursing program.
The types of accreditation required for brick and mortar nursing schools apply to online nursing schools as well. Same goes for the accreditation standards imposed by the national and regional accrediting bodies, which are the same for traditional and online nursing schools.
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You Have To Pass The Nclex Exam But Dont Live In Fear Of It
The National Council Licensure Examination is a test you will take upon graduation to earn licensure to practice as an RN. It can have anywhere from 75 to 265 questions and can last up to five hours, depending on how well you are doing when you take it. However, you may finish the exam in much less time.
Do not live through nursing school in fear of the NCLEX! Keep in mind that you will be preparing for the exam throughout your program with your coursework and taking NCLEX preparation exams along the way.
For example, Aspen Universitys BSN Pre-Licensure program uses Health Education Systems Incorporated proctored exams for the nursing core program. HESI testing during nursing school will help prepare students to successfully pass the NCLEX on the first try.
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10 Things Every Nursing Student Should Know
- Nursing is not what you think it will be. Nursing is dirty. …
- Do not worry about your GPA. The huge thing I always worried about is my GPA. …
- Every answer to a question is correct. …
- You will always be tired. …
- Reading 300 pages in a night is border-line impossible. …
- Being not okay is okay.
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Ocn: Oncology Certified Nurse
offers the only nationally accredited,oncology-specific certification programs that are designed for Registered Nurses andensures the nurse meets minimal competency standards. Nursing certification also promotespublic safety and develops specialty nursing by establishing minimal competency standardsand recognizing nurses who have met those standards.
What are the prerequisites?
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Two years of nursing experience within the previous four years
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2,000 hours of adult oncology nursing practice within the previous four years
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10 contact hours of nursing continuing education in oncology or an academic elective in oncology nursing within the three years previous to application
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Successfully passing the certification exam
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Is The Nursing Program I’m Interested In Good
Just because a school offers a nursing degree doesn’t mean it’s a quality nursing degree.
First, make sure every school and nursing program you apply to is accredited. Any nursing program you apply to should be accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing and Education . If you don’t choose an accredited nursing program, you CANNOT sit for the NCLEX and earn an RN license. You’ll likely have difficulty finding a nursing job after graduation.
Second, check out student outcomes. A nursing school may have a low tuition rate and be accredited, but the NCLEX pass rates could leave something to be desired. In 2021, the US saw a total NCLEX first time pass rate of 85.3%. A pass rate below this would be below the national average. BSN-prepared nurses had a higher NCLEX pass rate of 88.97% as compared to ADN-prepared nurses at 82.47% or diploma nurses at 81%.
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What Social And Recreational Options Are There For Students
Interaction with other students can make your school experience a lot more enjoyable, and space to relax can help keep your studies from feeling too overwhelming. You should consider what type of experiences are important to you while looking at schools. The activities available to you might depend on the size of your school, but common options include:
- Intramural sports teams
- Arts or media activities such as student theater
- On-campus coffee shops
- Open parks or green spaces
- Nearby nightlife or entertainment choices
Ccrn: Certified Critical Care Nurse
According to the American Association of Critical Care Nurses, the CCRN certification is a specialty certification for nurses who provide direct care to acutely/critically ill adult patients regardless of their physical location. Nurses interested in this certification may work in areas such as intensive care units, cardiac care units, combined ICU/CCUs, medical/surgical ICUs, trauma units or critical care transport/flight.
What are the prerequisites?
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A current and unencumbered United States RN or APRN license
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1,750 hours of direct care of acutely or critically ill adult patients in the previous two years prior to application, with 875 hours in the most recent year
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Or, five years with at least 2,000 hours of direct care of acutely or critically ill adult patients, with 144 hours in the most recent year
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Successfully passing the certification exam
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Accreditation For Advancing Education
Transfer credits from ACEN and/or CCNE accredited colleges are widely accepted by most, if not all, graduate schools who are also accredited nationally. However, transferring credits from a regionally accredited school to a nationally accredited school, and vice versa, is less desirable by colleges. Many colleges will not accept the credits at all.
A good plan before enrolling in a nursing school is to simply ask the school’s advisor which agencies they are accredited with, and then determine what your future goals are for education. If the student never plans to attend a Master’s or Doctoral degree program, then it may not matter if the school is regionally or nationally accredited, as long as he or she can sit for the NCLEX-RN exam. However, plans can change, and it’s a good idea to keep options open for the future. Contact advisors or go online to see applicant requirements for regional graduate schools and what kinds of accreditation they require in accepting transfer credits.
How To Find Out If A Nursing School Is Accredited
There is no doubt that accreditation is a must have for any nursing college you choose to attend so you must know how to verify accreditation. In order to find out which schools are nationally accredited, follow these easy steps:
For example, Nightingale Colleges BSN and RN-to-BSN programs are accredited by CCNE. Visit the CCNE website and enter Nightingale College to see the BSN and RN-to-BSN programmatic accreditation.
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Important Information For Non
If you are an out-of-state student interested in our nursing programs, there are some additional steps you should take to ensure that your academic degree requirements can be met in your state of residence and that you can be licensed in that state.
South Carolina is a SARA-participating state, providing distance education across state lines. However, each state has its own licensing board with its own Registered Professional Nurse and Advanced Practice Registered Nurse licensure requirements.
In some cases, state boards of nursing impose restrictions on clinical instruction of students outside of the SARA agreement, including from out-of-state graduate educational programs seeking clinical practica in the state. We advise that prior to matriculation, students not living in South Carolina contact the state board of nursing in the state where they plan to conduct their clinical practica to confirm graduate student clinical practica is permitted by students from out-of-state graduate programs.
We also recommend students living outside of South Carolina or who intend to practice outside of South Carolina research RN and state licensure requirements specific to their state of residence/practice.
Cen: Certified Emergency Nurse
According to the , the certified emergency nurse is the cornerstone of any emergency department, bringing high-level skills, evidence-based knowledge, and expertise to patient care.
What are the prerequisites?
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To qualify for the CEN exam, you must possess a current, unrestricted Registered Nurse license in the United States.
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Successfully passing the certification exam
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The Importance Of Nursing School Accreditation
Accreditation is a voluntary process. A nursing program applies for accreditation and follows a specified process to earn the accredited designation. It is to the schools advantage to be accredited because this tells the public that the school has a legitimate program that meets the high standards for the nursing profession.
There are three national organizations that are approved by the U.S. Department of Education to accredit nursing programs.
The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing accredits practical nurse programs, diploma programs, associate programs, and bachelors, masters and clinical doctorate programs.
The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education accredits baccalaureate, graduate and residency programs in nursing.
The Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation is a new agency that will begin to accredit all types and levels of programs in 2016. These will include practical, diploma, associate, bachelors, masters and doctor of nursing practice.
Accreditation of the program and its parent institution are required for a student to receive financial aid and to transfer credits to other educational institutions. Also, graduate programs generally require a degree from an accredited nursing program and institution for admission.
Why Nursing School Accreditation Matters
The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education evaluate nursing schools and programs in the United States. Each school or program must meet ACEN or CCNE standards in order to earn accreditation.
Accreditation is the process that evaluates nursing programs to determine if it is meeting specific state and national standards. According to the U.S. Department of Education, accreditation is meant to:
- Assess the quality of academic programs at institutions of higher education.
- Create a culture of continuous improvement of academic quality at colleges and universities and stimulate general raising of standards among educational institutions.
- Involve faculty and staff comprehensively in institutional evaluation and planning.
- Establish criteria for professional certification and licensure and for upgrading courses offering such preparation.
The purpose of accreditation is to focus on the same standards and criteria across all nursing programs. This ensures that there is some level of sameness within the programs. The accreditation process ultimately improves the quality of nursing education and keeps the curriculum up to date on current trends in advances in nursing and healthcare. Accreditation continues to further the nursing profession and enhances the overall care provided by nurses.
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Cape Coral / Fort Myers Area
Cape Coral Technical College
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing
- Doctor of Nursing Practice
- Doctor of Nursing Practice
- MSN: Nurse Anesthesia
Horizon Healthcare Institute – Fort Myers
- Certificate in Practical Nursing
- Master of Science in Nursing
- RN-to-BSN Degree Completion
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Premiere International College
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing
- Certificate in Practical Nursing
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Other Types Of Nursing Accrediting Bodies
In addition to the ACEN and CCNE, the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs and the American College of Nurse-Midwives Division of Accreditation also provide nursing accreditation, to nurse anesthesia and nurse midwifery programs respectively. You might hear somebody refer to a state accrediting a program, but this usually means that the state board of nursing has approved a program.
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Concordia University Texas Nursing Accreditations
We take the level of education we provide to our students very seriously, especially when it comes to graduating the next generation of nurses. Therefore, when attending our nursing school, you can rest assured that your education meets, if not exceeds, the quality standards set forth by accrediting bodies at the state, regional, and national levels.
You will find our accelerated curriculum meets the professional nursing standards and guidelines required by todays healthcare employers. It also provides the academic foundation and clinical skills necessary to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination, or NCLEX, to receive registered nurse licensure.
What Are The Admissions Requirements
You of course want to make the best impression when it comes to your application. When you decide you want to go to nursing school, make sure to look into the application deadlines, requirements, and prerequisites of all the nursing schools youre considering as soon as possible.
We understand the nursing school admissions process can seem daunting, especially if youre transitioning from a career or field of study that has nothing to do with health care. Thats why youll be assigned a dedicated admissions counselor from your first contact with our ABSN program. He or she will help you determine what nursing school prerequisites youll need to complete to become eligible to apply, as well as assist you with achieving your desired start date goal.
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What Does It Mean If You Graduate From A Non
Graduating from a non-accredited nursing program can be devastating especially because of the ramifications associated with graduating from a non-accredited program. While it is very difficult for brick and mortar nursing programs to function and not be fully accredited it is often seen in online nursing programs. So, what does this mean for those students?
- Students who graduate from non-accredited programs have difficulty obtaining gainful employment but, they will not be able to sit for the NCLEX.
- Students that graduate from programs that are not accredited, whether an ADN or BSN program, will NOT be able to sit for the NCLEX. This means you will NOT become a Registered Nurse.
Interestingly, some states will let you sit for the NCLEX if the nursing program is non-accredited as long as it has been approved by the state board of nursing and it is allowed to operate. This is extremely rare and there are only severe hospital-based programs that fall under this category.
Look out for these 2 red-flags while you are researching nursing programs they usually indicate that a program is not-accredited.
- The program is extremely cheap or extremely expensive.
- The program promises completion in less than a year – non-accredited programs will boast about obtaining an online BSN in less than a year. Due to the number of classes a nurse must take, this is virtually impossible. Be skeptical of these programs.