If you are a registered nurse (RN) with a two-year diploma or associate degree in nursing and you are ready to advance in your career, it may be time to consider enrolling in a Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN) program.
With online RN to BSN programs, you don’t have to follow a rigid schedule, drive to a campus or sit in a classroom. Moreover, online learning may cost less than traditional degree programs, and the online model allows you to continue working and fit studies around your schedule.
What Is an RN to BSN Program?
Bridge programs like an RN to BSN build on the knowledge that nurses have acquired in an associate degree program. When nurses graduate from an RN to BSN program, they widen the scope of their nursing practice, which can open up more job opportunities and career paths.
Why Choose an Online RN to BSN Program?
Students prepared at the baccalaureate level through an online RN to BSN program benefit from the same learning outcomes as those who earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing through a four-year degree program. The key difference is that online RN to BSN programs provide working nurses with a flexible and economical alternative for completing their degree.
By continuing to work while earning your RN to BSN online, you can still earn a salary and take advantage of career opportunities that come your way. Online RN to BSN programs help students avoid the substantial opportunity cost of going to school in a traditional campus-based program, meaning the wages and opportunities they have to forgo while in school. Opportunity cost is an essential component of determining the potential return on investment for earning an RN to BSN.
Online RN to BSN students who are working nurses can also apply what they are learning in school directly to practice in their jobs. This component of experiential learning can deepen and reinforce the knowledge and skills students develop through their studies.
Why Should Nursing Students Select Texas A&M International University (TAMIU)?
TAMIU offers a 100% online RN to BSN program that is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). Other reasons for choosing the TAMIU online RN to BSN program include:
Affordable Tuition: Online RN to BSN programs are affordable because there are no charges for campus resources like the library and career center (though online students have access to the services of both). Plus, online students do not pay for classroom operational expenses such as electricity, heating and air conditioning and maintenance. Tuition for Texas residents (in-state students) is $8,995 for TAMIU’s online RN to BSN nursing core.
Accessibility: Working nurses will not have to stick to a rigorous course timetable when they are enrolled in an online RN to BSN program. They are free to study whenever and wherever they want.
Study Pace: The courses run seven weeks apiece. Nursing students pay by the course, allowing them to complete the BSN curriculum at their own pace. Multiple start dates offered throughout the year let nurses begin the program when it is convenient for them. TAMIU’s online RN to BSN program can be completed in as few as 12 months.
What Do Nurses Learn in the TAMIU RN to BSN Program?
Students learn how to perform comprehensive health assessments, make diagnoses and incorporate evidence-based care into their nursing practice. They also explore why variations in health status, development processes, values, beliefs and culture affect the delivery of patient care.
In addition, students examine the role of a nurse as a provider of patient-centered care, member of a multidisciplinary team, collaborator, leader, manager, educator and advocate. The program also develops these nursing skills in students:
- Communication
- Clinical judgement/decision-making
- Critical thinking
- Problem-solving
- Research
What Are the Advantages for BSN-Prepared Nurses?
The BSN is becoming the preferred degree for entry level nursing positions. Moreover, many nursing careers — such as nurse leader/manager positions at Magnet hospitals — are open only to BSN-prepared nurses. For these reasons, holding a BSN gives nurses a competitive edge in the job market.
RNs with a BSN also tend to earn higher salaries than nurses with an associate degree. According to October 2022 data from ZipRecruiter, BSN-prepared nurses make an average annual salary of $99,287, compared to $76,289 for RNs in general.
With a BSN, nurses have access to more job opportunities, and completing an online RN to BSN program can move nurses closer to their career goals. The online program is designed to fit the needs of working nurses who have full lives and additional responsibilities outside of work.
Learn more about TAMIU’s online RN to BSN program.
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