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Nursing is a greatly in-demand profession and hospitals and
many healthcare facilities want to attract the best, brightest
and friendliest staff of nurses to work in the industry. One
of the most common ways that individuals can enter the nursing
profession is by earning a short, 2-year associate's degree
program in the field. An associate degree program can essentially
make you a "Registered Nurse." Oftentimes, there
is confusion with the term "RN" because nurses with
a bachelor's degree in the field are given the same designation.
However, a registered nurse with only an associate’s
degree in nursing (ADN) is often paid less than one with a
bachelor’s degree. Though earning your ADN may be practical
in the beginning, it behooves you to continue your education
in the field by entering into one of the many RN
to BSN nursing degree programs. These programs are not
only convenient for nurses that already have an associate
degree program, but you may also be able to get tuition reimbursement
from your employer to further your education. Following graduation
of an RN to BSN degree program, you'll be eligible for higher
pay, additional leadership roles and the chance to further
your degree, if desired.
RN to BSN Courses
When you enroll in an RN
to BSN nursing program, you can expect to complete courses
that teach concepts above the practical and laboratory concepts
taught in an associate's or short-term degree program. A bachelor's
degree in nursing often includes a curriculum where you'll
gain an understanding of various issues that affect patients
and the healthcare industry as a whole, including cultural,
economic and social issues.
The courses you take in a bachelor's degree program also
include a foundation in both the sciences and research. For
example, you may be required to complete anatomy and physiology
courses, chemistry or a course on disease processes. A research
course might emphasize the importance of evidence-based practice
in nursing and instruct you on how to evaluate research reports.
Schools that Offer RN-to-BSN Programs
You have a couple different options for earning a bachelor's
degree in nursing if you're only a registered nurse with an
associate's degree. Most colleges and universities offer the
traditional, classroom-style approach to learning and you
can find these programs in many cities and states across the
country.
The other major option you have as a registered nurse is
to enroll in an accredited online school that offers the RN-to-BSN
degree program. The benefit of enrolling in an online school
is that you can often work at your own pace, learn from your
own home and still work a full-time schedule to earn living
expenses.
Many accredited online schools allow you to take most courses
on the Internet, but also have an "offline" component.
For example, Kaplan University's RN
to BSN program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate
Nursing Education (CCNE) and regionally accredited by the
North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA). Kaplan
University's program requires students to complete a laboratory
course as well as a clinical in the state in which they want
to be licensed.
Another example is Keiser University. This online college's
program is unique because it allows students to tailor their
education with a few electives, options being offered in business,
nursing and criminal justice. In addition to the primary online
course component, Keiser University's RN-to-BSN
program requires students to take clinical practicum courses
offered in nearby community settings.
Many other online colleges and schools exist through which
you can earn your bachelor's degree in nursing. For example,
the College
of Nursing at the University of Illinois at Chicago is
one of the top-ranked universities in terms of funding from
the National Institutes of Health. You take one course per
term in the RN to BSN program and courses last for an eight-week
period. Other schools with BSN nursing programs include South
University, Drexel University and Indiana State University.
There are many schools that offer nursing courses to choose
from. To see these and others, visit the Nursing
Schools directory today.
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