Best Online RN-to-BSN Degrees

Deciding to earn your bachelor’s in nursing requires examining classes, admission requirements, and potential career opportunities. In addition, you must consider what your future in nursing holds when it comes to your professional growth and advancement.

This page offers insight into these and other questions that you may have as you explore RN to BSN online programs. Use this guide as a resource as you make an informed decision about the school that can best help you obtain success in the field.

Becoming an RN requires completing either a nursing diploma program or an associate degree in nursing (ADN). While an RN position provides clinical experience, earning an online RN-to-BSN degree builds your knowledge and prepares you to assume a leadership role in the field. A BSN equips you to thoughtfully assess patients’ health and administer necessary treatment and medications. In addition, this degree strengthens your ability and confidence to thoughtfully consult with other medical professionals about patients’ well being. Most students in RN-to-BSN online programs are able to continue working while earning their degree.

RN-to-BSN programs typically deliver coursework fully online, however students can expect a hands-on learning requirement through an internship or practicum. This requires you work in a clinical setting to help further ensure your healthcare and cultural competency. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 15% growth in the number of nursing jobs by 2026, largely because of increased attention to preventative care and an increase in chronic conditions.

Admission guidelines for online RN-to-BSN programs vary by school, but many require similar criteria. For example, most require either a nursing diploma or an ADN. Some schools require that the program you previously finished maintains accreditation by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission. There may also be a minimum GPA requirement. You should possess a current nursing license and on-the-job experience to qualify for acceptance.

You must complete an application and submit a fee. Supplementary materials include transcripts from high school and any institutions you previously attended. You should also inquire about submitting any test scores. Many of the top RN-to-BSN online programs want to understand why a nursing career interests you, so you may need to draft a personal statement that explains how earning your BSN can help you meet your goals. Polish your resume and remain prepared to submit reference letters that attest to your professional and academic acumen, commitment to a nursing career, and passion for the field.

Online RN-to-BSN programs leverage the knowledge and experience you already possess. They deliver more in-depth instruction in community health, informatics, and health policy. You also examine topics in anatomy, genetics, aging, and global health. These programs provide real-world learning opportunities to sharpen your analytical abilities and problem-solving skills. You’ll graduate with the confidence needed to meet many healthcare complexities. You can apply your knowledge in the workplace, which reinforces your lessons learned. RN-to-BSN online studies generally require 120 credits, but you can usually enter with transferable credits from your RN program. The 120 credits might include 57 general education and core credits, 30 RN-to-BSN credits, and 33 portfolio verification credits based on your work in the field.

Classes vary by school, but the list below provides examples of what you can expect to study.

Nursing Informatics

In this course, students review the information systems and needs within the nursing practice. This allows learners to make connections between informatics and all areas of the field, including clinical practice, research, administration, and education. Students learn how to examine and organize information, which nurses must do well to properly meet patients’ care needs.

Community Health Nursing

This class allows students to explore how nursing and public health intersect, helping them deliver comprehensive care. Students devise strategies that consider the ethical, cultural, and economic aspects that affect communities.

Nursing Care Delivery Programs

This class explores nurses’ leadership and managerial roles as they participate in healthcare delivery. The course considers how nurse leaders serve as change agents by influencing organizational behavior and decision-making. Learners understand how they can effect change within the healthcare system.

Research Applications in Nursing

In this course, students develop the skills needed to analyze nursing issues through an applied research lens. They learn how to interpret and manage data and how to cite research using the American Psychological Association format. These competencies prepare individuals to write and publish scholarly papers.

Healthcare Ethics

Learners consider the moral challenges that nurses may face, often because of medical technology advancements. They discuss topics such as abortion, the right to die, in vitro fertilization, and genetic screening. The course helps students develop critical-thinking skills and a respect for multiple perspectives, which nurses need when working with medical professionals and patients.

Advanced Pharmacology

In this class, students examine the intricacies of prescription drug management, building on their existing knowledge. Coursework explores concepts such as pharmacokinetics and pharmacotherapeutics through case-study assignments, seminar discussions, class readings, and online exercises. Lessons help students better manage patients’ drug protocols with accuracy and diligence.

Your online BSN enhances the skills you already possess, allowing you to advance professionally. You may opt to specialize in a particular nursing area to pursue your passion, which can further demonstrate your expertise. The following highlights what you can anticipate learning in your studies, occupations that may interest you, and potential salaries.

RN-to-BSN online programs develop reasoning capabilities and problem-solving skills. These skills remain important since nurses often face life-and-death situations. In these instances, nurses must think and act quickly, relying on a combination of knowledge, experience, and outstanding judgment to make the right decision. You can draw on your critical thinking to evaluate circumstances and determine the best next steps, including those that require bold, out-of-the box strategies. This kind of leadership allows you to inspire others.

The communication skills you develop through your studies also allow you to interact with colleagues and patients and their families. You must demonstrate transparency in your speech and writing. You will also learn to think carefully about the ethics concerning patient care, including the consequences of unethical behavior. This helps you monitor your own actions and those of others to avoid potentially devastating circumstances.

Completing your RN-to-BSN degree online means you can choose to work in traditional medical settings, such as hospitals and physician offices. You may also work within the nonprofit sector to support humanitarian aid initiatives. In other instances, nurses may help draft local, state, and federal policy, especially if they help advocate on behalf of patients and their rights. Nurses remain in high demand across the globe due to their combination of medical know-how and modern skills.

Earning a bachelor of science in nutrition online does not guarantee any of the careers below. In most states, nutritionists and dieticians must apply for a license before they can practice. Additionally, many health-focused professions require certification.

Addiction Nurse

This nurse works with patients addicted to alcohol, drugs, and other substances, and receives training in general medicine and mental health. Responsibilities include pain management and educating patients and their families about substance abuse.

Annual Median Salary

$67,000 per year

Cardiovascular Nurse

A nurse with this specialty cares for patients with heart disease. They help treat and monitor conditions, and they may also work in cardiac rehabilitation. These nurses help patients make healthy choices to reduce their risk of complications.

Annual Median Salary

$61,971 per year

Critical Care Nurse

This nurse generally works in the intensive care unit to deliver healthcare to patients with severe complications such as wounds, burns, and heart issues. Patients frequently experience rapidly worsening conditions, so a critical care nurse must work with extreme care.

Annual Median Salary

$62,607 per year

Neonatal Nurse

This specialist supports the health and well-being of babies born prematurely or suffering from birth defects and infections. They may care for these children for months from birth to age two, depending on medical complications.

Annual Median Salary

$60,889 per year

Rehabilitation Nurse

A rehabilitation nurse helps patients recover from disabling medical conditions due to illness and injury. This can include helping them learn to walk and talk again so they can enjoy independent living. This expertise requires patience and the ability to encourage people.

Annual Median Salary

$78,000 per year

Earning your RN-to-BSN degree online equips you to pursue a range of professional opportunities, but you can take your career even higher by earning an advanced degree. Completing studies for a master’s in nursing qualifies you for mid-level, leadership, and specialized positions because of your in-depth knowledge in a specific area of the nursing field. Your studies allow you to more narrowly focus in an emphasis of your choice, such as public health and health systems management.

You can then pursue roles such as nurse supervisor, clinical manager, and chief nursing officer. Earning a graduate degree in nursing can certainly help your promotion possibilities. Employers also consider your experience, work ethic, and recommendations from respected medical professionals. These qualities may help you move forward in your career without needing to earn an advanced degree.

Your search for the right online RN-to-BSN program should focus on accredited programs. Accreditation verifies the program’s quality and makes clear that enrolled students must perform to the highest level. Employers look to hire graduates of accredited nursing programs because they know these nurses can meet the field’s intense demands. In the U.S., the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) typically accredit nursing programs. The ACEN accredits all types of nursing programs, but the CCNE only recognizes bachelor’s and master’s programs.

If your desired nursing program is not accredited, make sure the university boasts either regional or national accreditation. Most U.S. colleges are accredited by one of six regional accrediting agencies, such as the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. Nationally accredited institutions may be accredited by an accrediting body such as the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

Professionals and students alike can take advantage of the many benefits of joining a professional organization. These groups help members network, provide continuing education through seminars and conferences, and often showcase the field’s latest research. In addition, many organizations host job boards that can help connect members to employment opportunities. By joining a professional organization and interacting with like-minded colleagues, individuals can significantly augment their knowledge.

National Association of School Nurses

This organization promotes the school nursing profession by offering training and continuing education to its members so that they can better ensure quality healthcare within the school community. The association identifies school nursing as a specialized practice that keeps young people healthy thanks to the expertise of school nurses who coordinate care and advocate for students.

American Psychiatric Nurses Association

This membership group supports, trains, and recognizes the important contributions of psychiatric-mental health nurses. Founded in 1986, the group champions continuing education, resource sharing, and dynamic collaboration among its members. The organization also advocates for mental healthcare by taking positions on several key issues.

National Student Nurses Association

Students seeking licensure and those enrolled in a bachelor’s program can join this organization, which provides mentorship and helps members understand the field’s ethics and standards. The group promotes evidence-based, high-quality healthcare, and contributes to nursing education to prepare future nurse leaders.