Online RN to BSN
You probably know nursing is one of the quickest growing career fields, offering opportunities throughout the healthcare system. But did you also know, according to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, more employers are requiring a BSN as the minimum educational requirement in nursing?
If you're looking to advance your education and income potential you've come to the right place. Take your career to the next level with an online RN to BSN degree program from University of the Cumberlands.
- What does an RN to BSN Mean?
- What is a BSN?
- What Skills Will I Learn with an Online RN to BSN Degree?
- Is a BSN Worth It?
- Curriculum and Degree Requirements
- Tuition
- Admission Requirements
- Accreditation
- Faculty
What does an RN to BSN Mean?
There are a number of avenues for aspiring nurses to enter the healthcare field. Accredited nursing schools offer diploma programs to help students learn t needed to pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-PN) and meet state license requirements. These professionals find work as licensed practical nurses (LPNs) or licensed vocational nurses (LVNs).
An Associate Degree in Nursing, or ADN, offers an efficient way to earn the education necessary to become a registered nurse (RN) after successfully passing the NCLEX-RN exam. The traditional four-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program also trains healthcare professionals to become RNs. Both the ADN and BSN educational levels offer a path toward becoming an RN.
So, why should RNs with an ADN consider an RN to BSN online degree completion program?
The difference is in how far your education can take your career. An RN to BSN online program fills in the gaps to provide a comprehensive education that further develops critical thinking and communication skills for nursing professionals. With a more comprehensive education, nurses with a BSN experience the following benefits, just to name a few:
- Increased Salaries
- More Work Environment Choices
- Higher Employment Rates
- Better Patient Outcomes
Plus, earning a BSN is a key step toward earning a Master of Science in Nursing, or even higher—educational steps that can help you pursue leadership opportunities in your field.
What is a BSN?
RN is a certification designation. A BSN, or Bachelor of Science in Nursing, is an education. A BSN is a degree that indicates you have the comprehensive and fundamental understanding of nursing practices and theory needed to pursue an RN designation and be successful in a nursing career. RNs with a BSN are typically afforded more career-advancing opportunities than those with only an ADN, and they can often demand a higher salary as well as higher levels of responsibility.
After completion of the RN to BSN online program at University of the Cumberlands, you’ll have the skills and education you need to become an RN with a salary commiserate to your expertise and education. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, registered nurses averaged a $77,600 salary in 2021. The top 10 percent averaged over $120,250. Over the next decade, more than 276,800 additional RNs will be needed to meet the growing demand for these healthcare professionals.
One more thing to think about as you consider earning a BSN, more and more hospitals and healthcare systems are looking to hire RNs with a BSN to help meet Magnet status—the highest designation given by the ANCC, the American Nurses Credentialing Center.
What Skills Will I Learn with an Online RN to BSN Degree?
Based on the American Association of Colleges of Nursing’s Essentials of Baccalaureate Nursing Education, the online RN-BSN program is designed to build on the registered nurse’s knowledge and skills in seven areas:
- Leadership
- Quality Improvement
- Evidence-based Nursing Practice
- Nursing Informatics
- Population-focused Health Promotion & Disease Prevention
- Interdisciplinary Collaboration
- Professionalism
Graduates of the Cumberlands RN to BSN Degree Program are prepared to assume roles in leadership positions, in the management of complex clinical care coordination, and in community/public health.
Is a BSN Worth It?
At University of the Cumberlands, our 100% online RN to BSN program can be completed in as little as 12 months. While rolling admissions and accelerated 8-week bi-terms are designed to accommodate the needs of working professionals. As a student of this accelerated online degree program, you will strengthen your skills through coursework and practical experiences focused on critical thinking, problem-solving, and leadership and management development. Upon graduation, you will have earned the knowledge necessary to enhance your service as a professional member of the health care community in a variety of venues and situations.
So, if making a healthy difference for your career, one that can also greatly impact your ability to better serve your patients, is a goal worth pursuing then, yes, this RN to BSN online degree program is definitely “worth it.”
Curriculum and Degree Requirements
As part of University of the Cumberlands' Bachelor’s degree requirements, each student must complete at least 120 semester hours (25% taken at UC), including those within the major and the coursework required in the sections of General Education listed below:
- 37 semester hours required in the sections of General Education (may transfer in hours from Associate Degree)
- 38 semester hours required in the sections of Bachelor of Science in Nursing
- 3 semester hours of an Integrated Studies Course
- 30 of the last 36 hours must be completed at UC
Blended Online Format
- While all courses are offered in an online format, some courses have a clinical component
- Fees may be applicable for the exam
Tuition
Costs for programs of study at University of the Cumberlands are competitive and affordable. Click here to view tuition rates and fees.
Admission Requirements
The following policies and procedures define the requirements and procedures for admission to the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program. For admission to the program, applicants must:
- Complete the online application form
- Official Transcripts with Confer Date of ADN (Associates in Nursing)
- GPA of 2.0 or higher. Click here for the GED to GPA calculator.
- Active RN Licensure in good standing
- Documentation of language fluency for non-native speakers of English, such as a score report from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the 8 International English Language Testing System (IELTS), or a report from Duolingo. This requirement is waived for students who have completed bachelor’s or master’s level coursework in the U.S. at an accredited institution. The minimum acceptable TOEFL or IELTS scores for admission are:
- Paper-based TOEFL (PBT) - 550
- Internet-based TOEFL (IBT) - 79
- IELTS - 6
- Duolingo - 95
All admissions materials should be submitted to:
University of the Cumberlands
Graduate & Online Admissions
649 S. 10th Street Suite C
Williamsburg, KY 40769
Phone 606.539.4390
Toll Free 800.343.1609
Email ucoadm@ucumberlands.edu
Accreditation
Click here to view University of the Cumberlands' accreditation information.
In addition to the overall institutional accreditation statement above, the online RN-BSN degree program at University of the Cumberlands is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street, NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791. Accreditation was initially issued in Fall 2015.
Faculty
Click here to view a list of the nursing faculty.
Admissions Office
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649 S. 10th Street Suite C
Williamsburg, KY 40769