Bachelor's Degrees in Nursing
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
The 4-year BSN degree (also called a "Prelicensure BSN" program) is preferred by most nursing leaders and provides the best opportunities in today's job market. If you look in the Want Ads, you'll find that a BSN is a requirement for many positions. It is the entry point for professional nursing practice. Typically the first one to two years of the program are spent fulfilling general education requirements, while the last two to three years are spent on nursing courses.
LPN-to-BSN
This program offers the licensed practical nurse or licensed vocational nurse (LVN) the opportunity to attain the BSN degree in just four academic semesters.
RN-to-BSN
This is a program designed for Registered Nurse graduates of associates degree or diploma programs who want to complete their BSN degree. It provides credit for nursing skills already learned through school or work experience. Most often these programs are available with a very flexible schedule designed to meet the needs of working nurses. Classes might meet only evenings, or weekends. Some schools have “RN-only” classes which are separate from classes taught to pre-licensure students. Many schools have multiple start dates each year for these programs, rather than just one date in the Fall. Several online RN-2-BSN programs are available. These programs are also known as Bridge Programs, BSN for RN's, Completion Programs, Nursing Mobility in Education Programs, Advanced Placement, Advanced Standing or Transition Options. Approximately 30% of BSN graduates annually come from RN-to-BSN programs.
Second Degree BSN
Second Degree BSN programs are designed non-nurses who have bachelors' degrees in non-nursing fields. These programs will give you credit for having completed your liberal arts requirements, allowing you to complete the nursing portion of your course work (and earn your BSN) in two academic years or less.
Find Second Degree BSN Programs
Accelerated Degree BSN
A variation of the Second Degree BSN is the Accelerated BSN. In addition to giving you credit for having completed your liberal arts requirements, an Accelerated BSN program will allow you to complete your undergraduate nursing course requirements more quickly than students enrolled in a traditional BSN program. Accelerated BSN programs usually take 12 months to complete, though some programs may run for 16 to 20 months. A 3.0 GPA is often an entrance requirement for both Second Degree and Accelerated BSN programs.