Top Online Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) Programs
Nursing is one of the country’s largest professions. The field is also extremely diverse, covering a variety of specialties as well as career paths. Because of this, there is no singular educational path to employment. Prospective students can select from multiple degree options–from associate to doctoral degrees–in order to pursue various careers. Recently, nurse training has experienced an evolution, embracing online learning as a reputable form of education. The following guide serves as an overview of online nursing programs, degree options, and curricula, as well as career opportunities.
For students who hold an associate in nursing, are currently employed in the field and/or have family obligations, traditional campus courses may not be possible. Fortunately, many universities offer online nursing degree programs. With so many to choose from, how do you know which is the best fit? We’ve made the process easier by evaluating hundreds of distance learning programs around the country, then identifying the best options for 2018 in terms of curriculum, accessibility, resources and other factors. Finding a good online nursing program is the first step toward advancing your career in the quickly growing health care field.
1 / Established in 1966, the University of Alabama at Birmingham is one of the three public research institutions within the University of Alabama System. Initially only offering a bachelor's level nursing degree, the UAB School of Nursing has grown over the decades. It now offers nine programs at the undergraduate and graduate level, all with accreditation by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education and Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia.
To make learning as accessible as possible, the UAB School of Nursing uses Canvas, an online learning management system, to administer its e-learning curriculum. While not a completely online nursing school, students are able to take a variety of classes remotely throughout their tenure. These distance learning courses are more common in graduate degree programs. However, students at all levels can take advantage of Canvas to stay organized and create study plans for their on-campus courses.
Students will appreciate the diverse learning opportunities and degree pathways, such as dual degree options, more than 15 nurse practitioner specialty tracks and an accelerated master's program. Examples of available specialties include occupational health, neonatal, pediatrics, adult/gerontology and psychiatric-mental health. This array of learning options makes it easier for graduates to be well-trained for their respective certification exams. The school has a NCLEX first-time test taker pass rate that consistently exceeds 90 percent, which is well above the national average of around 85 percent.
Admission into the UAB School of Nursing requires a GPA of at least a 2.75 on a 4.00 scale. Acceptance also requires students to take the SAT or ACT. Once enrolled, students may be eligible to receive generous financial assistance, including financial aid packages that do not need to be fully paid back. UAB's School of Nursing offers robust scholarship, traineeship and fellowship programs, including a Nurse Faculty Loan Program that cancels up to 85% of a doctoral nursing student's school debt if they work as a full-time nurse faculty member at an accredited post-secondary nursing program after graduation.
2 / The University of Kentucky's College of Nursing has a long tradition of preparing students for a career in nursing. Accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, the institution began educating aspiring nurses in 1964. In the decades since, it's become a trailblazer in nursing education with the country's first Doctor of Nursing Practice program and Kentucky's first PhD nursing program.
Besides taking advantage of the school's extensive experience - which has resulted in first-time NCLEX pass rates in excess of 97 percent for 10 years running - aspiring nursing students have the option of enrolling in a variety of programs.
Admission and graduation requirements will depend on the applicant's prior education and professional background. At the undergraduate level, there is the traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program for high school graduates, transfers and current UK students. For those with prior experience, such as military veterans and registered nurses, there are the RN-BSN and MedVet-BSN programs. Depending on the student's prior professional and educational background, they can obtain their BSN in as little as five semesters. Remote learning options include professional development courses, a fully online RN-BSN program and a hybrid Doctorate in Nursing Practice program.
Those considering the nursing profession but who have a degree in a non-nursing field will be interested in the Second Degree Option. This program takes just two years to complete and consists of 64 credits. Students seeking graduate training can enroll in a PhD, Doctor of Nursing Practice or graduate certificate program. The graduate certificates provide opportunities to specialize in fields such as adult-gerontology, pediatric acute-care, mental health and executive nursing leadership.
UK's College of Nursing is partnered with UK HealthCare, a healthcare system based in Lexington, Kentucky. UK HealthCare has several nationally recognized neuroscience, heart, cancer and children's centers and institutes, and helps facilitate the nursing education at UK. In 2008, it added several simulation suites to the Clinical Simulation and Learning Center, located on the 4th floor of the College of Nursing. Much of the BSN's clinical experience can take place at a UK HealthCare facility.
3 / Ball State University awards bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees in nursing both on campus and online. Ball State's campus-based BS in Nursing is a full-time, four-year program intended to prepare students for licensure. It boasts an average 94- to 100-percent NCLEX pass rate each year. Other undergraduate campus-based programs include a three-year degree, second baccalaureate degree, LPN to BS and RN to BS. These programs provide excellent opportunities for students to apply prior nursing knowledge and coursework to their studies and earn an accelerated bachelor's degree. The RN to BS program is available to online students as well and can be taken full- or part-time.
For those interested in pursuing a master's, the college has three programs - an on-campus MS in Nursing, online RN to MS and online MS. Ball State's part-time, online RN to MS is open to students who have an associate's degree in nursing and a bachelor's degree in another field. It usually takes 9 to 11 semesters to complete. In order to get a solid framework for master's studies, RN to MS students must take 16 upper-division nursing courses at the baccalaureate level on top of their required graduate-level nursing courses. As with the university's online and on-campus MS in Nursing programs, RN to MS students can choose from three concentrations to focus their studies - Nurse Administrator, Nurse Educator and Family Nurse Practitioner. Students who pursue the standard MS program can expect to earn their master's degree in seven to eight semesters, with two classes per term. Ball State's part-time Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP) is open to both online and traditional students. The program requires 1,000 clinical hours and annual one-day meetings, which can be attended in-person or remotely.
Located in Muncie, Indiana, Ball State University began as a teacher training school and has since grown to offer over 300 degree programs across seven academic colleges. Its online nursing programs are fully online and asynchronous, so students can log in whenever it's convenient and required clinical hours can be completed in students' own communities. Online and on-campus nursing students have access to the school's Simulation and Information Technology Center (SITC), a clinical simulation center stocked with lab equipment and technologies that allow students to use learned skills in realistic situations. The school also offers more than 15 scholarships specifically for nursing students in addition to institutional and federal financial aid opportunities.
4 / Fort Hays State University has its roots in nursing - the school's first classes were held at the infirmary of the former Fort Hays army post in 1902. The university now serves over 15,000 students on campus and online and has several degree options for those pursuing a career in nursing. A range of nursing-focused scholarships help make obtaining a degree from Fort Hays a little more affordable, too.
Fort Hays' Baccalaureate of Science in Nursing (BSN) and Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education and approved by the Kansas State Board of Nursing. The competitive campus-based bachelor program had a 100 percent NCLEX pass rate in 2016 and is meant to be completed in four semesters. Students have access to the department's simulation center, which is equipped with exam rooms, computerized mannequins, a surgical scrub area, computerized charting, a nurses station and patient units. Applicants must complete prerequisites before applying to the BSN program, which is typically the end of their sophomore year.
Those looking to earn their nursing degree online can check out Fort Hays' RN to BSN program. This degree program is intended for students who have an active RN license and can be completed in as few as three semesters. The fully-online coursework emphasizes leadership and critical thinking skills through study in chemistry, psychology, biology and anatomy in addition to nursing-specific classes. Clinical hours are required but can be completed in a location convenient for students. At the graduate level, RNs can pursue a Masters in Nursing Education or a Masters in Nursing Administration. These flexible programs offer multiple tracks for working RNs who want to pursue advanced careers.
Fort Hays' Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) programs are the first doctorates offered by the university. The BSN to DNP is a hybrid program open to Kansas-based students who already have a BSN from an accredited college. This full-time degree is mostly online with a few campus visits required and prepares students to become Family Nurse Practitioners. Clinical hours must be completed in Kansas. The APRN to DNP is for those who have earned a Master of Science in Nursing, Advanced Practice and hold APRN licensure. Both of Fort Hays' DNP programs are pursuing initial accreditation by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
5 / The College of Nursing at the University of Rhode Island is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. In 1945, hopeful nurses had the opportunity to take advantage of the school's quality education when it began its first nursing degree program. Today, students can earn a baccalaureate, master's or doctorate degree in nursing online.
Students in the University of Rhode Island's online bachelor's degree program focus on expanding their understanding of nursing practice to provide care in a compassionate, ethical, inclusive and respectful manner. Curriculum includes areas such as nursing research, health assessment, pharmacology, client management and public health nutrition. For example, students in the community and public health course learn how healthcare is provided in communities with vulnerable patient populations, while those who take health and wealth explore the influence economics has on public health, consumer behavior and public policy.
The University of Rhode Island also offers graduate nursing programs for professionals who want to further advance in their education and careers. The school's MS program allows students to gain a deeper understanding of their chosen specialty - students can choose adult-gerontological nurse practitioner/clinical nurse specialist, nursing education, family nurse practitioner or adult-gerontological acute care nurse practitioner specializations. At the doctorate level, students can enroll in a DNP or the PhD in Nursing program, which is the only one available in the state. Certificate programs are also available and allow those with a master's degree to gain further mastery in a specific area of nursing, such as acute care for nurse practitioners.
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