If you’re a registered nurse (R.N.) looking to expand your career opportunities, you might be interested in an R.N. to B.S.N. degree completion program. These programs allow you to apply the college credits you have earned and the professional experience you have already cultivated toward your Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree.
Building on Your Prior Nursing Education
A degree completion program is a program of study intended for students who have some college experience but haven’t yet earned their target degree – in this case, a bachelor’s degree in nursing. Degree completion programs cater to non-traditional students – that is, students who don’t enter college straight out of high school, dedicate their lives to their studies full-time and graduate with a bachelor’s degree without taking any time off from school. Sometimes non-traditional students start their college educations later, or interrupt their studies to focus on a career, raise a family or take advantage of other opportunities outside of academia. A degree completion program requires students to have already completed a minimum number of college credits at an accredited school prior to applying for the program.
All R.N. to B.S.N. programs of study are degree completion programs, because they all require you to have some college-level studies in nursing – enough to have already earned your nursing license. R.N. to B.S. N. degree completion programs are the most commonly offered online bachelor’s in nursing programs of study, according to U.S. News & World Report. Nursing diplomas and Associate’s Degree in Nursing (ADN) programs typically take two to three years to complete, the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported. In a degree completion program, you get college credit toward your bachelor’s degree for these two to three years’ worth of studies.
Benefits of a Degree Completion Program
In an R.N. to B.S.N. degree completion program, you don’t have to start your education over from scratch or worry that only a small portion of your previously completed college credits will transfer to your new degree. Degree completion programs expect and even require students to have past college experience and often have generous transfer policies. Making sure you get full credit toward your bachelor’s degree for all of your prior studies helps you avoid the time and expense of retaking classes and allows you to graduate with your B.S. N. degree sooner.
Why Earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing
If you’re already a practicing nurse, you might wonder why you need a bachelor’s degree. While you can earn your nursing license with just a diploma or associate’s degree, you may need a bachelor’s degree if you want to advance to roles in research, teaching, consulting or administration or to land more competitive nursing jobs in settings such as hospitals. An R.N. to B.S.N. degree completion program allows students to earn their bachelor’s degree quickly, often in as little as one year, with minimal cost.
Due to the advantages of having a bachelor’s degree and the benefits of degree completion programs, R.N. to B.S.N. degree completion programs are becoming increasingly popular with nursing who want to boost their careers.
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