Why should nurses with an Associate’s Degree in Nursing enroll in an RN-BSN Program? Although some employers do not require a BSN, all registered nurses can benefit from returning to school and earning their BSN. RN-BSN programs can help advance a registered nurse’s career prospects and open new and exciting academic and vocational programs – helping to evaluate an RNs career.
The Benefits of Enrolling as an RN-BSN Student
Career outcomes for those who complete an RN-BSN program can include higher salaries, career advancement opportunities, and educational advancement opportunities.
Since students enrolled in RN-BSN programs have already completed two years of nursing school, passed the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN), and have experience working as registered nurses, many programs are built around elevating the strengths of nurses and focusing on real, tangible skills they will use throughout their course of practice.
Depending on the institution or the program, many RN-BSN paths do not require students to relearn basic nursing skills, take unnecessary prerequisites, or set rigorous and lengthy attendance schedules. Instead, programs are built with working professionals in mind, offering flexible courses, accelerated programs, and assistance managing full-time work and school demands.
The benefits of enrolling in an RN-BSN program extend beyond academic advancement. Jobs for registered nurses are projected to increase significantly through 2030. But it’s not just careers in registered nursing. Nurse managers, acute care nurses, and emergency room nurses, and more are all projected to increase through 2026 and beyond. Nurses who return to school for their bachelor’s degree can leverage these growth trends to secure new positions in parallel career fields and even explore into new specialties such as pediatric nursing care, oncology nursing care, and more.
RN-BSN at the University of Providence
The University of Providence’s Online RN-BSN Program offers currently practicing registered nurses the opportunity to earn their Bachelor of Science in Nursing in a 100% online, flexible learning environment.
Designed to meet the needs of working nurses, our program is broken down into three semesters comprised of two eight-week learning sessions. These shorter sessions allow for fewer classes per session while enhancing the delivery of course material using asynchronous learning and live video conferencing sessions – offered on the first, third, fifth, and seventh week of the first eight-week session before reducing to live sessions on the first and seventh week for the second eight-week session and beyond.
Graduates of our RN-BSN program can expect to continue working in nursing but with more opportunities for leadership positions. BSN recipients can explore specializations in specific departments or with specific populations within the nursing field. Based on data from Lightcast, most of our RN-BSN program students continue working as registered nurses. However, some graduates leverage their new degrees to transition into becoming health service managers or return to school for a master’s to pursue advanced graduate degrees to become nurse practitioners or nurse managers.
Since our RN-BSN program builds upon previous skills in nursing, graduates of our program can put their new skills into practice as soon as they start the program. Graduates not only learn skills specific to clinical nursing but are well-versed in skills adjacent and parallel to nursing – including healthcare administration, health informatics, and compliance and patient safety. Admits to our RN-BSN program can expect to learn new disciplines while reinforcing old ones. Students graduate lifelong learners who are skilled in nursing and ready to take on wherever challenges are presented to them.
Apply To UPs RN-BSN Program Today
With an RN-BSN from the University of Providence, currently practicing registered nurses with an Associates Degree in Nursing can earn their BSN in as little as one year through our dynamic and flexible course selection focused on building upon established nursing foundations in clinical and administrative nursing disciplines. Explore our course curriculum to see a projected degree completion track, or visit our program page to learn more about program requirements and more.