How To Become A Registered Nurse With A Bachelor's Degree In Biochemistry

Choose the Best Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) Online Plan for You

Interested in taking the adjacent step in your nursing career but non sure where to begin? Whether you lot're already a registered nurse (RN) with an associate degree or you lot have an undergraduate degree in another field and are hoping to make a change, an online Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) programme might be a suitable path for you. In fact, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing emphasizes that "BSN nurses are prized for their skills in critical thinking, leadership, instance direction and health promotion, and for their power to do beyond a variety of inpatient and outpatient settings."

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A number of online programs are designed to assist you develop these skills and allow you to continue working part-time or full-time while completing your courses, making them an attainable and viable option for aspiring or practicing nurses.

Choosing an Online Schoolhouse for Your BSN Program

For some, choosing an online available's in nursing program may be a big decision that comes with considerable financial costs and time commitment. To help you make an informed decision, we'll become over some common terms and requirements for online BSN programs.

On-campus vs Online BSN Programs

While the curriculum for on-campus and online BSN programs are mostly the same, you lot can still wait some differences between the two types of programs. The former may require you lot to travel to campus for class. At times, you may even take to rearrange your personal schedule to accommodate the demands of in-person learning. If you're looking for a program that grants y'all flexibility, an online BSN program may be a good fit.

Some BSN programs online may crave you to attend scheduled classes each week—and then, you lot'll desire to make sure yous have the appropriate video conferencing software in order to participate. Others allow y'all to complete all coursework on your own time. Keep in mind, however, that some online BSN programs include an in-person clinical requirement that y'all'll have to complete in guild to graduate.

Accredited Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) Programs

Before applying for a nursing license, you'll have to pass the National Council Licensure Test (NCLEX). In order to take the NCLEX, y'all must verify the completion of an accredited nursing program. Both the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Pedagogy are national accrediting bodies of nursing programs, and you tin search their website to run across if a university has been approved to teach nursing.
Beyond beingness a requirement for licensure, accredited programs can assistance ensure yous cover all the information necessary to do safely and finer in the field. Although some employers may approve programs that aren't accredited, a caste from an accredited program may prove useful in helping you advance your career in the field.

Clinical Requirements for Online Bachelor's in Nursing Programs

Many online bachelor's in nursing programs take a clinical requirement, allowing nursing students to gain valuable first-hand experience in a healthcare setting. Considering students enrolled in online programs are often dispersed beyond a given land—or even the country—some universities may allow you to select a location to consummate your clinical rotation and then you lot can stay close to home.

General Admissions for Online Bachelor's in Nursing Programs

Although admissions requirements vary by school, there are some materials you'll demand handy for BSN programme application. For example, if you're interested in RN to BSN programs, yous may demand an associate degree, diploma or certificate from an accredited nursing schoolhouse. You may also need an agile RN license. Meanwhile, high schoolhouse students interested in earning a BSN must typically submit their bookish transcript and consummate prerequisite coursework. Check your program's unique admissions requirements for more than data.

Mutual Online BSN Courses

In near BSN programs online, coursework will include core courses in nursing theory and practise, nursing scientific discipline, and more than full general science courses—similar biochemistry, anatomy and physiology and clinical microbiology. Nursing-specific courses may cover topics like ambulatory care nursing and healthy crumbling, among others—and teach y'all how to clarify data, make health assessments and deliver quality patient care.

Over the course of your program, yous can also look to hone technical and soft skills through courses focused on professional leadership & advice in wellness intendance.

Potential Careers for BSN Nurses

With your available's in nursing and an RN license, you may be prepared to enter a field that's growing. According to the U.Southward. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment of registered nurses is projected to grow ix% betwixt 2020 and 2030. Registered nurses earned a median salary of $75,330 in 2020.

Available'southward in Nursing (BSN) caste holders can pursue a number of nursing specialties—it all depends on which area and patient population sparks their interest. Below are a few of the potential nursing career paths BSN-prepared professionals can consider:

Case management nurse. Similar to social work case managers, these nurses advocate for patients. They assistance manage care plans and serve every bit a resources for patients and their families. Case management nurses may work in hospice and palliative centers, outpatient clinics and cancer institutions—commonly providing holistic, comprehensive care to a range of patients, from the elderly to those who are chronically ill.
Public health nurse. Public health nurses combine their clinical teaching with broad knowledge of epidemiology and populations to aid the communities they serve. They may monitor large trends, like immunization levels and mortality rates, or evaluate wellness services offered by the regime.
Information science nurse. The field of nursing informatics merges engineering science and traditional nursing practice into 1. Every bit an informatics nurse, you may use your expert knowledge of electronic health records and information analysis to better patient intendance.
Neuroscience nurse. These nurses specialize in the handling of patients with neurological disorders, including Alzheimer's, strokes and encephalon injuries. Frequently, neuroscience nurses work in rehabilitation centers and outpatient clinics, helping patients on the route to recovery.
Nurse executive. Nurse executives play a key role in healthcare leadership. They assistance create policies, budgets and procedures, and also manage finances within wellness care organizations—making this a viable career path for nurses who are more than interested in the policy aspect of the field instead of the clinical side.
Emergency room (ER) nurse. ER nurses are skilled at handling high-stress situations—regularly treating patients with critical injuries and weather condition. After gaining full general nursing experience, y'all can specialize as an ER nurse by attaining a Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN) certification.

Aside from preparing y'all for RN licensure, a BSN may be helpful when applying for graduate programs to go an advanced practise registered nurse (APRN).

Certifications and Licenses

As we've previously discussed, you'll need to obtain your RN license to legally practice nursing in your state. Each state has a slightly different licensure procedure, with varying requirements for applications and renewals. In every land, y'all'll need to graduate from an canonical nursing program and laissez passer the NCLEX exam in order to qualify for a license.

After gaining experience in the field, you lot may wish to get certified in a particular nursing specialty. For example, to become certified as a pediatric disquisitional care nurse, you'll need to complete exercise hours—providing direct intendance to critically ill pediatric patients. The American Association of Critical Intendance Nurses offers this certification and more.

If yous don't have the proper credentials or if yous let your nursing license expire while you proceed to do, you lot will probable have to pay a fee. Check out your land'due south licensing renewals requirements, as these typically involve continuing education hours and a renewal fee every few years.

Additional Online Nursing Programs

In that location are a number of different online nursing programs, as well every bit graduate and doctoral nursing programs, that y'all can complete from the condolement of your home. Here are a few types of programs you tin pursue to obtain your BSN—and farther your education after.

Accelerated BSN programs online. Accelerated nursing programs are baccalaureate programs for those with a bachelor's degree in a field other than nursing. These types of programs are a feasible option for those looking to switch careers, merely at that place are also accelerated RN-to-BSN programs which allow you to earn a nursing degree in less fourth dimension than completing an unabridged undergraduate program.
RN-to-BSN bridge programs. Some nurses earn their license after completing an ADN programme, but subsequently decide to enroll in a bachelor's degree plan. For these nurses who may already accept college credit, an RN-to-BSN bridge programme allows them to earn a higher caste while notwithstanding incorporating the nursing knowledge they've already gained in their careers.

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RNs with an associate degree: Advance your nursing career with a supportive online RN to BSN program for women.

Simmons Academy has been empowering nursing leaders for more than 100 years and offering innovative online degree programs since 2013. Up to 96 transfer credits accepted.

Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) programs. In order to go an advanced practise registered nurse, you'll want to earn a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree. Like their traditional, on-campus counterparts, online MSN programs may prepare you for both avant-garde clinical and not-clinical roles, and may help y'all increase your earning potential and grow your career. There are even RN-to-MSN programs available, if yous accept your nursing license but don't take a bachelor'due south degree nonetheless.
Mail service-master's certificate. Already take a master's degree in nursing but looking to switch specializations? A post-primary'due south document may allow you to practise that, regardless of your current nursing specialty or role. Like to MSN programs, the post-primary's certificate may take ii years to complete.
Md of Nursing Practice (DNP) program. These days, yous not just have the opportunity to consummate a bachelor'southward and chief's caste online, only also a doctoral degree. An online DNP program may provide you with leadership expertise to make assessments about all-time clinical care practices and improve outcomes for patients.

Available of Science in Nursing Degree Scholarships for Nursing Students

Let's face information technology—college can be expensive. If tuition costs pose an event for you, there are a number of financial aid and nursing scholarship opportunities that can assist you overcome financial barriers and accomplish your educational goals. In that location are several others so be sure to enquiry options and eligibility requirements.

FAQ

Want to learn more about online BSN online programs? In this section, we swoop into some mutual queries near online BSN programs—and then, you tin can decide whether they're a good fit for you lot.

Tin can I complete my BSN online?

Yes, you can complete your BSN online. Online Bachelor of Science in Nursing programs allow you to further your pedagogy at your own stride.

Are online BSN programs good?

Just as reputable as on-campus programs, online BSN programs are oft offered past esteemed land and private universities, and widely recognized by employers and graduate programs. When choosing a BSN program, all the same, be sure to find one that's accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Pedagogy. Accreditations volition help ensure yous're receiving a degree that's worth your time and coin—and ane that employers volition value.

How practice online BSN programs piece of work?

There are a few different formats for online bachelor'due south in nursing programs, including synchronous and asynchronous programs. Synchronous programs closely resemble traditional caste programs, in which students watch a lecture and participate in real time. This takes place virtually.

On the other paw, asynchronous programs tin be completed on your own time, whenever it's user-friendly, and may involve pre-recorded lectures or modules. Some programs offering a combination of these 2 formats, assuasive for both flexibility and an optimal learning feel.

How long does information technology take to go a bachelor's degree in nursing online?

RN-to-BSN programs typically build on students' previous nursing experience. For that reason, they're generally faster than traditional BSN programs which last near four years. In an accelerated programme, you can earn your BSN in as few every bit 12 months, but typically they final around ii years. These timelines may vary, depending on your school and whether you cull to study on a function-time footing.

Tin can I complete an online BSN program without nursing experience?

If you don't have prior feel in nursing, rest assured—there are nevertheless avenues for you to consummate a BSN plan online. Online programs for not-nurses permit yous to pin toward the nursing field, using your prior undergraduate feel every bit a launch pad. Clinical field experience volition besides permit you to get a sense of what it is similar to provide direct intendance to patients.

Data on this page was retrieved in October 2021.