Key Questions To Ask About: A BSN Online Degree

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing or BSN degree is considered a strong credential for nurses who aim to work in management or in one of the more cutting-edge specialties in nursing. Getting a BSN online is extremely popular today.

What is a BSN?
A Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing is, as the name implies, a full bachelor’s degree, which involves both courses that relate directly to nursing practice and more general science and humanities courses to provide a truly broad-based education.

Is it possible to complete all the studies for a BSN online?
There is a component of every BSN degree that involves direct patient care. Online students, who usually don’t live near their school, complete this part of their studies under the supervision of a “preceptor” or clinical faculty representative in their area who is approved by their school. But a bachelor of science degree in nursing leans more toward book learning than other nursing degrees, which is why more nurses get a BSN on line than adn or lpn degree or certificate.

Who is a good candidate to get a BSN online?
BSN degrees are generally considered “completion” degrees. The nurses who enter them, in most cases, already have an associates or ADN degree. A few BSN programs accept licensed practical nurses with only an LPN. But in most cases, you need to have an RN license in good standing, and have taken approximately 70 credits of science and humanities courses for admission into a BSN programs (courses like English, psychology, basic anatomy, speech etc.). Most nurses get these credits during their ADN degree programs. Other common requirements are one year of acute patient care experience, a minimum grade average in an ADN program. Being a good candidate to get a BSN online generally means having discipline, a desire to become more successful and some basic computer equipment – the same elements needed for any online degree student.

Do BSNs earn more than nurses who have only an ADN or associates degree?
Not automatically. There are many hospital settings where a nurse with an associates degree and one with a BSN will earn the same salaries. The main difference is that the BSN tends to make it easier for a nurse to advance into management or a specialized area of nursing. While some nurses are perfectly happy to remain 100% in direct patient care, the fact is that nursing is a physically demanding job and many nurses prefer to spend at least a bit more of their time behind a desk or doing supervisory work as they get older. It’s not impossible for a nurse who only has an AND degree to get into management, but the BSN generally makes it easier to do so. Many nurses report that having the BSN helps make their careers more portable – in other words, it makes it easier to get a new job if they want to move or simply switch employers.

Can a student who gets a BSN online attend graduation?
The answer is yes in many cases, though you need to check with your particular school.

Do the same professors teach online nursing programs as the campus programs?
The answer is a bit complicated, because the truth is that many professors have their on-campus courses taught by adjuncts or student assistants. Generally speaking, most schools have faculty with exactly the same qualifications teach their online and offline nursing courses. Given the growth of BSN online programs, most colleges and universities have now obtained the technology to allow online students to have as much contact as campus students with professors and peers through online message boards, email and chat rooms.

How long does it take to get a BSN online?
Two years is the most standard time, but there are many schools that now offer accelerated programs that take 15 or even 12 months total. It’s important to realize that if you opt into an accelerated program, you will have very little time for other work or life responsibilities while you are in school.

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