Nursing

Why A BSN Degree Is Even More Important Today

If you wish to be a nurse at a high quality hospital, a BSN nursing degree has become considerably more important due to a program created by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).

hospital jobs require bsn The ANCC began to develop a “Magnet Recognition Program” back in the late 1980’s, which focused on hospitals that had certain qualities that had the highest ability to attract and retain nurses. In 2014, the program was given a major boost by a research study in The Lancet, an old and respected medical journal, that showed that hospitals with a higher percentage of BSN-degree nurses had lower rates of patient mortality. The ANCC then began to award a “Magnet Hospital” credential to the institutions that achieved the highest nursing standards.

Small But Growing

Today there are 389 Magnet Hospitals in the U.S. That represents just 6% of all hospitals in the country. But because the designation means they must offer certain benefits and job opportunities to nurses, they represent some of the most attractive employers for an RN.

The price of admission to work at a Magnet hospital today is almost always a BSN. In the 1990’s, a hospital could get the Magnet credential if 75% of its nurses had BSNs. For a hospital to apply for Magnet status today, however, it must have a staff of 100% nurses with a BSN bachelor degree.

Hospitals Compete

The hospital industry has become vastly more competitive in the past two decades. As a result, hospitals want to get anything that can be seen as a distinguishing honor. The Magnet credential has become a highly sought-after certification, which will only encourage more and more hospitals to increase the percentage of nurses on staff with BSNs.

There are still many hospitals, clinics and other medical facilities across the country where a nurse can work with an RN earned through an associate’s program. But the drive by more and more hospitals to get ANCC’s blessing as a Magnet institution means that more and more of the best hospitals will be looking only at nurses with BSN’s.

Keys To Taking – And Passing – The NCLEX Exam

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Passing the NCLEX for nurses

According to the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN), an overwhelming majority of students who take the NCLEX exams pass the test on the first try. NCSBN’s stat sheet for 2008 shows that, nationally, 87.3% of the U.S. education students passed the RN test for registered nurse certification (the results were about the same for bachelor’s, associate’s and “diploma” level nursing degree holders taking the test). About 86.5% who took the PN or practical nurse test passed on the first try.

First Try Is Important
That should calm your nerves a bit if you’re about to take one of your home state’s NCLEX tests, but it doesn’t mean you can take too much of a break from your studies. Although you are allowed to take the NCLEX as many times as you wish, NCSBN’s statistics also show that difficulties do emerge for nursing candidates who don’t pass the test on their first try. Of those hopeful nurses who fail it once, just 53.4% of U.S. educated students succeed on passing when they take the NCLEX again, and the success rate is even lower for repeat test takers who are educated outside the U.S. The PN test results follow a similar pattern; with just 44% of U.S. educated students who fail the test once managing to succeed on their second try, and only 22.9% of foreign educated candidates who failed the first time around passing the test on their repeat try. (More of NCSBN’s current test statistics available here)

Starting The Process
So what’s the key to passing the NCLEX test and getting your nursing license? Getting your training in nursing from a good school and preparing properly are your two keys.

To get started toward your goal, you must apply to your state board of nursing for a nursing license. The board will determine of you are eligible to take the test, based primarily on your education and clinical experience. If you’re deemed eligible, you’ll be mailed an Authorization to Take the Test (ATT) as well as information on how you can schedule your appointment to take the test. NCLEX tests are administered by computer through a company called Pearson VUE. The current fee to take the test is $200. Information on registering online, by phone or through the mail here. Additional information on contacting state boards is available here.

On the day of the test, it’s advisable to arrive at the testing center at least 30 minutes before your scheduled test time (obviously, you want to get a good night’s sleep beforehand). You are given up to 5 hours to complete the test, including a tutorial to show you how to use the computer and two breaks. The NCLEX test uses extremely sophisticated “adaptive” technology. That means that whether you answer a question correctly or incorrectly can determine what the following questions will be. If you miss a test on pharmacology, for example, the computer you’re using could automatically give you additional questions in that area.

Don’t Let That Smart Computer Upset You
Additionally, the computer can end your test more quickly if you do either very well or very poorly. After answering 75 questions on an RN test (85 on the lpn test), the computer assesses how you are performing compared to the standard passing student. If you are doing far better than standard, the computer can pass you. If you’re too far below standard, it can fail you. From there on, the computer can continue serving you questions to assess your competence up to a total of 265 questions if you’re taking the RN test, or 205 if you’re taking the LPN test. It all means that the total length of your test is a bit unpredictable. It’s important to keep in mind that you should not get discouraged if the test feels hard – it’s designed that way. Because the computer program keeps serving you questions you will find challenging based on the answers you give, most people cannot get more than 50% of the total answers correct. An excellent summation of what happens on NCLEX testing day is available here.

Results
About a month after taking the test, you will get your result from the state board of nursing. If you fail, you’ll get information on which areas of knowledge you did well on and which you did not. You can take the test as many times as you want, but most state nursing boards require a 90 day waiting period between tests.

Sample Tests & Preparation Aids
Many nursing sites feature sample tests or questions, though most charge a fee:

The Most Affordable Accredited Online RN to BSN Programs

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save on an RN to BSN

Click To A Select List Of Affordable Online RN to BSN Degree Schools

easiest and cheapest online BSN degrees online

Can You Do An RN to BSN Online?

Online RN to BSN degrees are generally known as “completion” or “bridge” programs, that allow you to turn your basic nursing credential (which must include an RN license) into a full nursing bachelors degree. They’re some of the most popular of all online degree programs, because employers generally have a positive attitude towards them (partly because there’s an ongoing shortage of nurses in the U.S. and the large hospitals have to look harder and harder to find qualified workers). The importance of the degree has only grown in recent years, partly due to an initiatve started in 2010 buy The Institute of Medicine, which said that hospitals should aim to have 80% of their nurses be bachelor degree holders.

How Much Does It Cost To Get A BSN Online?

RN to BSN programs at online schools can run anywhere from about $20,000 up to $85,000. While that may sound like a lot, it’s good to keep in mind that a campus-based program, which can involve dormitory, food and other fees, can cost well over $100,000. Online colleges and universities also tend to make a big effort to help their students get as many grants and, if necessary, loans to finance their degrees.

The University of Phoenix, as an example, has a base price of just over $9,400 per year for tuition in its online BSN program. Western Governor’s University’s total cost for a nursing bachelors two year degree is often around $15,000, depending on which exact courses need to be completed. University of Texas at Arlington, a state school, offers a BSN online that can cost under $9,000. per year in tuition.

Easiest Ways To Get Your BSN Fast

We’ve looked at some of the most affordable RN to BSN online programs to see which ones stand up in terms of real quality, and out list appears at the bottom of the page. A BSN is a degree worth considering if you already have an associate’s in nursing and an RN license. Doing it online can allow you to study while you continue to work – the only realistic approach for many nurses. This degree is designed to can give you more advanced skills that can be applied to more specialized types of nursing or to a job as a hospital supervisor or administrator. It should also provide you with the kind of broader learning that’s typical with any bachelor’s degree, and the credibility that goes with having a diploma from a full four-year college program.

RN to BSN degree programs work online because they require far less hands-on clinical work than a nursing AS or LPN training program. But like other bachelor’s degrees, they can be pricey. Finishing a BSN, which usually takes from 18 months to 2 years, can cost you about the same as the second half of any undergraduate degree – well over $60,000. Fortunately, there have been more and more accredited RN to BSN programs offered in recent years at a lower price.

One Year Programs And Other Accelerated Options

State schools and community colleges might be a good place to start looking for the most affordable RN to BSN online program. Unfortunately, however, many of them don’t offer online programs. That means you need to figure out a way to fit classroom trips into your busy schedule. Online nursing programs are designed to cater to the nurse who has a full work schedule, may have a family to take care of, and who may want to either get the BSN done on an accelerated schedule or take breaks from school now and then to attend to life responsibilities. If you want to work at a very full pace, it’s possible to complete many of these degree programs in 18 months or even one year.

Online nursing schools often have official tuition rates higher than public colleges. But they tend to be aggressive about helping their students transfer credits from previous school work toward their BSN and working to get as many grants and loans for students as possible – both of which can make your degree much more affordable.

How many credit hours are involved in a nursing bachelor’s?

A BSN degree is generally 120 credits, like any other undergrad bachelors degree. Some schools have slight variations on this requirement, depending on how they count credits. But the total credits needed will almost always be close to 120. An associate degree generally counts for 60 credits, which can be accepted in transfer at most BSN colleges. Most RNs will need to earn 60 more credits to finish their RN to BSN.

How long does it take to go from an RN to BSN?

A full bachelor’s in nursing would take four years from start to finish, partly because it includes a number of general education credits in subjects outside nursing like English, math or chemistry. But most online nursing bachelors are “completion” degrees designed for certified RNs who have already an associates degree. If you have your RN, your BSN completion should take two years at a normal pace. If you want to work at an accelerated pace, you may be able to finish it in 18 months or, in some cases, as little as one year.

Bachelor of Nursing Benefits

About a third of all BSN’s in the U.S. are earned in Registered Nurse to BSN completion programs. It’s a widely accepted credential that can help you earn a position in administration (an important goal as you get older and want to limit physical work), earn more and potentially make it easier to get a new position if you decide to move to another geographic area at some point. If you shop intelligently, you can find a lower cost BSN program online to help you toward your career goals and not break the bank. Below is a list of lower-priced RN to BSN programs online, which you can learn more about by requesting free information. Be aware that all of these programs are designed for registered nurses who have either an associate’s degree or most of the credits toward an AS in nursing. Most schools will also give credits for your work experience as a nurse.

A Word On State School Online BSN’s

State university systems are often the first choice for students who want to save on tuition. But in truth, they often don’t have the lowest cost rn to bsn online options. As an example, several forum websites on nursing mention The University of Wyoming as an example of a very low cost online BSN program. The school’s $129. cost per credit does, indeed, sound low. But a closer look shows that, like other state universities, Wyoming charges a $40. additional per credit fee to anyone using it’s “outreach” or online programs. Also, a BSN program that’s designed for students who have a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing specialty is priced higher – $243. per credit. And to add one last complication, U of Wyoming’s nursing school does not accept students from Arkansas, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts or Minnesota into it’s online program because of legal restrictions.

The moral is that, while it definitely makes sense to shop state university programs, the true net tuition for their online nursing degrees is not always the best bargain you can find, particularly if you decide you want to look outside your own state.

Good, Affordable Online RN to BSN Programs

RN to BSN Degree Programs That Don’t Require Any Clinicals?

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Online degrees for nurses with no clinical

Click To List Of RN to BSN Programs With No On-Campus Clinicals Required

If you are a nurse interested in getting an RN to BSN degree online, you may want to think about finding a school that does not require all the clinical or practicum requirements that exist in nursing bachelors programs. In a typical BSN “completion” program, your clinical commitment can be as much as 700 to 900 hours – a massive time commitment that may not mean much if you have already spent significant time caring for patients in a clinical setting. That can be complicated to fulfill, particularly if you are getting your degree from an online school located far from your home.

It’s hard to “shop” for a BSN with no clinicals, because strictly speaking, all accredited BSN programs involve some kind of clinical practice experience. Some schools do not give clinical teaching to online students themselves, but require students who live a distance from campus to find a place where they can complete them with the help of a preceptor. Others do not list clinical hours as free-standing courses, but rather integrate clinical experience into other courses or professional capstone projects.

Click here to learn more about requirements and career options with a master’s degree in nursing

BSN Career Skills

The time spent on clinical experience can be tougher in some ways than classroom learning, but it’s a critical part of a nurses training. It’s important to get clinical teaching in an actual hospital or clinic setting, where there is real pressure to make good decisions and perform jobs correctly. It also provides some training in dealing with other health professionals. The kinds of personality conflicts that can come up with clinical instructors or other nurses can be a good rehearsal for the kinds of issues you’ll need to deal with in the health care environment after graduation.

RN to BSN Programs With No On-Campus Clinical Courses Required

Here are some online nursing schools that other incorporate clinical experiences into a variety of courses, or allow 100% online learning without campus visits by offering field experiences in your region.

Grand Canyon University
GCU is a Christian-based school with a large online teaching division. Their 36 credit RN to BSN program has a rolling system allowing new students to start every two weeks. The program has no required clinical component.
Get information on Grand Canyon University

Arizona State University
This 100% online program, offered through the public state university system of Arizona, has no clinical or practicum courses. Clinical learning is done through what’s called “practical learning activities.”
Get info on Arizona State

Saint Louis University
A Catholic Jesuit school in St. Louis, Missouri, the school’s online RN to BSN program allows for up to 64 credit hours being transferred in, and has no clinical courses required.
Learn more about St. Louis University

Indiana University
A single program created by eight campuses of the Indiana University Nursing program – a state public university system. The school’s site says that clinical learning experiences are “embedded in didactic or lecture-based courses.”
Learn more about Indiana U.

Campus-Based Schools

University of Wyoming
The public university’s program in Laramie, Wyoming, is designed for completion in one year at an accelerated pace. It requires full time attendance, and is a rare campus based program that requires no clinical time.
Learn more about University of Wyoming

Starting Your Career With An Associate’s In Nursing

By Paul Mannet Leave a Comment

“Online

An associates in nursing or “ADN” degree can be earned in two years at most schools. It’s the leading option for students who want become full fledged RN’s as quickly as possible. Although it doesn’t provide the broad humanities background that a bachelor’s degree will, it offers a solid foundation in nursing and health care management – the kind of skills needed for employment in larger, high quality hospitals and other medical facilities. It also provides the foundation you need to have in pace if you want to move on later to a BSN degree.

Nursing is one of the top growth careers in the U.S. today. And the job pays well — RNs have a median salary of about $64,000 per year in the U.S. (Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Also, particularly in large hospitals, nursing jobs often provide excellent health insurance benefits as well. Salaries, however, run in a wide range depending on the medical facility and the RN’s particular job title.

Considering it’s benefits, the cost of an associates in nursing degree can be seen fairly reasonable. State schools and community colleges across the country offer nursing programs that can cost only a few thousand dollars in total. Because the American health care system keeps getting bigger and more complex, nursing graduates are needed. And because of growing restrictions on how many foreign RNs can come into the U.S., nurses with American citizenship and a degree from a U.S. nursing school are now particularly employable.

The Exam To Become An RN
Graduates of associates in nursing programs need to pass a NCLEX exam (given by state nursing boards) to get the registered nurse (RN) license. This credential is an important factor for those who want to get an an entry level position and start earning a good living. Be aware, however, that in order to qualify for the NCLEX the the RN license, you must attend an accredited nursing school. School accreditation can be checked with your state nursing board. Generally speaking, associates degrees in nursing are taught in a classroom and not an online learning setting.

There are basic prerequisite courses in almost all two year nursing programs, including math, writing, social studies or other humanities subjects. But the bulk of the study will be in more “technical” nursing topics like anatomy, obstetrical nursing, family health, community health, geriatrics, pharmacology, psychology and the like. More here in the courses you’ll take for an associate’s in nursing.

Jobs For Associates In Nursing Graduates
The graduate of an associates in nursing program is generally qualified to be licensed either as an RN or LPN (licensed practical nurse). A few things make the RN license more attractive. First, hospitals are generally cutting down on the number of LPNs (sometimes called “vocational nurses”) they employ, and hiring more RNs wherever possible. Most new LPN jobs are being created in nursing homes, which tend to pay less than hospitals. Second, and RN with an associates in nursing degree has more options to go into travel nursing, which can be a great way to see the world, or into specialized nursing areas that are more interesting and involve higher salaries. And finally, having an RN and ADN nursing degree puts the student in a better position to go back to school and pursue a bachelors nursing degree (sometimes called an rn to bsn “completion” degree) that can lead to management positions in nursing.