If you need to advance in your nursing career, then you need to go back to school. An RN to BSN degree program helps bridge the gap for those nurses that don''t have bachelor''s degree in nursing, but only an associate or diploma, and are stuck at their current job.

Nurses and Their Degrees

While an ASN or a nursing diploma can get your foot in the door of nursing, they don''t provide for advancement quite like advanced nursing degrees do. According to the American Nurses Association (ANA), of all practicing nurses:

42.2 percent have associate degrees.
31 percent have bachelor''s degrees.
25.2 percent were educated in non-academic nursing diploma programs.

However, in 2007, 3.1 percent of all 2007 nursing school graduates came from a nursing diploma program, signaling a growing preference for the nurses with more advanced degrees.

The RN to BSN Degree Programs

The majority of promotions are awarded to nurses with the bachelor degrees, if not further advanced degrees. Hence, for the other two groups, an RN to BSN degree program helps tremendously. The RN to BSN degree helps a registered nurse bridge the gap. Depending on your education, it could take one year to three years to complete an RN to BSN degree. According to the ANA, there were more than 50,000 nurses enrolled in more than 500 RN to BSN degree programs in the US.

Matt Riddle
Bureau of Labor Statistics • Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-11 Edition: Registered Nursees • Dec 17, 2009 • http://www.bls.gov/oco/ • http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos083.htm
C. Fay Raines, PhD, RN; M. Elaine Taglaireni, EdD, RN: the Online Journal of Issues in Nursing; Ame • Career Pathways in Nursing: Entry Points and Academic Progression • Sep 30, 2008 • http://www.nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/ANAMarketplace/ANAPeriodicals/OJIN.aspx • http://www.nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/ANAMarketplace/ANAPeriodicals/OJIN/TableofContents/vol132008/No3Sept08/CareerEntryPoints.aspx

Schools are listed in alphabetical order by state then city.

Chamberlain College of Nursing

[Online]

Make the choice to make a difference in people’s lives. Advance your nursing career by earning your RN to BSN online, while you work. Chamberlain College of Nursing offers a highly respected online program in your local area. Online RN-BSN students will participate in experiential learning projects within their course work. The curriculum does not include clinical work. Financial aid is available for students who qualify.
Programs:
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN)
Request More Information >

National American University - Online	[Online]
Programs: Health Care Management RN-to-BSN Request More Information >

South University	[Online]
Programs: Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Management Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN) Request More Information >

Walden University	[Online]
Programs: M.S. in Mental Health Counseling Master of Public Health Master's in Nursing (BSN-MSN) Master's in Nursing (RN-MSN) Ph.D. in Human Services Ph.D. in Human Services - Counseling Specialization Ph.D. in Public Health Request More Information >

University of Phoenix

[Diamond Bar, CA]

Whether you’re seeking an associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree, University of Phoenix can help you reach your goal much sooner than you might expect.
Programs:
  BS in Nursing (RN Required)
  Master of Health Administration
  Master of Science in Nursing/Nursing/Health Care Education
  MBA/Health Care Management
  MS in Nursing (RN Required)
  MS in Nursing/Family Nurse Practitioner
  RN to MSN or MSN/FNP Bridge BSN Equivalency Requirement
Request More Information >

Online

Schools By State