RN-to-BSN Degree Overview

average program length

9-24 months

average credits required

120 including previously earned credit

average earning potential

$52,080-$111,220

SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

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Opportunities With a BSN

Careers For RN-to-BSN Graduates

adn or bsn Required

Registered Nurse

RNs focus on health promotion and patient education. RNs may check vital signs, take patient histories, administer diagnostic tests, and perform procedures such as drawing blood, performing skin and wound care, and monitoring IV medications.

Salary $73,300*

Job Outlook 7% increase from 2019-2029

Learn More About Registered Nurses

adn or bsn Required

Geriatric Nurse

Geriatric nurses provide patient care that addresses the unique needs of the aging population. They care for patients with medical conditions such as cardiovascular disease, dementia, osteoporosis, and mobility limitations.

Salary $64,870*

Job Outlook Positive Growth in Coming Years

Learn More About Geriatric Nurses

adn or bsn Required

OB/GYN Nurse

OB/GYN nurses work with expectant mothers before, during, and after labor and delivery. They assist obstetricians and gynecologists to provide a variety of patient services for females during the childbearing years.

Salary $60,000*

Job Outlook 7% increase from 2019-2029

Learn More About OB/GYN Nurses

asn or bsn Required

Travel Nurse

Travel nurses perform general RN duties in hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare sites across the United States, often providing services in underserved areas. Most U.S. placements run between 1-3 months; overseas contracts require a 1-2 year commitment.

Salary $79,000*

Job Outlook 7% increase from 2019-2029

Learn More About Travel Nurses

adn or bsn Required

Neonatal Nurse

Neonatal nurses provide care to critically ill newborns, monitor premature or sick infants, and educate and comfort parents and families. Working in neonatal intensive care units, these RNs take care of newborns for a few days to several months.

Salary $60,797*

Job Outlook 7% increase from 2019-2029

Learn More About Neonatal Nurses

*SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, PayScale

How Much Will I Make With a Bachelor's Degree in Nursing?

Hourly Salary

$32.62*

Monthly Salary

$7,123*

Annual Salary

$85,515*

*SOURCE: PayScale.com

How to Complete an RN-to-BSN Program

Determine If You Qualify

Eligibility requirements for RN-to-BSN programs vary by school, but all applicants should hold a state-issued RN license in good standing.

Find RN-to-BSN Program

After deciding which factors are important to you in a school, use our degree finder to find programs that fit your criteria.

Apply to BSN Programs

Common application requirements include transcripts, an essay, references, CV or resume, volunteer experience, and prior coursework.

Secure Funding for BSN Programs

There are many ways to finance your degree, including financial aid, grants, scholarships, and loans.

Attend RN-to-BSN Classes

Complete the required courses and obtain clinical hours to get hands-on experience. Learn how to work independently with your own patients.

Graduate with a BSN

Congrats on earning your degree! Now you can take the NCLEX-RN and become a registered nurse (RN), or continue your education and get your MSN.

Types of Bridge Degree Programs in Nursing

Benefits of an RN-to-BSN Degree

The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), hospitals, and other employers increasingly view the BSN degree as the minimal preparation for professional nursing practice. As nursing roles expand in the changing healthcare environment, registered nurses with BSN degrees will find rewarding employment opportunities in an array of medical settings.

The RN-to-BSN requires about half the time as a traditional bachelor of science in nursing and builds on already acquired nursing experience and training. This type of program can often be completed entirely online. An RN-to-BSN also provides a strong academic foundation for graduate studies in advanced practice nursing.

While hospitals continue to rank among the major employers of RNs, BSN-holders can expect to enter a variety of nursing roles beyond traditional inpatient treatment and acute care. The RN-to-BSN opens up careers in community health clinics, outpatient centers, HMOs, schools, and homecare, where professionals provide primary and preventive patient care.

Admission Requirements for an RN-to-BSN Program

Although eligibility requirements vary by school, all RN-to-BSN programs only admit applicants who hold a state-issued RN license in good standing. Most programs take 1-2 years to complete. Students with an RN license who have completed their associate degree in nursing may choose to enter accelerated bridge programs, therefore finishing their degree in 9-12 months depending on the number of prerequisites accepted in transfer.

Applications for most nursing programs must meet/exceed or submit the following requirements:

Core Concepts in an RN-to-BSN Program

While an ADN or diploma program emphasizes entry-level nursing skills in preparation for the NCLEX-RN exam, the BSN provides a foundation in general education courses from across the liberal arts and sciences coupled with training in generalist nursing with applications in a variety of healthcare settings. The RN-to-BSN curriculum covers advanced nursing competencies not typically offered in associate or diploma programs.

In addition to foundational courses in anatomy and physiology, chemistry, microbiology, and pharmacology, BSN students can expect coursework in the following areas:

While most programs focus on generalist practice, some programs offer content in specialized areas such as nursing informatics, sociocultural issues in health and illness, and forensic nursing.

Clinical and Lab Components in an RN-to-BSN Program

Besides the didactic, lecture-based curriculum offered by RN-to-BSN programs, this program may include practical training in clinical and lab components:

Working nurses completing an RN-to-BSN program can often meet these clinical requirements in their current work setting.

What to Expect From an Online RN-to-BSN Program

An online RN-to-BSN degree offers a flexible option for RNs seeking a bachelor's degree while working full-time and/or keeping up with family responsibilities. Before choosing an online program, nursing students need to consider whether distance learning fits their personal needs and situation.

For example, some online programs include mandatory on-campus sessions or use blended formats incorporating some campus-based courses. While online nursing education offers convenient and accessible virtual delivery of the didactic, classroom-based segment of the degree, all students must complete clinical hours in person. Some programs allow RNs to fulfill clinical requirements where they work or find placements near their communities. However, some nursing schools require online learners to complete their clinical experiences at specific hospitals or sites requiring travel that may not be convenient.

Nursing Bridge Programs: How Do They Work?

Bridge programs refer to accelerated instructional plans that provide a quick route to a nursing degree. Bridge programs generally allow working or prospective nurses to build on prior coursework to earn a higher-level degree. RN-to-BSN bridge programs accept RNs with a valid license and an associate degree or nursing diploma. This degree path leads to a bachelor's in half the time of a traditional BSN. ADN-to-MSN bridge programs offer an accelerated path to an MSN degree and a career in advanced practice nursing.

Students without a BSN who want to pursue nursing can also take advantage of bridge programs. An accelerated BSN designed for non-nursing degree-holders requires less than two years of study. The direct-entry MSN takes approximately one year to complete BSN requirements followed by two years of graduate coursework.

ADN vs BSN: What's the Difference?

The AACN, the primary professional organization for nurses, has championed the BSN degree as the minimal educational qualification for nurses. Healthcare employers, while continuing to hire RNs with ADN or diploma degrees, increasingly prefer highly skilled nurses prepared for professional roles beyond the traditional hospital inpatient settings. Recent studies support the quality of patient care provided by BSN-trained nurses.

Explore RN-to-BSN Programs

Reviewed by:

Theresa Granger, Ph.D., MN, NP-C

With over two decades of teaching and clinical practice as a family nurse practitioner, Dr. Granger is an expert in nursing education and clinical practice at all levels of education (associate, baccalaureate, and graduate). She has published and lectured extensively on nursing education and clinical practice-related content. Her expertise ranges from student advising and mentoring to curricular and content design (both on ground and online) to teaching and formal course delivery. Dr. Granger is one of the founding faculty members of the University of Southern California’s first ever fully online graduate family nurse practitioner program.