What It’s Like to Get a BSN Online
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The bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) degree gives nurses the expertise they need to expand their professional horizons. With about 70% of nurses holding at least a BSN degree[1], it’s the most common nursing degree.
The degree can also make you a hotter commodity on the job market, with about 70% of healthcare employers strongly preferring BSN-prepared nurses[2].
Online BSN degree programs can be challenging and complex, with hands-on training an essential part of the process. At the same time, online education is increasingly popular in nursing and many other fields of study, with learners gravitating toward the added time and flexibility of the online format.
Still, not all online BSN programs are created equal, and the online experience can vary considerably from what you’d find at a brick-and-mortar campus program.
Herzing University[3], a higher education system headquartered in Wisconsin with 11 campuses in eight states and an extensive online education division, offers an online BSN program that can be completed in as few as three years and has received recognition as one of the country’s top online bachelor’s programs. NurseJournal recently spoke with two representatives from Herzing University’s nursing school to learn more about online BSN programs, how they work, and what students should look for:
- Gayla Love, PhD, MSN, RN, Online Prelicensure Program Chair
- Shenese Stewart, adjunct nursing faculty member, two-time Herzing graduate, and current Herzing doctoral student
The responses have been edited for length and clarity.
Learn More About Herzing University’s Online BSN Program
Why should a student pursue a BSN instead of an ADN?
Stewart: The biggest difference that I tell students with the associate degree in nursing (ADN) and the BSN is that the BSN is going to open more doors.
If you need to get your RN license to maybe advance your career but plan on staying in the nursing field, then an ADN may be more appropriate because you already have the education for the position that you’re in. But if you want to go into areas like management, nursing education, or become a nurse practitioner, then you will need to have that BSN. It is definitely based on the goals of the student and how long they have to invest in their education.
How is earning a BSN online a good option for the modern nursing student?
Love: The BSN is the most common and most sought-after degree in the nursing profession. The BSN is an ideal option for many prospective nurses, and a well-designed online BSN program can be an outstanding fit for today’s busy student.
That said, to be as transparent as I can be, students really need good time-management skills and to independently be able to look at the syllabus, assignments, and deadlines… and make a plan to ensure that whatever is due is completed with enough time to get back to the instructor in case they have questions. Even though it’s online, the rigor is still there.
What do you see as the ideal candidate for an online BSN?
Love: While many people can succeed in an online program, the online format may be best suited to someone with a background in healthcare. Typically, for individuals with no background in healthcare whatsoever, medical terminology is like a different language. On top of that, you have the actual pieces of nursing. Those students would typically do a whole lot better in a face-to-face environment where they will have more structured support almost every day, as opposed to the online, asynchronous (or more self-paced) format.
What are some misconceptions incoming students have about online BSN programs?
Stewart: There is sometimes a disconnect between the entering student and what is realistic with their expectations. A lot of people believe that online [learning] is flexible, where you can do it whenever you want. Flexibility is a benefit in many online programs, but prelicensure nursing programs also typically include in-person components, such as clinical experiences in real-world healthcare settings.
For our LPNs and EMTs coming in, the biggest difference that they need to understand is that with nursing, you may know some of the skills, but nursing is based on a lot of evidence-based research that guides our decision-making. It’s good to come in with related experience and skills, but our program will also train students in how nurses think and operate – it’s a new mindset we try to cultivate in our students.
What might the typical week look like for an online BSN student?
Love: As part of their coursework in the program, students will encounter classroom-style didactic learning, a lab piece for skills components, and the clinical piece, which can be hands-on or virtual. With either approach to clinicals, students are learning to care for the patient.
With all that being said, just three courses that they’re taking require anywhere from 3-5 hours per week to be minimally prepared. Depending on the student, it may require a little bit more.
Stewart: While I was in nursing school at Herzing…I also worked three 12-hour days. On those days, I checked my announcements and email, but I didn’t do any homework. During the four days that I was off from work, I would get up as if I were going to work, and I would plan an 8-12-hour study day.
Was it hard? Yes. Was it difficult to stay focused sometimes? Yes. But, the goal was to complete my coursework and 200-300 practice exam questions per day in preparation for the National Council Licensure Examination[4] or NCLEX®, which you must pass to become an RN.
In what ways did taking courses online allow you to balance other responsibilities?
Stewart: It was a benefit because when you’re on campus, those days and times are set. With work, if you’re working three 12-hour days, those days tend to not be set. While it offers a rigorous schedule, the online format is still more flexible than traditional in-person nursing programs for working students — you just have to find the right balance, and you need to know that the time you’re not at work needs to be dedicated to school.
What are tips you can give to help students get the most out of their online experience?
Stewart: Ask questions early, and don’t be afraid to develop a relationship with your instructor. Make it so your instructor knows your name. You want to develop that relationship early.
Don’t cheat. There are a lot of resources out there — good and bad — to help facilitate learning. But if you cheat and start looking at Quizlets or other things… for exams and assignments… it’s going to come back to bite you when you take the NCLEX. You may somehow make it through the entire nursing program on a lie, but when you go to take the NCLEX, you are not going to know how to answer those questions.
How does Herzing support students in an online format?
Love: We are huge student advocates; that is number one. Our priority is to ensure that the student is getting an exceptional education. We want to hear from our students about what they are not getting or what we are missing. We want that close connection with them because online [learning] can sometimes feel like I’m out here by myself, but we don’t like students to feel like that. They need to feel connected and supported in a program that is the right fit for them.
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