Drexel University RN to BSN Review

Are you an ADN seeking to expand your nursing knowledge and take your career to the next level?

Drexel University's RN to BSN program offers an exceptional educational experience that is comprehensive and flexible, with a curriculum that aims to equip students with the necessary tools and resources required to thrive in the constantly evolving healthcare sector.

Why Drexel University's RN to BSN Program?

Accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), Drexel University's RN to BSN program offers a flexible and convenient online format that allows students to continue working while obtaining their BSN. When choosing Drexel, you can complete the program in as little as 12 months with their accelerated RN to BSN program or set your own pace for up to three years. 

The Drexel online RN to BSN program offers easy-to-use, technology-enhanced coursework designed to move beyond lectures and note-taking, focusing on practical, in-depth clinical skills that improve patient outcomes. The curriculum is grounded in problem-based learning, engaging students in real-life pragmatic learning.

By providing virtual simulated patient experiences, students at Drexel interact and assess digital standardized patients and live volunteers. The program even offers a 10-day study abroad option that can be incorporated into a clinical course, allowing you to enhance your global healthcare delivery perspective.  

Although the RN to BSN program is online, Drexel offers outstanding support services to all its students, including round-the-clock tech support, access to the University's Library and Writing Center, and access to their state-of-the-art Health Science e-library. Optimal learning is further ensured by maintaining a maximum of 1:25 faculty-to-student online class ratio, with courses utilizing diverse teaching and learning approaches suited to individual needs. 

Drexel also teaches their future bachelor-prepared nurses to practice culturally congruent care, apply age-specific knowledge, and even to examine healthcare policy and financial regulatory environments, making many Drexel University graduate RNs leaders in the nursing industry.

At the end of an RN to BSN, Drexel students can take their nursing expertise and leadership even further with their route to its MSN program from RN to BSN. 

RN to BSN Prerequisites and Requirements

Drexel's Prerequisites and requirements include:

• Highschool degree or equivalent 
• RN licensure
• Provisional acceptance is granted, subject to successful completion of the NCLEX-RN
• Official college transcripts with a GPA of 2.0 or better

60 hours of college prerequisites:

• English (includes one semester of composition) 6.0
• Humanities (studio courses not acceptable) 3.0 
• Anatomy and Physiology 8.0
• Microbiology 4.0
• Sociology 3.0
• Growth and Development 3.0
• Psychology 3.0
• Nursing 30.0

RN to BSN Coursework

Students must take or transfer 84 credits of tier 1 courses; these courses include the 60 credit prerequisites transferred upon entering the program. Tier 2 courses in the RN to BSN program at Drexel include 51 credits accumulated from: 

• Computer Science 
• Statistics of Health Science 
• Healthcare Economics 
• Healthcare Ethics 
• Social Science 
• Science electives
• Pharmacology 
• Open electives

Drexel RN to BSN students' primary focus will be on the tier 3 courses, including 45 credits of Nursing Courses, three of which are writing intensive. It is recommended that students evenly distribute the three writing-intensive courses over the academic program. 

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It's important to note that Drexel University operates on quarters, meaning the program is broken into four 10-week quarters per year rather than the traditional 15-week semesters. This allows Drexel students to move through coursework at an accelerated rate. 

Prospective RN to BSN students can transfer all 135 credits from tier 1 and tier 2 courses if previous coursework is approved for this program. Coursework credit specifics can be viewed directly on Dexel's website. 

Drexel University RN to BSN Price

Drexel University is offering its RN to BSN program at a reduced tuition rate of $604.00 per credit for the 2022-2023 academic year. This represents a savings of 30% off Drexel's standard tuition rate of $862.00 per credit. 

To graduate from Drexel University's RN to BSN completion program, students must obtain 180 (quarter) credits. Prospective students must have 60 credits to enter the program and can transfer up to 135 quarter (90 semester) credits when starting. 

If you start the RN to BSN program with all 135 quarter credits, you must fulfill 45 credits and pay $27,180.00 for the program. 

If you start the RN to BSN program with 90 quarter (60 semester) credits, you must fulfill 90 credits and pay $54,360.00. 

You will also need to pay a one-time $150.00 equipment and lab fee in addition to any books required for the course. Thus, remember that these estimates do not include books when evaluating the price. 

Financial aid is available for eligible students, including:

• Employer reimbursement tuition deferment plans
• Payment plans
• Grants and scholarships
• Federal work-study
• Federal and private loans

Prospective students planning to apply to financial aid resources should submit their applications early to be eligible for assistance. 

Drexel also offers special tuition rates for:

• Alumni
• Alumni's immediate family
• Military members
• Members of partner organizations

To take advantage of the special rates, students must contact [email protected] within the first two weeks of the term. These rates cannot be combined, and students who qualify for more than one will receive the rate with the most significant savings. 

Drexel University RN to BSN Outcomes

The RN to BSN program at Drexel equips students with valuable knowledge and skills to advance their nursing careers. The program emphasizes critical thinking, leadership, and communication skills, in addition to the ability to apply researched-based evidence and integrate technology.

By advancing your nursing education and knowledge to obtain your BSN, you are more likely to get the nursing job you desire, as well as make improvements in patient outcomes. 

In the words of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, "BSN nurses are prized for their skills in critical thinking, leadership, case management, and health promotion, and for their ability to practice across a variety of inpatient and outpatient settings.” 

RN to BSN Salary

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, registered nurses can expect to earn a median annual wage of $77,6600 as of May 2021, with the lowest 10 percent earning less than $59,450 and the highest 10 percent earning more than $120,250. While the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics does not differentiate ADN from BSN, PayScale reports that ADN RNs make an average of $31.44 an hour, whereas BSN RNs make an average of $34.80 an hour. 

Nursing is projected to grow 6 percent from 2021 to 2031, which equates to approximately 203,200 openings for registered nurses each year for the remainder of the decade. Due to a growing and aging population, the nursing force is predicted to have 195,400 new RN jobs by 2031.   

Overall, nursing offers competitive wages and stable job prospects for those with a bachelor's degree and a passion for healthcare. 

Is the RN to BSN Program at Drexel Worth It?

Deciding whether to pursue a BSN degree is a personal decision that should be based on various factors, including career goals, financial situation, and personal preferences.

For RNs seeking to further their education and expand their career opportunities, Drexel University's RN to BSN program offers a flexible, affordable, and high-quality option.

The program's online format allows students to balance education with work and personal responsibilities while the rigorous coursework prepares them for leadership roles in nursing. 

FAQ and Additional Readings 

Q: What are the benefits of earning a BSN degree as an RN?

A: Earning a BSN degree can lead to increased job opportunities, higher salaries, and more advanced roles in nursing, such as a nurse manager. Or you can obtain a higher degree in the nursing field, such as a DNP, CRNA, or MSN. 

Q: How long does completing Drexel's RN to BSN program take?

A: The program can be completed in 12-36 months, depending on your preference and availability. 

Q: What is the format of the RN to BSN program at Drexel University?

A: The RN to BSN program at Drexel is designed to be flexible and convenient for working RNs. The program can be completed full-time or part-time, and coursework is online. 

Q: What are quarters?

A: Drexel's academic year is divided into four 10-week quarters instead of the traditional 15-week semesters. The Drexel academic year includes all 12 months of the calendar year -- Fall quarter (starts in September), Winter quarter (starts in January), Spring quarter (starts in April), and Summer quarter (starts in June). 

Q: How will my semester credits transfer if Drexel operates in quarters? 

A: Each semester credit accounts for 1.5 quarter credit.