RN to BSN for RN's with non-nursing bachelor's degree vs accelerated BSN for non-RN's

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Specializes in Hospice, acute care, home health.

I'm a RN with 20 years experience who is looking into getting a BSN to bring my education in line with my knowledge and experience. In the past few months I've spent many hours doing exhaustive research on accelerated RN to BSN programs specifically for RN's who already possess a non-nursing bachelor's degree.

And I have come across a standard that really irks me!

While there are many programs for non-nurses with non-nursing bachelor's degrees in any subject that purport to make them RN's in a year, I'm not finding the equivalent for those in my situation! Sure, there are programs that take approximately one year, but please consider this:

If a person with a non-nursing bachelor's degree can become an RN in one year, if I am already a RN and already have a bachelor's degree, does that mean I already have my BSN??? ;)

Interesting conundrum, isn't it?

But what I'm finding is much, much different! Even the few schools that actually offer accelerated RN to BSN's for nurses w/non-nursing bachelor's degrees, they take AT LEAST a year. Even the ones that do not require pre-requisites for that specific group take at least a year or more!

I think the answer is this: Who would award those like me a BSN without also wanting to make a significant income from doing so? And so we are required to take a lot of totally unnecessary classes and there is no option of clepping the whole darned thing. But there should be.

I'm interested in anyone finding themselves in the same situation, and in any information regarding programs that truly take previous education and experience into consideration.

Thank you all, and I hope to hear from you!

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Specializes in ICU, PICC Nurse, Nursing Supervisor.

texas tech....2 semesters....:o

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Specializes in Hospice, acute care, home health.

Thanks, I'll look into it!

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Specializes in ICU, PICC Nurse, Nursing Supervisor.

im not very good at posting sites but here is a link.....

http://www.ttuhsc.edu/son/undergrad/rntobsn.aspx

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>>I think the answer is this: Who would award those like me a BSN without also wanting to make a significant income from doing so? And so we are required to take a lot of totally unnecessary classes and there is no option of clepping the whole darned thing. But there should be.

I agree! I've been researching various programs as well and my head is spinning from all the various options. I believe if search Texas Tech on AllNurses there are some posts by someone who is in the RN-BSN program who stated that even though the website says it is 2 semesters, it is not turning out that way. I cannot remember which forum I saw this one as have been reading so many posts trying to narrow down programs.

Good luck!

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If you already have a BS in another field, and have so many years of RN experience, you could also go directly into an MSN program. Would you consider being an advanced practice nurse? Just throwing another option out there.

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Specializes in Hospice, acute care, home health.

I am starting to look into the MSN option. It seems like the smart thing to do!

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Specializes in Hospice, acute care, home health.

In my BSN-program research, I found the following schools have "accelerated" online BSN's:

Fayettville State University (part of UNC) now has a 13-month online program that starts in August. I't $64/credit in state. Cons: FSU just scrapped their generic BSN program due to a 30% NCLEX pass rate, so its reputation isn't good. Also, it's back to clinicals (critical care), and organic chemistry.

Chamberlain claims I can finish in "as little as 10 months", but they are very expensive.

University of North Alabama has a "flex-track" program but it takes 18 months and they are inflexible regarding pre-requisites and actually want me to complete more history/english/math/speech/chemistry classes...There's also a non-negotiable requirement for a nutrition class that's not even for nurse, it's just a generic, very basic nutrition class.

Slippery Rock has a program that doesn't require any pre-requisites for RN's that have a non-nursing bachelor's degree, and the tuition is very reasonable, but the program is 39 credits and takes at least 18 months.

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Specializes in ICU, PICC Nurse, Nursing Supervisor.

15 hours each semester ....30 hours nursing in all....2 semesters....the courses are staggered so you dont take all 15 hours for the entire semester....maybe this person had some left over gen ed courses to do...or something.

>>i think the answer is this: who would award those like me a bsn without also wanting to make a significant income from doing so? and so we are required to take a lot of totally unnecessary classes and there is no option of clepping the whole darned thing. but there should be.

i agree! i've been researching various programs as well and my head is spinning from all the various options. i believe if search texas tech on allnurses there are some posts by someone who is in the rn-bsn program who stated that even though the website says it is 2 semesters, it is not turning out that way. i cannot remember which forum i saw this one as have been reading so many posts trying to narrow down programs.

good luck!

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Thanks for the clarification...it does seem more manageable if the schedule is staggered. Did you go through this program? I'm going to look into it myself.

Thanks again!

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Specializes in Med Surg, ICU, home&pub health, pvt duty.
I'm a RN with 20 years experience who is looking into getting a BSN to bring my education in line with my knowledge and experience [...]. I'm interested in anyone finding themselves in the same situation, and in any information regarding programs that truly take previous education and experience into consideration.

Thank you all, and I hope to hear from you!

I am in Los Angeles and the university I attended for BSN accepted RNs. They were required to do public & home health, an assessment class if they had not had one in the last 5 years, and two other classes (which escape me). All in all, the classes were not that difficut and many acute care facilities would accomodate the RN's class and clinical dates. They also had an ADN to Masters program, a non RN with bachelors program, and a regular BSN to masters.

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LA StudentNurse,

What school did you go to in the LA area? I'm in the same area and looking into an RN to BSN program.

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