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Accreditation is vitally important when considering upgrading your ADN or diploma in nursing to a bachelor’s. In nursing, the accreditation status of the program from which you graduate is something hospitals will check when evaluating your potential employment.
American Military University is part of American Public University System. The baccalaureate degree program in nursing at American Public University System is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (www.ccneaccreditation.org). The curriculum for a CCNE-accredited RN to BSN program is evidence-based with a focus on research, leadership, community-based health issues, healthcare policies, and current trends in healthcare to build on your previous field experiences.
What is a Bachelor of Science in Nursing?
A Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) is a degree for working nurses who have already obtained their Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or diploma in nursing. Registered nurses who complete their BSN can further advance their knowledge and skills by continuing on to a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN).
Students who earn a BSN leave the program prepared to take on more responsibility and exercise new skills. According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), “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.”
Approximately 56% of RNs have a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. The Bureau of Labor Statistics1 shows the highest levels of RNs are employed in general medical and surgical hospitals. As demand for nurses grows over the next decade, more qualified nursing professionals will be needed in additional facilities such as physician offices, home healthcare services, outpatient care centers, and nursing care facilities.
AMU’s BSN program is specifically for RNs. The program is online, providing nurses with flexibility to accommodate their learning without having to rearrange shifts, allowing them to continue working.
1 Employment conditions in your area may vary. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Registered Nurses, at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/registered-nurses.htm (visited August 22, 2023).
Why Advance To a BSN Degree?
With a BSN, students will engage with more theoretical work, learn advanced critical thinking, and build on a foundation of leadership that can help prepare them for a variety of possible positions within the field of healthcare. In some cases, a BSN is required to be considered for roles with certain organizations. It may also be directly tied to opportunities for career advancement in certain instances.
Additionally, the AACN has provided several studies which found BSN-prepared RNs experience “better patient outcomes, greater nursing competency, more effective communication skills and stronger leadership skills than their associate degree colleagues.”
A Bachelor of Science in Nursing May Be Essential to Starting Your Military Career
Whether you’ll go active duty or reserve, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing could be necessary for a nursing career in the armed forces.
In some cases, before you can become a military nurse, there may be several steps to complete:
- Earn your Bachelor of Science in Nursing from an accredited program
- Take and pass the NCLEX®-RN
- Decide which branch you will join and engage with a recruiter
- Complete the Basic Officer Leader Course (BOLC)
If you have an ADN or diploma in nursing, you can enroll in an RN to BSN program to earn your BSN degree.
Industry Change Driving Increased Demand for a BSN Degree
On average, there are over 200,000 openings for registered nurses each year. The field is projected to grow 6% through 2031 to accommodate an aging population coupled with older nurses who will be retiring, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook1.
One major driving force behind the increased demand for BSN nurses is the changes that are taking place in the healthcare industry. In recent years, there has been a greater emphasis on preventative care and chronic disease management. As a result, hospitals and other healthcare facilities are looking for nurses with the education and training necessary to provide high-quality patient care.
In recent years, there has been a push in the healthcare industry for hospitals to achieve Magnet®2 designation. Magnet designation is a voluntary recognition program that honors healthcare organizations for their quality patient care and nursing excellence. It is the highest national honor a healthcare organization can receive for its nursing staff.
To be designated as a Magnet hospital, an organization must pass a rigorous evaluation process that looks at factors such as nurse leadership, empowerment, and professional development. Magnet hospitals prefer nurses with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing because it shows that the nurse has received comprehensive training in nursing practice.
1Employment conditions in your area may vary. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Registered Nurses, at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/registered-nurses.htm (visited August 22, 2023).
2Magnet® is a registered trademark of the American Nurses Credentialing Center.
Can a Bachelor of Science in Nursing be Earned Online?
Learn on demand and on your schedule with AMU’s online bachelor’s in nursing. With the exception of two courses – NURS350 Transformational Leadership and Cultures of Safety and NURS401 Caring for Today’s Veterans – this RN to BSN program can be completed online. Classes are asynchronous (meaning there are no scheduled login times) and are built to fit into your busy schedule with Nursing classes that start the first Monday of every other month. Most courses run for eight weeks.
In-Person Bachelor’s of Nursing Coursework
The majority of AMU’s RN to BSN program can be completed online, but to provide a well-rounded curriculum, some courses include different types of assignments that may require face-to-face interaction. For example, in our Caring for Today’s Veterans course, interviews and community outreach with your local veteran population can help prepare you for specialized work in military care settings.
The course Transformational Leadership and Cultures of Safety also requires an in-person component. You will engage in a 20-hour practice experience in a care setting with a nurse leader.
If you are looking to continue your nursing education, these in-person courses funnel into advanced nursing degrees like the Master of Science in Nursing.
Benefits of Earning a BSN Degree Online
First and foremost, an online program allows you to continue working without having to rearrange shifts or adjust your current schedule. In addition, earning your degree online from AMU offers:
- The ability to balance work and family responsibilities while earning a degree
- Frequent start dates and the ability to work at your own pace
- An affordable tuition rate
- Nursing classes that start every other month so it's easy to fit education into your busy schedule
Students enrolled in our CCNE-accredited RN to BSN program not only benefit from flexibility and the ability to work at their own pace, but as an online program, you’ll have access to the experiences of a wide variety of students from all over the country and abroad. Class discussions, which are a key part of the initial coursework, will be richly influenced by students who work on military installations around the world, those who work in small rural community hospitals, and everything in between.
Paying for this RN to BSN Nursing Program
The cost of pursuing an online bachelor’s in nursing can vary depending on many factors, but it’s an investment that will prepare you to advance your knowledge in the field of nursing. Your registered nurse license automatically awards you 30 credit hours toward the 120 credits needed for your BSN.
Keep in mind that real-world experience will enhance your transfer credit eligibility, meaning that experiences in a variety of healthcare settings may translate into earned credits therefore lowering your cost to obtain a BSN degree (Please see the University’s transfer credit policy webpage for complete information).
Here are the top four ways to pay for your BSN degree.
GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by the VA is available at the official website: http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.
All U.S. active-duty servicemembers, National Guard members, Reservists, and military families, (parents, spouses, legal partners, siblings, and dependents) are eligible for the Preferred Military Rate of $250/credit hour for all undergraduate and master’s-level courses.
While AMU does not offer any school-specific scholarships, there are scholarships available through other organizations like the American Nurses Association and the National League for Nursing. Contact [email protected] for admissions assistance.
Grants are typically need-based and there are a number of different grant programs available to nursing students. The first step to finding how much grant funding may be available to you is to fill out and submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid, available at studentaid.gov.
Paths to Getting Your BSN Degree as a Military Nurse
Perhaps you’re a registered nurse (RN) who has been working in the field for a few years and you’re looking to take your learning to the next level as a nurse in the armed forces. The path to becoming a military nurse may start with obtaining a bachelor’s in nursing. It’s preferred that military nurses complete an accredited RN to BSN program prior to enlisting, but you can also work toward this degree while you serve. To obtain your BSN degree, there are three possible paths.
Traditional BSN Program
A traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program is designed for students who are just beginning their college careers. If you choose this path, you'll take a mix of general education courses (such as English and history) and nursing courses. A traditional BSN program is typically a four-year full-time program with fully sequenced coursework.
RN to BSN
An RN-to-BSN program is designed for working nurses who already have an ADN or nursing education diploma. A big advantage of an RN-to-BSN program is that it will allow you to continue working while you complete your degree. AMU offers this option as an online RN to BSN. You are awarded 30 credits for your registered nurse license.
Accelerated BSN
An accelerated BSN program is designed for students who already have a bachelor's degree in another field. If you choose this path, you may be able to complete your degree in as little as one year.
Frequently Asked Questions
The RN to BSN nursing program is meant to be challenging in order to produce nursing professionals with a high caliber of training and education. That said, the flexible nature of online RN to BSN programs can have an added element of difficulty for those who require more rules and accountability to stay on task.
Fast-paced online RN to BSN programs offer an accelerated path for nursing professionals, enabling them to quickly pursue a BSN degree. Students can complete their studies and join the ranks of distinguished nurses with advanced credentials, sometimes in as little as one year.
The quickest way to get the RN credential is through an associate degree nursing program at a community college. Nursing diploma programs, which are typically two- to three-year programs offered through hospitals and other medical settings, are another way to quickly earn the credentials required to take the nursing licensure examination, according to Stacey Malinowski, DNP, RN, NPD-BC, CCRN/K, PCCN, CNE, associate dean and chief nurse administrator with the School of Health Sciences.
Diploma programs are the oldest type of nursing education programs, however their numbers are declining, as many hospitals partner with 2- and 4-year schools of nursing to offer the associate or bachelor’s degree in nursing. There are thought to be less than 100 diploma programs remaining in the U.S, according to Nursing Explorer.
If you are a licensed RN and are thinking about a career as a military nurse, you may need to obtain your Bachelor of Science in Nursing prior to enlisting. There may be exceptions depending on the branch and the field of nursing is extremely competitive, so check with a recruiter before you begin down this path.
You do not need to be currently working as a nurse to enroll in the RN to BSN program. Our BSN degree program is for individuals who have already graduated from their initial licensure program. Typically, these are Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN), Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN), or Associate of Applied Science in Nursing (AASN).
Students must have also taken and passed the NCLEX-RN1 and hold a current, unencumbered license as a registered nurse within the United States.
This BSN degree can be earned online, but there are two courses that require in-person work that can be completed on your schedule and within your community.
Students of our RN to BSN program are often working adults with busy schedules and other obligations, so classes are built with flexibility in mind. Most classes are eight weeks long. Nursing courses start the first Monday of every other month. Choose your start date, choose your classes, and build a schedule that enables your success.
It is possible to have the cost of earning a BSN covered through military tuition assistance if you already have an ADN or diploma in nursing and decide to enlist in the armed forces. Keep in mind that in exchange for covering the cost of your degree, the military will require a service commitment that can vary from months to years. Plus, you will still need to complete special military training, BOLC, before you can begin your BSN education.
Students with an ADN, ASN, or AASN and an active RN license are eligible to apply to the BSN program. We also accept students who have graduated from a diploma program in nursing. A transfer credit evaluation will be completed to determine if there are any classes that must be added to fill any gaps in the student’s general education.
A nurse with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing is able to teach clinicals at a community college in an associate degree in nursing, or ADN, program. To be able to pursue roles in nursing education at the university level, you will need a Master of Science in Nursing. AMU also offers both an MSN and an accelerated RN to MSN program for licensed registered nurses.
1 NCLEX-RN® is a registered trademark of the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc.