Nurses have a tough job, but most nurses agree that it’s the most worth-it choice they’ve made. While it is arguably one of the most strenuous positions a person in healthcare can have, nursing comes with unending job security, great salary potential, flexible hours, and emotional reward that makes this career path unlike any other. For some, though, becoming a Registered Nurse (RN) may seem unattainable. Not only does it take hard work and determination, it also requires a college degree. Increasingly, healthcare employers are looking to hire RNs with a Bachelor’s in Nursing (BSN) degree – almost 80 percent express this preference. Thankfully, aspiring (yet busy, and often working!) nurses have options. In today’s modern world, Registered Nurses looking for a flexible BSN program can achieve their career goals by earning their Bachelor of Nursing online, through an accredited nursing school like Goodwin College.
A BSN is a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree. A typical BSN degree program takes four years to complete and prepares you to take the NCLEX-RN licensing exam upon graduation.
At Goodwin College, however, we understand your time is valuable. Many of our students are already working adults with family obligations. That is why we’ve designed our nursing programs to be flexible, with online and on-campus, part-time and full-time, day and evening course offerings. For those looking to get started in nursing, you can complete your Associate degree in Nursing (ADN) at Goodwin College in just 20 months part-time and then take your NCLEX-RN examination to become a licensed RN nurse.
If you already have your diploma or associate degree in nursing (or, once you obtain it), you can consider the flexible, online RN-to-BSN program at Goodwin College. Our RN-to-BSN curriculum can be completed part-time in as little as 16 months, or uniquely designed to meet your specific needs! Our BSN graduates are prepared to practice in a variety of areas of nursing, with knowledge and skills that are transferable to multiple healthcare settings.
For added flexibility, RN-to-BSN students benefit from the fully online Bachelor of Nursing program. For busy and already-working nurses, this allows you to set your own schedule and get the coursework done while still maintaining your busy life that is, likely, full of other commitments.
While enrolled in a Bachelor of Nursing online program, opportunities for hands-on learning experiences may be available at large area hospitals! In Goodwin’s RN-to-BSN program, for example, clinical experience is individually arranged in collaboration with student, faculty, and clinical facility.
At the start, students must complete prerequisites and introductory level nursing courses, though some programs have students begin clinical studies in their freshman year. The remaining time in the program is the “meat” of it all — presenting students with the bulk of the clinical nursing courses.
In addition to the major core requirements for the BSN degree, all Goodwin College students enrolled in bachelor’s degree programs must complete a minimum of 46 credits in general education (40 credits in the general education college core and 6 credits in programmatic general education courses). BSN students must also complete an associate degree or diploma program, and successfully pass the National Council Licensure Exam (NCLEX) Registered Nursing exam. Only then can they move on to earn their Bachelor of Nursing online. Click here to check out the full BSN curriculum and prerequisites.
Great Expectations
Goodwin students earning their Bachelor of Nursing online prepare to practice professional nursing as a generalist, with skills that are applicable across all types of healthcare settings. Upon completion of the BSN program, they are also prepared to enter graduate study. Since nursing is a field that is always evolving and is so focused on the healthcare and treatment of others, there is an emphasis on education throughout your career as a nurse. For those that want to continue their education, Goodwin’s Master of Nursing (MSN) degree program is also offered fully online.
As a leading BSN school with employer connections across Connecticut, Goodwin’s courses maintain a strong focus on the modern nursing methods practiced in the field today. We also prepare students with the skills employers are looking for— Empathy, compassion, dexterity, organization, and communication are among the many critical qualities and values a nurse must acquire while preparing to work with patients. A nurse in training must also present an attitude of professionalism and practice ethical behavior to be successful in the field.
Goodwin’s graduates who earn their Bachelor of Nursing online may move on to pursue BSN careers in the following settings:
- Home health care services
- Hospitals
- Nursing care facilities
- Physicians’ offices
- Schools
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Registered Nurses – in general – earn a median annual pay of $70,000. But RNs with Bachelor of Nursing degrees can expect to earn more than those with associate degrees. And those with BSN degrees can work toward opportunities for even higher earning potential, with specializations or managerial roles that become available further down road.
Get on the path towards earning your Bachelor of Nursing online degree today! Contact Goodwin College at 800-889-3282 to learn more about our flexible nursing programs, or visit us online to learn why we’re a leader in BSN education in Connecticut.
Goodwin University is a nonprofit institution of higher education and is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), formerly known as the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC). Goodwin University was founded in 1999, with the goal of serving a diverse student population with career-focused degree programs that lead to strong employment outcomes.