A BSN built for nurses, by nurses
- $320/credit
- Save time and tuition, earn credit for your RN license
- Get 45 credits for your unencumbered RN license, transfer in up to 45 more
- Accelerated RN to MSN option
- No application fee, SAT/ACT scores or enrollment caps
- Accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)1
RN to BSN Degree Program Overview
The online Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN) program at Southern New Hampshire University is designed to accommodate your busy life as a working nurse.
Nurses are, and will always be, the face of healthcare. But while there's a need for nursing professionals now and into the future, the role they play in healthcare today is rapidly evolving. With changing technologies, healthcare regulations and implementation of care, nurses with bachelor's degrees are needed more than ever before.
In these complex, ever-changing environments, you'll need critical competencies, including evidence-based care, health promotion, disease prevention and the use of technology to enhance your clinical and professional development. The RN to BSN online program delivers on those objectives and more – so you can change your life, without changing a shift.
Learn how to:
- Promote safe nursing practice and quality patient outcomes
- Use evidence-based practice to plan and evaluate outcomes of care
- Form strategies to promote better health across patient populations
- Communicate with teams to lead new healthcare initiatives
- Interpret trends in healthcare policy, finance and regulatory environments
- Develop skills for lifelong learning in the field
Transfer-friendly
Get 45 credits for your unencumbered RN license, then transfer up to 45 more into the RN to BSN program.
Built for nurses, by nurses
Nursing professionals face a number of unpredictable daily challenges, from overtime shifts to fast-paced, on-the-job demands – we get it. That's why our curriculum was designed with nurses in mind. We aim to simplify the pathway to your degree, from offering affordable access to coursework online and on your time, to providing academic and career support when you need it. Because we believe that nurses are the heart of healthcare – and you deserve the opportunity to pursue your goals.
Advanced Pathway Options
Three Advanced Pathway RN-MSN Tracks
If you're looking to earn your MSN – and want to save time and money along the way – the Accelerated RN-MSN program option is the right path for you.
Ideal for nurses looking to fill a role in leadership, this affordable nursing degree option allows eligible students to complete 2 graduate-level courses within their BSN program. Once you transition to your MSN, these courses will be waived, saving you up to 20 weeks of coursework and $3,700 in tuition. Prior to moving into the MSN program, students must successfully achieve their BSN degree.
RN to BSN students who transition into the online Accelerated RN to MSN program option can choose from 1 of 3 specialty tracks designed to fit their career goals, including:
Gain the skills you need to pursue a role as a clinical nurse leader (CNL). The CNL bridges the gap between traditional bedside nursing and modern data and technology driven practices. You'll learn how to collaborate with all of a patient's caregivers and make sure broader systems like payment structures, institutional policies and data collection are organized in ways that best serve patient safety and care.
Combine your clinical expertise and passion for teaching. Based on the competencies and practice standards defined by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) and the National League for Nursing (NLN). Students who complete this specialty track will be eligible to sit for the national Certified Nurse Educator (CNE) exam offered by the National League for Nursing.
MSN Degree (Generalist)
Customize your program to fit your career goals. By selecting your desired electives, you'll have the opportunity to tailor your specialty knowledge in areas including continuous improvement, quality and safety of healthcare systems, patient-centered care, inter-professional collaboration and evidence-based practice.
Courses may include:
- Pathophysiology for Nurses
- Patient Assessment and Health Literacy
- Information Management and Patient Care Technologies
- Healthcare Management and Finance
BSN Career Outlook
As the population ages, and nursing professionals retire, there is a growing need for qualified individuals to step up and deliver quality care. Many of these jobs will extend outside of hospitals, into the community, in long term care facilities, outpatient centers and in patients' homes.2
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, job prospects for registered nurses are expected to grow 12% through 2028 – much faster than average.2 Registered nurses also earned an average annual salary of $71,730 in 2018.2
Start Your Journey Toward an Online Nursing Degree
Why SNHU For Your BSN
Flexible
With no set class meeting times, you can learn on your schedule and access online course materials 24/7.
Affordable
Take advantage of some of the lowest online tuition rates in the nation, plus financial aid for those who qualify. We also make it easy to transfer to SNHU by accepting up to 90 credits from your previous institution.
Respected
Founded in 1932, Southern New Hampshire University is a private, nonprofit institution with over 100,000 graduates across the country. SNHU is regionally accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), which advocates for institutional improvement and public assurance of quality.
Recently, Southern New Hampshire University has been nationally recognized for leading the way toward more innovative, affordable and achievable education:
- “Most Innovative” regional university honors from U.S. News & World Report each year since 2015
- A $1 million grant from Google.org to explore soft skills assessments for high-need youth
- Recognition as a 2017 Digital Learning Innovator by the Online Learning Consortium
96.5% of students would recommend SNHU.4 Discover why SNHU may be right for you.
Admission Requirements
Part of our mission to expand access to quality higher education means removing the barriers that may stand between you and your degree. That’s why you can apply at any time and get a decision within days of submitting all required materials.
Acceptance decisions are made on a rolling basis throughout the year for our 6 undergraduate terms.
- An active unencumbered RN license equivalent to NCLEX-RN. If a student holds active licenses in more than one state/jurisdiction all licenses must be unencumbered.
- An earned diploma or associate degree in nursing from a state-approved or nationally accredited nursing program and a 2.5 minimum cumulative GPA
- Students who have graduated from a nursing program within three months of application may be admitted if all other admission requirements are met. Evidence of licensure must be provided within three months from date of admission.
If you are an RN to BSN student interested in the Accelerated RN to MSN program option, contact an admission counselor or your academic advisor for more information.
Graduates of an ASN program from a New Hampshire community college should contact an admission counselor at Southern New Hampshire University to learn more about our tuition benefit and admission requirements.
NOTE: SNHU nursing programs are not authorized in the state of Washington or US territories and we are not accepting students residing in Washington state or US territories into Nursing programs at this time. Currently enrolled students who move into the state of Washington or a US territory will not be able to continue in nursing courses until they move out of the state of Washington or the US territory. Prospective students are encouraged to contact Admission, and current students should contact their Advisor, for more information.
Students enrolled in SNHU nursing programs must comply with requirements of the healthcare organizations where their Clinical Practice Experiences will be completed. If the healthcare organization requires an affiliation agreement prior to conducting Clinical Practice Experiences, additional requirements may include (but are not limited to) criminal background checks and verification of licensure, drug testing, immunization records, health insurance, and medical malpractice insurance. Students are responsible for any costs incurred as a result of meeting these additional requirements.
How to Apply
Simply contact an admission counselor, who can help you explore financial options, answer all your questions and walk you through the application process. Start by:
- Completing a free undergraduate application
- Providing previous institutions attended – so we can retrieve transcripts for you at no cost
Courses & RN to BSN Curriculum
Our RN to BSN curriculum is built upon the American Association of Colleges of Nursing Essentials of Baccalaureate Education for Professional Nursing Practice. The coursework prepares nurses for the dynamic nature of healthcare and nursing practice, with content such as evidence-based practice, informatics, leadership and systems-level coordination of care, and community and population health.
Curriculum Requirements & Resources
- General education courses: All bachelor's students are required to take general education classes, if not obtained in prior coursework. Through these foundation, exploration and integration courses, students learn to think critically, creatively and collaboratively, giving you the edge employers are looking for.
- Technology resources: We provide cloud-based virtual environments in some courses to give you access to the technology you need for your degree – and your career. Learn more about our virtual environments.
- Earn math credits for what you already know: Save time and tuition with our Pathways to Math Success assessments. Depending on your scores, you could earn up to 12 math credits – the equivalent of 4 courses – toward your degree for less than $50 per assessment.
| View Full Curriculum in the Catalog |
|---|
| BS in Nursing |
| Courses May Include | ||
|---|---|---|
| BS in Nursing Online | ||
| IHP 420 | Ethical and Legal Considerations of Healthcare | Students in this course examine the role of health care policy and legal, regulatory, and quality control in ethical decision making in healthcare. Students explore concepts and principles of health care policy, legal control, ethical conduct, and regulatory environments and their application to the health care environment. The impact of health care policy and multicultural, socioeconomic, political, legal, and regulatory factors on health care systems is explored. |
| IHP 450 | Healthcare Management and Finance | This course focuses on the concepts, principles, tools, finances and strategies used in managing operations within a performance improvement model. Students will explore problem solving and decision making models as well as tools and techniques for planning, organizing, directing, controlling, reporting, and improving the productivity and performance of resources within a healthcare department. Additionally, topics will include healthcare finance reimbursement, bookkeeping, accounting principles, budgeting processes (capital and operating), and cost/benefits analysis. |
| NUR 300 | Scholarly Inquiry | This course is designed to introduce the licensed registered nurse to the role of the bachelor's prepared nurse in complex health care setting. The Transformational model of learning will be the foundation to develop scholarly inquiry in order to improve practice. Skill development in critical reflection, assessing evidence, professional writing, study habits, and work-life balance will be essential for success. The goal is to provide a knowledge base in nursing theory to improve nursing practice. The role of the Bachelor's prepared nurse as a patient advocate, clinical expert and a leader in evidence-based practice and transformation of health care will be emphasized. The course will discuss the capstone course and development of a project. |
| NUR 305 | Information Management and Patient Care Technologies | This course explores patient care technologies, information systems, telecommunication technologies, and communication devices that support safe nursing practice. Topics covered include standardized terminology; electronic health record, patient portal, meaningful use, and pay for performance; data integrity, abstraction and mining; use of clinical decision support tools to promote patient safety, and ethical and legal issues related to information technology. |
| NUR 350 | Community and Population Health | In this course, the student will develop the ability to assess, analyze, and recommend change for health issues for groups and in communities. Topics will include local and regional conditions that affect vulnerable populations through the lifespan. Case management and care coordination will be discussed. Application of community health principles will be the foundation for recommending interventions. The prevention will include diverse, environmental disease treatments and healthcare policy strategies. This three credit hour course will include 45 hours of practical application of the knowledge, skills, and attitudes acquired in the course. |
| NUR 400 | Systems Leadership for Continuous Quality | This course will explore organizational and systems leadership within the complex clinical microsystems to promote high quality patient care utilizing the knowledge, skills and attitudes to promote care coordination, negotiation, change management, team building and collaboration within the interdisciplinary team. Topics will include quality improvement and safety concepts using structure, process and outcome measures, and performance improvement methodologies to promote quality outcomes for diverse populations. This three credit hour course will include 45 hours of practical application of knowledge, skills, and attitudes. |
| NUR 440 | Research & Evidence-Based Practice | Undergraduate students will be introduced to theory-guided and evidence-based nursing practice. Students will acquire the skills to become proficient consumers of nursing research. Focus is placed on understanding established research methodologies, ways of knowing in nursing, and developing the knowledge, attitudes, skills, and behaviors to retrieve and critique published studies for application to evidence-based nursing practice. This three credit course will include 45 hours of practical application of knowledge, skills, and attitudes required of the baccalaureate-prepared nurse. |
| NUR 490 | Transformational Capstone | The Transformational Capstone course will utilize a seminar process, portfolio development, and final project to illustrate achievement of all program outcomes. In keeping with the Transformational Learning Theory, the summative activities will provide evidence of the student's progression to a baccalaureate-professional nurse. This three credit hour course will include 90 hours of practicum experience to demonstrate synthesis of the knowledge, skills, and attitudes acquired in the program. |
| Total Credits: 120 | ||
Tuition & Fees
Tuition rates for SNHU's online degree programs are among the lowest in the nation. We offer financial aid packages to those who qualify, plus a 30% tuition discount for U.S. service members, both full and part time, and the spouses of those on active duty.
| Online Undergraduate Programs | Per Course | Per Credit Hour | Annual Cost for 30 credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Degree/Certificates | $960 | $320 | $9,600 |
|
Degree/Certificates (U.S. service members, both full and part time, and the spouses of those on active duty) |
$675 | $225 | $6,750 |
Tuition Rates are subject to change and are reviewed annually.
Additional Costs
No Application Fee, $150 Graduation Fee, Course Materials ($ varies by course)
Frequently Asked Questions
Are SNHU's nursing programs accredited?
Yes. The baccalaureate degree program in nursing and the master’s degree program in nursing at Southern New Hampshire University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202.887.6791.
Is a BSN a registered nurse (RN)?
No. An RN might have their BSN, but they are not the same thing. RN stands for registered nurse – a title given to a nursing professional who has completed educational and licensure requirements. While these requirements vary by state, all RNs must have at least an associate degree and pass an exam known as the NCLEX-RN.
The RN to BSN program gives nurses with associate degrees the opportunity to further their education online while they continue their lives as nursing professionals.
Can you get your RN to BSN online?
Yes, you can earn your RN to BSN online. Typically, nursing students will either earn their RN in an associate program or as part of their pre-licensure BSN degree.
As more and more healthcare employers are demanding their nurses be BSN-holders, earning your Bachelor of Science in Nursing helps qualify you for more positions. If you’ve already completed an accredited associates program in nursing, the flexibility of our online BSN program could be a great way to help advance your career without missing shifts.
At Southern New Hampshire University, we take credibility seriously. SNHU is regionally accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE). Our online BSN program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).1
Does RN to BSN require clinical hours?
We believe that nurses shine when they're out in the world – whether it's in an emergency room, a clinic or a residential care facility. This is why we have built our curriculum to include assignments that take students in to their communities through clinical practice experiences. Our nursing program accreditor, CCNE, defines clinical practice experiences as planned learning activities in nursing practice that allow students to understand, perform, and refine professional competencies.
The transformational capstone course includes 90 hours of practicum experience to demonstrate synthesis of the knowledge, skills and attitudes acquired throughout the program. In addition, students will engage in a seminar process, develop a portfolio and complete a final project.
We believe these experiences are critical in shaping students who are looking to make an impact in their field. From conducting a community-based assessment and presenting it to a provider in the community setting to spending time with a healthcare leader, these experiences provide our nurses a global perspective of care.
How long does it take to go from RN to BSN?
The time it takes to complete an RN to BSN program depends on how many courses you take per term and your prior educational experience. But already having RN licensure means you’re well on your way to completing your BSN.
At SNHU, your unencumbered RN license alone is worth 45 credits of your BSN, and we accept up to 90 transfer credits. This means you can complete your RN to BSN program in as little as 1 year without having to cut back your shifts.
What kind of nurses get paid the most?
Salaries for nurses vary depending on several factors, including years of experience, level of education and industry.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for registered nurses in May 2018 was $71,730.2 In that same year, nurses in government ($78,390) and state, local and private hospitals ($73,650) were among the top earners. Ambulatory healthcare services ($68,320), nursing and residential care facilities ($63,990), and educational services in state, local and private sectors ($61,850) followed closely behind.2
For those looking to advance beyond a BSN, an accelerated RN to MSN program online can help position you for advanced practice or leadership roles. Learn more about types of nurses.
Licensure and Certification Disclosures
SNHU has provided additional information for programs that educationally prepare students for professional licensure or certification. Learn more about what that means for your program on our licensure and certification disclosure page.
University Accreditation
Southern New Hampshire University is a private, nonprofit institution accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) as well as several other accrediting bodies.
Related Articles
References
Sources & Citations (1, 2, 3, 4)
1 The baccalaureate degree program in nursing and the master’s degree program in nursing at Southern New Hampshire University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202.887.6791.
2 Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, on the Internet at:
- https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/registered-nurses.htm (viewed September 17, 2019)
- https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/nurse-anesthetists-nurse-midwives-and-nurse-practitioners.htm (viewed September 17, 2019)
Cited projections may not reflect local and/or short-term economic or job conditions and do not guarantee actual job growth.
3 Institute of Medicine of the National Academies, "The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health," on the internet, at http://www.nationalacademies.org/hmd/~/media/Files/Report%20Files/2010/The-Future-of-Nursing/Future%20of%20Nursing%202010%20Recommendations.pdf (viewed online December 22, 2017).
4 According to survey responses from over 9,200 SNHU online students conducted in the fall of 2019.