Do Employers Respect an Online RN to BSN Degree?

You may be wondering: 'Is an online RN to BSN degree credible and respected?' This is a valid question since so many elements of nursing education require hands-on training.

However, a graduate with an RN to BSN nursing degree is a nurse with special experience to help earn their BSN degree faster than on the traditional path. This means that newly minted graduates from an RN to BSN program have a respectable advantage with employers over graduates from traditional four-year programs.

Is an Online RN to BSN Degree Credible?

If you have any doubts about the credibility of an online RN to BSN bridge or completion degree, you can set them aside. These important programs, offered by some of the leading nursing schools in the United States, have grown exponentially in recent years.

Currently, about two out of three registered nurses (RNs) have completed the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree, which is now considered the gold standard in the nursing profession.

This number will continue to rise each year as more and more employers are limiting their hires to holders of the BSN degree. For this reason, nurses who previously earned only a two-year associate degree to get an RN are flocking back to campuses to acquire their BSNs.

How Does an Online RN to BSN Degree Look on a Resume?

If you are curious about whether an online RN to BSN degree is credible to prospective employers, the answer is generally 'yes.'

Usually, on a resume, you display the degree you earned and its completion date along with the name of the institution that awarded it.

Upon earning your BSN, whether from a four-year traditional on-campus program, or an online program, your degree outcome will be the same: You will be the bearer of a Bachelor of Science of Nursing (BSN) degree.

Attending an accredited BSN program in the United States directly impacts respectability. A degree that is accredited by a credible organization reflects high educational standards and ensures acceptance by other respected institutions as well as future employers.

When it comes to getting licensing from a state, every state will respect your BSN degree regardless of where or how you earned it.

If they show any preference, employers will likely show higher respect for RN to BSN nursing degrees from universities that are well-known rather than obscure ones they have never heard of. These will generally be public universities or respected private nonprofit schools.

Is It Harder To Get a Job with an Online RN to BSN Degree?

If your RN to BSN completion program is accredited, employers should accept it as equal to a BSN degree from a brick-and-mortar nursing school. After all, the curriculum will be approved by the accrediting agency, which means that you will have taken the same required courses whether delivered online or in a traditional classroom.

The main concern an employer may have in an interview is to affirm that you have adequate and ample clinical experience.

As an RN BSN who practiced for at least a year before entering the degree completion program, you may find that you have an advantage over candidates who are fresh out of nursing school. Your years of clinical, hands-on nursing experience are a benefit that someone who has only been a student may not possess.

For this reason, be sure to emphasize in interviews not only the theory and leadership skills you've learned in your classes but also the experiential knowledge and wisdom that you gained as a practicing RN in a real-world environment.

What Type of RN to BSN Degree Is Right for Me?

If you are a licensed, practicing RN with an associate degree looking to return to school to upgrade to a BSN degree, you'll encounter several choices in the various programs you research.

These include traditional brick-and-mortar RN to BSN programs, fully online RN to BSN degree programs, and hybrid RN to BSN programs that combine elements of in-person and online learning.

All RN to BSN programs require 120 credit hours, which include undergraduate transfer hours. Most programs grant you experiential credit for your RN nursing experience as well.

Traditional RN to BSN Degrees Vs. Online RN to BSN Degrees

While traditional face-to-face courses are preferable for learners who like the be in the physical presence of their teachers and fellow students, online courses have become a viable and, in many cases, preferable alternative for many nursing students.

Traditional nursing degrees are optimal for students who live close to the school they want to attend and who can arrange their schedules to meet the times set for classes by the university.

On the other hand, online RN to BSN nursing programs have opened up opportunities for a student to earn a degree from a prestigious school regardless of where they live — even if it is across the country.

Consider your learning style when deciding between an online or face-to-face RN to BSN program. If you learn better in a physical classroom environment, the traditional program may be better, but if you are a self-starter and independent learner, you should thrive online.

Fully Online Vs. Hybrid RN to BSN Programs

Another option you may face is the choice between a fully online RN to BSN program and a hybrid program. Hybrid programs generally have online courses for theoretical or lecture classes but require students to come to campus or a clinical site for more hands-on, interactive learning experiences like fieldwork practicums or clinical rotations.

Some hybrid RN to BSN programs may also have occasional residencies where students meet on campus for anywhere from a day to a week to meet, learn, share, and participate in hands-on activities.

Benefits of an Online RN to BSN Degree Program

Online courses and programs offer elements of flexibility and convenience for students who are juggling busy lifestyles and would prefer to do their coursework at the times most convenient for their schedules, either from their own homes or during breaks in their workdays.

Many people wonder how online nursing program clinicals work and how to handle laboratory learning experiences. Edumed explains that labs and other face-to-face tasks usually occur online for online students in one of two ways:

• Virtual simulations, which may include augmented reality, virtual reality, and other techniques to give the student a close-to-real-life experience.
• Third-party agreements, which enable a student to arrange an employer or an outside medical facility where they live to perform required clinical tasks.

Start Your Online RN to BSN Degree Program Today

Now that you understand why an online RN to BSN degree is credible to employers, don't hesitate to search for some of the very best online RN to BSN degree completion also called bridge) programs that suit your particular needs.