13 Best Online RN to BSN Programs in Tennessee

Are you a licensed RN at the associate degree level who desires to enhance your career skills and salary by earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree?

If this is your goal, then accredited online RN to BSN programs in Tennessee might be a perfect fit to help you achieve your dream.

Fortunately, the state of Tennessee is full of online RN to BSN programs at both public and private colleges and universities. Read on to find out more.

The Top Tennessee RN to BSN Programs Online

Learn more about the cheapest RN to BSN programs available in Tennessee to make an informed choice about your educational and nursing career future.

1. Austin Peay State University

With a 90% NCLEX pass rate and a 92% post-degree employment rate, Austin Peay's BSN program has a completion rate of 93 to 95%.

The RN to BSN program is guided by the professional nursing standards and guidelines of the American Association of College of Nurses (AACN), Quality & Safety Education for Nurses (QSEN) Competencies, and the American Nurses' Association (ANA) Code of Ethics.

2. Baptist Health Sciences University

Each nursing student at BHSU designs an individualized, self-paced plan to meet their lifestyle. You'll receive personalized instruction in a faith-based, collaborative learning environment.

Whether you are a licensed nurse or have earned an associate degree or diploma and are awaiting licensure, you are eligible to apply to the RN to BSN program. You can earn your degree in a minimum of 12 months, making it one of the quickest RN to BSN programs online in the state.

3. Christian Brothers University

Students at CBU can complete the RN to BSN program in as few as three semesters, full time. Including your transferred credits from your associate degree or diploma, you'll need 122 credit hours.

General education and liberal arts requirements include courses in professional writing, leadership, population health nursing, and evidence-based nursing.

Students may explore global community health through international mission trips and take part in community learning opportunities.

4. East Tennessee State University

You can complete the fully online nine-course, 32-credit-hour degree program in three semesters at East Tennessee State University. Admission is in the summer semester only.

If you lack any general education courses, you can take them before, during, or after your nursing courses.

The RN practicum course requires 120 clock-hours of clinical leadership experience with either an established preceptor or mentor. If you're currently employed as an RN, you may choose to complete the RN to BSN essentials checklist.

5. King University

King's fully online, cohort-based RN to BSN program is available either part time or full time. Those who attend full time can complete it in as little as a year through accelerated seven-week courses.

Students completing King University's RN to BSN degree with a GPA of at least 3.5 may apply for guaranteed admission to the university's Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program.

6. Milligan College

Milligan College is home to an online RN to BSN program for working nurses. Students can fulfill clinical course requirements in their local community and work environment.

If you need prerequisite general education classes to finish your degree, you may take them online along with your nursing courses. You can earn your degree in five semesters.

7. South College

South College's online RN to BSN program targets working nurses who desire fully online classes and want to complete their BSN efficiently in a flexible, supportive online learning environment.

You can earn your degree in a minimum of a year, depending on your academic history.

8. Tennessee Tech

The Tennessee Technological University's Whitson-Hester School of Nursing offers an appealing online RN to BSN program to registered nurses who have either an AAS or ADN.

Due to the Tennessee Mobility Act, Tennessee Tech can award experiential credit to qualifying RN-BSN students for more than half of the required upper-division nursing courses through an individualized curricular plan.

9. Tennessee Wesleyan University

You may be able to complete the RN to BSN program at Fort Sanders Nursing Department in as little as one year. You can complete clinical projects in your hometown.

Tailored for working nurses, the program allows RNs to challenge up to 12 credit hours of experiential learning through proficiency testing.

10. Union University

Beyond the general education requirements, you can complete Union's RN to BSN program in 18 months. Union has articulation agreements with many Tennessee universities to enable smooth transfer of credits.

As a Baptist school, Union University has the tagline: 'Excellence-Driven, Christ-Centered, People-Focused, Future-Directed.'

11. University of Memphis

Loewenberg College of Nursing (LCON) at University of Memphis is home to the RN to BSN degree program, available either full-time or part-time. You'll receive individualized instruction in a series of seven-week online courses.

One significant feature is Credit by Examination (CBE), which you can earn for up to three courses. Another draw is the availability of specific RN to BSN Scholarships.

12. University of Tennessee Chattanooga

UT-Chattanooga offers the RN-BSN Gateway program, which enables working RNs to obtain a baccalaureate in 12 months, completely online.

Applicants need to hold a current RN license and an associate degree or diploma in nursing with a 2.0 GPA or higher.

New cohorts begin every August with an online orientation, followed by three terms of coursework.

13. University of Tennessee Knoxville

University of Tennessee Knoxville's Registered Nurse to BSN Online program is tailored to busy working RNs who already hold an associate degree or diploma in nursing.

Highlights of the program include no campus visits, flexible start dates, and the ability to perform clinical projects in your own community. You can complete your degree in three semesters full-time or four or more semesters if attending part-time.

What Is an RN to BSN Program?

If you've completed an associate degree in nursing and then become licensed as a registered nurse (RN), an RN to BSN program enables you to complete the remaining two years of college to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).

The RN to BSN program is usually only a two-year program at maximum, with some of the easiest RN to BSN online programs taking less time.

Why Is RN to BSN Important?

Scientific studies show that nurses with more education statistically do a better job. That's why medical practices and hospitals tend to prefer BSN nurses and pay them higher salaries than those with associate degrees.

Studies of patient mortality rates in hospitals exhibit a correlation between a higher percentage of BSN-educated nurses and a reduction in patient death rates.

At these hospitals, patients statistically had lower rates of death from congestive heart failure, decubitus ulcers, as well as fewer cases of postoperative deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism and a shorter hospital stay.

Requirements for RN to BSN Programs in Tennessee

The Tennessee Board of Nursing, created by the State Legislature, has a mission to safeguard state residents' health, safety, and welfare. One way it does this is by assuring that all practicing nurses are qualified and licensed.

The board grants licenses to registered nurses who meet the state requirements.

Candidates must be graduates of approved nursing schools of nursing who take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) for licensure, which needs renewal every two years.

The board must approve the curriculum for all nursing programs whether on-the-ground or online.

What Are the NCLEX Pass Rates for Tennessee's BSN Programs?

Administered by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN), the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) is a standardized test used by state nursing boards nationwide to assess whether a candidate qualifies to be a nurse.

Most nursing school graduates sit for the exam soon after receiving their BSN. The average pass rate for graduates of state nursing programs in 2021 was 88%.

Begin Your Online RN to BSN Program Today

If you're a Tennessee resident who is a licensed RN, you have lots of opportunities to complete your BSN degree online through a Tennessee nursing school.

Be sure to reach out to one of the above nursing schools today to learn how to apply for its online RN to BSN degree program.