11 Best Online RN to BSN Programs in West Virginia

Employers in the healthcare field are increasingly hiring only registered nurses (RNs) who possess Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degrees. This trend is sending RNs who only hold associate degrees back to campus to obtain their BSN degrees. The solution has been a rise nationwide of RN to BSN bridge programs.

In this article, you'll learn about some of the West Virginia universities, both public and private, that offer RN to BSN programs online.

Today, Nurses in West Virginia can complete the easiest RN to BSN programs online in one to two years of online coursework.

What Is an RN to BSN Program?

An RN to BSN program is a bridge that leads a registered nurse (RN) who has earned an associate degree or diploma through the necessary coursework to fulfill the requirements for a BSN degree.

Online RN to BSN Programs in West Virginia

West Virginia's colleges and universities provide many options for working nurses to earn Bachelor of Science in Nursing degrees. Learn more about the most affordable RN to BSN programs online available.

1. Bluefield State College

As one of the state's top public nursing schools and a historically Black college (HBCU), Bluefield State College offers a 30-credit-hour, 100% online RN to BSN program. You can complete any required clinical experiences in your home community.

Coursework at Bluefield State College covers ethics and issues in professional nursing, gerontological health care issues, and nursing research, among others.

2. Davis & Elkins College

Davis & Elkins College was voted the #1 RN to BSN program in West Virginia by Registered Nursing.org.

This small, private college affiliated with the Presbyterian Church offers an RN to BSN program for working adults that combines skill development with current knowledge in the field. You can complete it online in 12 months of full-time study.

You would enroll in courses such as Community Nursing, Transition to Professional Nursing, and Nursing Leadership. You can complete the clinical practicum near your place of residence.

3. Fairmont State University

Designed to enhance the professional development of nurses with an associate degree or diploma, Fairmont State University's one-year RN to BSN program addresses the needs of working RNs by offering flexible online seven- and 15-week courses.

Focusing on developing the critical thinking, management, leadership, and evidence-based practice skills that RNs need, the 28-credit program provides real-world experiences through projects and practicums.

4. Marshall University

Marshall University's School of Nursing has a lot to be proud of. The school's 2023 BSN graduates excelled with a 100% pass rate on their NCLEX-RN state licensing exams.

Marshall provides a flexible, part-time online RN to BSN program that will encourage you to expand your skills in critical thinking and clinical judgment. The RN to BSN curriculum fosters the synthesis of research, clinical knowledge, and evidence-based practice.

Online courses are asynchronous, enabling you to study at your own pace and at the time most convenient for you. To apply, you need an active RN license and a 2.5+ GPA from your earlier college courses.

5. Shepherd University

The Shepherd University nursing school's vision statement invokes 'passion, purpose, and experience' in its mission to educate professional nurses to practice their skills in a rapidly changing healthcare environment.

Shepherd introduced its highly flexible online RN to BSN program in 2022. Its nursing classes are available to you in online, hybrid (synchronous and asynchronous) format, and you can choose to take courses on-campus if desired.

You can complete your required upper-level nursing courses in as few as two semesters if you attend full time.

6. University of Charleston

Designed for working professionals, you can complete the University of Charleston's online RN to BSN program fully online in as few as three semesters.

Emphasizing evidence-based practices, the program's courses are seven weeks long. The curriculum covers relevant subjects such as nursing theory, leadership, research, community health, and more.

Applicants need a 2.0 GPA in their associate-level nursing degree, with a grade of C or higher in foundational health science courses. They also need to hold an active RN license.

7. West Liberty University

West Liberty University's RN to BSN program attempts to expedite the process as much as it can for working RNs.

The school grants credit for life or work experiences and allows transfer of up to 72 credits for graduates of associate degree programs, including 31 credits for nursing courses.

With rolling admission and the assignment of an individual nursing advisor, applicants can get started right away if they possess an associate degree or diploma program in nursing from an accredited college with a 2.0 or higher GPA.

Applicants should also hold a valid West Virginia nursing license or be eligible for licensure.

8. West Virginia Junior College

The West Virginia Junior College (WVJC) School of Nursing offers an accelerated online RN to BSN program enabling you to earn your BSN in 12 months.

WVJC's nursing program has entered into partnerships with many major healthcare systems throughout the state of West Virginia.

The professional and personal benefits of completing the BSN degree include not only career advancement and higher pay but also greater autonomy as a nurse and the ability to practice outside of a hospital environment.

9. West Virginia University

West Virginia University is proud of its nursing graduates' 99% pass rate on the NCLEX-RN licensing exam as well as the nearly 100% job placement rate of its graduates.

The state's flagship university and its service-oriented emphasis also play a leading role in reducing long-standing health disparities among the state's rural Appalachian adults, families, and communities. Each undergraduate student completes 100 hours of community service.

You can complete the online RN-BSN program in three semesters of full-time study if you've earned all general education requirements. You'll need a total of 28 credits of nursing coursework, and RNs will receive 50 credit hours of undifferentiated nursing credit.

10. West Virginia University Parkersburg

The online RN to BSN program at the Parkersburg campus of West Virginia University is a degree-completion program for licensed registered nurses (RNs).

Its goal is to enable working professionals to earn their bachelor's degree without having to interrupt their employment. It prepares students both for career advancement and for graduate study if desired.

Applications are accepted year-round. Applicants must possess an accredited associate degree or diploma in nursing (with at least a 2.0 GPA) as well as be licensed as an RN in the state in which they are living.

11. Wheeling University

Formerly known as Wheeling Jesuit University, Wheeling University is home to an online RN to BSN/MSN degree program designed specifically for working nurses. It ranks as one of the leading programs in the state.

The University's liberal arts general education courses are required for the RN-BSN track, but you can apply a minimum of 46 hours of transfer credits from your diploma or associate degree in nursing.

You can complete the required clinical experiences in your hometown. However, campus visits may be required for the NUR 460 (Comprehensive Assessment) course.

Why Is an RN to BSN Important?

The role of nursing has dramatically changed in the 21st-century healthcare landscape due to all the new knowledge and technology necessary to carry out nurses' jobs.

The skills and competencies nurses needed a generation ago are no longer adequate in today's medical environment.

According to the Institute of Medicine (IOM), these forward-looking nursing competencies involve leadership, evidence-based practice, complex decision-making, research, teamwork, collaboration, health policy, and system improvement.

Studies show that BSN-prepared nurses are better equipped to manage this increasing complexity in nursing care. Studies also show a statistical improvement in patient health outcomes under BSN-trained nurses.

Possessing a BSN degree not only makes you more competitive in the job market but also enhances your earning potential and career prospects. Earning a BSN, statistically, increases a nurse's salary by 16%.

Requirements for RN to BSN Programs in West Virginia

The West Virginia Board of Registered Nurses, per the West Virginia Code, Chapter 30, Article 7, oversees both the education and licensing of nurses within the state.

Since graduates of Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or diploma programs can sit for the NCLEX-RN licensure exam, the RN to BSN programs are post-licensure programs, so graduates do not require relicensing.

Many nursing schools will accept candidates who have completed the NCLEX-RN exam and are licensed in another state. Be sure to check on a school-to-school basis.

Most programs can be completed in under two years, but the shortest online RN to BSN programs can be completed in under a year, sometimes as short as six months.

Begin Your Online RN to BSN Program Today

If you're an active, licensed RN, earning a BSN will not only expand your education, prepare you for career advancement or graduate school, and enhance your employment opportunities.

It will also improve patient care outcomes as you will be more highly skilled and have more advanced critical thinking abilities. That's a win-win all around! Enroll to earn your online RN to BSN degree in West Virginia, and RN to BSN programs across the US, today.