Bachelor Degrees


In the healthcare industry the demand for nurses continues to grow. As it grows so does the need for nurses with bachelor's level degree preparation. Nursing, as a profession, is unique in that there are multiple levels of education that are available to prepare an individual to start working. A bachelor's degree can be a starting point for an individual entering the profession of nursing, or it can be a mark of professional achievement for an individual who has already been working as a nurse. Currently, approximately 30% of the U.S. nursing workforce holds a bachelor's degree. A variety of bachelor's degrees are available to meet the individual needs and career goals of each student.
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Common nursing degrees at the baccalaureate, or undergraduate, level include the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), the Bachelor of Science (B.S.), and the Bachelor of Nursing Science (B.N.Sc.). While the educational content will vary from school to school, all students are prepared by the program to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) to become a Registered Nurse (RN). These programs generally take four to five years to complete. Typically, the first two years will focus on general educational requirements and the last two to three years will focus on specific nursing requirements.

Bachelor Degrees offered by Top Nursing Schools

Bethel University

Minnesota.
Nursing.

Brenau University

Online School.
Nursing.

Georgia Southern University

Online School.
RN- Nursing RN-BSN.

Miller-Motte College Online

Online School.
Nursing RN To BSN.

National American University Campus

Colorado; Kansas; Minnesota; Missouri; New Mexico; South Dakota.
RN To BSN Completion; Nursing BSN.

South College

Tennessee.
Nursing.

WCU

California.
Nursing RN To BSN.

American Sentinel University

Online School.
RN To BSN.

California College San Diego

California.
Nursing Administration.

Capella University

Online School.
BSN - RN-to-BSN Completion.

Chamberlain College of Nursing

Online School.
Nursing RN To BSN.

CollegeAmerica

Arizona; Colorado; Wyoming.
Nursing Administration.

Colorado Technical University

Colorado.
Nursing.

Colorado Technical University Online

Online School.
Nursing RN To BSN Completion.

Florida Hospital College of Health Sciences

Online School.
RN To BSN.

Grand Canyon University

Online School.
RN To Nursing.

Independence University

Online School.
Nursing.

Jacksonville University

Online School.
RN To BSN; RN To BSN Licensed RNs.

Kaplan University

Online School.
RN To Nursing.

Kent State University

Online School.
RN/BSN.

Liberty University

Online School.
Nursing RN To BSN.

Medical Careers Institute

Virginia.
Nursing BSN.

Minnesota School of Business

Online School; Minnesota.
RN To BSN Completion.

National American University

Online School.
RN-to-BSN; Nursing BSN; RN To BSN Completion.

Sanford-Brown College

Missouri.
Nursing.

South University

Online School.
Nursing RN To BSN.

South University - Campus

Florida; South Carolina; Virginia.
Nursing RN To BSN Completion; Nursing.

Stevens-Henager College

Idaho; Utah.
Nursing Administration.

Stevens-Henager Online

Online School.
Nursing Administration.

University of Illinois

Online School.
Nursing Completion Program.

University of Phoenix

Online School; Arizona; California; Colorado; Florida; Georgia; Hawaii; Michigan; Minnesota; New Mexico; Ohio; Tennessee; Wisconsin.
RN To Nursing; Nursing RN Required; Licensed Practical Nurse To Nursing; Licensed Vocational Nurse To Nursing.

University of Saint Mary

Online School.
RN To BSN - Nursing.

Walden University

Online School.
Nursing BSN.


With the understanding that nursing is a profession with multiple educational entry levels, most universities offer bridge programs for nurses who are returning to school to advance their career. These types of programs allow the Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) and Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), or the RN with a diploma or associate's degree to obtain some credit for their previous work experience and education. Many universities also offer accelerated nursing programs for students that are returning to school to enter the profession of nursing, but already hold a bachelor's degree in another field. Accelerated nursing degrees generally take 12 to 20 months to complete.

Content for all accredited nursing education programs is regulated by the State Board of Nursing. Both a bachelor's level program and an associate's level program can lead to licensure as a Registered Nurse (RN). If one compares an associate's degree in nursing program with a bachelor's degree in nursing program some content will be similar. However, degree programs at the bachelor's level typically offer a more in-depth education with an added emphasis in several areas. For example, the areas of community health, research, evidence-based practice, health policy, ethics, leadership, and case management often have more time devoted to them.

Nurses with higher levels of education have been noted in general to have enhanced clinical thinking skills and improved patient outcomes. This allows nurses with bachelor's degrees to have more job opportunities available to them and makes them more desirable to potential employers. Bachelor's level preparation is often considered the minimum educational level for nurses that desire to work in certain areas, such as leadership, management, or education. Obtaining a bachelor's degree in nursing is an excellent way to enter the healthcare profession and also an excellent way to advance one's career as a nurse.