Choosing a career in nursing means that you’re ready to commit yourself to play an essential role in the medical system. From applying to a BSN program until graduation is a long and beautiful journey, and we’re here to show you everything you need to know on how to become a BSN.

Typical BSN Admission Requirements

BSN admission requirements may vary by school or degree format; however, typical admission requirements include:

High school transcript demonstrating at least a 3.0/4.0 GPA;
Math and science knowledge;
Professional and academic recommendations;
Statement of purpose;
Standardized test scores for SAT or ACT;
Interview.

If you’re applying for a bridge program, you may also be required to have proof of an active RN license and post-secondary school transcripts with at least a 3.0/4.0 GPA.

BSN Pathways

There are several ways to graduate with a BSN degree. You can follow the traditional four-year program or take a bridge program if you’re already a Licenced Practical Nurse, Registered Nurse, or have a bachelor’s degree in another field.

Traditional Four Year Program

This program typically takes four years to complete. It’s designed with half of the semesters offering general education courses and half offering nursing skills and clinical classes. Students may enroll in such programs directly out of high school or transfer from another college or university.

LPN to BSN

LPN to BSN program is for every Licenced Practical Nurse who is ready to move their career forward by pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. This is an excellent opportunity for every LPN because it allows them to use their existing skills to expedite their time to get a BSN and be qualified for RN licensing exams.

Usually, an LPN to BSN program lasts two to three years, but it can vary depending on the number of credits you transfer from your LPN. This program involves a mix of arts and science courses, such as biology, chemistry, psychology, statistics, ethics, and more.

RN to BSN

BSN in nursing program is designed for Registered Nurses who want to pursue a Bachelor of Science degree. The curriculum of this program gives nurses an understanding of several issues that affect patients, such as ethical, cultural, or social issues. Moreover, this program emphasizes critical thinking, research, leadership, and other skills that will improve your performance in the nursing profession.

Upon graduating with a BSN degree, the graduated nurses will be prepared to apply the learned theoretical knowledge and practical skills to patient care, effectively communicate with healthcare team members and use critical thinking to make synergistic decisions about patient care.

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Accelerated BSN

Suppose you’re considering a career change in nursing, but you already have a degree in another subject and think that spending another four years of studying is not worth it. In that case, an Accelerated BSN may be the right choice for you. This program is specifically designed for people who want to become RNs but already have a Bachelor’s degree in another field.

Depending on their structure, Accelerated BSN programs last approximately 12 to 19 months; however, some programs can last as long as two years. During this time, students will be taking nursing-specific courses only, and many of these courses can be condensed to ensure a faster pace towards graduation.

BSN Curriculum Structure

Typically, a BSN program curriculum combines general education and nursing courses. Moreover, this program also covers ethical and legal topics, so nurses are prepared for decision-making during their profession.

Courses

General education courses may differ by program, but they commonly include a range of humanities, social sciences, and basic sciences, which are essential for nursing studies. These courses may consist of biology, psychology, chemistry, nutrition, technology, and statistics.

While general education courses serve as a prerequisite for nursing studies, core nursing courses will prepare you to work as a professional nurse competent to provide care in most healthcare settings. These studies include professional nursing, family nursing, nursing management, health assessment, and more, among other courses.

Laboratory simulations

Laboratory simulations occur in well-established learning environments, where nursing students develop competencies in simulated health care settings. These laboratories are typically equipped with smart boards that support psychomotor learning, and mannequins which can be manipulated through computer simulations to create accurate responses to the care provided by nursing students.

Clinical experience

Clinical experience is an essential component of nursing education. During this experience, students take part in supervised learning sessions in real-world settings, which allows them to link their theoretical knowledge with practice.

Clinical experience may take place in different settings, ranging from non-profit clinics to Trauma 1 medical centers. This learning is supervised by experienced preceptors who encourage students to stimulate their critical thinking and develop clinical skills.

BSN Study Tips

You’ve worked hard, and now you’ve been rewarded with admission to a BSN program. Congratulations! Now it’s time to roll up your sleeves to get that degree, and we’re presenting you with some study tips to make your journey easier.

Research courses beforehand

Catching up with the study can sometimes be a demanding experience in many fields, and nursing school is no different. Getting a head start on your courses will only help you stay ahead of the game, and you can do this by reading chapters or watching videos to get familiar with the content before you even have a lecture. Moreover, even if you don’t understand something while researching beforehand, you still have a lecture before you that will help you fill in the gaps.

Follow study guides

Study guides are a great way to organize your lecture notes and other material so you can better remember large amounts of information. Having visual study guides can be even more effective since the visual organization allows you to make meaningful connections between different concepts.

You can find study guides that teachers have already designed, or you can make one independently. Even though you shouldn’t focus all your time memorizing study guides, they can often be an immense help for your exams.

Talk to your peers

While many students prefer studying alone to avoid distractions, it’s never a bad idea to communicate or even learn together with your peers from time to time. This way, you keep your study sessions stimulating and have real-time support from your classmates. Even if you don’t want to study together with other students, you can simply chat and share study tips or strategies that help each other.

Stay organized

We all tend to procrastinate from time to time and end up dealing with many things at once. While you don’t have to be a perfectionist and plan everything in detail, it always helps to stay organized during your studies. Being organized helps you know when your assignments are due, how many days you have to write a paper, and when you’ll be taking your final exams. Having a planner for due dates will help you manage your time and be more productive.

BSN Degree Requirements

Typically, to graduate with a BSN degree, a student must complete the equivalent of 128 semester credit hours, including:

65 semester credit hours in liberal arts/science;
63 semester credit hours in the nursing major;
A minimum grade of C in math and science courses;
A minimum GPA of 2.8 at the end of the freshman year;
A final minimum GPA of 2.00 and grade C in nursing courses.

Conclusion

No bachelor’s degree is easy, and BNS is no different. It’s a long journey with its ups and downs, but you will go through it with no problems if you prepare beforehand for your studies and keep yourself motivated throughout the years. We hope that this information, together with the study tips, will inform you how to get a bachelor’s degree in nursing.

How to Get a BSN Degree: Admission, Curriculum, & Study Tips