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Bachelor of Science

Nursing (RN to BSN)

OVERVIEW

An RN to BSN Nursing Bachelor's Degree Built for the Next Generation of RNs


 

This nursing bachelor's degree (RN to BSN or ADN to BSN program) is designed for current RNs who are ready to join the force of healthcare workers seeking to improve patient outcomes and community health. Enhance your résumé and increase your job security while helping your hospital achieve magnet status with a BSN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing) degree. This online nursing degree is designed for working registered nurses who have an ADN or nursing diploma, and need an RN to BSN degree program that fits into their schedule so they can progress from RN to BSN.  Apply today to enroll in our new, redeveloped version of this program. Your courses will have updated content that aligns with the 2021 AACN Essentials: Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education.

In 2022 alone, over 7,000 students earned their RN to BSN degree from WGU. Armed with the crucial skills, this community of nurses is already improving the health of their communities. You can join this skilled workforce of nurses who are influencing patient outcomes around the country. Our online, CCNE-accredited RN to BSN program builds on your previous ADN or diploma nursing education and experience with a focus on the areas of research, theory, leadership, community concepts, healthcare policy, therapeutic interventions, and current trends in healthcare. 

77% of RN to BSN grads finish within 

24 Months*

WGU lets you move more quickly through material you already know and advance as soon as you're ready. The result: You may finish faster.

*WGU Internal Data

Tuition per six-month term is

$4,685

Tuition charged per term—rather than per credit—helps RN to BSN nursing students control the ultimate cost of their nursing degrees. Finish faster, pay less!

Students can transfer up to

90 credits

Students from an accredited program will receive 80 transfer credits toward their BSN at application, and will have their transcript evaluated for up to 10 more transfer credits.

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COURSES

Nursing Bachelor's Courses

The WGU RN to BSN degree program is evidence-based, with an online nursing curriculum developed according to the Essentials of Baccalaureate Education for Professional Nursing Practice from the American Association of Colleges and Nursing.

Earning a BSN degree adds theoretical and policy depth to the practical knowledge you have as a registered nurse. WGU’s online nursing degree is developed with input from program councils—industry experts who know exactly what it takes for a graduate of a top-notch BSN program to be successful contributors to critical healthcare teams. Go from RN to BSN or ADN to BSN with WGU.

The RN-to-BSN program will continue to have a field experience clinical with hours completed in a variety of community settings, identified by the student.  More information is available in the course information listed in the program guide.

The first course you take in this program will be unlike any other you complete at WGU. This course sets you up for success as you learn about social support and self-reflection. You will be getting to know what kind of leader and communicator you are and learning how to use skills discussed in class to build success for yourself — in your healthcare career, as a WGU student, and in life.

Nursing Core
General Education

23 Courses

Program consists of 23 courses

At WGU, we design our curriculum to be timely, relevant, and practical—all to help you show that you know your stuff.

Field Experiences

Special requirements for this program

While earning your Bachelor’s in Nursing at WGU, there are required field experiences that must be completed. For the most up-to-date, detailed information about the requirements please review the detailed information.

Skills For Your Résumé

As part of this program, you will develop a range of valuable skills that employers are looking for. 

  • Leadership: Inspired collaboration among healthcare teams to achieve the highest quality patient care, fostering a patient-centered and interdisciplinary approach.
  • Research: Developed evidence-based processes informed by research findings to enhance access to care and elevate the quality of healthcare services.
  • Care Coordination: Applied patient-centered collaborative care, prioritizing quality, safety, and efficiency in a complex healthcare environment, resulting in improved patient outcomes.
  • Clinical Leadership: Successfully implemented changes to nursing processes and practices that led to enhanced quality and better patient outcomes.
  • Communications: Articulated complex ideas, opinions, and information effectively, highlighting connections and relationships to ensure clear communication among stakeholders.
  • Clinical Reasoning: Formed well-founded conclusions, judgments, and inferences from nursing theory and clinical patient assessments, contributing to sound decision-making.

“I hadn’t been in school for so long, but having the work experience from being a nurse, I not only did well, I actually loved it. The courses were practical, and everything made sense.”

—Keith Plant
B.S. Nursing

WGU vs. Traditional Universities
Compare the Difference

Traditional Universities

 

TUITION STRUCTURE

Per credit hour

Flat rate per 6-month term

SUPPORT

Schedule and wait days or even weeks to meet with one of many counselors

Simply email or call to connect with your designated Program Mentor who supports you from day one

EXAMS

Scheduled time

Whenever you feel ready

SCHEDULE

Professor led lectures at a certain time and place

Courses available anytime, from anywhere

TIME TO FINISH

Approximately 4 years, minimal acceleration options

As quickly as you can master the material, typically less than 3 years

TRANSFER CREDITS

Few accepted, based on certain schools and specific courses

A generous transfer policy that is based on your specific situation

Traditional Universities

 

TUITION STRUCTURE

Per credit hour

TUITION STRUCTURE

Flat rate per 6-month term

SUPPORT

Schedule and wait days or even weeks to meet with one of many counselors

SUPPORT

Simply email or call to connect with your designated Program Mentor who supports you from day one

EXAMS

Scheduled time

EXAMS

Whenever you feel ready

SCHEDULE

Professor led lectures at a certain time and place

SCHEDULE

Courses available anytime, from anywhere

TIME TO FINISH

Approximately 4 years, minimal acceleration options

TIME TO FINISH

As quickly as you can master the material, typically less than 3 years

TRANSFER CREDITS

Few accepted, based on certain schools and specific courses

TRANSFER CREDITS

A generous transfer policy that is based on your specific situation

Why WGU?

Affordability

WGU tuition is charged per six-month term, not per credit. That means if you want to move faster through this nursing informatics program, you'll pay less.

On Your Schedule

You can continue working at your full-time job or maintaining your responsibilities while pursing your BSN to MSN degree. You don't have to log-in to classes and there aren't due dates. You are in charge of your degree.

Accelerated

When you earn your RN to BSN degree from WGU you can take your existing knowledge and put it to use. You can move through your courses as quickly as you show mastery in the material. RNs also often transfer many credits into their WGU RN to BSN bachelor's degree program, helping them graduate faster.

Accredited,

Respected,

Recognized™

One important measure of a degree’s value is the reputation of the university where it was earned. When employers, industry leaders, and academic experts hold your alma mater in high esteem, you reap the benefits of that respect. WGU is a pioneer in reinventing higher education for the 21st century, and our quality has been recognized.

The baccalaureate degree program in nursing and master's degree program in nursing at WGU are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org).

The post-graduate APRN certificate program at WGU is pursuing initial accreditation by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org). Applying for accreditation does not guarantee that accreditation will be granted.

A REDEVELOPED PROGRAM

Designed for the Future of Nursing


 

The key features of WGU's redeveloped BSN degree program include:

  • Updated content to align with the 2021 AACN Essentials: Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education 
  • A focus on resiliency in nursing, diversity, equity, and inclusivity, and value-based healthcare 
  • Increased transfer credit eligibility. Students can transfer up to 90 credits
  • A focus on population and global health, along with integrating the global perspective into a student's own community
  • A more personalized educational experience that allows students to earn 6 professional certificates 

Professional Development Certificates Included in the BSN Program:

  • Genetics and Genomics
  • Palliative Care
  • Evidence-Based Practice
  • Protection of Human Subjects in Research
  • Cultural Competence

And, Earn an Additional Certificate, of Your Choice:

  • Quality and safety
  • Wellness
  • Sexual orientation and gender identity nursing

*Students who live in California and Minnesota also have the option of choosing a Public Health Nursing (PHN) Certificate.

COST & TIME

An Affordable Nursing Degree

By charging per term rather than per credit—and empowering students to accelerate through material they know well or learn quickly—WGU helps students control the ultimate cost of their degrees. The faster you complete your program, the less you pay for your degree.

Tuition Calculator
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A Nursing Bachelor's Degree Is Within Reach

There is help available to make paying for school possible for you:

The average student loan debt of WGU graduates in 2022 (among those who borrowed) was less than half* the national average.

Most WGU students qualify for financial aid, and WGU is approved for federal financial aid and U.S. veterans benefits. 

Many scholarship opportunities are available. Find out what you might be eligible for.

*WGU undergraduate students have approximately half the debt at graduation compared to the national average, according to the Institute for College Access and Success (2022).

FLEXIBLE SCHEDULE

How We're Different: Programs That Put Working Nurses in the Driver’s Seat

Our unique approach to education allows you to move through your courses on your schedule, as quickly as you can show mastery of the material. Improve patient outcomes and influence communities with your knowledge of evidence-based practice, patient safety, technology integration, and healthcare systems and policies. Demonstrating mastery is how you pass a course, so learning what it takes to be outstanding in your career is at the heart of WGU’s RN to BSN curriculum.

Day shift, night shift, or on-call; flu season or the onslaught of summertime injuries; 5-minute coffee breaks where you’re still on your feet… A registered nurse’s schedule is never predictable—and not very forgiving. That’s why WGU's nursing programs focus on making the best use of your time and experience and why we maximize the real-world impact of what you’re learning—so your years as a nurse can help you graduate faster, and the hours of study time you squeeze in actually pay off at work.

"I had a great educational experience at WGU, and the course instructors had a positive impact on the study curriculum. Each course was very organized, easy to follow and learn, and the educators are very attentive. I gained a greater understanding of research that is aimed at establishing facts and quality improvement.”

—Nasiba Ruziyeva
B.S. Nursing RN-BSN

CAREER OUTLOOK

A BSN Opens Doors in Your Nursing Career

Once you have completed your Bachelor of Science Nursing degree program, you will have the knowledge and clinical experience to drive your nursing career in a number of rewarding directions. You'll be in demand, because you'll be prepared to preserve, promote, improve, and maintain the health and well-being of individuals and families in your community. And should you choose, you'll also be ready to continue on to earn an MSN degree—like WGU's programs in nursing informatics, nurse education, and nursing leadership and management—and add specialization to your résumé and career path.

This RN to BSN degree program helps you build on your knowledge and experience in the nursing field. As more hospitals move toward magnet status, a bachelor's degree in nursing can help you contribute to that goal, as well as give you increased credentials and skills to improve patient outcomes and the overall community. If you're a current RN with an ADN or diploma, this RN to BSN program could be for you. We need nurses like you to influence decisions and have a positive impact in healthcare.

Return on Your Investment

On average, WGU graduates see an increase in income post-graduation

Average income increase from all degrees in annual salary vs. pre-enrollment salary. Source: 2022 Harris Poll Survey of 1,542 WGU graduates.

Survey was sent to a representative sample of WGU graduates from all colleges. Respondents received at least one WGU degree since 2017.

6%

Employment of nurses is projected to grow 6% from 2021 to 2031, and those with at least a bachelor's of science in nursing generally have better job prospects than those without one.

—U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

WGU's BSN Grads are Working in Diverse, Fulfilling Roles

Our 20,000-plus Bachelor of Science Nursing alumni have great jobs and satisfying careers:

Job Titles

  • Staff nurse
  • Flight nurse
  • Nurse case manager
  • Public health nurse
  • Forensic nurse

Diverse Settings

  • Hospitals and medical centers
  • Doctor’s offices and clinics
  • U.S. military
  • Public health departments
  • Nonprofit organizations

Major Employers

  • Intermountain Healthcare
  • U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs
  • Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
  • Synergy Home Health
  • HCA Healthcare
  • Peace Health

WGU Grads Hold Positions With Top Employers

Hospitals and clinics around the country know the benefit of a degree from WGU, so your healthcare degree is valuable.

ADMISSIONS

Admissions Requirements Unique to This Nursing Degree

To be considered for this program, you must:

  • Possess an associate’s degree or diploma in nursing from an accredited institution.
  • Possess an active, unencumbered RN license:

1. In your state of residence, or
2. In your state of employment.

NOTE: RN licensure in your state of residence or employment is required to successfully complete clinical experiences. Compact licenses must be endorsed by your state of residence. For more information about compact licenses, click here.

Safety Notice: WGU and the Leavitt School of Health are committed to the health, safety, and well-being of all patients, community members, and key stakeholders that interact with WGU students at various clinical/host sites. Interactions might include direct patient interaction, observation experiences, laboratory experiences, project development, or conducting research.  Standard compliance verification for students in applicable LSH programs is required to protect the public, meet LSH program expectations, reasonably assure compliance with state regulatory board requirements, meet WGU’s contractual and legal obligations with clinical partners, and support WGU’s mission to prepare students who will be qualified to enter their desired field. Compliance items may include, but are not limited to, background checks, immunizations, and drug screens as needed.

Get Your Enrollment Checklist

Download your step-by-step guide to enrollment.

Get Your Questions Answered

Talk to an WGU Enrollment Counselor.

Transfer Credits

More About the BSN Program at WGU

Frequently Asked Questions for this BSN Program

No, but you must have an unencumbered RN license, and your previous nursing experience will be valuable and could help you move through the program more quickly.

Yes! Almost every student with a license as a registered nurse can clear on transfer 50 to 90 credit equivalents from a previous program into this program. If you’ve taken courses or received a degree from another college or university, you may be able to clear some of these requirements through transfer credit. You will need to provide WGU with your official transcripts for review.

WGU is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and, in order to uphold this accreditation, we must require our own background checks. A third-party company is used to provide this service and the information is proprietary; therefore, we are unable to access a background check completed for, or requested by, another entity.

The RN-to-BSN program will continue to have a field experience clinical with hours completed in a variety of community settings, identified by the student.  More information is available in the course information listed in the program guide.

You will find that these courses are typically higher-level courses that are an integral part of our core BSN program and vital to your success.  The good news is, because of your prior knowledge and experience with these subjects, you are likely to master the competencies easier and progress through the course faster.  That's why competency-based education is so appealing!

Yes! Our BSN program is recognized by the board of nursing in all 50 states! This recognition is due to our esteemed accreditations, both regionally and through the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

Yes. The baccalaureate degree program in nursing and master's degree program in nursing at WGU are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org).

The post-graduate APRN certificate program at WGU is pursuing initial accreditation by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org). Applying for accreditation does not guarantee that accreditation will be granted.

Additionally, Western Governors University Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing and Master’s Degree in Nursing programs hold pre-accreditation status from the National League for Nursing Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation, located at 2600 Virginia Avenue, NW, Washington, DC, 20037. 800-669-1656. Holding preaccreditation status does not guarantee that initial accreditation by NLN CNEA will be received.

An ADN to BSN program is for Associate Degree in Nursing graduates who want to progress to a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. ADN to BSN programs help these nurses boost their résumé or assist in their hospital reaching magnet status by earning a bachelor's degree. ADN to BSN programs like WGU's RN to BSN program are for current nurses who have an associate degree or diploma and want to move forward in their education. 

If you're currently an RN in Texas, there are many online degree programs that allow you to earn your BSN at an affordable price, without leaving your job. WGU is a top option for RN to BSN students because of its affordability and unique education model that lets you go through your RN to BSN program on your own schedule. You move through courses as quickly as you can master the material, with no set class times so you can continue to work as an RN while you're earning your degree. 

RN to BSN programs typically take 18-24 months to complete. This is faster than a typical BSN because most of these programs accept extensive transfer credits from your nursing diploma or associate degree. In some programs, like WGU's nursing program, you are able to accelerate even more by using your experience to help you move through courses more quickly where you can prove mastery. At WGU most RN to BSN students finish in 18 months or less.

BSN stands for Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Someone who has a bachelor's of science in nursing has also become a registered nurse (RN). A Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree program is becoming more standard for the nursing industry as more hospitals are looking to reach Magnet status.

There are many options for earning a BSN in California, especially if you want to earn your RN to BSN degree online. WGU is a top option based on affordability and time. Their unique education model allows you to go through your RN to BSN degree program much faster than traditional degree programs. WGU RN to BSN programs are a great fit for current RNs in California who are looking to boost their résumé or help their hospital reach magnet status with a BSN degree.

Admissions requirements vary widely from program to program and from school to school. Nurse practitioner programs—including Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), and post-MSN NP certificate programs—can be among the most competitive. One factor commonly considered for enrollment in post-graduate nursing programs is grade-point average (GPA) from previous college work. The nature of WGU’s competency-based model means WGU graduates do not have a GPA when they earn their degree.

However, other factors beyond GPA are considered by many programs across the country. WGU provides opportunities for students to demonstrate excellence beyond a GPA, including participation in nationally recognized honors programs, real-world projects that you complete as part of your program that you can showcase in your post-graduate applications, and letters of recommendation from WGU faculty or leadership.

For any aspiring graduate student, it is important to maximize your own qualities as well as do the research to understand the schools that offer the programs you seek to join.

You can start your research by reviewing this list of post-graduate programs that have admitted WGU alumni in the past. Look on LinkedIn for WGU nursing alumni who have gone on to become nurse practitioners, and check their profiles to see which schools they attended for the MSN or DNP program. Contact the school to ask whether they enroll students from competency-based programs like WGU’s. And talk to your WGU Enrollment Counselor. WGU can provide alumni with a letter they can share with graduate schools, explaining our competency-based model. This letter has helped WGU alumni be accepted into a variety of graduate programs in a number of fields and disciplines.

The RN to BSN degree builds on the foundation of previous nursing education at the associate degree or diploma levels. Initial licensure programs prepare graduates for RN licensure with courses in the biological and social sciences and nursing. The BSN degree for RNs expands knowledge in areas of research, theory, leadership, community concepts, healthcare policy, therapeutic interventions, and current trends in healthcare. Graduates are prepared to function in new roles as members of healthcare teams in many settings. BSN graduates are also prepared to enter MSN programs. All work in this degree program is online and at a distance. The WGU RN to BSN program is evidence-based and developed according to The Essentials of Baccalaureate Education for Professional Nursing Practice from the American Association of Colleges of Nursing American Association of Colleges of Nursing (2021). In addition, it incorporates competencies and standards from other specialty organizations.

Safety: The graduate provides safe fiscally responsive quality care environment for individuals, families, communities, and multidisciplinary teams using established and emerging principles of safety science.

QA: The graduate collects, analyzes, and interprets data to improve patient outcomes and to provide value-based care to persons and populations at the local, regional, national, and global levels.

Scholarship: The graduate integrates best evidence into nursing practice incorporating individual values as well as clinical expertise from industry analyses to persons and populations at the local, regional, national, and global levels.

Innovation: The graduate innovates creative, agile responses to complex and evolving care environments through a systems-based approach to values-based care across the care continuum.

Personal, Professional, and Leadership Development: The graduate engages in self-reflection and other activities to foster personal health, resilience, well-being, and lifelong learning in a purposeful leadership practice.

Informatics/Technology: The graduate integrates informatics knowledge and skills to provide safe, high-quality care, incorporating best practices, industry and professional guidance, and regulatory standards.

Leadership/Professional: The graduate demonstrates leadership by identifying and prioritizing goals to achieve optimal outcomes for person-centered care and population health.

Ethical Competent Practice: The graduate formulates and cultivates a professional identity that includes accountability, collaborative disposition and ethical comportment reflective of the profession's characteristics, norms and values.    

Professional Communication/Collaboration: The graduate effectively communicates and collaborates with interprofessional teams, persons, families, and communities to optimize care and improve health outcomes using a value-centered approach.

Compassionate Holistic Care: The graduate provides holistic and compassionate person-centered care that respects individual and community diversity while considering determinants of health.

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