RN to BSN Programs – A Helpful Guide & List

Application Requirements

An RN to BSN degree program typically requires applicants to hold a diploma or associate degree in nursing from an accredited nursing program and an active, unrestricted RN license, since these programs are designed for nurses who have already completed initial nursing education and passed the NCLEX-RN, according to AACN. GPA minimums, prerequisite coursework and application materials (such as a personal statement, resume, letters of recommendation and a fee) vary by school; confirm exact criteria with each program.

Before submitting your application, be sure to check if your desired program has a list of prerequisite courses for prospective students.

RN to BSN Curriculum

RN to BSN programs build on associate-degree and diploma-level coursework with more in-depth study of the physical and social sciences, nursing research, public and community health, nursing management and the humanities, according to AACN. Exact courses vary by school; illustrative examples include general-education and science courses such as literature, history, sociology, math, biology, chemistry, anatomy and microbiology (some of which transferred ADN coursework may already satisfy), plus nursing-specific courses such as human nutrition, healthcare informatics, evidence-based practice, community health nursing, cultural competence in nursing and concepts in nurse leadership.

RN to BSN Program Accreditation

In choosing an RN to BSN program, look for one that has been accredited by an independent accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education. Accreditation means the program has been assessed against, and found to comply with, an accreditor’s standards for educational quality and integrity — it is not a guarantee of the highest possible quality.

Look for accreditation from agencies such as the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), an autonomous accrediting agency; and the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), governed by a board of 17 commissioners elected by representatives of ACEN-accredited nursing programs.

Advantages of an RN-to-BSN Program

From strengthening your skills to broadening employment opportunities, there are numerous benefits of completing an RN to BSN program. Below are a few of them:

1. Expand Your Nursing Skills

The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) summarizes several publications and studies on the value of bachelor education for RNs. When RNs advance their education, it may lead to stronger skills in nursing practice, leadership, professional integration, and research and evaluation.

2. Increase Your Job Market Appeal

According to AACN’s 2023 survey of nursing schools on Employment of New Nurse Graduates and Employer Preferences for Baccalaureate-Prepared Nurses — 643 valid responses, a 79.4% response rate — schools reported that 25.0% of employers required a BSN of new hires and another 69.8% strongly preferred one, a combined 94.8%. Because the survey reflects school-reported, regional employer behavior rather than a direct national employer survey, actual requirements can vary. Registered nurses overall earned a median annual wage of $97,550 as of May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and employer degree preferences can be a meaningful factor in hiring and promotion decisions.

3. Improve Patient Care

Higher nurse education has been linked to better patient outcomes in numerous published studies. The AACN has reported on studies over the last 10+ years on the value of bachelor education for RNs, citing that RNs are better prepared in evidence-based practice and there’s a reduction in patient death rates and failure to rescue rates.

4. Become a Nurse Manager or Nurse Leader in a Magnet Hospital

According to the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), which administers the Magnet Recognition Program, Magnet-designated hospitals must require nurse managers and other defined nurse leaders — except the chief nursing officer, who has a separate requirement — to hold a bachelor’s or graduate degree in nursing.

5. Become a Higher-Level VA Nurse

In order to advance beyond an entry-level position within a Veterans Health Administration hospital—the largest employer of registered nurses in the United States—nurses may want to consider pursuing a BSN degree.

Should I Pursue an RN to BSN Program?

Depending on your career goals, an RN to BSN program may be the educational path for you. In most states, it remains possible to practice as a registered nurse with an associate degree or diploma; some states, such as New York, require eligible RNs to earn a bachelor’s degree within a set time frame (see the FAQ below). Beyond meeting any such requirement, an RN to BSN program equips you with additional knowledge and skills and opens the door to a number of specialized nursing careers as you can see from the list above.

Having a BSN degree could give you an edge in today’s nursing job market: AACN’s 2023 survey of nursing schools found a combined 94.8% required or strongly preferred a BSN in the responding schools’ regions (see above for survey context). Higher nurse education has also been linked to stronger patient outcomes in research summarized by AACN.

Apart from education, BSN-prepared nurses are described by AACN as demonstrating stronger competency in communication, leadership, professional integration and research/evaluation — skills that help RNs navigate complex, wide-ranging patient healthcare needs. If you want to continue working while you’re in school, many RN to BSN programs — AACN reports over 600 of roughly 701 nationwide are offered at least partially online — or dedicated online BSN programs may allow you to do so.

What Can I Do With an RN-to-BSN?

As a BSN-prepared nurse, you can find work in a range of inpatient and outpatient settings, according to AACN, including hospitals, home healthcare facilities, nursing organizations, healthcare foundations, advocacy groups and the military.

The RN to BSN degree can also be a stepping stone to a master’s in nursing degree: under the APRN Consensus Model, advanced practice registered nurses are educated at the master’s or post-master’s level, so a graduate degree is generally required to become an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN). Like RNs, APRNs have the opportunity to specialize by population focus and role. An RN to BSN graduate with an eye on doctoral-level practice or leadership may also consider a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), subject to that program’s own admission requirements.

Whether you’re planning on returning to nursing school soon after earning your BSN or are satisfied with a baccalaureate degree, here are some nursing jobs to consider:

Public Health Nurse

Public health nurses work to promote population health using knowledge drawn from nursing as well as the social and public health sciences. Public health nurses commonly focus on areas such as disease prevention, emergency preparedness, immunization and communicable-disease control; specific duties and licensure requirements vary by employer and state. Nurses who meet the eligibility criteria — a bachelor’s degree in any concentration plus at least five years of qualifying public health work experience, subject to application review — may pursue the Certified in Public Health (CPH) credential from the National Board of Public Health Examiners. Meeting the eligibility criteria does not by itself confer certification; candidates must also pass the CPH exam.

Case Management Nurse

Case management nurses commonly work with patients who have serious or long-term illnesses — such as Alzheimer’s, diabetes or heart disease — helping to coordinate their care; specific duties and settings vary by employer. Case management nurses may work on interdisciplinary teams, communicate with patients’ families and liaise with insurers, in settings that can include hospices, community and public health centers, outpatient clinics and oncology centers.

Nurses who complete an RN to BSN program and gain qualifying case-management experience may become eligible to take the CCM exam — administered by the Commission for Case Manager Certification (CCMC) — to become a board-certified case manager. A BSN alone does not establish eligibility; check the Commission’s current eligibility criteria for the specific license, education and employment requirements.

School Nurse

School nurses are specialists who work within schools helping to promote student health, assist in optimal student development and support academic success. School nurses act as an important bridge between academic and physical well-being for the students they treat, coordinating care, and collaborating with local officials on creating systems that support the health of the broader communities in which schoolchildren live.

Degree requirements for school nurses vary by state. Ohio, for example, requires school nurses to be bachelor’s-prepared, licensed RNs with additional pupil-services preparation; check your own state’s department of education for its specific requirements.

Hospice Nurse

Hospice nurses provide holistic, end-of-life care for patients. Common duties can include medication administration, monitoring patients’ condition, supporting patient comfort and coordinating with the interdisciplinary hospice team, though duties vary by employer. Hospice nurses also provide support to patients’ family members and caregivers.

Hospice nurses can take exams for one of six hospice and palliative certifications offered by the Hospice and Palliative Credentialing Center (HPCC) — for advanced practice nurses, registered nurses, pediatric palliative nurses and nursing assistants. (HPCC also offers a separate perinatal loss care credential, maintained through recertification rather than available to new candidates through these six initial exams.) Each certification establishes commitment to safe, ethical and evidence-based care.

ICU Nurse

Critical care nurses, including ICU nurses who work in intensive care units (ICUs), provide care for infants, children and adults under serious, high-acuity circumstances.

The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) offers CCRN certifications for both RNs and advanced practice registered nurses with critical-care experience, with distinct credentials for adult, pediatric and neonatal populations.

Surgical Nurse

Perioperative nurses (who work directly in surgery) and medical-surgical nurses (who care for patients recovering from surgery or managing acute and chronic conditions on medical-surgical units) are related but distinct specialties. Perioperative nurses help set up and support surgery — including sterilization, surgical draping and patient skin antisepsis — and focus on infection prevention and preoperative/intraoperative care. Medical-surgical nurses provide broader inpatient care for surgical and medical patients outside the operating room.

To work in either specialty, you must complete an approved nursing program, hold an active RN license and gain relevant clinical experience; requirements vary by credential and employer. Nurses can pursue the Medical-Surgical Certification (MEDSURG-BC) from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) or the CMSRN credential from the Medical-Surgical Nursing Certification Board (MSNCB) for medical-surgical nursing, or the CNOR credential from the Competency & Credentialing Institute (CCI) for perioperative nursing — distinct credentials for distinct specialties, not interchangeable.

It’s important to be thorough with your research when you’re selecting an RN to BSN program and weighing your career options. Here are a couple of questions that can help guide you as you make this life-changing decision:

For those who are interested in additional bridge programs:

• LPN-to-RN Program
• RN-to-MSN Program