One of the main considerations when choosing any college is cost. There can be significant differences in price, even within the same state. This is especially true when it comes to online RN to BSN programs. Here’s a look at those costs, and why a BSN degree can provide major benefits in the long run.
Money Matters
The RN to BSN online program offered by the University of Louisiana Monroe (ULM) is substantially more affordable than programs from other schools in the state. The cost is just $875.01 per three-credit-hour course. Others charge more than $1,500 per three-credit-hour course. In addition, ULM students pay the same tuition, whether they are in state or out of state.
Students can complete the ULM online program in as few as 14 months. Not only is studying online more convenient, it is also less expensive. Students do not have to worry about on-campus housing, parking or any of the other costs associated with attending classes in person.
This program teaches more advanced techniques involved in assessing the health status of a patient. It also shows students how to deliver care based on solid scientific evidence, how to use data to monitor the effectiveness of that care, and much more. Graduates will learn how to take concepts and theories and put them into action — benefiting their patients as a result.
The Benefits of an RN to BSN Degree
Earning a BSN comes with a wide range of advantages. For example, it opens a path to managerial positions and career opportunities in many other popular nursing fields. These include neurology, emergency room care, hospice care, pediatrics, intensive care and several others.
A BSN is a prerequisite for graduate school, a necessary step for nurses who want to become nurse anesthetists, delivery nurses and nurse midwives, or even enter the research field.
Obtaining a BSN is also becoming more important when it comes to breaking into the field — or simply keeping a job. Hospitals across the country are striving to achieve Magnet status. This signifies that the facility offers the best in quality nursing care. In order to be considered for this status, however, 100% of a facility’s nurse managers and nurse leaders must have either BSNs or advanced degrees.
There are many other reasons for pursuing an RN to BSN degree. Here are just a few:
- BSNs play a pivotal role in patient education and disease prevention.
- A BSN gives nurses a major leg up on competitors who only have an associate degree in nursing (ADN).
- A BSN can serve as a stepping-stone to a leadership position.
- It can open the door to pursuing a more advanced degree — a major step toward becoming a nurse educator or an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN).
The ULM RN to BSN degree program is rigorous and provides students with the skills and knowledge they need in order to be on the cutting edge of the nursing profession.
Learn more about the University of Louisiana Monroe’s online RN to BSN program.
Sources:
Nurse Journal: Best CCNE Accredited Online RN to BSN
Nurse Journal: 10 Reasons Why RN’s Should Pursue Their BSN Degree