Improve the Healthcare of Pennsylvania’s Rural and Underserved Population: RN to BSN Overview – Pennsylvania
What are the goals of an RN to BSN program? It depends on your perspective. According to Penn State University, one of the primary goals is to improve the healthcare of Pennsylvania’s rural and underserved population. Another goal is to meet the goals of the Bureau of Health Professions and Healthy People 2010. Increased education levels among nurses have been linked to various indicators of improved health outcomes.
Individuals might choose to enroll in RN return programs, though, to meet personal or career goals. A nurse with a BSN typically has more career advancement options. What can you expect to learn from a BSN completion program? Coursework typically includes health assessment, community health, and scientific inquiry in nursing As a BSN return student, you will get the opportunity to explore different nursing roles. There is often a class that focuses specifically on the needs of older adults. You will likely have at least a few more general studies courses to complete as well. The liberal arts curriculum may include courses like diversity studies, critical reading, and statistics which can directly impact your nursing career. Your program may also include a nursing elective. Elective choices can be broad: anything from cardiovascular care to school nursing or management of healthcare system finances.
Clinical requirements are different from those in an initial licensure program, and they’re typically lower. Instead of fulfilling a particular number of hours, you may just need to collect data for projects. In other words, your experiences and reflections are important, but you’re not punching a time clock.
There are various innovative programs in the state. For example, Eastern University has a track for Korean nurses. ESL support is included. At the end of the program, nurses will be prepared to serve either in the United States or Korea.
Pennsylvania’s BSN Career Mobility
A nurse with a baccalaureate may be competitive for more positions. Community health improvement is an example of a career that might require a baccalaureate degree. School nurses are also required to hold a baccalaureate plus certification. Management positions often have a preference for candidates with higher education levels; so do clinical positions in some specialties. Magnet hospitals are typically able to hire very well educated candidates. Pennsylvania has fully 21 healthcare facilities with this designation.
Some Pennsylvania employers do have a career ladder program or give higher salaries to BSN prepared nurses. Another common reason that registered nurses enroll in BS programs is that they bring them closer to their eventual goal of graduate school and advanced practice. If this is you, you might want to explore combined RN to BSN/MSN programs.
RN to BSN Program Considerations
Pennsylvania has a statewide articulation agreement, the Pennsylvania Articulation Model. If you meet basic eligibility requirements, you will be awarded lower division nursing credits. In some instances, a challenge exam may be required. Some schools, like Gannon University, allow experienced RNs to challenge additional courses through a portfolio. You can also expect credit for non-nursing courses you completed while pursuing your associate degree. Your school may accept CLEP credits.
Your program may be on-campus, online, or a hybrid of the two. There are various scheduling options. You may take one course at a time and move at your own pace or you may progress through the curriculum with your cohort.
You may pay at full-time tuition rates, or there may be a cost per unit. A charge of $400 or more in common
RN to BSN Programs in Pennsylvania
Alvernia College
Bloomsburg University
California University of Pennsylvania
Carlow University
Cedar Crest College
Chatham College
Clarion University
DeSales University
Drexel University
East Stroudsburg University
Eastern University
Edinboro University of Pennsylvania
Gannon University
Gwynedd Mercy College
Holy Family University
Immaculata University
Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Kutztown University
La Roche University
La Salle University
Mansfield University
Marywood University
Millersville University
Misericordia University
Moravian College
Mount Aloysius College
Neumann University
Pennsylvania College of Technology
Pennsylvania State University
Saint Francis University
Slippery Rock University
Temple University
Thomas Jefferson University
University of Pennsylvania
University of Pittsburgh
University of Scranton
Villanova University
West Chester University
Widener University
York College of Pennsylvania
Waynesburg University
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