Arkansas, AR - RN to BSN Nursing School Programs

RN to BSN programs in Arkansas allow Registered Nurses to continue their education while still remaining in the work force. They can be done during the evening and/or through distance education, and can be completed in as little as a year thanks to NLN Nursing Acceleration Challenge Exams. These standardized exams test current knowledge in various areas of nursing and allow students to receive advancement placement based on their current knowledge of nursing processes and skills, medical and surgical processes and knowledge, pediatrics, mental health and maternal newborn care, and so forth.

RN to BSN programs are not offered by all schools in Arkansas. However, there are online options available through such schools as The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock, which means they can be done from anywhere in the state with internet access. Requirements for entry are similar to other nursing school requirements, such as a minimum of a 2.5 GPA. And like an ADN or BSN, admission to general studies is required before applying to a nursing school. After acceptance into an RN to BSN program, students take courses in nursing research, leadership, family and community health, community assessment and upper level electives that allow for further specialization of knowledge during an RN to BSN—topics such as health care law, community health education, pharmaceutical research and more, as well as electives from other fields of study that pique as student’s interest. Child psychology, sociology of education, and many other topics can be part of an RN to BSN degree.

In Arkansas, RN to BSN programs do not have a final test, but they do have standards for graduation—often a C average. The skills gained in research, critical thinking, and assorted specialized topics helps open doors in both public and private sector workplaces. Leadership and management skills offer the opportunity for advancement in current occupational settings as well. And while an average Registered Nurse’s salary sits around $57,000 (according to BLS.gov) in Arkansas, graduates of an RSN to BSN program have the opportunity to earn higher wages than those who lack a BSN, especially considering that they will typically have nursing experience and connections in the health care industry already.