Virginia, VA - RN to BSN Nursing School Program

An RN to BSN is a targeted program. Essentially, it allows currently employed Registered Nurses to expand their knowledge while continuing to work, usually through night classes and online coursework. RN to BSN programs in Virginia are also attractive because they allow currently working RNs to shorten the education process through 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 where they currently stand with regards to nursing processes and skills, medical and surgical processes and knowledge, pediatrics, mental health and maternal newborn care, and more. This allows currently employed Registered Nurses to tailor individual coursework to their needs and to reach career goals, with the added bonus that an RN to BSN can be completed in as little as a year.

Not all schools in Virginia offer RN to BSNs, but with online options available, they can be completed from almost anywhere with internet in the state. Entry requirements 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 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. Other specialized courses are also available from throughout the science department; RN to BSN students may take anything from upper level biochemistry to philosophy of health and sociology of health.

There is no final test like the NCLEX in a Virginia RN to BSN, but there are always minimum graduating requirements—usually a C average. And once a student has graduated, many newfound opportunities for career advancement open up. Research and critical thinking skills, a broader scope of knowledge, and further leadership training can lead to both public and private sector research positions and community health programming beyond a hospital or clinical setting. 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 $60,000 (according to BLS.gov)in Virginia, graduates of an RSN to BSN program have the opportunity to move to the higher end of the nursing salary scale, which in some cases can reach upwards of $80,000 per year, plus benefits.