As the flagship public university for the state of Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania State University, known as Penn State, offers scores of majors and degrees for its 95,000 enrolled students. Penn State's World Campus enrolls less than 10% of that figure, with about 8,500 students in more than 70 different degree options. One of the more popular programs, the RN to BSN online nursing degree, provides a distance learning option for busy registered nurses.
RN to BSN Online Nursing Degree at Penn State
Some students, such as Joe Julian, R.N., B.S.N., enter the Penn State RN to BSN online nursing degree to complete a degree started decades earlier, while others go straight from an associate degree program into the RN to BSN curriculum. According to Barbra Vogeley Haberer, M.Ed, Academic Adviser for the School of Nursing, the online bachelor degree in nursing program enrolls more than 400 students, many of whom go back to college as a result of pressure from current employers.
"With the current economic situation, many new associate degree and diploma-trained RNs are not finding jobs," says Haberer. "They've decided to use this time of unemployment to advance their education and increase the employment opportunities. We also see RNs who work for hospitals going for Magnet status coming back to school. One of the criterion for Magnet status is having a certain percentage of the RNs be BSN trained. It is well documented that BSN-trained nurses have lower incidence of error."
Online Bachelor Degree for Registered Nurses
The 120-credit online bachelor degree program offers students who possess a valid registered nurse license 33 advanced-standing credits, trimming the remainder of the program down to 87 credits. For students with more extensive college experience, transferring additional credits may be possible.
The Penn State RN to BSN nursing degree is accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission as well as the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, and is approved by the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing, important credentials for RNs seeking an online nursing degree that can be used as a springboard for graduate school at a later date, if desired.
Nursing Online for Full-time Workers
The NLNAC and CCNE accreditation are not the only reasons students choose this program, as Haberer points out. "A degree from Penn State is very desirable as our name recognition goes far and wide. The online program offers the convenience of flexibility coupled with the strong research-based curriculum."
Pacing and individual attention are significant factors in the nursing online component: "The courses are offered every semester, which allows students to move through the program at their pace. Some take one class a year - others may go full time and finish in two or three semesters. The students get individualized attention from their adviser, who helps guide them through the process, tailoring their academic plan to their individual needs."
For more information about the Penn State RN to BSN nursing degree visit the school's website or call 800-252-3592.