Methodist College Board Approves Revisions to Online RN-BSN Program

A revision in the curriculum of the online Registered Nurse (RN) to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree at Methodist College will allow students in the program to complete the degree in less time. At its regular meeting on April 10, 2019, the college’s board of directors approved the revision that reduces the required credit hours from 43 to 30. The new program, known as the RN to BSN program, is designed with 30 credits of nursing courses that expand the nurse’s knowledge in several areas, including leadership, evidence-based practice, and population health. The degree is designed to provide the maximum flexibility for students while, at the same time, maintaining the requirements for students to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree.

The RN to BSN program allows licensed registered nurses, who earned their nursing education credentials through an accredited diploma program or associate degree program, to take courses to earn a bachelor’s degree in nursing. Students will be able to transfer up to 90 of the total 120 credits required to complete a Bachelor of Science in nursing degree. Students who have fewer than the 90 credits to transfer may need to take additional elective courses in order to fulfill the 120 credit requirement.

“As more and more hospitals across the country require nursing staff to have the bachelor of science in nursing credential, often because the hospital is seeking Magnet designation, the demand for RN to BSN degree programs has increased,” said Dr. Deborah Garrison, Methodist College provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs, “While Methodist College has offered the online RN to BSN degree for several years, our faculty, led by the coordinator of the program, Dr. Lori Wagner, realized we needed to make changes to meet the needs of today’s working, professional nurse.”

The revised online RN to BSN program offers many advantages to students: students can complete the program in as little as three semesters depending on whether they are a part-time or a full-time student, they are able to plan their study time around their work schedules, there are no on-campus requirements, and they can plan their practicum experiences to match their work schedules and their professional goals. In addition, Methodist College offers a pathway for the registered nurse to bridge to the Master of Science in Nursing program. 

The new curriculum is effective with the fall 2019 semester. More information is available at www.methodistcol.edu/rn-bsn or by reaching out to one of the college’s recruitment coordinators at (309) 672-5513.