The online Registered Nurse (RN) to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program at The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) prepares RNs with associate degrees and those with nursing diplomas to take the next step in their nursing careers. If you are looking to take this step, the flexibility and convenience of UTA’s program can make your aspirations an achievable reality.
With programmatic accreditation from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), the College of Nursing and Health Innovation at UTA offers convenient five- to eight-week courses that allow you to complete the RN to BSN program at an accelerated pace. Further, with the online design of UTA’s RN to BSN program, you can progress through studies while continuing to work, take care of family or fulfill other obligations. Read on to find out more about this accessible, career-advancing degree program.
What Will I Learn?
The online RN to BSN program at UTA builds on your nursing skills by providing courses that focus on evidenced-based practice, leadership and interprofessional collaboration. The courses in this program will expand your nursing practice and provide you the credential you need to advance your career. You’ll be able to offer your patients an even higher level of knowledge and expertise. These classes will also strengthen your critical thinking and decision-making skills.
Some nurses may wonder why they need to complete courses in liberal arts in order to obtain their BSN, which is understandable. “When am I going to use composition writing skills or a knowledge of art history on the job?” While you might not use those skills or that knowledge on daily basis, those classes will enhance your nursing practice.
Liberal arts studies foster the critical thinking skills that make you more adaptable to challenging situations or new positions. In fact, critical thinking is widely seen as an essential skill in nursing. Knowledge of liberal arts also provides a solid foundation for advanced education — perfect for nurses who may want to pursue a graduate degree down the road.
What Courses Will I Take?
The RN to BSN program at UTA covers subjects not typically taught at the associate or diploma levels. These courses prepare you to improve patient outcomes using evidence-based research, while also preparing you for leadership roles and graduate study.
Here are a few examples of the courses in the curriculum:
- Holistic Health Assessment Across the Lifespan — This course covers the theory and practice of holistic health assessment for people across the lifespan. Holistic health assessments go beyond a quick physical exam and take mental, spiritual and emotional health into account. You will be required to apply what you’ve learned in a clinical setting, which you can complete at your workplace.
- RN to BSN Promoting Healthy Lifestyles — This course explores the ways nurses can promote health through education and other means. Disease prevention is also an important part of this course.
- Health Policy, Legal Aspects and Informatics in Nursing — This course explores health policy and associated legislative and political concerns. You’ll also study the nurse practice act and ethical aspects that impact contemporary nursing practice.
- Nursing Research — You’ll learn the research process, from concept to application. The course also covers the role of research in decision-making and clinical practice.
- Nursing Leadership & Management — This course covers organizational strategies and leadership theories. It also explores the societal trends that influence healthcare. You’ll be required to apply what you’ve learned in a clinical setting, which you can do at work.
Those are just a few of the nursing courses offered. Here are other examples of core courses and elective courses you may complete in UTA’s online RN to BSN:
- Holistic Care of Older Adults
- Population and Community Health Nursing
- Role Transition to Professional Nursing
- Cooperative Nursing Work Experience — Applications Course
- Legacy of the Family
What Type of Clinical Experiences Will I Complete in the RN to BSN Program at UTA?
You may wonder why you need to have clinical experiences since you are a licensed, practicing RN. UTA doesn’t require traditional supervised clinical experiences. Students in the RN to BSN program will have a variety of opportunities to take the knowledge and skills they learn in the classroom — evidence-based practice or holistic assessments, for example — and apply it in their workplace or community.
Students may write a report or complete a project that they will share with their faculty and fellow students allowing for rich feedback and discussion. Because the clinical experiences in the RN to BSN program are completed in this manner, you will not need to identify a specific preceptor for your coursework.
What Are the General Education Requirements?
All universities have core requirements for bachelor’s degrees, regardless of the major. Schools offering associate degrees or nursing diplomas do not have the same requirements, so RN to BSN students must meet these general education requirements to graduate.
For example, if the state requires two history courses, but the student has only taken one, they’ll need to take another history course to graduate with a BSN. Students must complete these core courses before their final nursing class. UTA offers all of these classes online.
What Classes Will Transfer to UTA?
UTA accepts many course credits from most colleges. Many prospective students have been out of school for a while and want to know if there is an expiration date on the courses they’ve taken in the past. No, there is not. Though some schools require more current science classes, UTA does not have a time stipulation for those either.
UTA’s generous transfer policies allow students to get the most out of their previous collegiate studies and experience, saving time and money. For instance, if you can satisfy all general education and elective requirements through previous studies, and you have already passed a national nursing certification exam, you may be able to complete UTA’s online RN to BSN program in as few as nine months. You can find out more about UTA’s transfer credit and equivalency policies on the Office of the Registrar website.
Accreditation Matters
As mentioned earlier, the nursing programs from the College of Nursing and Health Innovation at UTA are CCNE-accredited. CCNE is an autonomous accrediting agency, officially recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education. “Moving Ahead with Your Nursing Education: Why Accreditation Matters” published in Newsweek reports, “According to the Council for Higher Education Accreditation, a national advocacy group for academic quality, accreditation means that a program or institution has gone through a rigorous review and evaluation process by experts in the field.”
There are several drawbacks to programs that lack accreditation. These programs are not approved for federal financial aid, and many graduate schools do not accept applicants from these colleges. A degree from a non-accredited school can also hinder your employment options.
On the other hand, graduating from a school with highly respected accreditation ensures prospective employers that you are prepared with the contemporary nursing knowledge and skills needed to excel on the job. The accredited UTA program provides the quality instruction necessary for optimal patient care, readies nursing students for graduate school and offers more financial aid opportunities than an unaccredited school could.
Faculty at UTA
Experienced nurse educators who have worked in both the clinical setting and at the university level teach UTA’s RN to BSN courses. Online students have the same instructors as their on-campus peers. If you would like to know more about who you will be learning from, in-depth faculty profiles are available for each educator.
Benefits of an Online RN to BSN Program
The online RN to BSN program at UTA is perfect for working RNs. It allows nursing students to keep working at their current jobs, where they can apply what they learn daily. Because you can do your assignments when it is most convenient, you also have to time to spend with family and friends as well as time to handle any other responsibilities.
Further, as you can continue working while earning your online RN to BSN from UTA, you can also continue earning a wage and avoid the steep opportunity costs associated with on-campus programs. Income you miss out on while attending school in person is a prime example of opportunity cost.
The accelerated program also helps you earn your BSN sooner, meaning you can see a quicker return on investment through increased wages. According to ZipRecruiter data from September 2024, BSN-prepared nurses make, on average, $45,000 more annually than ADN nurses.
The RN to BSN program at UTA is offered completely online and led by the same faculty as the on-campus version. The CCNE-accredited College of Nursing and Health Innovation provides top-notch instruction and exceptional student support. This program is ideal for working nurses who want to improve their nursing practice. Earning a BSN also enables nurses to pursue a graduate degree, should they later decide on a career path that requires it.
Learn more about UTA’s online RN to BSN program.
