Best Tennessee RN to BSN Programs

As the field of nursing continues to advance with healthcare changes and emergent technologies and practices, it's important for nurses to stay abreast of evidence-based best practices in the field. To this end, many nurses each year commit to undergoing an RN to BSN program to complete their degree. This advancement, while stressful, opens new pathways for success - both for patients and for nurses themselves.

2020 - Best Online RN to BSN Programs in Tennessee

Tennessee RNs who hold an associate's degree or nursing diploma may wish to advance their career options by enrolling in an RN to BSN completion program. These programs are designed specifically for the busy working RN, and can usually be completed swiftly and efficiently. Online RN to BSN options make the process even easier, as students can work through the curriculum on their own time. To find the perfect program, check out our rankings of the top online RN to BSN programs in Tennessee below. We've ranked the best of the best to help you get started on expanding your nursing career.

For more information on our top nursing school rankings, visit our Methodology Page (https://www.registerednursing.org/rankings-methodology/).

^#1

Baptist College of Health Sciences

Memphis, TN

The RN to BSN program at the Baptist College of Health Sciences in Memphis allows nurses to complete their baccalaureate degrees in a flexible online learning environment. In as little as one year, RNs can complete the 30 credits needed to graduate with a BSN. Courses within the curriculum include Population Health Nursing, Perspectives on Healthy Aging, and others.

• RN to BSN Online/Hybrid

Tuition & Fees:

• $$$$$

Quick Facts:

• Private Non-Profit 4-Year
• Enrollment offered 3 times per year
• 41 transfer credits awarded to active-license RNs

^#2

Union University

Jackson, TN

Union University of Jackson offers an RN to BSN program that can be completed through online E-campus learning (excluding general ed requirements). The program can be completed in 18 months of dedicated study (new cohorts begin in the Fall and Spring semesters). Courses taken include Concepts of Professional Nursing, Leadership in Nursing Practice, a Capstone course, and more.

• RN to BSN Online/Hybrid

Quick Facts:

• Private Non-Profit 4-Year
• Applications accepted on a rolling basis
• Christ-centered school

^#3

East Tennessee State University

Johnson City, TN

Registered nurses can generalize, specialize, lead teams, or work independently in a number of healthcare areas. Earning their BSNs gives professional nurses more career options, and East Tennessee State University lets them obtain their degrees on their own timelines. The online RN to BSN track enables students to transfer gen ed requirements or complete them as part of the program. A practicum is included in the RN-to-BSN, and students can complete as many as four courses each semester.

• RN to BSN Online/Hybrid

Tuition & Fees:

• $$$$$

Quick Facts:

• Public 4-Year
• Priced for affordability
• Accepts recent ASN grads

^#4

Tennessee Wesleyan University

Athens, TN

Tennessee Wesleyan University of Athens provides a user-friendly online RN to BSN program with minimal on-campus visits. Ambitious students can complete the program in as little as three semesters. The program aims to train nurses who can improve patient outcomes, and the curriculum includes clinical research projects that help students achieve this goal.

• RN to BSN Online/Hybrid

Tuition & Fees:

• $$$$$

Quick Facts:

• Private Non-Profit 4-Year
• Students may take proficiency tests to earn up to 12 credit-hours
• Tuition discount for Covenant Health employees

^#5

University of Tennessee Chattanooga

Chattanooga, TN

The online RN to BSN gateway track at the University of Tennessee Chattanooga permits employed RNs to move forward in their jobs while completing their next degree sequence. Covering topics such as health assessments, nursing theory, and community health, committed nursing students can secure their BSN in 16 months. Students complete clinicals as part of their program of study and implement what they learn in the gateway program immediately to the workplace.

• RN to BSN Online/Hybrid

Tuition & Fees:

• $$$$$

Quick Facts:

• Public 4-Year
• One-course-at-time pace
• Program is 4 semesters in length

Admissions Requirements for Tennessee RN to BSN Programs

Whether you've been in the workforce for a short while or a longer-term, returning to the classroom to complete your Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) can seem overwhelming. Below, we've included some of the most common admissions criteria that appear throughout RN to BSN programs in Tennessee.

• Be fully admitted to your university of choice by the application deadline
• Maintain a minimum GPA of 2.6 (cumulative)
• Have graduated from an accredited RN diploma program, also known as an Associate's Degreen in Nursing (ADN)
• Complete all nursing prerequisites with a minimum of 'C' in ADN coursework
• Have an unencumbered nursing license valid for the state of Tennessee

RN to BSN Classes & Courses

Austin Peay State University in Clarksville strives for year on year betterment of their online RN to BSN programming with the philosophy that now is the time for nurses to upgrade and update their credentials. Offered fully online, the program offers such courses as the following to help nurses bridge knowledge and experiential gaps between ADN and BSN.

• NURS 4151 - Community and Public Health Nursing Clinical
• NURS 4170 - Leadership and Management of Professional Nursing
• NURS 4171 - Leadership and Management of Professional Nursing Clinical
• NURS 4180 Trends and Issues of Professional Nursing

Online RN to BSN Programs in Tennessee

Tennessee has more than 20 colleges, professional schools, and universities that offer the RN to BSN program for nurses who wish to upgrade their ADN credentials. With an emphasis on health outcomes and leadership, nurses will find the theoretical components highly useful to integrate into their practice almost immediately. Online courses are designed to fit around a nurse's other personal and professional commitments.

Featured Online School

Carson-Newman University is home to a flexible but rigorous program that assists RNs in transitioning from ADN qualifications to BSN degree. The program can be completed in as few as 14 months and is 100% online. Students have the opportunity to learn from an experienced faculty of nurse educators. Once they graduate, students are well-positioned to explore further credentials and job opportunities by pursuing their Masters of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree.

Admissions and Program Length

There are some differences in RN to BSN program length throughout universities in Tennessee; however, the average seems to be about 12 - 16 months of full-time study. At a part-time pace, students may take up to three years to earn the required number of credits (usually somewhere between 30 and 40). Coupled with ADN transfer credits, students will end the program with a total of about 120 credits and will be eligible for a bachelor of science degree.

Tuition and Cost of Attendance

Students who take part in Cumberland University's program can expect to incur about $515 per credit hour and the course is comprised of approximately 37 core hours. Students are also levied a one-time application fee, as well as an undergraduate graduation fee - both of which total about $250 together. Finally, students should note that they are responsible for buying their own materials, equipment, and textbooks; tuition rates do not

cover these expenses. Due to the distance education component of the online RN to BSN program, costs of living, food, and transportation are not included in this tuition estimate.

Does an RN to BSN Increase My Salary?

With more education, the trend is that employees earn more money and nursing is no exception to this. With a BSN degree, have the opportunity to earn greater responsibility and leadership roles. With that capacity comes more pay and upwardly mobile opportunities. For example, BSN prepared nurses work in ER and trauma, urgent care, and community health initiatives.

RN to BSN Salary Comparison in Tennessee

Tennessee RNs can earn as little as $37,000 or as much as almost $70,000 depending on the degree that they hold and their experience. Other factors like where they practice can also influence their salary. The single biggest determining factor is whether they hold only an ADN degree or have continued on to achieve a BSN - a difference in some cases of more than $15,000 per year. We can assume that BSN prepared nurses will earn closer to the average in the state or more, which is about $52,000 annually.

2021 List of RN to BSN Programs in Tennessee

Careers in public health, clinical managers, and government agencies could be the career advancement opportunities that become available to candidates that take up a Bachelor's of Science in Nursing degree. Making $4,000 more annually than an ADN nurse is also another benefit in investing in your career goals. The benefits of having a BSN degree or higher can be obtained by attending one of the more than 20 RN to BSN programs offered throughout the state and by different modalities, including online part-time studies.

Find RN to BSN Programs By City:

• Memphis RN to BSN Programs
• Nashville RN to BSN Programs
• Knoxville RN to BSN Programs

Are we missing your school's program or need to update information listed? Please contact us so we can make the necessary changes.