Rasmussen College Expands Accelerated Entrance Options for Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree in Florida

“We are excited to expand our two accelerated BSN entrance options to our College campuses in Tampa/Brandon and Fort Myers. These options will help more students fulfill their dreams of becoming registered nurses at an accelerated pace,” said Dr. Joan Rich, vice president of the School of Nursing at Rasmussen College. “Since we first launched our accelerated BSN entrance options in Land O’Lakes/East Pasco nearly a year ago, we have seen significant interest from prospective students across the United States which is reflective of the need and demand for accelerated nursing programs. At Rasmussen College, we work closely with our healthcare partners in each community to understand their current employment needs. We know the accelerated entrance options for our BSN degree will allow dedicated, driven students the opportunity to get into the nursing profession quickly while also positively impacting the Tampa Bay and Southwest Florida communities.”

High Demand for RNs with a Bachelor’s Degree in Florida

The Institute of Medicine (IOM) recommends the proportion of working RNs with bachelor’s degrees increases to 80 percent by 2020 in order to meet the needs of an aging population and the evolving healthcare system across the U.S. According to labor analytics firm Burning Glass, there were more than 28,000 job postings over the past year for RNs with a bachelor’s degree in Florida. Around 5,500 of those job postings were in the Tampa Bay metropolitan area, with another 1,400 postings in Southwest Florida. When compared to the number of job postings just five years ago — around 11,000 — there has been a 150 percent growth in demand for registered nurses with bachelor’s degrees in Florida.

“With several large healthcare systems and hospitals, the state of Florida has one of the highest demands for registered nurses around the country,” said Kelly McCullough, regional dean of nursing at Rasmussen College. “The Rasmussen College BSN degree program will prepare students for a leadership role in the nursing field by providing real-world curriculum taught by experienced nursing faculty as well as hands-on training and practicum experiences. Upon graduation, students will also be fully prepared for the RN licensure exam.”

Two Accelerated Pre-Licensure BSN Entrance Options

Second Degree Entrance Option

The Second Degree Entrance Option is a pre-licensure track that may be completed in as few as 18 months.* Candidates for this option currently hold a non-nursing bachelor’s degree and are now looking to complete their BSN.

Standard Entrance Option

The Standard Entrance Option is a pre-licensure track that may be completed in as few as 33 months.* Candidates for this option do not currently hold a bachelor’s degree. Students who enroll in the BSN program through the Standard Entrance Option are also eligible for the College’s Flex Choice^® Credit by Assessment, which allows them to complete some of their general education courses through optional, online self-directed assessments at a more affordable cost.

Post-Licensure BSN Entrance Option

RN to BSN Entrance Option

Rasmussen College also offers a fully online Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN) Entrance Option. This post-licensure option is designed for registered nurses who have obtained their RN degree through an associate’s degree program (or diploma and/or certificate) and are looking to advance their nursing careers by obtaining a degree from a CCNE-accredited program. The RN to BSN entrance option may be completed in as few as 12 months.*

To learn more about the accelerated entrance options for the Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree now being offered at the Rasmussen College Tampa/Brandon and Fort Myers campuses, please visit www.rasmussen.edu/degrees/nursing/accelerated-bsn-second/ or www.rasmussen.edu/degrees/nursing/accelerated-bsn-standard/.

*Completion time is dependent on transfer credits accepted and courses completed each term.
The Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree program at Rasmussen College is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE):
One Dupont Circle NW | Suite 530 | Washington, DC 20036
202-887-6791 | https://www.aacnnursing.org/ccne-accreditation.