Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)

BSN is an undergraduate degree which stands for Bachelor of Science in Nursing. A BSN degree is one way to pursue your RN licensure or gain more advanced skills if you’re already an RN.

RN is a licensed credential that individuals earn and maintain (as well as a job title), while a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) is a degree that many registered nurses obtain.

While you can still become an RN without earning a BSN degree, the major difference is the path and time commitment required. You can go straight to the job market as an RN with your associate degree, or you can opt to begin at a more advanced level of education with a BSN degree. Having a BSN under your belt may open the door to a greater variety of job options in specialized nursing units as well as nursing management and leadership roles.

Yes, you can earn your BSN degree without being a certified RN! That’s why we offer multiple entry tracks to help BSN students at every level get started— whether it’s your first time in nursing and you're looking for a traditional BSN program or you’re adding on to your experience as a second degree program.

Our BSN degree program is a hybrid of online and on-campus classes. It also includes self-directed assessments to help you save time and money. The flexible online courses still give you the knowledge and skills you need through expert instruction and real-life examples. The campus-based classes let you dive into campus life and gain hands-on clinical practice as a future BSN nurse.

Many nursing schools these days include a combination of online and on-campus courses. Online courses give you the flexibility you need, as well as valuable knowledge to apply in clinical practice. To give you further confidence, our BSN program is CCNE accredited,1 meaning that we meet the requirements set forth by CCNE to ensure the quality and integrity of programs.

Employment conditions will vary, but you can feel confident in our CCNE-accredited BSN degree program. Accreditation means that our nursing curriculum is built to CCNE standards—qualifications that hospitals and clinics are looking for.

In addition, all Rasmussen programs are developed with a “backward design” mindset, meaning we prioritize the intended learning outcomes rather than just basic topics to be covered. It’s about how you’ll apply your skills throughout your career. You’ll gain advanced skills in leadership, critical thinking, health promotion and more.

Our online RN to BSN program helps RNs earn their BSN degree faster. Since these students are already an RN, they are equipped with vast hands-on experience. The remaining classes needed to earn their BSN degree are online, with additional in-person clinicals to ensure full skills advancement. Plus, our RN to BSN program is CCNE accredited1 for student and employer confidence.

A background in public health can be helpful but is not required to pursue a nursing career. You’ll gain experience throughout your education, whether you stop at your BSN or continue to your MSN or DNP.