Top RN-to-BSN programs in Alabama

Nurses come with different academic preparations and clinical training. Some are graduates of a four-year bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) program, while others complete programs that require fewer academic units and classroom hours, such as licensed practical nurses (LPNs) and those with an associate’s degree in nursing (ADN). Approximately half of practicing registered nurses in the US hold a BSN and are thus qualified to take on a wider range of nursing responsibilities.

The Institute of Medicine of the National Academies recommends that 80% of nurses in the US hold a bachelor’s degree by the year 2020. The healthcare industry has taken this recommendation to heart, as its recruitment process now centers on hiring more competent and educated nurses to face the complex challenges of a growing and aging population. This invariably means giving preference to registered nurses with BSN degrees.

Find a school

Since many aspiring nurses start with an ADN program – a shorter alternative to the BSN that is less expensive – healthcare employers encourage these RNs to continue their education by offering top positions and higher wages to BSN degree holders. Most nursing schools have thus adopted new RN-to-BSN programs for working nurses that offer flexible class schedules.

With so many nursing schools offering these programs, it’s important to know which ones provide the best education. Below is a list of the top nursing schools with accredited RN-to-BSN programs in Alabama.