Direct articulation of AD nursing students into an RN-to-BSN completion program: a research study

A study was undertaken to investigate the educational validity of direct articulation for AD students into an upper division RN-completion program through transfer of nursing credit. The results suggested that there is a common core of content in both associate- and baccalaureate-level nursing curricula, and that transferring associate degree nursing (ADN) credit into an RN-to-BSN upper division program is defensible. Statistical analysis revealed no significant difference between ADN seniors graduating from National League for Nursing (NLN)-accredited programs and candidates for university admission in composite scores on the ACT-PEP validation battery if the student achieved a final GPA of 2.75 or above. Based on these results, the faculty has recommended the adoption of a general policy of direct articulation for students from state-approved, NLN-accredited ADN programs into the RN-to-BSN program at La Salle University.