National survey of RN-to-BSN programs

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Higher Education in Health Professions

Background:

• Over 600 RN-to-BSN programs exist in the U.S.
• Limited data available on program curricula, length, and prerequisites.
• Essential to support the Institute of Medicine's goal of 80% BSN-prepared RNs by 2020.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a comprehensive overview of current RN-to-BSN programs.
• To identify key characteristics and potential areas for improvement.
• To inform educators for program evaluation and comparison.

Main Methods:

• Data collection and analysis of RN-to-BSN programs.
• Categorization of data into background, curriculum, instructional formats, and evaluation.
• Survey-based approach to gather program information.

Main Results:

• Identified variations in program structures and content.
• Highlighted potential weaknesses in program quality amidst growth.
• Provided a benchmark for evaluating existing RN-to-BSN curricula.

Conclusions:

• RN-to-BSN programs must balance flexibility with academic rigor.
• Continuous evaluation is necessary to ensure quality education.
• Findings can guide program development and improvement efforts.