Associate Degree to Baccalaureate Nursing Degree: Dual Enrollment in an Asynchronous Online Program

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Higher Education Policy
• Workforce Development

Background:

• A novel summer dual enrollment program was developed for Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) students to complete online Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) coursework.
• This initiative aimed to expedite BSN degree attainment and enhance the diversity of the registered nurse (RN) workforce.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the feasibility and impact of a dual enrollment program enabling ADN students to concurrently complete BSN courses.
• To evaluate the program's effect on the proportion and diversity of individuals obtaining BSN degrees.

Main Methods:

• Students undertaking ADN programs enrolled in up to seven asynchronous online BSN courses over three summers.
• A longitudinal study tracked the demographics and experiences of participants from 32 ADN programs.
• Seamless matriculation into the BSN program was facilitated upon completion of dual enrollment courses.

Main Results:

• Dual-enrolled students exhibited greater diversity compared to the state's existing RN workforce.
• Participants reported high satisfaction and the ability to apply BSN knowledge in their prelicensure coursework.
• Financial challenges were identified as a barrier for some students participating in the program.

Conclusions:

• The program's success and growth confirm the viability of engaging ADN students in BSN coursework earlier.
• This model demonstrates a practical strategy for accelerating BSN completion and diversifying the nursing profession.