An RN to BSN program is specifically designed for practicing nurses who have already earned a nursing diploma or an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN). Lasting about 18 months, the RN to BSN program is shorter than a standard BSN, which normally takes four years. It enables registered nurses to build on the nursing expertise and clinical experience they already have.

Keuka College’s RN to BSN program takes about 18 months to complete.

An RN is a Registered Nurse, a professional who has earned a nursing diploma or an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN). They have passed the NCLEX-RN exam and have met all the other licensing requirements mandated by their state’s board of nursing. 

After a nurse becomes an RN, they can continue on to get a BSN degree (Bachelor of Science in Nursing) either through a regular four-year degree program, or by attending a program that builds on their coursework and clinical experience such as the RN to BSN degree offered at Keuka College.

All nurses are valuable and essential members of our healthcare system. One isn’t better than another. However, an increasing number of educators, health care agencies, employers, professional associations, and medical community members encourage RNs to pursue a BSN as a way to expand their expertise after licensure. 

You might associate registered nurses only with hospitals and doctor’s offices, but there are opportunities for BSN-equipped registered nurses to work in a wide variety of settings. You can work in a school, a corporate environment, a pharmaceutical company, on a plane as an in-flight nurse, in the military, in public health, or in someone’s home. With a BSN, your regular patient care responsibilities will grow to include educator, management, or departmental coordinator roles. And, a BSN will put you one step closer to earning a master’s degree in nursing, should you choose to continue your education.

Research shows BSN-prepared nurses are linked to better patient outcomes, so many employers now require that nurses hold a BSN prior to employment. A BSN will also qualify you for employment at a hospital that has received designation as a Magnet Hospital. Nurses who work at these facilities report higher job satisfaction, greater autonomy, and improved patient satisfaction.

Additionally, earning your BSN from Keuka College will qualify you to fill positions you would not be able to get without a BSN. Coursework in a BSN program prepares nurses to handle the complexities of modern day healthcare, which requires competency not only with skill-based nursing duties, but also with health policy, research, evidence-based practice, teamwork and collaboration, leadership and complex decision making. 

According to 2019 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the salary for registered nurses in New York is about  $87,840 per year ($42.23 per hour), with the highest 10 percent earning more than $100,000. 

The American Association of Colleges of Nursing has reported that BSN nurses have lower patient mortality rates, higher proficiency at diagnosis and evaluating nursing interventions, lower failure-to-rescue rates, and improved professional integration and research/evaluation skills.

Earning an RN to a BSN at Keuka College is an affordable investment in your future. The cost of the degree is around $16,150 and there are many options for financial aid, including grants, loans, and scholarships. Oftentimes, an employer will have a program in which they pay for all or part of the degree. Our financial aid staff will help you work through all the options to help you determine what the best solution will be for you and your family.

Yes! Once you have your degree, your income can rise to almost $90,000 annually, making the short term investment in furthering your education one that will pay off exponentially throughout the rest of your career. Not only that, but getting your bachelor’s degree qualifies you to continue your education, opening up doors to careers as nurse practitioners, nurse leaders, and more, many of which have six-figure salaries.

You’ll need to have completed an associate degree, nursing diploma, or have 60 or more transferable credits from an accredited institution. Your minimum cumulative grade point average needs to be 2.5 on a 4.0 scale. You must hold current registration as a registered nurse (RN) and hold an unencumbered NYS license. And, you must be currently working as an RN either full or part time.

The College’s RN to BSN degree program builds on the skills and knowledge you already have as an RN, and was designed to meet the needs of busy working professionals who may have family obligations to balance as well. You can do your coursework online when it fits into your schedule. Then, meet face-to-face with your instructor and classmates once a week for four hours. Classes are held at Arnot Ogden Medical Center, Crouse Hospital, St. Joe's Hospital, Geneva General, Rochester General, Cayuga Medical Center Ithaca, Lourdes Hospital, Corning CC Health Education Center, Broome Community College, and Cayuga Community College. The program can be completed in less than two years.

The simple answer is yes. RN to BSN programs are challenging for many students. But Keuka College provides many kinds of support to help you navigate any challenges you may face. RN to BSN students have access to professional librarians able to help with research and information-seeking needs. Faculty in our Writing Center are able to help with writing papers and presentations. And your Student Success Adviser will journey with you though the program to make sure your classes are going well and ensure that you are enrolled in the right classes to fulfill your degree. And they all will be there cheering you as you cross the stage and get your diploma at graduation!

​Pursuing a degree does require a great deal of self-discipline, but we’re willing to bet that you have what it takes to excel at our RN to BSN program because you have already put in the hard work to become an RN. Not only that, but you work day in and day out to provide the best care possible for your patients in an exceedingly challenging time in healthcare. If you care enough to put in the time and effort to become a better nurse than you already are, then you definitely have what it takes to succeed at Keuka College.

If you’ve recently received your initial licensure from NYS you might think about waiting a while to get your BSN degree. After all, you have ten years, right? But here’s one good reason to start now—it will save you money! Education costs rise about 3% each year. So, starting now versus waiting for nine years will save you 30% on the cost of your tuition! Couple that with the fact that your salary will be higher sooner, and you have a double whammy on your cost-savings. It’s a win-win!