Find the Best Online RN to BSN Degree Programs in Louisiana
Earning an RN to BSN degree online in Louisiana is a great option and the logical next step for your professional growth. This guide outlines what you need to know about finding an online RN to BSN program in Louisiana. Learn about the top programs in the state, what to expect from the curriculum, the considerations you should make when choosing one, and the salary comparisons between RN and BSN roles in the healthcare industry.
Inside Online RN to BSN Programs in Louisiana
After becoming a licensed registered nurse and earning your associate degree, you can earn a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN). An increase in career opportunities and earnings await nurses who earn a bachelor’s degree, and it can often happen in a year or less.
Some programs for RN to BSN degrees are designed for working RNs, as they are offered mostly online and asynchronously so you can take classes anytime you want. Others are hybrids, which means there will be some required in-person classes or experiences to supplement online coursework.
Prospective students should be thinking of cost, thorough curriculum, financial aid, balance of work and studies, and qualifications for a course as they weigh the pros and cons of each program. Here are three that made it onto our list as the best options for students just like you.
Louisiana State University of Alexandria
This university’s 100%-online RN to BSN program is designed for working nurses, with an eye toward graduates becoming nurses for specialties such as health education, pediatric care, critical care, and staff management. The program operates on seven-week semesters, allowing full-time students to complete six credit hours per week.
The program requires 45 bachelor’s-level credit hours and includes courses in leadership, care for vulnerable populations, quality improvement strategies, and evidence-based practice. An advisor is assigned to each student to help develop a personalized curriculum plan. Financial aid sources are available for this course for students who qualify.
Duration: 12 to 18 months
Mode: Online and asynchronous
Cost: $14,625
Admissions Requirements:
- Associate degree in nursing from a regionally accredited university
- An active and unencumbered RN license
- A cumulative GPA of 2.25 or higher
- A letter of good standing from an RN-BSN program if you are transferring
Curriculum:
- Professional Role Development
- Health Assessment
- Informatics
- Pathophysiology
- Community Nursing
- Nursing Research
McNeese State University
A 30-credit course in an accelerated format, the RN to BSN program at McNeese State offers six start dates per year, with classes lasting 7 weeks. With an emphasis on the professional side of leadership in nursing care, including curriculum based on communication and collaboration, the program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. It features a special tuition discount for nurses, spouses, dependents, and military members who are part of a partner program from the university. The program encourages people to also apply for grants and loans through FAFSA.
Duration: 10 months
Mode: Online and asynchronous
Cost: $9,000 with a $2,000 discount for nurses with partner healthcare agencies
Admissions Requirements:
- A current and unencumbered RN license
- An associate degree from a nationally accredited nursing program
- Official transcripts
Curriculum:
- Professional Role Transition for RNs
- Informatics/Patient Care Technology
- Research and Evidence-Based Practice
- Community Health Nursing
- Leadership and Management
- Business of Healthcare
Nicholls State University
The RN to BSN program at Nicholls State is designed to build on the skills of registered nurses and help them find roles with greater responsibility or specialization. It also emphasizes how nurses with a bachelor’s degree are better able to positively affect patient and population outcomes through advanced techniques. The program emphasizes evidence-based, patient-centered care in its courses with critical thinking, nursing informatics, inter-professional collaboration, and leadership as particular signposts. It aligns with the American Nurses Association’s “BSN-in-10” initiative, encouraging RNs to obtain their BSN within 10 years of initial licensure.
Duration: 12 to 18 months
Mode: Online and asynchronous
Cost: $26,400
Admissions Requirements:
- Associate degree in nursing from a regionally accredited university
- An active and unencumbered RN license
- A cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher
- Transcripts
Curriculum:
- Clinical Drug Therapy
- Medical Terminology
- Preoperative Nursing Principles and Practices
- Nursing Leadership and Management
- Critical Care Nursing
FAQs for Louisiana RN to BSN Online Students
As you explore Louisiana’s online RN to BSN programs, you will have at least a few questions. Check out our answers to some of the most frequently asked questions below.
How will an RN to BSN program in Louisiana prepare me for better career opportunities?
With a BSN, nurses can apply for a greater range of jobs in the healthcare industry. This means wider availability of leadership roles, many of which still involve direct patient care but include responsibilities for leading key initiatives and groups of nursing teams. It’s also true that some specialty hospitals or facilities require nurses to have a bachelor’s degree in nursing beyond the associate-oriented RN degree. Earning a BSN also opens the door for working in medical research, nursing education roles, and positions in public health to affect policy and outcomes for community populations.
Is there financial aid available to Louisiana RN to BSN students?
Students in Louisiana’s online RN to BSN programs have ample financial aid options available, including grants, scholarships, student loans, and fellowships. As an example of how detailed these can be, and for nursing students interested in serving in understaffed hospitals, the federal government offers the Nurse Corps Scholarship Program. The Louisiana state government also has a long list of state-specific scholarships, though none are currently nursing-specific. The state program known as TOPS, the Louisiana Taylor Opportunity Program for Students, is popular among nursing students, as it pays for full tuition.
In what ways does earning a BSN in Louisiana expand my knowledge base?
Much of what you are taught in a BSN program goes into more detail about nursing techniques, beyond the care itself. It also includes learning more about distinct populations from the elderly to children, as well as communication and leadership techniques for becoming a nurse manager or director. Plus, the Louisiana State Board of Nursing requires 900 hours of continuing education every two years and earning the degree certainly covers that requirement. An RN to BSN program is an organized and comprehensive way to provide better patient care or influence its results on a larger scale.
Will RN to BSN programs in Louisiana accept my past educational credits?
The short answer to this one is yes, but what is accepted may differ between each university or school. Most RN to BSN programs require about 120 credits, but close to or more than half of those are from your time in earning an associate degree in nursing, which likely led to your RN license. You will submit transcripts to show how you did in each course and get a good idea of what will transfer at the admission stage when starting a program.
What are the best qualities for an RN to BSN degree program in Louisiana?
When exploring different programs for your RN to BSN online program, consider objective traits that make a program stand out and subjective ones that make it a good fit for you. Objective traits could include accreditation, cost, financial aid options, quality curriculum, and student support services. Subjective traits relate to your preferred learning style. If you want an asynchronous program, the University of Louisiana Lafayette might work, while the RN to BSN program at Franciscan University is a better fit for someone who wants live, interactive class sessions. The goal is to balance personal course delivery preferences with excellent quality.
Ranking the Best Online RN to BSN Bridge Programs in Louisiana
Below, we have ranked Louisiana schools offering RN to BSN programs by what our research as shown to be their strongest traits. Schools were required to meet criteria established by the national Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). In addition, schools needed to have at least one online component in their programs, as well as accreditation, counseling, and career placement as focal points. The availability of distance education, along with tuition rates, financial aid capabilities, and student-to-faculty ratios were key factors in rankings.
McNeese State University
Lake Charles, Louisiana
Public
Louisiana State University-Alexandria
Alexandria, Louisiana
Public
Nicholls State University
Thibodaux, Louisiana
Public
Salary & Career Comparison: RN vs. BSN
When it comes to earning a BSN degree, and especially through a bridge program for RNs, you can not only affect the way care is provided and taught to younger nurses, but you also can make more money and advance your career.
As the evidence below suggests, having a BSN degree means you can vie for coveted leadership or management roles that naturally pay more, sometimes significantly depending on the type of healthcare office or facility. You also can apply for specialized nursing fields you learned about in your bridge program and be considered for advanced practice roles.
According to the latest data from the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics, RNs in Louisiana earn a median hourly wage of $35.85 an hour, while nurse specialists earn anywhere from $57.06 for nurse practitioners to $101.83 for nurse anesthetists.
As far as national statistics for nurse educators, these professionals earn a mean annual wage of $86,530 annually, compared to the annual mean for RNs, which is $80,670. Another common BSN-earning nurse occupation is as a clinical nurse specialist. According to statistics from ZipRecruiter, a CNS earns an average of $94,545 a year.
