You’ve just finished a grueling eight-hour or 12-hour shift at the hospital. It’s the kind of day where you want to just go home to unwind and relax. But what if you’re committed to improving your career by earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree? Working nurses can achieve this goal by completing a Registered Nurse (RN) to BSN program.
If you’re taking RN to BSN courses on a college campus, you may not have time to fight traffic from work to your home and then to class. You may need to grab dinner at a drive-through, circle the campus for a parking spot and then trudge to a classroom, leaving you at less than your best to absorb needed knowledge.
If you’re in an online class, though, you can log in whenever you’re ready to do so. You can get home, cook yourself dinner and even change into PJs before booting up your computer.
These scenarios highlight some basic differences that matter for nurses considering the online RN to BSN program from Eastern Michigan University (EMU). There are many good reasons for RNs who lack a BSN to obtain the degree, but for a working RN, an on-campus program presents additional stressors for the duration of the program. An on-campus program calls for a commitment of not only time and money but also patience if a commute is involved.
Benefits of the Online Class Model
EMU’s online program addresses those stressors head on. Consider the advantages:
- Whereas a campus-based program typically requires a fall or spring semester start, EMU’s program offers six start dates each year. This means you can start when you’re ready.
- Whereas a campus-based program on a semester schedule keeps you in a course for 16 weeks — often with an attendance requirement that can be challenging to maintain for the length of time — each class in EMU’s online program lasts just 7.5 weeks, allowing students to take an accelerated path to completion.
- Whereas a campus-based program requires you to attend class at set dates and times, EMU’s classes offer more flexibility. They’re designed to be asynchronous — as long as you keep to the assignment deadlines, you log in when it’s convenient for you.
- Whereas a campus-based program requires full-time attendance which can mean giving up income and potential promotions or raises, EMU’s classes allow students to keep making full-time income and pursuing career advancement opportunities while earning their degree.
Further, there’s an additional benefit to an asynchronous class besides making for a more flexible schedule. The benefits of asynchronous learning expand past just flexibility and efficiency. Big Think reports that asynchronous learning gives students time to mull over, compose and double-check their online discussion responses before sharing with the rest of the class. Online learning has also shown that it can improve retention rates for learning and information.
Why EMU’s RN to BSN Program
These are just a few of the benefits of earning a BSN degree online. The benefits of earning a BSN on its own include a higher median salary, wider job and career opportunities and essential skills and expertise that can buoy them to better jobs or promotions. An advanced degree, like a BSN from EMU, not only helps nurses succeed, but will also result in better patient care and outcomes.
Focused, goal-minded students can complete EMU’s online RN to BSN program in as few as 12-24 months — far quicker than many campus-based BSN programs. EMU designed this program for working nurses who already hold a diploma or associate degree but seek to elevate their careers and their nursing practice by earning a BSN.
Learn more about Eastern Michigan University’s online RN to BSN program.
