A recent report released by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing noted an association between nurses who hold BSN degrees and positive patient outcomes such as lower rates of post-operative deep vein thrombosis and infections, and even decreases in post-surgical mortality.
Registered Nurses that go on to earn a BSN in Vermont are able to take on more clinical responsibilities, enjoy better salaries, and pursue leadership roles in the state’s thriving healthcare system. To help them achieve these goals, they may take advantage of state programs such as the Vermont State Nursing Incentive Scholarship, which awards $6,000 towards two-year RN-BSN degree program for RNs planning to continue working in the state.
Pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree in Vermont
Registered nurses looking for an RN to BSN program in Vermont have multiple options. There are five institutions that offer RN to Bachelor of Science Nursing programs in Vermont:
- Castleton State College
- Norwich University
- Southern Vermont College
- Vermont Technical College
- University of Vermont
To enroll in one of these programs, licensed RNs will need to meet the following requirements prior to applying:
- A minimum cumulative 2.5 GPA in their ADN program
- Currently hold an active, unencumbered US RN license
- Transfer no more than 64 credits from an ADN degree program
Components of an RN to BSN Program in Vermont
Because BSN nurses enjoy higher pay and greater career opportunities, RN to BSN tracks are in high demand in Vermont and offer flexible online course options designed to accommodate working RNs. In an ADN or RN to BSN program, students will complete coursework similar to this:
- ADN General Core Coursework
- Two Writing courses
- FY Quest for Success
- One Humanities course
- One Social Sciences course
- One Natural Sciences or Math course
- BSN General Core Requirements
- Macro-Economics (4 cr)
- Statistical Methods (4 cr)
- General Chemistry I (4 cr)
- Nutrition (4 cr)
- Lifespan Development (4 cr)
- Race, Ethnicity Gender and Class (4 cr)
- Humanities Core (4 cr)
- Upper-level Requirement (2 Non-Nursing Courses at 300/400 level)
- Nursing Major Requirements
- Bridge to Professional Nursing (4 cr)
- Health Assessment (4 cr)
- Research and Evidence Based Practice in Nursing (4 cr)
- Pharmacology (4 cr)
- Community and Public Health Nursing (4 cr)
- Transition to Professional Practice (4 cr)
- Leadership and Management for Quality Healthcare (4 cr)
Clinical Experience in RN-BSN programs in VT
Clinical experience is also a component of all BSN programs in the state. Students enrolled in online or campus-based RN to BSN programs in Vermont may obtain clinical experience at the following institutions:
- University of Vermont Medical Center in Burlington, VT
- Southern Vermont College’s Health Education Center
- Southwestern Vermont Medical Center
- Virtual Hospital Simulation Lab in Castleton, VT
- Berlin Health and Rehabilitation Center in Berlin, VT
- Central Vermont Medical Center in Berlin, VT
- Gifford Memorial Hospital in Randolph, VT
- Fletcher Allen Health Care in Burlington, VT
Once they complete an RN to BSN program, RNs in Vermont can use their degree to further their career, and even go on to pursue MSN or DNP –level APRN (Advanced Practice Registered Nurse) degrees. Jobs open to APRN certified nurses include nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives, clinical nurse specialists, and certified nurse practitioners.
Benefits of Earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in Vermont
Nurses pursuing an RN to BSN degree join a growing number of their peers who are returning to school. In fact, according to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, nearly 100,000 RNs returned to school in 2012 alone. Career mobility, higher pay and a greater scope of practice are just a few of the benefits these RN to BSN candidates enjoy.
In Rasmussen College’s discussion of RN versus BSN programs, they note that in an analysis of 187,423 nursing job postings made over three months in 2013, positions requiring just a post-secondary or associate degree had a mean salary of $66,620, while the mean salary for BSN postings was $75,484.
Not only do BSN prepared nurses enjoy higher pay, they are also eligible for a wider scope of employment and more specialized jobs that suit their particular interests and skill sets. According to Health Careers eNetwork, the following jobs are available to Bachelors of Science in Nursing prepared nurses:
- Hospice and Palliative Care Nurse
- OB/GYN Nurse
- Certified Pediatric Nurse
- Surgical/Post-Operative Care Nurse
- Intensive Care Unit (ICU) Nurse
In addition, the following are examples of positions BSN prepared nurses are eligible for in Vermont:
- Director of Med/Surg and SCU
- Case Management Utilization Review Coordinator
- Nursing Supervisor
On top of such immediate career benefits, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree better prepares nurses to eventually become Advanced Practicing Nurses. In fact, DNP degree programs only admit students who have already earned a BSN at minimum.
This higher level of education will be crucial in coming years as the aging faculty in the state’s nursing programs retire. In 2010 an Institute of Medicine report issued a call for a doubling in the number of doctorates held by nurses to accommodate such demand. Indeed, with 32 million Americans gaining health insurance as part of the Affordable Care Act, the demand for APRN nurses to fill the shortage of nursing school faculty and primary care providers will only increase, making an RN to BSN degree program a wise career choice for RNs in Vermont.