An Online Program for Working Nurses
UNC’s online RN to BSN degree offers a powerful, practical route to career advancement. If you’re a licensed RN with an associate’s degree in nursing (ADN), this five-semester (20-month) nursing bachelor’s degree empowers you to take on leadership roles, raise your professional status and increase your income potential. You can work full-time while you earn the degree, graduating with a career-building credential from a regional leader in nursing education.
Under UNC’s cohort model, you’ll advance through the RN to BSN program with a tight-knit group of classmates, building a network of supportive relationships. You’ll also work with outstanding faculty who combine years of teaching experience with extensive clinical practice and research. Taking two courses per semester, you’ll complete the program with an in-depth practicum that closely fits your career objectives.
Degree Option
B.S. in Nursing (RN-BSN)
UNC offers a more personalized touch than most online RN to BSN degree programs. You’ll interact with classmates and faculty in real time, over a simple-to-use online platform that lets students see and talk to each other. Our practicum experiences are exceptional, providing you with personal guidance and one-on-one mentoring to broaden your career horizons. UNC’s online RN to BSN degree is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education and holds approval from the Colorado State Board of Nursing.
Take the next step! Explore courses, contact information and admission requirements.
Your Future in Nursing
A nursing bachelor’s degree adds significant value to your RN license. In addition to qualifying you for higher-paying jobs in registered nursing, a BSN enables you to move into specialized roles and supervisory positions that can enlarge your sphere of responsibility and significantly increase your salary. Many graduates of UNC’s RN to BSN program continue their education by earning a master’s degree or higher.
Consider UNC's RN-BSN if you are:
- Currently employed in nursing
- An associate-degree-holder in nursing
- Seeking new professional challenges and greater responsibility
- Interested in supervisory jobs and/or specialized nursing roles
You’ll learn:
- Research-based and evidence-based practice
- Leadership skills
- Strong communication
- Advanced methods and practices in nursing
Sample courses:
- Transition to Baccalaureate Nursing
- Professional Nursing Concepts
- Patient-centered Care Concepts Across the Lifespan
- Professionalism in Practice: Leadership and Management
Student Spotlight
Mandy Alvarez, Nursing Student
Mandy Alvarez's path to graduating summa cum laude in nursing didn't follow a direct route. But the journey—and the people who've walked it with her—have made the destination that much sweeter.
Mandy grew up in poverty, but she had a different kind of wealth: the love and support of a large family. After earning her GED, she soon had her own family and set academics aside to focus on being a mom. For the next 15 years she worked hard to help support her children, but ultimately decided to go back to school and pursue a degree in nursing. "Balancing my time and energy between my commitment to being the kind of parent I want to be and my desire to be an exceptional student has been the hardest part," she says.
Mandy describes her daughter Jorey, now a student at UNC in theatre design and technology, as her "nicest cheerleader," offering moral support and reminding her mom of her potential. All three of her children recognize the results of her hard work, and Mandy is proud of her academic success.
Her path to graduation was a challenging one, but not one she's regretted: "Probably the greatest challenge to pursuing this degree was finding courage to take the leap of faith to leave a job I was good at and that paid well. Giving up those things to pursue this inspired idea for a major life change was not easy. But once I took the very first step toward it I never once looked back for even a second," Mandy says.
Beyond the Classroom
UNC’s online RN to BSN program offers a robust practicum component that offers strong, one-on-one professional mentoring. You’ll complete the practicum in your own community, gaining more than 100 hours of supervised experience. The practicum includes an independent project to demonstrate your leadership and problem-solving skills.
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