Department of Nursing
Welcome to the Southwest Minnesota State University (SMSU) Nursing Department website. The website will provide you with a vast amount of information about our Nursing Program.
Our RN to BSN Program is an accredited baccalaureate nursing program that has been admitting students since the fall of 2013. The Nursing Program is online and is intended for Registered Nurses (RN) with current, unencumbered nursing licenses.
Currently, there are three different education pathways to becoming an RN. An RN may hold an Associate of Science (AS), Diploma in Nursing, or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree. Each of these degree options will give graduate nurses the opportunity to take their RN licensing exam. Upon successful completion of the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN), each nurse is licensed to practice as an RN.
In recent years, there has been a movement to increase the number of baccalaureate-prepared nurses in the workforce following a report by the Institute of Medicine (2011) and the Carnegie Foundation of the Advancement of Teaching (2009) in which nursing education was found to be linked to enhanced patient outcomes (AACN, 2012). Due to this movement, many RNs who have an AS or Diploma in Nursing are looking for opportunities to complete a BSN nursing program.
At SMSU, we are offering licensed RNs an opportunity to complete their Bachelor of Science in Nursing. In that sense, our program is not a “traditional” Bachelor of Science degree. This program is designed for licensed RNs with an associate degree or diploma in Nursing who are looking for the opportunity to turn their 2-year degree or diploma into a 4-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. SMSU is committed to opening new doors for area nurses and serving our region’s needs by offering this RN to BSN Program! Due to the types of course offerings and license requirements, unfortunately this program is not available for F-1 VISA international students.
“The RN to BSN Program at Southwest Minnesota State University is accredited by the Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street, NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791.”
Last Modified: 8/29/22 10:30 AM | Website Feedback