The American Association of Colleges of Nursing lists more than 690 Registered Nurse (RN) to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) programs nationwide, more than 400 of which are available online.
A recent study published in the journal Medical Care reported that patients who received care from nurses who held BSNs reduced their readmittance chances by 19 percent. Patients of BSN–prepared RNs also had shorter hospital stays and mortality rates that were reduced by 10 percent. BSNs are proving to be cost-savers for hospitals. According to the study, fewer readmissions and shorter inpatient hospitals stays can save hospitals as much as $5.6 million per year.
In Michigan, 60 percent of RNs hold an Associate Degree in Nursing, while just 40 percent hold a BSN. Earning a BSN in Michigan can improve an RN’s eligibility for leadership roles, as well as jobs in research, critical care, management, education and pediatrics.
The Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs reports that as of 2009, RNs in Michigan earned an average of $59,700 per year. The salary for BSNs-educated RNs in Michigan varies, but is usually at least $10,000 higher. For example, the average nurse educator with a BSN in Michigan earned $70,013 per year.
Michigan’s Online and Campus-Based RN to BSN Programs
RN to BSN program in Michigan must be pre-approved by the Michigan Board of Nursing. A list of approved programs may be found here. Although most are offered as distance learning programs, there are campus locations statewide, including within the following cities:
- Grand Rapids
- Lansing
- Warren
- Ypsilanti
- Sault Ste Marie
- Livonia
- Rochester
- Troy
- Detroit
- Kalamazoo
The Board also approves programs available in other states.
Admissions Requirements for RN to BSN Programs in Michigan
RN to BSN programs in Michigan have strict admission requirements that must be met before a nursing student will be enrolled. Generally, these include:
- Graduate of an approved Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) program
- Has a valid Michigan Registered Nurse license
- Have a minimum GPA of 2.75 in ADN program
- Most schools have a residency requirement that a certain number of credits (usually around 45) must be completed at their school when earning a BSN degree
- Pass a criminal background check
- Complete these prerequisite courses:
- Pathophysiology
- Nutrition
- Statistics
- English
- CPR
RN to BSN Program Content Outline
A RN to BSN program will include general education coursework, nursing foundation courses, nursing core courses, and nursing electives. While course requirements vary from one school to the next, the following are usually required:
- Legal and moral decisions in nursing and healthcare
- Developmental psychology
- Health assessment
- Basic nutrition for health care practitioners
- Diet therapy
- Disease processes and the human system
- General principles of pharmacology
- Gerontological nursing
- Professional nursing practice
- Nursing research
- Nursing issues and trends
- Community health nursing
- Leadership and management in nursing
- Practicum
The final component of an RN to BSN program is usually the practicum. Here, students are placed into a professional setting in which they practice the skills they have learned in class. In Michigan, the following placements may be possible, depending upon the school’s institutional agreement:
- Garden City Hospital- Garden City
- Detroit Medical Center Hospitals and Clinics- Detroit
- Oakland County Health Department- Pontiac and Southfield
- Children’s Hospital of Michigan – Detroit
- Northern Michigan Regional Hospital – Petoskey
- Oakwood Hospital- Wayne
- Saint Joseph Mercy Saline Hospital – Saline
- Saint Joseph Mercy Livingston Hospital- Howell
- Sinai-Grace Hospital- Detroit
- Havenwyck Hospital- Auburn Hills
Life After Earning a BSN in Michigan
BSNs in Michigan may want to go on to pursue graduate-level education. With a master’s degree, an RN can work in advanced practice nursing as a nurse practitioner, nurse specialist and in many other roles. Examples of graduate programs available to BSN-educated nurses in Michigan include:
- Master of Science in Nursing
- Master of Science in Nursing- Acute Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
- Master of Science in Nursing – Family Nurse Practitioner
- Master of Science in Nursing – Nurse-Midwife
- Doctor of Nursing Practice
Internal hiring for jobs that involve more clinical responsibilities is typically extended to staff RNs that have gone on to complete BSN programs. Internal job opportunities have been extended to BSN-educated RNs in the following healthcare facilities as of February 2015:
- Research Nurse Clinician – Royal Oak
- Nurse Educator- Grand Rapids
- RN Case Manager- Pontiac
- RN Care Coordinator- Detroit
- Oncology Nurse- Royal Oak
- Cardiac Cath Lab RN – Northern Michigan
- Community Health Nurse – Allen Park
- OB Clinic Nurse- Benton Harbor
- Neonatal ICU RN – Dearborn
- Critical Care Flight Nurse – Waterford