A concerted initiative led by the Institute of Medicine is promoting RN to BSN progression programs nationwide. The Minnesota Board of Nursing reports that between 2007 and 2013, the number of annual BSN program graduations increased from 876 to 1113. Furthermore, the percentage of ADN-educated RNs in Minnesota returning to school for BSN completion programs doubled from 17.8 percent in 2007 to 41.2 percent in 2013. Of those who earned a BSN, 18.5 went on to earn a MSN (Master of Science in Nursing) in 2013, and 1.5 percent went on to earn a doctorate in nursing.
The Minnesota Board of Nursing, state nursing associations and employers are all helping to make these RN-BSN progression programs accessible and affordable. For example, Rochester’s Mayo Clinic offers its nurses all kinds of benefits to help them pursue higher education including on-site childcare, telecommuting, job-sharing, tuition reimbursement, and a top-notch Continuing Nursing Education program.
Minnesota’s RN to BSN Programs
RN-BSN programs are most often made available in an online distance learning format that better accommodates the scheduling needs of working RNs. Additionally, the Minnesota Board of Nursing has approved nine RN to BSN programs at campus locations throughout the state in these cities:
- Joseph
- Bemidji
- Duluth
- Moorhead
- Mankato
- Saint Paul
- Rochester
Qualifying for RN to BSN Programs in Minnesota
Although as of January 2015, uniform criteria for admission to RN to BSN programs in Minnesota do not exist, the Minnesota Alliance for Nursing Education (MANE) is advocating uniformity among RN to BSN education and hopes to see it implemented in the coming years. Normally, however, an RN to BSN program in Minnesota will require applicants to meet the following admissions criteria:
- Hold at least a 2.75 GPA in ADN program
- Have an active Minnesota RN license
- Provide references
- Complete an essay on why the student wants to enroll in the RN to BSN program
- Hold current CPR certification
- Complete a Minnesota Department of Human Services background check
- Complete a federal background check
- Transfer credits from a student’s ADN program may be available up to a certain amount (no more than 60 credits may usually be transferred)
RN to BSN Course Outline and Program Structure
MANE is pushing for uniformity in RN to BSN programs in Minnesota, but right now, they differ from one program to the next. Courses that are generally found in these programs include:
- Professional nursing
- Public health nursing
- Diversity in health care
- Nursing informatics
- Nursing leadership
- Research
- Ethics
- Clinical placement
Minnesota has developed clinical preceptor models that are being adopted nationwide by RN to BSN programs, and offer RNs clinical placements in specialty areas such as geriatrics and education. Examples of possible clinical placements in Minnesota include:
- Mayo Clinic- Rochester
- Minnesota Hartford Center of Geriatric Nursing – Minneapolis
- Fairview Clinic- Edina
- Center for Reproductive Medicine- South Minneapolis
- Allina Health Forest Lake Clinic- Forest Lake
- Axis Medical Center- South Minneapolis
- Children’s Hospital of Minnesota-Minneapolis and St. Paul
- Cloud Hospital- St. Cloud
- Abbott Northwestern Specialty Care Center-Minneapolis
- Foley Nursing Center- Foley
Life After Earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in Minnesota
Many graduate nursing programs are found in Minnesota, and may be attractive to the RN who has just earned a BSN. Graduate nursing education can help a BSN-educated RN move to an advanced practice nursing position. The graduate-level nursing programs found in Minnesota include:
- Master of Science in Nursing
- Master of Nursing
- Doctor of Nursing Practice
- Family Nurse Practitioner
- Nurse Educator
- Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist
- Nursing Leadership Program
- Graduate Certificates in nursing specialty areas
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 at the following healthcare facilities as of February 2015:
- Community Health Nurse- Minneapolis
- Perioperative Nurse Educator- Southdale
- RN Care Coordinator- Maple Grove
- RN Case Manager- Robbinsdale
- Hospice Nurse- Minneapolis
- Vascular/Cardiology RN – Coon Rapids
- Cancer Center RN – Minneapolis
- RN Urgent Care – Minnetonka
- Assisted Living RN- Eagan
- Informatics Clinician – Center City