Rasmussen College Expands Accelerated Entrance Options for Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree in Florida

TAMPA, Fla., Nov. 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Rasmussen College, a regionally accredited private college, today announced the expansion of its accelerated entrance options for the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree in the Tampa Bay area and Southwest Florida. The Rasmussen College BSN degree program, which is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), is now available with two accelerated pre-licensure entrance options at the College's Tampa/Brandon and Fort Myers campuses with classes expected to begin in January. The entrance options are designed for students who are committed to the nursing profession and eager to launch their careers as quickly as possible, as well as help fill a significant need for registered nurses (RNs) with bachelor's degrees in Florida. The accelerated BSN entrance options first launched at the Rasmussen College Land O'Lakes/East Pasco campus in fall 2015.

"We are excited to expand our two accelerated BSN entrance options to our College campuses in Tampa/Brandon and Fort Myers. These options will help more students fulfill their dreams of becoming registered nurses at an accelerated pace," said Dr. Joan Rich, vice president of the School of Nursing at Rasmussen College. "Since we first launched our accelerated BSN entrance options in Land O'Lakes/East Pasco nearly a year ago, we have seen significant interest from prospective students across the United States which is reflective of the need and demand for accelerated nursing programs. At Rasmussen College, we work closely with our healthcare partners in each community to understand their current employment needs. We know the accelerated entrance options for our BSN degree will allow dedicated, driven students the opportunity to get into the nursing profession quickly while also positively impacting the Tampa Bay and Southwest Florida communities."

High Demand for RNs with a Bachelor's Degree in Florida
The Institute of Medicine (IOM) recommends the proportion of working RNs with bachelor's degrees increases to 80 percent by 2020 in order to meet the needs of an aging population and the evolving healthcare system across the U.S. According to labor analytics firm Burning Glass, there were more than 28,000 job postings over the past year for RNs with a bachelor's degree in Florida. Around 5,500 of those job postings were in the Tampa Bay metropolitan area, with another 1,400 postings in Southwest Florida. When compared to the number of job postings just five years ago — around 11,000 — there has been a 150 percent growth in demand for registered nurses with bachelor's degrees in Florida.

"With several large healthcare systems and hospitals, the state of Florida has one of the highest demands for registered nurses around the country," said Kelly McCullough, regional dean of nursing at Rasmussen College. "The Rasmussen College BSN degree program will prepare students for a leadership role in the nursing field by providing real-world curriculum taught by experienced nursing faculty as well as hands-on training and practicum experiences. Upon graduation, students will also be fully prepared for the RN licensure exam."  

Two Accelerated Pre-Licensure BSN Entrance Options

Second Degree Entrance Option
The Second Degree Entrance Option is a pre-licensure track that may be completed in as few as 18 months.* Candidates for this option currently hold a non-nursing bachelor's degree and are now looking to complete their BSN.   

Standard Entrance Option
The Standard Entrance Option is a pre-licensure track that may be completed in as few as 33 months.* Candidates for this option do not currently hold a bachelor's degree. Students who enroll in the BSN program through the Standard Entrance Option are also eligible for the College's Flex Choice® Credit by Assessment, which allows them to complete some of their general education courses through optional, online self-directed assessments at a more affordable cost.

Post-Licensure BSN Entrance Option

RN to BSN Entrance Option
Rasmussen College also offers a fully online Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN) Entrance Option. This post-licensure option is designed for registered nurses who have obtained their RN degree through an associate's degree program (or diploma and/or certificate) and are looking to advance their nursing careers by obtaining a degree from a CCNE-accredited program. The RN to BSN entrance option may be completed in as few as 12 months.* 

To learn more about the accelerated entrance options for the Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree now being offered at the Rasmussen College Tampa/Brandon and Fort Myers campuses, please visit http://www.rasmussen.edu/degrees/nursing/accelerated-bsn-second/ or http://www.rasmussen.edu/degrees/nursing/accelerated-bsn-standard/.

*Completion time is dependent on transfer credits accepted and courses completed each term.

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree program at Rasmussen College is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE):
One Dupont Circle NW | Suite 530 | Washington, DC 20036 
202-887-6791 | www.aacn.nche.edu/ccne-accreditation.

ABOUT RASMUSSEN COLLEGE:
Rasmussen College is a regionally accredited private college and Public Benefit Corporation that is dedicated to changing lives through high-demand educational programs and public service. Rasmussen College offers certificate and diploma programs through associate's, bachelor's and master's degrees online and across its 22 Midwest and Florida campuses in a supportive, student-centered and career-focused environment. Since 1900, Rasmussen College has been dedicated to being a primary contributor to the growth and development of the communities it serves. As a Public Benefit Corporation, Rasmussen College is committed to helping change lives through education and making a positive impact on society through public service and a variety of community-based initiatives. For more information about Rasmussen College, please visit www.rasmussen.edu.

Contact: Molly Andersen
Phone: 952-844-5647
Mobile: 903-920-4366
Email: [email protected]

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SOURCE Rasmussen College

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