Responding to Nursing Shortage, CCSU's RN to BSN Online Program Ranked Best in State

The online RN to BSN program at Central Connecticut State University is the best in the state, according to the latest rankings by RegisteredNursing.org.

Central has offered a program for registered nurses to acquire a Bachelor of Science in Nursing since 1981, but its online program provides a more flexible pathway for students to complete their bachelor’s degree, according to school officials. Designed for working professionals, the program can be completed in as little as one year, depending on transfer credits. With 100 percent online nursing classes, students benefit from experienced faculty who are active in clinical practice.

“We are incredibly proud that our online RN to BSN Program is ranked number 1 in Connecticut,” says Dr. Jayanthi Kandiah, dean of the College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences. “This achievement reflects the continued dedication of our exceptional faculty and their unwavering commitment to providing students with the highest quality education. We remain focused on empowering and supporting our students with both the didactic and clinical skills they need to become outstanding nurses.”

Required courseowrk includes Ethical Issues in Prof Nursing Practice, Health Assessment and Promotion,The Art and Science of Nursing, Scholarship for the Nursing Discipline, Population Health, Policy and Advocacy for the Prof Nurse, Leadership Development for Quality Care, and Professional Values in Practice. The curriculum requirements also include Life Span Development, Microbiology for Nursing, Anatomy and Physiology and Anatomy and Physiology II.

RegisteredNursing.org aims to promote excellence in nursing by enabling future and current nurses with the education and employment resources they need to succeed. To generate its ranking, the organization evaluates key factors such as academic support, licensure preparation, and career advancement opportunities drawn from objective data sources, including the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System, the National Center for Education Statistics, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Postsecondary Education, and the Council for Community and Economic Research.

“We work so hard to give this program a personal touch to the people who are interested in enrolling. I think that’s made a big difference,” says Stacy Christensen, the coordinator of the RN-BSN program at Central. “I’ve found that with a lot of other programs, you have to go through several gate keepers to get information. We are real people, in real offices, who prospective students can come and see and talk to.”