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Top West Virginia RN to BSN Programs

Due to a wide range of factors which include an aging population, considerable changes to the healthcare system, expanded use of technology in the field, and increased competition due to globalization, healthcare employers are increasingly requiring their RNs to hold BSN degrees. Thus, to stay competitive, ADN-educated RNs across the country are heading back to college to obtain their BSN degrees via RN to BSN bridge programs. It's no secret that having a BSN degree not only makes a nurse more competitive in the nursing job market, but it also increases their earning potential and enhances their career prospects. On average, a BSN-educated nurse earns 16 percent more than their RN colleagues who only hold ADN degrees. With so many programs out there, though, finding one that suits your needs as an individual can be a daunting task. That's why we've put together a list of the top RN to BSN programs in West Virginia.

How to Choose a Top RN to BSN Program in West Virginia

Deciding on an RN to BSN program is a little easier when you know what to look for. We suggest taking the following under consideration when researching programs:

  • Program acceptance and success rates
  • Program completion rate
  • Tuition and fees
  • Instructor accessibility
  • Program accreditation
  • Length of the program
  • Graduate employment data
  • Class and cohort sizes
  • Internship placement opportunities
  • How long the program has been around

Testing and Certification

There are no additional licensing examinations required for RN to BSN graduates. This is because these students would have already taken and passed the NCLEX-RN examination at the completion of their ADN or nursing diploma programs.

List of Top RN to BSN Programs in West Virginia

1. Wheeling Jesuit University

Founded in 1954, Wheeling Jesuit University is a private Roman Catholic university. Designed specifically for working nurses, WJU's RN to BSN program is delivered in an online format which allows for maximum flexibility. The 30 semester credit hour program, which includes courses like Basic Nursing Research, Multisystem Nursing Care, and Nursing Trends and Issues, also requires students to carry out clinical internships at local healthcare facilities.

Hospitals and healthcare centers in the area currently hiring RNs:

  • Wheeling Hospital
  • Reynolds Memorial Hospital
  • East Ohio Regional Hospital

Tuition:

Students who enroll in WJU's RN to BSN program can expect to pay around $12,000 in tuition plus additional fees.

2. Marshall University

Established in 1837, Marshall University is a public research institution in the city of Huntington. MU offers a 30 semester unit, online RN to BSN that's designed to meet the needs of working nurses. The program's coursework, which emphasizes research, clinical knowledge, and ethical nursing practice, is asynchronous so that students can complete it at their own pace. The program can be completed in two, three, or four semesters depending on how fast students want to go. Courses that students take while enrolled include Family Nursing, Transcultural Healthcare, and Intro to Research for Evidence-Based Practice, among others. New students are admitted two times each year.

Hospitals and healthcare centers in the area currently hiring RNs:

  • St Mary’s Medical Center
  • Cabell Huntington Hospital
  • Cornerstone Specialty Hospitals Huntington

Tuition:

For current information on Marshall University's RN to BSN program fees, contact them at (304) 696-3170.

3. University of Charleston

Originally established in 1888, the University of Charleston is a private university with its primary campus located in Charleston and satellite campus locations in Beckley and Martinsburg. UC, a higher learning institution that's been educating nurses for more than 50 years, offers a fully online, 30 semester unit RN to BSN program that can be completed in just three semesters (one calendar year) of full-time study. The program's curriculum, which is delivered in 8-week courses and includes classes like Health Ethics and Advanced Health Assessment, is designed around evidence-based care to meet the diverse needs of communities.

Hospitals and healthcare centers in the area currently hiring RNs:

  • CAMC Memorial Hospital
  • Saint Francis Hospital
  • Thomas Memorial Hospital

Tuition:

Students who enroll in the University of Charleston's RN to BSN program can expect to pay around $11,400 in tuition plus additional fees.

4. Bluefield State College

Established in 1895, Bluefield State College is a historically black college that offers a 30 semester credit, online RN to BSN program that students can complete in just three to four semesters. While 100 percent of the classes in the program can be completed online, some coursework requires clinical experiences that can be completed at a local healthcare facility. Courses that students can expect to encounter during the program include Gerontological Health Care Issues, Nursing Research, and Ethics & Issues in Professional Nursing, just to name a few.

News students are admitted at the beginning of each fall, spring, and summer semester.

Hospitals and healthcare centers in the area currently hiring RNs:

  • Princeton Community Hospital
  • Bluefield Regional Medical Center
  • Luke's Hospital

Tuition:

Students enrolled in BSU's RN to BSN program can expect to pay around $9,360 in tuition plus additional fees.

5. Davis & Elkins College

Originally established in 1904, Davis & Elkins College is a small private school that's affiliated with the Presbyterian Church. D&EC offers students an RN to BSN program that can be completed entirely online in 12 months of full-time study. In addition to the online coursework, students are required to complete a clinical practicum at a healthcare facility near their place of residence. Students who end up enrolling in D&EC's RN to BSN program can count on taking a wide variety of courses which include Transition to Professional Nursing, Nursing Leadership, and Community Nursing.

Hospitals and healthcare centers in the area currently hiring RNs:

  • Davis Hospital
  • Grant Memorial Hospital
  • Broaddus Hospital

Tuition:

Students who enroll in D&EC's to BSN program can expect to pay around $12,000 in tuition plus additional fees.