Southern Miss Offers Unique Online RN-BSN Program for Mississippi Nurses

Registered Nurses (RNs) are essential for creating a healthier Mississippi and a healthier nation. For increased quality care, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) says one way to secure our state and nation's health care is by increasing the number of nurses with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree.

To meet this need, The University of Southern Mississippi has created a unique, fully online BSN degree designed specifically for RNs and Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) students in Mississippi. RNs can complete the program in 3 semesters.

“There are many innovative features in this RN-BSN program,” says Dr. Mary Coyne, RN-BSN Program Director and Professor of Nursing. These include:

• RNs can work full-time while completing the degree in three semesters
• ADN students can complete the degree in 4-5 semesters, with only clinical courses left to complete once students pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN)
• Courses are offered in 8 and 16 week intervals
• Courses begin Fall, Spring or Summer
• Scholarships are available

This program offers unique opportunities to start the program throughout the year without waiting for a traditional semester to begin. “Our program offers rolling admission so students may start the program in 8-week intervals each semester,” said Dr. Tom Hutchinson, director of the Office of Online Learning.

“We have created an academic bridge for ADN nurses and students connecting our Mississippi ADN programs and Southern Miss nursing programs,” said Coyne. “Our philosophy is that all learning is personal and each student can count on faculty mentoring them throughout the program.”

Coyne says the Southern Miss program has an unprecedented 99% retention and graduation rate and offers students a bright future.

Achieving a BSN is the sole academic portal of entry for graduate studies in nursing, creating numerous opportunities. “Many of our RN-BSN graduates have continued in graduate nursing education and are academically and financially-empowered nurses,” says Dr. Kathleen Masters, Interim Dean of the College of Nursing.  

Hutchinson says the program will start admitting students for the Spring 2018 semester. To learn about requirements and admission deadlines, visit https://online.usm.edu/undergrad/online-nursing-rn-to-bsn-degree/.

The University of Southern Mississippi offers 11 undergraduate degrees and twenty-one graduate programs fully online. To learn more about the online programs at Southern Miss, visit https://online.usm.edu/.