Can You Skip RN and Go Straight to BSN?

You have the option to pursue a BSN without having to be an RN first. In fact, traditional BSN degree programs assume that you aren't an RN and don't have any nursing experience at all, so you're in good company when entering a four-year BSN program without your RN license.

RNs and BSNs are intertwined, though, so it's important to know the difference between the two so you can learn how to earn your BSN without being an RN. Let's start by discussing how an RN and BSN are related.

How BSNs and RNs are Related

To clarify - if you pursue a BSN, you'll also be an RN. RNs are just nurses with the licensure required to practice nursing in their state, while nurses with a BSN are RNs who have completed a bachelor's education.

The reason a BSN is different from an RN is that you can become a registered nurse after completing an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN). Earning a BSN allows RNs to take on management positions, increase their earning potential and job opportunities, and prove they have the experience and education required to handle specialized roles.

Most people will become RNs before graduating from their BSN program, but that doesn't mean you need to have your license to graduate.

So, how does a BSN program work for someone who isn't already an RN?

Traditional BSN Programs - Admissions and Graduation Requirements

Some universities, such as Ohio State University, have BSN programs with direct from high school pathways.

These traditional undergraduate BSN programs require minimum high school GPAs of 3.0 or higher, completion of prerequisite courses in subjects like anatomy and physiology, statistics, and sciences, and completion of some credit hours through advanced placement testing or college credits earned during high school.

Students must also prove they will be 18 by the time they start their first clinical course in the program.

In order to graduate from a traditional BSN program, you need to complete 120 credit hours, pass all the program's required courses with a grade of C+ or higher, complete your clinical rotation and exams, and meet the general education requirements set by your state and college.

Once you've done all this and graduated, you're officially a BSN.

But what about the RN? You still need to be a registered nurse to practice nursing in your state, so how do you become an RN after getting your BSN?

Becoming an RN After Completing Your BSN Degree

Studying for your BSN degree also prepares you for your RN licensure, so you don't have to worry about taking extra courses or learning new nursing concepts.

You do, however, have to make sure to study well because there's one last exam you need to take to become an RN after completing your BSN - the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN).

Many instructors recommend studying for hours a day and taking multiple practice exams to prepare for the NCLEX-RN, but if you're confident in your mastery of nursing concepts, you can take the exam without preparing past the work you need to do to complete your BSN degree.

The NCLEX-RN is a pass-fail test, so you find out immediately after taking the exam if you've passed. If you fail, you need to wait 45 days to take the exam again, but you don't need to retake any classes during the wait time.

Once you've passed the NCLEX-RN, you can apply for licensure in your state by providing proof of completing your BSN and passing the NCLEX. In some states, you may also be required to complete a criminal background check as part of the application process.

Once you've completed your application and had it approved, you'll officially be both a BSN and an RN - and unlike other nurses, you'll have skipped the RN and gone straight to the BSN first.