New online program takes students from RN to MSN

Registered nurses who do not have bachelor's degrees can enroll this fall in a new CHNS program that will enable them to earn their undergraduate and master's degrees in nursing in a combined, distance-learning format.

The 134-credit program will merge some undergraduate and graduate coursework in an accelerated schedule that is designed to allow registered nurses (RNs) to earn both degrees in about three years.

"We looked at areas of the curriculum that overlapped in the undergraduate and graduate programs, and we combined them," Lisa Ann Plowfield, chairperson of the Department of Nursing, says. "It's an accelerated format, but because the students are RNs, they already have a good working knowledge of much of this subject matter."

She says the online RN-to-MSN program is a natural addition to the department's successful Baccalaureate for the Registered Nurse (BRN) option, which is offered in a distance format to accommodate the often irregular schedules of working nurses. BRN students begin by reviewing their transfer credits, determining what courses they still need for a bachelor's degree and developing a schedule for completing the program.

"Today, the vast majority of BRN students come in with 60 or more credits from two-year college programs," according to Madeline Lambrecht, director of the College's Division of Special Programs, which works collaboratively with the nursing department to offer the online courses. "We also find that students want to finish as soon as they can, so they can begin graduate studies."

RN-to-MSN students will have five years to graduate, but most are expected to take about three years. Plowfield notes that the combined program requires only 14 more credits than the BRN alone.

"Because this is a brand-new program, we're not sure what our enrollment will be," she says. "But, because 50-75 percent of our BRN students say they want to go on to graduate school, we expect it to be a very popular option." The typical BRN student is about 35 years old and well into her or his nursing career.

Students will begin the program with an on-campus orientation in August, after which they can complete their coursework from any location. They will view lectures online or in CD-ROM format, participate in class discussions via the web and communicate with faculty through e-mail. Exams can be proctored at their worksites or community colleges near their homes.

More information about the RN-to-MSN program, along with an application for admission, is available on the web at [www.udel.edu/DSP/RN-MSN].