Big name players such as Penn State, University of Texas at Arlington, and Kent State University have entered the online nursing degree game. Online RN to BSN programs are big in e-learning, and a cash cow if done right.

Online RN to BSN Nursing Degrees

But what does "done right" mean? Hands-on nursing degrees, such as an associate degree in nursing, or ADN, prepare students to sit for the N-CLEX exam to become a registered nurse. The median wage for RNs in the U.S. was about $63,000 in May 2008 according to Bureau of Labor Statistics, and for RNs with a Bachelor of Science in nursing, wages increase as supervisory positions open up.

This is where online RN to BSN nursing degrees enter the picture. The hands-on portion of the BSN can be done on the job or transferred in from the ADN for clinical hour requirements. Distance learning involves theory and science courses, making these programs far easier to administer in an e-learning environment than the associate degree counterpart.

E-learning for Nurses 

Competition is fierce for capturing RN students, and registered nurses with only a diploma from a community college or hospital-based nursing program are feeling pressured to complete an ADN or, better yet, a full BSN. A December 2009 report from The Carnegie Foundation recommends that all nurses hold a BSN, prompting an increase in enrollments.

With this captive audience, major for-profit colleges and e-learning management programs are moving in, administering online RN to BSN programs in exchange for a cut of profits. Because many hospitals and healthcare systems provide some level of tuition reimbursement for employees, tuition price points can be a bit higher than for students paying out of pocket.

But is the education any good?

Distance Learning and Nursing Education

Because the online BSN programs are so new, the answer will come out slowly over time, through healthcare metrics and patient experience. If the RN only requires a diploma or associate degree in nursing, and a BSN qualifies nurses to supervise other nurses, isn't a distance learning nursing degree enough for the gap between the ADN and the BSN?

Time will tell.