Beginning this fall, the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford will offer its Bachelor of Science in Nursing program online to make it more convenient for working registered nurses to earn the degree.

The new online program is open to registered nurses who have earned an Associate of Science in Nursing degree and passed the registered nurse licensure exam.

“We are thrilled to be able to now offer this reputable program in an on-line format,” said Dr. Jean Truman, director of the nursing programs at Pitt-Bradford and Pitt-Titusville. “This unique two-term program will deliver a student experience that makes it easier for working nurses to earn their BSN and transform their careers. We focus on the needs of students in an ever-evolving workplace and appeal to students who want to be at the union of learning and innovation.”

Pitt-Bradford’s nursing program began in 1979 with an Associate of Science in Nursing degree to help local hospitals replace retiring nurses. Following the success of the ASN program, Pitt-Bradford established its original RN-to-BSN program in 1994. Now, that program is moving online to better meet the education needs of working nurses and help advance health care in the region.

In the current program, nursing students at Pitt-Bradford complete a year of general classes, including Anatomy & Physiology, Psychology and English. During the next two years, they gain experience during clinical time in hospital and health care settings, which prepares them to take and pass the National Council Licensure Examination, known as NCLEX, and begin practicing as a registered nurse.

Some registered nurses choose to go on and earn a bachelor’s degree in nursing, which corresponds with higher salaries, employment rates and opportunities to practice in a specialized area. Nurses with BSNs are prepared to take on supervisory and leadership roles, attend graduate nursing programs and practice with increased autonomy.

Although BSN courses are now online, the same quality curriculum is still taught by Pitt-Bradford nursing faculty. Courses include Professional Nursing Concepts, Health Promotion/Assessment, Introduction to Nursing Research, and Community Health Nursing.

Nurses with a BSN degree are associated with better patient health outcomes. The 2024 National Nursing Workforce Survey found that the nursing workforce has become more stable and continues to make progress in increasing the educational attainment of the nursing workforce over the past two years.

For more information about the RN-to-BSN program at Pitt-Bradford, visit upb.pitt.edu/academics/nursing-rn-bsn.