Nursing

BSN stands for Bachelor of Science in Nursing, an undergraduate degree that offers a comprehensive nursing education in clinical skills, theoretical nursing concepts, public health, leadership, and research. Graduates of BSN programs are eligible to apply to the Virginia State Board of Nursing for RN (registered nurse) licensure and to take the NCLEX-RN© exam, which is required for licensure as a Registered Nurse (RN). The BSN sequence at RMC consists of a Nursing major plus additional BSN-specific and general college requirement courses. Students are admitted as direct entry and begin their first nursing course in the first year at RMC. Students complete five total semesters of clinical experiences caring for patients, beginning in their second year of the BSN program. Our nursing program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). If you are interested in applying as a high school senior, visit our admission page.

RN (Registered Nurse) is a professional designation signifying that a nurse has passed the NCLEX-RN© licensing exam and meets the state requirements for nursing practice. A BSN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing), on the other hand, is an academic degree rather than a professional license.

While all BSN graduates are eligible to become RNs through state licensure and passing the NCLEX-RN© exam, not all RNs hold a BSN. Some RNs may have entered the profession through diploma or associate’s degree programs. In comparison, a BSN represents a higher level of education that includes more in-depth training in areas such as public health, research, management, and leadership. A BSN also serves as a foundation for pursuing advanced nursing degrees, such as nurse practitioner or Ph.D., often leading to higher salaries and broader career opportunities.

A bachelor’s degree in nursing (BSN) is an increasingly important requirement to hospitals and healthcare providers. In fact, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing published that 72% of hiring organizations strongly prefer baccalaureate-prepared nurses when considering candidates.

While all registered nurses (RNs) are required to pass the same NCLEX-RN© licensing exam, nurses who have earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) have an advantage due to the degree’s comprehensive curriculum and focus on leadership, critical thinking, and advanced clinical skills—and they often earn higher salaries as a result. In the final clinical course during their last semester of courses at RMC, students are paired with a practicing RN and complete over 150 hours under the guidance of their preceptor and working a ‘traditional’ nurse’s schedule. What’s more, research has shown that healthcare settings with higher percentages of BSN-prepared nurses often see improved patient outcomes, including reduced mortality and readmission rates, as well as shorter lengths of stay.

RMC focuses on a curriculum that pairs classroom learning with practical experiences. The final clinical course of the curriculum, during a student’s final semester, pairs students with a practicing RN to complete over 150 hours of patient care, working a traditional nurse’s schedule.

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing, or BSN, is a four-year degree program. In this time, students learn through a mixture of classroom, laboratory, and clinical coursework (including 500 direct patient care hours). The RMC program has only 40 seats per cohort, providing a student-centered learning experience and individualized career mentoring by nursing faculty. The program has a 100% employment rate of graduates post-graduation.

Transfer applicants who meet specific requirements may be considered to join our BSN program’s sophomore cohort. Visit our BSN Transfer Admissions page for additional information.

Randolph-Macon College’s BSN program prepares graduates for eligibility to apply to the Virginia Board of Nursing for registered nurse (RN) licensure and to take the NCLEX-RN©, a national licensure exam for registered nurses. RMC’s program is innovation with an individualized NCLEX coaching model that begins in a student’s final semester, and continues after graduation to support their preparation for succes on the NCLEX. Licensure qualifications vary by state. Review our licensure disclosure for all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories.