Bachelor's Degree
Online RT to BSN
Program Bridge Option (RN Prep)
Bachelor's Degree
Online RT to BSN
Program Bridge Option (RN Prep)
Go from RT to RN online with Herzing University
Accreditation | CCNE accredited,1 Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission |
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Finish faster | Designed for licensed respiratory therapists; take advantage of your current licensure and experience and earn a BSN quicker than a traditional pre-licensure program |
Format | Core didactic (lecture) courses are delivered 100% online, including real-time and on-demand courses you can take in evenings/nights, weekends, or whenever it's convenient for you |
Hands-on prep | Hands-on learning includes on-site clinicals and three intensives requiring attendance at a designated Herzing or partner site |
Eligibility | Available for enrollment in select states2 |
QuickPaths | Transfer credit, stackable credentials, and adaptive learning technology build a faster pathway to a higher education with Herzing University |
![BSN Bridge Option - Respiratory Therapists (RT) - Online](/sites/default/files/styles/fp_500x300_jpg/public/2022-10/healthcare-professionals.jpg?h=10d202d3&itok=nuEFGqmX)
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BSN Bridge for Respiratory Therapists - Online
The BSN Bridge option for RTs is a 120-credit undergraduate program which prepares you for a career as a Registered Nurse (RN). The online bachelor's degree program provides students with fundamental knowledge and skills in the nursing process, health assessment, managing care, evidence-based practice, and much more.
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Career-focused curriculum
Discover the crucial knowledge and skills required to succeed in your work and build a foundation for continued career growth.
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Flexible schedule
We work hard to help you maintain school-life balance, striving to be as flexible as possible for busy non-traditional students.
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Virtual services
Access to extensive virtual services, including academic advising, tutoring, support services, technical support and library services.
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Lifelong support
We support your ongoing career advancement by providing comprehensive, personalized student services with lifelong career coaching.
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Rolling admissions
No application deadlines to worry about. Apply when you’re ready and prepare to get started soon.
Classes Start May 6th
Learn More Today
Online RT to BSN bridge option classes & curriculum details
All didactic (lecture) nursing courses in the program are delivered online through the Herzing University Canvas Learning Management System platform. Upon completing the program, you’ll be eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN to earn licensure in your state.2
Program | Monthsi | Credits |
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Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) - Bridge Option | 28 | 120 |
i. Average number of months for students to complete program
Required Courses in Nursing
All courses, 55.00 semester credit hours, are required.
Dual Credit Option for Taking Graduate Level Courses
Dual Credit Options are available for the Brookfield, Kenosha, Madison and Minneapolis locations for students who qualify. This option is not available for New Orleans students. See Academic Information for full requirements under title Earning Graduate Credits as an Undergraduate Student. Undergraduate Course Graduate Course Equivalency NSG 321 Advanced Leadership and Management NU 530 Organizational Systems and Behaviors NSG 324 Evidence Based Practice in Nursing NU 560 Research Methods and Evidence-Based Practice NSG 421 Nursing Informatics NU 525 Technology and Nursing Informatics in Advanced Practice NSG 423 Policy, Trends, & Ethics in Nursing HA 610 Health Policy and Management
Required Courses in General Education
Students enrolled in the BSN program must complete a minimum of 41.00 semester credit hours in general education distributed among the following disciplines. A minimum of 9.00 semester credit hours must be upper level (300- to 400-level courses). The Herzing University General Education offerings are listed below. Refer to the General Education section of the catalog for additional information on general education requirements. 12.00 Semester Credit Hours in Communications EN 104 – English Composition I EN 111- Information Literacy EN 116 – Speech EN 304 – English Composition II 14.00 Semester Credit Hours in in Science SC 154 – Anatomy and Physiology I for Nurses SC 254 – Anatomy and Physiology II for Nurses SC 166 – Microbiology SC 186 – Chemistry 6.00 Semester Credit Hours in Humanities HU 140 – Cultural Diversity HU 340 – Humanities and Contemporary Popular Culture 6.00 Semester Credit Hours in Mathematics MA 109 – College Algebra MA 320 - Statistics 3.00 Semester Credit Hours in Social or Behavioral Science PS 101 – Psychology Note: Transfer students may transfer courses that are within 1.00 semester credit hour of the courses listed above to meet these discipline requirements. Any resulting deficiency in the total of 41.00 semester credit hours required in general education may be made up with general education electives from any of the listed disciplines. Science courses being transferred in from other institutions must meet the nursing program science requirements.
Special General Education Grading Requirements for Nursing Support Courses
The following science courses must be completed with a grade of "B" (80%) or better. Only two attempts are permitted for each course and a student who fails to successfully complete in the maximum attempts is subject to dismissal from the nursing program. SC 154 Anatomy and Physiology I for Nurses Semester Credit Hours: 4.00 SC 254 Anatomy and Physiology II for Nurses Semester Credit Hours: 4.00 The following general education courses must be completed with a grade of "C" (70%) or better for a student to continue in the nursing program. SC 166 Microbiology Semester Credit Hours: 3.00 MA 109 College Algebra Semester Credit Hours: 3.00 MA 320 Statistics Semester Credit Hours: 3.00 A student who is dropped from the nursing program for failing to achieve the minimum grade specified in the courses listed above, but who otherwise meets the academic standards of the University may transfer to another Herzing degree program and/or may appeal to reapply to the BSN nursing program in a future semester.
What's online, and what's in-person?
Online
All didactic (lecture) courses are asynchronous, meaning you can complete them online on your own schedule.
You have flexibility throughout the program to complete general education or core nursing courses at your own pace.
Practicum instructor and peer collaboration requirements will be done via distance learning and offer flexible scheduling for the synchronous, or real-time, course elements.
In-person
Practical, hands-on training remains crucial and required preparation for earning a BSN and becoming a registered nurse. Our curriculum includes:
- Clinicals. There are eight clinical courses, seven of which include precepted clinical hours. You’ll complete the precepted hours in or near your geographic area. We have a dedicated team to help you find clinical placement.
- Intensives. You’ll be required to attend three 2-4 day intensives throughout the program at a designated Herzing or partner site. These sessions serve as crucial skill and knowledge checkpoints to ensure you’re on the right track. Intensives will take place at our Nashville campus—or a facility associated with a unique clinical partnership.
Tuition & Cost
The cost of tuition for the online RT to BSN bridge option is $715 per credit.
You can potentially earn even greater savings by transferring credit from prior college coursework, applying for financial aid, or potential partnership opportunities through your employer.
Our goal is your career advancement. That’s why we are always working to improve our curriculum and processes to make our program as affordable as possible while preparing you best for success in your work.
You may be eligible for multiple scholarships and grants—including our Nurses Circle of Achievement scholarship, which offers up to 10% tuition reduction.
Veterans, Active Duty U.S. Servicemembers, and spouses may qualify for a 10% tuition discount or tuition reduction to $250 per credit.
Requirements
Enrollment requirements and prerequisites
To qualify for the online RT to BSN bridge option, you must currently work as a licensed respiratory therapist. Additional requirements include both a GPA requirement and minimum benchmark scores on the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS):
Prior education | High school diploma or equivalent |
Minimum GPAi | 2.5 |
Minimum TEAS score | 66 |
i. Students with 24 or more transferable collegiate credits will be assessed on their collegiate cumulative GPA. Otherwise, the high school GPA will be used. |
Eligible states for enrollment: Alabama, Colorado, Florida (Orlando and Tampa regions only), Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina and South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia, and Wisconsin.
I don’t meet the enrollment requirements. Do I have any other options?
Yes! You still have multiple educational pathways to becoming an RN even if you don’t qualify for the Online BSN Bridge option today:
You may qualify for our online Associate in General Studies – Pre-Nursing program.
You can begin taking college-level nursing courses now, raise your GPA, and potentially enter into our online BSN Bridge program in the future.
If you are a resident of Florida, Illinois, Minnesota, Tennessee, or Wisconsin, you may be eligible for our on-campus RT to BSN Bridge Option.
Campus availability: Brookfield (near Milwaukee), Kenosha, Madison, Minneapolis, Nashville, Orlando, and Tampa.
Now Through March 31st
Your nursing career is possible
Join Emily and embark on a complete, holistic, career-focused education preparing you with the skills and knowledge to succeed as a registered nurse.
Job outlook and pay potential
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of registered nurse is expected to increase 6% from 2022-2032.*
Registered nurses earn an average salary of $89,010 per year ($42.80 per hour). That would represent a raise for the average respiratory therapist in the US ($70,240 per year, $33.77 per hour).
You can take a big step forward in your nursing career by becoming an RN.
Going from RT to RN
Transitioning from respiratory therapist to RN involves broadening your knowledge and skills from a highly specialized field to the broader scope of nursing.
As a registered nurse, you’ll be the backbone of day-to-day operations in many healthcare settings. Your duties can include:
- Develop and direct treatment plans
- Counsel patients and family members
- Ensure patient comfort
- Serve as the key connection between doctors and patients
Registered Nurse ranks as the #8 Best Healthcare Job for 2023 according to U.S. News & World Report.
Can I specialize? While a nursing degree curriculum can introduce a wider spectrum of course topics, RNs can specialize in an area of their choosing with enough education and experience. You may be able to use your experience as an RT to help become a respiratory/pulmonary nurse in the future.
Frequently Asked Questions
It’s a question of:
- What your goals are
- How quickly you want to reach them
If your goal is to go from LPN to RN quickly, the best choice may be an associate’s degree program since you may be able to become an RN in less than 2 years.
If your goal is to become an RN and potentially advance further by working towards a master’s degree in nursing (MSN), your best option is a bachelor’s degree in nursing program.
Read about the most basic differences between ADN vs. BSN and discover what's best for you.
You don’t need a bachelor’s degree in nursing to become a registered nurse. Earn your associate’s degree in nursing and you can become an RN more quickly and earn your first set of scrubs.
However, if your goal is to continue climbing the ladder to become a nurse practitioner or pursue roles in nursing leadership or administration, you may be best off enrolling in a BSN program so you can reach your goals faster.
No matter what you choose, Herzing is here to empower you to become the best nursing professional you can be.
There are many different nursing specialties to choose from. Depending on your personality, educational background and preferred working environment you can follow your own personalized path in the nursing profession.
Here are a few popular nursing specialties you may consider:
- Aesthetic or Cosmetic nurse
- Assisted living nurse
- Cardiac/cardiovascular nurse
- Emergency room nurse
- Flight nurse
- Home health nurse
- Labor and Delivery nurse (L&D)
- Med/surgical nurse
- Neonatal/NICU nurse
- Nurse Anesthetist
- Oncology nurse
- Pediatric nurse
- Public health nurse
- Travel nurse
You can take our nursing personality quiz to get a better idea of what you might prefer in your nursing career.
Because nurses with a BSN have earned that next degree level and generally have the edge on the job market, they will on average earn a slightly higher salary than nurses with an ASN. However, there are always exceptions; an ASN with several years of an experience may earn a higher salary than an RN with a BSN who is just starting their career.
There’s nothing easy about being a nurse. Nurses with a thirst for knowledge, compassion, empathy, self-awareness and a constant focus on lifelong learning are truly exceptional.
Learn more about what makes a good nurse, from the quality of the care you provide to the confident smile you wear every day.
Respiratory therapists focus on a patient’s breathing and specialize in respiratory/pulmonary procedures, while RNs provide a broader range of care with greater emphasis on holistic care of the whole person.
RTs can have a more clearly defined set of hands-on tasks they regularly perform, specializing in respiratory diagnosis, testing, and treatment.
RNs must be familiar with a wide scope of knowledge and procedures. While RNs can specialize in respiratory/pulmonary care, they can also specialize in many other areas and discover opportunities to advance their practice in the future.
Accreditations
Accreditations & Disclosures
1. The baccalaureate degree program in nursing at Herzing University Madison is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org). Herzing University is approved to offer programs in an online learning modality through association with the main campus in Madison, Wisconsin.
2. Eligible states for enrollment: Alabama, Colorado, Florida (Orlando and Tampa regions only), Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina and South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia, and Wisconsin.
Herzing University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org), an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
* Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook 2022. BLS estimates do not represent entry-level wages and/or salaries. Multiple factors, including prior experience, age, geography market in which you want to work and degree field, will affect career outcomes and earnings. Herzing neither represents that its graduates will earn the average salaries calculated by BLS for a particular job nor guarantees that graduation from its program will result in a job, promotion, salary increase or other career growth.