Bridging the Gap: Seamless RN to BSN Degree Transitions

Abstract

The Institute of Medicine report, The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health, has recommended that the proportion of nurses with baccalaureate degrees be increased to 80% by 2020. As a response to this recommendation, leaders in nursing education have begun to explore strategies to implement seamless academic pathways to bridge the gap between diploma and associate-degree programs and baccalaureate-degree programs. These strategies are designed to eliminate curricular redundancy so programs will be attractive to registered nurses seeking this degree. In this article, the authors describe one State Action Coalition’s initial steps to gain consensus for, and educate stakeholders about, a model designed to foster seamless educational progression pathways. The authors present their strategy for change, namely a competency-based model, discuss how their strategy unfolded, describe their project outcomes, address the project risks, and share lessons learned. They conclude that leaders in nursing education and service need to work collaboratively to support non-redundant pathways that lead to the baccalaureate degree.