RN to BSN Programs in New York: Students from a variety of interests and backgrounds enroll in nursing programs. All nurses, however, ought to be enthusiastic about providing care and supporting others. Nurses treat patients in places like emergency rooms, intensive care units, schools, nursing homes, and public health facilities. They can also work independently or with doctors.
Although not needing as many years of formal training as many other medical professions, nurses are crucial to the healthcare industry. Nurses can become eligible for jobs with high salaries and great responsibility with an associate’s or bachelor’s degree. Additionally, nurses with a master’s degree can work in even more specialized roles like nurse practitioners and nurse anesthetists.
Those who are interested in the healthcare field might think about pursuing their associate or bachelor’s degree in nursing in New York. Many nursing facilities in New York employ hundreds of thousands of nurses, and job prospects are expanding. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) forecasts a 20.1% rise in registered nurse employment in New York between 2016 and 2026, or nearly 4,000 additional posts annually.
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The Future of Nursing in New York
The vastly favorable picture for nurses’ careers in New York also includes higher-level positions. For instance, the BLS forecasts a 41.6% rise in employment for nurse practitioners between 2016 and 2026, resulting in the creation of more than 6,000 new posts over that time.

Nursing Salaries in New York
In general, New York’s nurses make more money than nurses in other parts of the nation, with RNs in the state earning roughly $10,000 more annually than the average registered nurse. In New York, however, the location inside the state has a big impact on nurse earnings. Nurses, for instance, make over $90,000 annually in the New York-Jersey City-White Plains region.
Nursing Specializations in New York
Nursing program graduates from New York work in a range of specialties. Before starting their courses, nursing students should think about their professional aspirations. Several courses, especially in master’s degrees, prepare students for employment in a certain field of study.
The duties and pay of a professional are influenced by their area of expertise. Consider becoming an advanced practice registered nurse if you desire a higher earning nursing profession. In New York, for instance, nurse anesthetists and nurse practitioners make an average salary of over $100,000 annually. Certified nurse midwives also make about $85,000 a year. Advanced practice registered nurses can anticipate significant career advancement in addition to above-average pay. The BLS anticipates a 25.7% increase in nurse anesthetist employment in New York from 2016 to 2026, and a 24.1% increase in nurse midwife employment in the same period.
Students should think about their desired patient population and working environment. In New York, the average salary for neonatal and psychiatric nurses is over $70,000. Also, there are job opportunities for students in oncology wards, intensive care units, and emergency departments.
Nursing Practitioner
Students in nursing master’s programs are prepared for careers as nurse practitioners. Physicians and nurse practitioners both have many duties in common. They can diagnose illnesses, arrange tests, and prescribe drugs, for instance.
$109,177 is the average salary in New York.
Nurse Anesthetist
To find work, aspiring nurse anesthetists must have a graduate degree. Students that enroll in nurse anesthetist programs learn about intravenous sedation, different surgeries, and preoperative procedures as they prepare to deliver anesthesia during surgical procedures.
$144,746 is the average salary in New York.
Emergency Room Nurse
Specialists in emergency room nursing assist emergency room doctors in providing patient care. The nurses in the emergency room give medication, evaluate patients, and organize patient care.
New York’s average annual salary is $72,612
Neonatal Nurse
Intensive care units for newborns are where neonatal nurses often work. These nurses provide critical care to newborns with cardiac abnormalities, birth defects, and other severe conditions.
New York’s average annual wage is $73,419
Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse
Patients with mental health illnesses, such as behavioral difficulties and substance misuse issues, are treated by psychiatric nurses. Families and individuals may receive care from these providers for their mental health.
New York’s average annual salary is $78,769
Certified Nurse Midwife
Nurse midwives are trained to look after women’s reproductive health through specialized master’s programs. Students gain knowledge about how to care for newborns and aid with births.
$85,000 is the average salary in New York.
Top RN to BSN Programs in New York
1. CUNY, York College
York College, which has a renowned liberal arts program, offers over 50 undergraduate programs. Registered nurses can also acquire a BSN at the university’s Jamaica, Queens, location. About 30 students are admitted yearly to York College’s full-time RN-to-BSN program. The 120-credit program prepares nurses to fulfill the healthcare needs of various cultural groups living in urban areas.
Students complete nursing courses in pathophysiology, the professional nursing process, research in professional nursing, and administration and leadership in professional nursing in addition to the 60 credits of liberal arts education that nurses may transfer in. The curriculum includes clinical experiences in a range of public venues. An RN license, New York state registration, completion of required courses, and school transcripts are requirements for admission to this nursing program in New York.
2. Stony Brook University
Science programs at Stony Brook have a well-established reputation for being challenging. The 60 degrees offered by the school include a hybrid RN-to-BSN program. The program accepts applicants with a nursing diploma or associate degree. Students take the majority of their classes online with some on-site requirements.
The course looks at various professional nursing models and emphasizes the leadership and communication abilities RNs need to effectively care for patients, families, and communities. Coursework in pathophysiology, health evaluation, and population health nursing are all part of the 71-credit program. A 28-credit clinical practice portfolio that students build while enrolled in the program is required for the degree.
After completing the necessary courses, students must take part in a practicum where they choose a health-related issue and develop and assess intervention solutions using theories and research. A minimum of 57 credits, a 2.5 GPA, school transcripts, and a valid RN license are needed for admission. Students are accepted into this New York nursing program in January and May.
3. University at Buffalo
The RN-to-BSN program at UB can be completed entirely online in 1-2 years by registered nurses. Since nurses can transfer up to 90 credits into the program, the 32-credit curriculum places a strong emphasis on upper-division courses. At UB, students learn about public health nursing, patient- and family-centered care, family nursing, and how to support positive health outcomes. RNs are required to create a nursing unit project for a four-credit leadership synthesis course that incorporates cooperation, leadership, patient-centered care, and other ideas.
The nursing program has outstanding success rates on tests for RN certification and New York licenses. Students having an associate’s or diploma in nursing can enroll in the program. Moreover, admission demands a GPA of at least 2.5 and RN licensure. Learners can enroll in the program in May, and all of the coursework is delivered asynchronously.
4. Concordia University , New York
Every year, Concordia, a school with ties to the Lutheran Church, enrolls roughly 1,500 students on its Bronxville campus. An RN-to-BSN program is available for registered nurses at the institution’s campus, which is roughly 40 minutes from New York City. With the use of transfer credits, students can finish their degrees in as little as one year. Courses on health assessment, adult patient acute care, nursing leadership, prevention, health promotion, and risk reduction are all part of the program.
A maximum of 72 credits can be transferred into the BSN program, and students must complete 122 credits to graduate. Because to flexible classes offered in the evenings, on weekends, and over the summer, nurses can continue to work full-time while pursuing their BSN in New York. The nursing honor organization Sigma Theta Tau has a Concordia chapter that RN students can join. A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 and RN licensure are requirements for admission to this program.
5. Nazareth College
Nazareth has roughly 3,000 students enrolled on its picturesque 150-acre campus near Rochester. One of the 60 majors offered by the institution is an RN-to-BSN for nurses having an associate’s or diploma in nursing. Learners must finish the basic liberal arts and sciences courses as part of the curriculum. Evidence-based practice, health evaluation in a multicultural culture, and community health promotion are among topics covered in the curriculum.
A compulsory session reviews the changes affecting the industry and the prognosis for nurses in New York. During a mandatory practicum at clinical settings off campus, nurses develop their leadership and management skills. Students can participate in the RN-to-BSN program on a part-time or full-time basis.
6. Rochester University
One of the top research universities in the country, Rochester has roughly 10,000 students enrolled, the majority of whom attend classes on the 154-acre River Campus and the adjoining medical complex. The school’s RN-to-BSN program gives students the opportunity to obtain a nursing degree remotely while having access to the support of the greatest hospital system in the area. RNs can finish the curriculum offered by the medical center’s School of Nursing in 16 months.
64 credits in the arts and sciences are necessary for the 128-credit BSN. Population health, pathophysiology and pharmacology, nursing leadership and administration are all included in the 32-credit RN-to-BSN major. RNs must integrate their knowledge by carrying out a healthcare project that responds to a particular need as part of their capstone project.
Up to 94 credits can be transferred by students toward their degree. A minimum cumulative 3.0 GPA and US RN license are prerequisites for admission to this nursing school in New York.
7. Farmingdale State College
90% of Farmingdale graduates find employment within six months of graduation, making it the largest college of applied science and technology in the State University of New York system. Farmingdale places a strong emphasis on hands-on learning and research. The RN-to-BSN program at the institution requires 62 more credits in addition to an associate’s degree in nursing. Bioethics, healthcare organizations, and community nursing are all covered in the curriculum.
RNs in this nursing school in New York are required to plan, carry out, and assess patient care in a specialty area as part of the practicum. They must also recognize and fix a problem with healthcare management. Membership in a chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International, the nursing honor society, is one option for extracurricular activities.
The RN-to-BSN program only accepts students in the fall. A current registration in a U.S. state and RN licensing are prerequisites for admission. According to NC-SARA rules, citizens of California are not eligible to apply for this program.
8. Molloy College
Long Island-based Molloy, a private college with ties to the Catholic Church, enrolls about 4,800 undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students each year. For nurses who already hold a diploma or associate degree in nursing, the school’s RN-to-BSN program offers a blended learning environment. For the 128-credit degree, RNs who begin the program with advanced standing must complete 30 credits.
Leadership management, community health assessment, and integrated nursing practice are all covered in this New York nursing program’s curriculum. The program’s 8-to-1 student-to-faculty ratio and 250 clinical partners that provide practical practicum experiences are noteworthy features.
Moreover, Molloy provides RNs with a pathway to simultaneously earn a BSN and MSN. The nursing program places a strong emphasis on the Molloy heritage of academic rigor, spirituality, and community service as well as humanistic nursing methods that uphold patients’ dignity. Entrance needs transferable credit and RN licensure.
9. SUNY Plattsburgh College
SUNY Plattsburgh, which was established in 1889, manages programs on its campus in the lovely Champlain Valley. The RN-to-BSN program is available to nurses in New York who want to pursue a fully online nursing degree.
RNs may transfer up to 67 credits from two-year institutions and up to 84 credits from four-year colleges in order to fulfill the 120-credit general education requirement. Health assessment, healthcare informatics, health promotion, and social justice are all covered in the SUNY Plattsburgh nursing program.
Three credits are used by students to pursue electives on issues including the worldwide impact of HIV/AIDS. Nurses must do a practicum in their communities as part of their nursing curriculum in New York. A least 2.5 GPA on prior college credits, unencumbered license in a U.S. state, and RN registration are requirements for admission.
10. Saint John Fisher College
For the past eight years, Fisher, a Catholic university in Pittsford that is only seven miles from Rochester, has consistently been ranked among the best colleges in the country by U.S. News & World Report. The school’s strong nursing program produces graduates who are ready to enter the workforce; over 95% of them pass the National Council Licensing Exam on their first try. It is the largest educator of nursing students in the area.
Part-time and full-time students with an associate’s or diploma in nursing and a valid, unencumbered RN license are accepted for Fisher’s online RN-to-BSN program. Students use the Blackboard platform to complete all necessary coursework online. Instead of requiring clinical courses, the curriculum incorporates clinical learning opportunities into project-based classwork.
120 credits are needed for the RN-to-BSN program at Fisher, evenly distributed between liberal arts and nursing courses. Statistics and ethics studies are among the prerequisites for the liberal arts. Studies in nursing informatics, evidence-based practice, and a program-ending capstone portfolio are all included in the nursing component.

How to Get a Nursing License in New York
Get a Degree
A BSN or ADN is required for aspiring nurses in New York or another state. Graduates of both undergraduate programs are eligible to pursue careers as registered nurses or licensed practical nurses. Yet, each degree type has a varied set of course requirements, which affects a graduate’s prospects for employment.
Both ADN and BSN programs assist students in acquiring the core nursing competencies needed to operate in hospitals and other healthcare settings. But, BSN programs could also provide supplementary courses on subjects like administration and public health. ADNs are often pursued by students who wish to enter the workforce as soon as feasible, whereas BSNs are obtained by students who wish to continue their education. Although many organizations prefer to hire RNs with a bachelor’s degree, students should be aware of this fact.
While RNs and LVNs/LPNs in New York can be employed with an undergraduate degree, more advanced careers demand a graduate degree. Nurse practitioners and other advanced practice registered nurses must complete an MSN or DNP program that has been authorized by the New York State Education Department (NYSED).
Finally, accredited programs should be attended by all nursing students. A program’s accreditation proves that it adheres to rigorous academic criteria. Also, only graduates of authorized nursing education programs are certified by the New York licensing board.
Get your Nursing License
In New York, nurses who practice must be licensed. Applicants for nursing licensure can fulfill their educational requirements by enrolling in a certificate, associate, bachelor’s, or master’s program that has been recognized by NYSED. Applicants must also take courses in infection control and reporting child abuse, which are required by New York nursing programs.
Candidates for licensure must be at least 18 years old and morally upright. Candidates respond to inquiries about criminal charges, convictions, disciplinary actions, and ethical violations to demonstrate their moral character. In order to be a registered nurse in New York, you must pass the NCLEX-RN. The exam is $200, and the state licensing application is $143.
Candidates must have RN licensure and either a degree from a NYSED-recognized nurse practitioner program or certification from an approved organization in order to become licensed as nurse practitioners in New York. The American Nurses Credentialing Center, the Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation, and the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners are acceptable certifying bodies. Nurse practitioners must also complete pharmacology training that has been approved by NYSED. Acute care, adult health, and psychiatry are among the areas in which New York certifies nurse practitioners to specialize.
Upkeep and Renewal of Certification
Every three years, nurses must renew their certifications in order to continue working as nurses in New York. LPNs and RNs can renew online for a cost of $73. Nurse practitioners must spend $35 and $73 respectively to renew their certifications as nurse practitioners and registered nurses. By responding to inquiries about their criminal and professional histories, nurses must exhibit sufficient moral conduct in order to renew their accreditation. Every four years, nurses must also take continuing education courses on infection control.

Frequently Asked Questions
In the US, how many RN to BSN programs are there?
Presently, there are 781 RN to BSN programs offered around the US, including more than 650 that are at least partially online. Program duration ranges from one to two years, based on the school's requirements, the type of program, and the student's prior academic performance.
Which state offers nurses the lowest pay?
The lowest hourly pay for nurses is $28.63 in South Dakota, which is less than half of what they make in California. The average yearly pay for nurses in the Mount Rushmore State is $59,540, which is 38.7% higher than the national average for all occupations.
Why do hospitals favor nurses with a BSN?
Because they may meet the IOM's recommendation without displacing ADNs who are nearing retirement age, many hospitals prefer to hire nurses with a BSN. Hospitals may demand associate degree-holding nurses to finish a BSN program within two to five years if they are hired.
Which is preferable, RN to BSN or BSN?
According to studies on patients and patient outcomes, nurses with a BSN often provide better health care. BSN has thus emerged as the recommended degree for the majority of hiring initiatives in the competitive healthcare market that must maximize patient outcomes.
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