RN-to-BS Nursing Education Research: A Scoping Review

Cindy Ringhofer Brown; Brenda Elliott; Christine S Gipson; Jill Holmstrom; Devita Stallings

doi:10.1097/01.NEP.0000000000001228

RN-to-BS Nursing Education Research: A Scoping Review

Nurs Educ Perspect. 2024 Jul-Aug;45(4):219-224. doi: 10.1097/01.NEP.0000000000001228. Epub 2024 Jan 25.

Authors

Cindy Ringhofer Brown¹, Brenda Elliott, Christine S Gipson, Jill Holmstrom, Devita Stallings

Affiliation

¹ About the Authors Cindy Ringhofer Brown, DNP, RN, PHN, RDN, is associate professor and director, RN-to-BS Program, Department of Nursing, The College of St. Scholastica, Duluth, Minnesota. Brenda Elliott, PhD, RN, CNE, ANEF, is assistant professor and coordinator of MSN, CAGS, and RN-to-BSN programs, Department of Nursing, Messiah University, Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. Christine S. Gipson, PhD, RN, CNE, is associate professor and Accredited Provider Program Director, The University of Texas at Tyler, Tyler, Texas. Jill Holmstrom, EdD, MSN, RN, COS, CNE-cl, is professor and co-chair, School of Nursing and Healthcare Leadership, Minnesota State University Moorhead, Moorhead, Minnesota. Devita Stallings, PhD, RN, FAAN, is associate professor, Trudy Busch Valentine, School of Nursing, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, Missouri. The authors acknowledge Michael Skinner, librarian at The University of Texas at Tyler, for his assistance in their literature search. For more information, contact Dr. Brown at cbrown2@css.edu .

PMID: 38265081
DOI: 10.1097/01.NEP.0000000000001228

Abstract

Aim: The purpose of this scoping review was to examine the extent, range, and nature of RN-to-BS nursing education research.

Background: The state of nursing education science specific to RN-to-BS education is not available.

Method: Scoping review methodology was used to identify categories and types of published research related to RN-to-BS nursing education.

Results: Eight categories were identified across the 41 articles that met the inclusion criteria: teaching strategies ( n = 11), curriculum ( n = 9), enrollment/retention ( n = 8), benefits of a bachelor's degree ( n = 4), student characteristics ( n = 3), professional values ( n = 2), role transition ( n = 2), and faculty/student expectations ( n = 2).

Conclusion: Opportunities exist for researchers to study RN-BS students and faculty to better support evidence-based teaching practices and faculty development needs relevant for the increasingly hybrid and online student populations.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Curriculum
Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate*
Faculty, Nursing
Humans
Nursing Education Research*
Students, Nursing / psychology