Bachelor's Degree
RT to BSN/ASN
Program Options - Nashville, TN
CLASSES START
Sep 4th
20-28 Mo. Program Length | 72-120 Credits |
On-campus Format | ASN, BSN Degree Options |
Bachelor's Degree
RT to BSN/ASN
Program Options - Nashville, TN
Bridge from RT to RN with Herzing University in Nashville
| Accreditation | Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission |
|---|---|
| Degree pathways | Designed for current licensed respiratory therapists to bridge to an Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) or Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) faster than a traditional program |
| Transfer credit | Up to 52-90 approved credits |
| Format | In-person classes at our Nashville, Tennessee campus + online gen eds |
| QuickPaths | Transfer credit, stackable credentials, and adaptive learning technology build a faster pathway to a higher education with Herzing University |
A second home near you
Join a vibrant class of students and faculty eager to help you find your way to a new career path.
Herzing University
Nashville Campus
Call us
(615) 206-2858Visit us
100 Centerview DrNashville, TN 37214
Nursing Bridge Options for RTs – Nashville, TN
The respiratory therapist to RN educational pathway includes associate and bachelor's degree in nursing program options which prepare you for a career as a Registered Nurse (RN). Each Nashville campus program provides students with the fundamental knowledge and skills to help you leverage your experience as an RT/RRT into a career in nursing.
Career-focused curriculum
Discover the crucial knowledge and skills required to succeed in your work and build a foundation for continued career growth.
Flexible schedule
We work hard to help you maintain school-life balance, striving to be as flexible as possible for busy non-traditional students.
Experienced faculty
Get face-to-face instruction from experienced and credentialed faculty with real-world success in the field.
Lifelong support
We support your ongoing career advancement by providing comprehensive, personalized student services with lifelong career coaching.
Rolling admissions
No application deadlines to worry about. Apply when you’re ready and prepare to get started soon.
Classes Start September 4th
Learn More Today
You may qualify for our online option
We now offer an online BSN Bridge option for RTs featuring asynchronous didactic (lecture) courses, meaning you can complete all gen ed and core nursing courses online on your own schedule.i
The online bridge option includes practical, hands-on training including clinicals and intensives, which you must attend at a designated Herzing or partner site.
This can be a great choice if you are seeking maximum flexibility in completing your didactic coursework throughout the program.
i. The online and on-campus programs have unique enrollment requirements. View our online RT to BSN Bridge Option admission requirements.
Curriculum
Classes & curriculum details
Our curriculum is designed to build on your previous training and professional experience as a respiratory therapist, with classes focusing on providing quality, evidence-based patient care.
- On-campus. Complete core coursework on campus in Nashville.
- Online. You may complete your general education courses online.
- Clinicals. Clinical experience is vital to thrive in your new career as an RN.
| Program | Monthsi | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Associate of Science in Nursing - ASN Bridge Option | 20 | 72 |
| Bachelor of Science in Nursing - BSN Bridge Option | 28 | 120 |
i. Average number of months for students to complete program
ASN Bridge Option - Associate of Science in Nursing
BSN Bridge Option - Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Tuition & Cost
Our goal is your career advancement. That’s why we are always working to improve our curriculums and processes to make our nursing program as affordable as possible while preparing you best for success in your work.
With Herzing University, you are never alone, and we offer many options to help you invest in yourself and earn your bachelor’s degree. Financial aid options include:
Enrollment requirements
To be considered for admission into the ASN or BSN Bridge Option in Nashville, you must:
- Hold a high school diploma or equivalent (Diploma, HSED, or GED)
- Currently work as a licensed Respiratory Therapist (RT)
- Minimum GPA of 2.5i
- Earn a minimum score of 58.7 on the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) from the Assessment Technology Institute (ATI)
If you do not meet the GPA or TEAS requirements, you may be eligible for our Associate in General Studies - Pre-Nursing program as an alternative pathway. Please contact admissions for further details.
i. Students with 18 or more transferable collegiate credits will be assessed on their collegiate cumulative GPA. Otherwise, the high school GPA will be used.
Now Enrolling!
Waived Enrollment Fee
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 $94,480 per year ($45.42 per hour). That would represent a raise for the average respiratory therapist in the US ($75,250 per year, $36.18 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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Come visit our campus in Nashville for a personalized look at our school and get a feel for our learning environment.
Herzing University - Nashville
100 Centerview Drive, Suite 100
Nashville, TN 37214-3439
(615) 206-2858
View all Nashville nursing programs.
Disclosures
Disclosures & accreditation
Herzing University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org), an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Effective May 7, 2024, this Associate of Science in Nursing program is a candidate for initial accreditation by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing. This candidacy status expires on May 7, 2026.
Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400
Atlanta, GA 30326
(404) 975-5000
https://www.acenursing.com/candidates/candidacy.asp
Note: Upon granting of initial accreditation by the ACEN Board of Commissioners, the effective date of initial accreditation is the date on which the nursing program was approved by the ACEN as a candidate program that concluded in the Board of Commissioners granting initial accreditation.
* Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics 2023 / 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.
