The Morningside College Department of Nursing is offering registered nurses a new online option to obtain a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree.

Mary Kovarna, chair of the nursing department, said the new online component to Morningside’s RN to BSN program is specifically designed for the registered nurse who has a diploma or associate degree and wants to earn a bachelor’s degree while continuing to work.

“We are making it more convenient for registered nurses to complete a BSN degree through a combination of interactive online courses and some face-to-face contact with instructors,” Kovarna said.

Morningside expects the first group of registered nurses to take advantage of the online program in the fall of 2013.

Kovarna added that the online option also gives registered nurses the flexibility to create a customized instructional schedule to earn a bachelor’s degree in as little as one year or up to five years.

Kovarna said the new online program builds on Morningside’s long-standing reputation for excellence in nursing education. Morningside started offering the BSN degree in 1973 and added the RN to BSN program in 1985.

The Iowa Board of Nursing has approved the online component of Morningside’s BSN degree completion program.

More information on Morningside’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree completion program is available by contacting the department of nursing at 712-274-5156 or through the college website.