Associate or Bachelor's
RT to RN Options - BSN or ASN
Orlando, Florida
CLASSES START
Sep 4th
20-28 Mo. Program Length | 72-120 Credits |
ASN, BSN Degree Options | On-campus Format |
Associate or Bachelor's
RT to RN Options - BSN or ASN
Orlando, Florida
Bridge from Respiratory Therapist to nursing faster
| Accreditation | ACEN accredited ASN bridge option,1 CCNE accredited BSN bridge option,2 Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission |
|---|---|
| Degree options | Associate and bachelor’s degree options |
| Transfer credit | Up to 52-90 approved credits |
| Format | On-campus classes in Orlando, FL + online |
| 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
Orlando Campus
Call us
(407) 641-5227Visit us
1865 SR 436Winter Park, FL 32792
RT to ASN/BSN Degree Options - Orlando, FL
The RT to RN pathway includes associate and bachelor's degree in nursing program options which prepare you for a career as a Registered Nurse (RN). Each Orlando campus program provides students with fundamental knowledge and skills in the nursing process, health assessment, managing care, evidence-based practice, and much more.
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
Classes & curriculum details
The Herzing University Orlando Bridge to BSN and Bridge to ASN program options are concept-based, covering topics such as ethics and law, research and practice, informatics, global health policy, leadership and management. General education courses may be completed online, while core nursing courses must be completed on campus in Orlando, Florida.
The curriculum also provides pathways for paramedics, licensed practical nurses (LPN) and cardiovascular technicians (CVT) to bridge to their associate or bachelor's degree. Our program prepares you for real-life experience in patient care, utilizing lab simulations and clinical practice.
| Program | Monthsi | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Associate of Science in Nursing - Bridge to ASN - Orlando | 20 | 72 |
| Bachelor of Science in Nursing - Bridge to BSN - Orlando | 28 | 120 |
Bridge to ASN - Associate of Science in Nursing
Bridge to BSN - Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Enrollment requirements
To be considered for admission into the program, you must hold a high school diploma or equivalent (Diploma, HSED or GED) and meet the following criteria based on your cumulative GPA:
| Cumulative GPAi | Science Requirement | TEASii |
| 3.50–4.00 | None | None |
| 3.00–3.49 | 3.00 GPA in college scienceiii | None |
| 2.50 and higher | None | Composite TEAS of 58 |
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. ii. The Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) from the Assessment Technology Institute (ATI). iii. Based on your cumulative GPA in these college science courses: Anatomy & Physiology I and II, Biology, Chemistry, and Microbiology. Two of these courses must be used to calculate science GPA. Any of these courses completed must be included in the calculation, and no others. If you do not meet this requirement, you must score a composite score of 58 or higher on the TEAS. A grade of "B" or better must be earned for transfer credit to be awarded for Anatomy & Physiology, regardless of whether it was included in the calculation. | ||
Now Through June 30th
You can become possible
It’s never too late to better yourself, get educated, and advance your career to new heights. Kiara and Loretta have made it a family tradition.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Accreditations
Accreditations & Disclosures
1. Associate of Science in Nursing: The Associate of Science in Nursing program and the Associate of Science in Nursing-Bridge to ASN program at the Orlando location has an accredited status with the Florida Board of Nursing (4042 Bald Cypress Way, Tallahassee, Florida, 32399-3252, 850-245-4125, www.floridasnursing.gov). Consequently, graduates are eligible to sit for the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCLEX-RN) licensing exam upon successful completion of the program. Passing this exam allows graduates to apply to the State Board of Nursing for licensure as a registered nurse.
The Associate of Science in Nursing program at Herzing University located in Orlando, Florida is accredited by the: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), 3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400 Atlanta, GA 30326, (404) 975-5000. The most recent accreditation decision made by the ACEN Board of Commissioners for the Associate of Science in Nursing program is Continuing Accreditation. View the public information disclosed by the ACEN regarding this program at http://www.acenursing.com/accreditedprograms/programsearch.htm.
2. The baccalaureate degree program in nursing at Herzing University Orlando is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org).
Herzing University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org), an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
* 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.
Schedule a visit to our campus in Orlando to learn more about the program and what we’re all about. We’re located on the northeast side of Orlando just off Semoran Boulevard.
Herzing University - Orlando
1865 SR 436
Winter Park, FL 32792
(407) 641-5227
View all Orlando nursing programs.
