{"id":14218,"date":"2026-10-19T09:15:36","date_gmt":"2026-10-19T14:15:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/?post_type=campus_story&p=14218"},"modified":"2026-10-19T09:15:37","modified_gmt":"2026-10-19T14:15:37","slug":"rn-to-bsn-program-at-uw-superior-creates-flexible-path-to-nursing-leadership","status":"publish","type":"campus_story","link":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/story\/rn-to-bsn-program-at-uw-superior-creates-flexible-path-to-nursing-leadership\/","title":{"rendered":"RN-to-BSN program at UW-Superior creates flexible path to nursing leadership"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Photo<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

For busy nurses, continuing their education can feel daunting. Many are working full time in direct patient care while also balancing family and other responsibilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The University of Wisconsin-Superior designed its new RN-to-BSN<\/a> program with those challenges in mind. Part of the Universities of Wisconsin\u2019s BSN@Home initiative, the program offers a flexible pathway for registered nurses to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis program is a great choice for working nurses because it offers flexibility,\u201d said Lorraine \u201cLo\u201d Smith<\/a>, associate professor at UW-Superior, program director and co-creator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s online and self-paced, so students can have a life and still go to school,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s flexible, affordable and offered right here in Superior.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Designed for Working Nurses<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The RN-to-BSN program<\/a> is intended for students who already hold an associate degree or diploma in nursing. Students transfer prior credits to UW-Superior and complete an additional 30 credits to earn their bachelor\u2019s degree.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Coursework is delivered asynchronously, allowing students to complete assignments on their own schedules while meeting deadlines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThey can choose their pace,\u201d Smith said. \u201cStudents can take one class per semester or continue through the summer to finish sooner. It\u2019s very individualized.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because students enter the program with clinical experience, the online format is a natural fit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThey already know bedside care,\u201d Smith said. \u201cThis program builds on that foundation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Students expand their skills in areas such as chronic care management, leadership, health care economics and community health nursing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cUltimately, we want to graduate leaders in the health care sector and in our communities,\u201d Smith said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Graduates are prepared for roles in public health, government and health care administration. The program also supports those planning to pursue graduate or doctoral degrees in nursing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Experienced Faculty Leadership<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Smith brings both academic and clinical expertise to the program, including experience in correctional health care and three decades at UW-Eau Claire before joining UW-Superior.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Instructor Rachael Mooney<\/a> also brings extensive experience. She worked as a nurse at Essentia Health in Duluth before moving into supervisory and management roles and later teaching for seven years at Northwood Technical College.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to UW-Superior faculty, students learn from nursing instructors across the Universities of Wisconsin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Student Perspective<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Launched in November 2025, the program\u2019s first cohort represents its inaugural class. Among those students is Superior resident Mindi DeRoche.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A registered nurse since 2020, DeRoche works in the orthopedic general surgery unit at St. Luke\u2019s in Duluth. She previously earned a bachelor\u2019s degree in corporate and community health promotion from UW-Superior and an associate degree in nursing from Lake Superior College.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI love working with trainees and students,\u201d she said. \u201cEarning this degree will open doors to becoming a clinical instructor. Nursing education is my dream.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a wife and mother of three, DeRoche values the program\u2019s flexibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy experience transferring was seamless,\u201d she said. \u201cOnce I started my courses, everything was clearly laid out. I always know the expectations. Dr. Smith and Professor Mooney are approachable, and I appreciate that they\u2019re both nurses.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

DeRoche expects to graduate in December 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Strong Start<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Reflecting on the program\u2019s first year, Smith called it a rewarding experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt has been an amazing journey,\u201d she said. \u201cBuilding this program from the ground up has been the opportunity of a lifetime.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Smith credits support from the university and the broader Twin Ports community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cUW-Superior is a special place,\u201d she said. \u201cThat\u2019s largely because of its culture of caring.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

About the Program<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Designed for working registered nurses, UW-Superior\u2019s RN to BSN program<\/a> is a flexible, high-quality area of study designed to build on your professional experience to strengthen leadership, clinical and evidence-based practice skills. Rooted in holistic, person-centered care and a commitment to Indigenous and community health, this program prepares you to improve health outcomes locally and globally through compassionate, informed and innovative nursing practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Written by UW-Superior<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Link to original story: https:\/\/uwsuper.edu\/about\/news\/rn-to-bsn-program-at-uw-superior-creates-flexible-path-to-nursing-leadership\/<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

For busy nurses, continuing their education can feel daunting. Many are working full time in direct patient care while also balancing family and other responsibilities. The University of Wisconsin-Superior designed its new RN-to-BSN program with those challenges in mind. Part of the Universities of Wisconsin\u2019s BSN@Home initiative, the program offers a flexible pathway for registered […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":14219,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","institution":[110],"story_category":[148,150],"class_list":["post-14218","campus_story","type-campus_story","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","institution-uw-superior","story_category-economy","story_category-featured"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/campus_story\/14218","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/campus_story"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/campus_story"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14218"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/14219"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14218"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"institution","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/institution?post=14218"},{"taxonomy":"story_category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/story_category?post=14218"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}