The nursing profession is growing and changing, and keeping up with the demands of the profession may well mean more education. If you are a working RN who is looking to complete a BSN, it can be a good idea to check out one of the many RN to BSN programs that can help to open more doors in your nursing future.
If you like the thought of better benefits, as a whole, BSN-educated nurses have access to better rewards, higher salaries, and more benefits. See what we mean and read on.
BSN Benefits
Many people may not always understand the difference between a Registered Nurse (RN) with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and a nurse that has a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN). As a result, they may not always understand why it may be necessary to get a master’s degree just to do the same job. One may just think that all they really need is a bachelor’s degree. Depending on what your career goals are, that may be all you need, but it’s important to know and understand all of your options if you plan to invest your time and money into the nursing profession.
It’s all going to narrow down to what you want to achieve in your career as a nurse. If you’re more comfortable administering to patients, then becoming an RN will be sufficient. However, if you are more interested in the administrative part of nursing, then pursuing an MSN will be a better choice. If this is the career route you’d like to take, then your academic career will have to reflect that.
1. Nurses With a BSN Have Higher Earning Potential
At the top of the list of advantages of a BSN in nursing is earning potential. Nurses with a BSN degree earn far more over the course of their lifetime than their counterparts who do not work toward an advanced nursing degree. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average licensed practical nurse in the United States earns about $44,000 per year. However, the BLS notes that those who earn a bachelor’s degree in nursing are able to earn about $68,000 per year.
2. Nurses With a BSN has Become the Standard
Nursing institutions are exploring making a BSN a requirement. The American Nurses Association recommends that all RNs who graduate from an Associate Degree in Nursing program or diploma programs be required to obtain a BSN within 10 years of the initial licensure.
More than a dozen states are considering adopting this resolution, referred to as “BSN in 10,” meaning you could eventually be required to have a BSN to sustain your professional nursing practice. As a result, preemptively earning your BSN through an RN-BSN online program may put you ahead of the professional curve.
3. BSN Nurses Can Accept Specialized and Leadership Positions
With a BSN degree, nurses are able to take on some of the most coveted nursing positions available such as emergency nursing, pediatric nursing, nursing in schools, and more. They also may be able to earn a leadership position, such as a team leader, nurse manager or office manager.
4. BSN Students Receive a Well-Rounded Curriculum
Students working toward a nursing certificate or associate’s degree learn only the basic clinical skills required to complete their job responsibilities. However, those who go on to earn a BSN degree find that they are required to complete a rigorous and well-rounded curriculum that explores a variety of topics related to the nursing field.
5. BSN Nurses Can Better Care for Patients
Nurses with a BSN degree often have a better understanding of the impact of illness or injury on an individual patient. Not only do they possess the clinical skills required to properly care for their patients, but they also have a solid understanding of the challenges the healthcare industry faces as well as the social, emotional and psychological impact that health conditions may have on an individual patient.
6. High-Demand for Nurses with a BSN Degree
Job demand is another of the key advantages of a BSN in nursing. More and more hospitals, as well as medical clinics and physician practices, are looking to hire nurses with a BSN degree. They understand that BSN nurses are not only well-qualified for the nursing positions available but that they also are prepared to take on increased responsibilities and more significant roles in the years to come.
How Long Does it Take to Earn an RN to BSN?
While a traditional BSN degree will take four years to complete, an accelerated program when you are already an RN can be completed in one to two years. How long it takes will depend on how much time you are able to devote to the program as well as your previous education and working experience.
Although one to two years of schooling while working may seem like a lot, the short-term challenges will likely pay off in long-term career benefits. So many nurses are realizing the benefits of these programs that they have seen increases in enrollment for 12 straight years. It is also important to know that many nurse employers, eager to have their students gain further education, will sometimes offer partial tuition reimbursement for these programs. Many nurses find it worth their while to invest the finances and time needed in order to complete a bachelor’s degree.
Although nurses can become RNs with a minimum of a diploma or associate’s degree, they are often encouraged to go on for a BSN degree to ensure that they have the adequate preparation they need to take on these kinds of expanded roles and responsibilities. A BSN is also needed if a nurse ever wants to go on for a master’s degree (MSN), which is required in order to become an advanced practice nurse.
Why You Might Need an MSN
Just like a high school diploma is needed to apply to a college, you won’t be able to get an MSN without earning your bachelor’s degree. It’s not uncommon for someone to get a bachelor’s degree in a field like Natural Sciences, Respiratory Therapy, or any other kind of academic science program, and then apply for a master’s in Nursing. However, for students who are already on the nursing career track in their undergraduate studies and intend on pursuing their masters in Nursing, Florida National University’s (FNU) RN to MSN’s academic program is the perfect fit.
What FNU RN-to-MSN Has to Offer
FNU’s MSN’s graduate program is designed to build on the nursing and educational experience that the student acquired during their studies under the BSN program. If you are already an RN, the RN-to-MSN will work for you too! This program is considered somewhat of an accelerated curriculum because it is designed with the assumption that you already have a general knowledge of the nursing industry.
Enroll in an RN-to-BSN Program at FNU Today!
Working as an RN with an MSN has the same tasks as a nurse with a BSN when it comes to the practical foundations of nursing. However, with the MSN program, you’ll learn a wide range of experiences that are categorized into two specialties: Nurse Educator and Nurse Leadership and Management. View a detailed curriculum of this program here.
With the bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) coming to be considered the standard in the nursing profession, many nurses should learn more about RN to BSN programs. These accelerated programs offer already practicing RNs the opportunity to earn their bachelor’s degree while continuing to work. One advantage of these programs is that they typically do not take as long to complete as a traditional BSN degree.
To get more information about all of FNU’s Nursing programs, contact FNU’s admission department to schedule an appointment with one of our academic counselors today.
