Nursing is a rewarding and challenging career. An individual wanting to become a registered nurse (RN) or a nurse with a higher degree (APRN) should consider obtaining a bachelor of science in nursing degree.
Earning a BSN will allow candidates to be eligible to earn graduate degrees in their fields, making them more marketable.
Is a BSN Worth It?
Many schools provide an RN to BSN online program.
But is a BSN worth it? A BSN combines clinical training with classroom learning and prepares nurses for work in the healthcare field. While obtaining a BSN is not necessary to work as a nurse, most hospitals are looking for nurses with BSN degrees.
BSN Requirements
While the requirements vary from one school to another, to be admitted to a BSN program, applicants usually need to provide official transcripts from any previous educational institutions.
They should have completed prerequisite courses, typically biology, anatomy, and chemistry.
Many schools require applicants to meet a certain SAT or ACT score. Some schools ask for letters of recommendation as well. Applicants who are already registered nurses must provide their valid RN license. All applicants are usually required to pay an application fee.
Specific RN to BSN Programs
Nurses who already hold an associate’s degree in nursing can obtain their bachelor of science degree through specific RN to BSN degree programs. RNs already have the clinical knowledge they need, and the BSN courses equip them to manage patients and other nurses.
Nurses wishing to apply must have a current RN license, complete prerequisite classes, and have a minimum GPA of 2.5. Sometimes schools will ask for official college transcripts and a resume as well.
Courses usually focus on clinical reasoning, pharmacology, pathophysiology, and genetics. Typically, these programs take around 18 months to two years to complete, although the program length may vary.
Candidates for a BSN degree will develop skills in leadership and patient safety. They will learn patient care technology and be able to use information management. Specific courses will teach them most healthcare and nursing policies and disease prevention.
Finally, BSN candidates will learn the essential values of nursing care and the moral and legal aspects of nursing.
BSN Careers
Individuals with a bachelor of science in nursing become registered nurses. They provide hands-on medical care to people in clinical settings including hospitals, physicians’ offices, and other healthcare settings.
RNs administer medications, observe patients, record medical histories, assess patients’ conditions, and teach patients how to manage their pain and illnesses after discharge.
Nurses with a BSN will earn significantly more than nurses with just an RN degree. They also have many more opportunities for advancement. They can go on to get advanced degrees and become a nurse practitioner or nurse educator.
The government has opportunities for nurses with a BSN to work in public health service or with the U. S. Veterans Administration. BSN nurses often manage courses for online certification and continuing education.
There is almost always a shortage of nurses in America. This provides more opportunities for nurses with a BSN.
Nurses who obtain their BSN can even serve as professors of nursing. Nurses with a bachelor of science in nursing have greater earning potential and employment options. A BSN degree can help many nurses achieve their career goals.