Whats A Bsn In Nursing

Bsn Job Outlook And Career Options

As you can see, a BSN can be expensive, yet the career opportunities are lucrative in themselves. Not only do you get the reward and fulfillment of helping others, but the pay becomes commensurate with your education and experience.

The job outlook is very high as the demand continues to grow. Its expected that there will be more than 500,000 new RN positions through the year 2026, which represents a higher-than-average rate of growth.

BSNs can work in a wide range of settings, including, but not limited to:

• Hospitals

What Is A Bsn Degree In Nursing

BSN is the abbreviation for a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and refers to someone who has earned a bachelors in nursing in addition to earning registered nurse licensure. It often precedes the Master of Science in Nursing degree, which is available to nurses who wish to further advance in their career.

To become a nurse, you must have graduated from a state-approved nursing school and have passed the National Council Licensure Examination a standardized exam that each state board of nursing uses to license candidates for entry-level nursing practice.

An Associate Degree in Nursing, or ADN, can prepare you to take the NCLEX exam and become a registered nurse, as can a hospital-sponsored diploma program. However, to practice as an RN, you must be licensed in your state.

How Long Does it Take to Become a BSN?

Regardless of the degree level, graduates licensing examination, according to AACN.

It’s true that earning RN licensure takes less time to complete than a BSN program, but if you are already a registered nurse, you can complete an RN to BSN program in as little as two years without having to put your career on hold or cut back your hours, Christman said.

One of the strengths of being an RN student pursuing a BSN is that you are able to work as a nurse the whole time you are advancing your education. This provides a very affordable opportunity, she said.

What Is An Rn Diploma Or Certificate

RN certificate programs include clinical topics such as human biology, caring for patients, administering tests and medication, patient communications, and ethics. They also require clinical hours. RN diplomas are offered by hospitals or other healthcare facilities, rather than colleges or universities, and usually take up to two years.

Credits earned for an RN diploma, however, may not transfer to a BSN program unlike an ADN. If your primary concern is how long it takes to be an RN, an RN diploma is the fastest approach, but an ADN or BSN can lead to more career opportunities.

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Rn Vs Bsn: Education Requirements

Despite the two different categories of education level for a registered nurse, both are required to pass the NCLEX exam in order to become a licensed nurse.

In order to become a registered nurse, you must obtain an associates degree and be working within the medical field, usually under a specific specialty. An RN has also passed their state board exam and has completed their licensing requirements set in place by the state they work in.

A BSN is another classification of registered nurse that is defined by their higher education status. To receive a bachelors degree of science in nursing, you must either have completed your associate’s degree in nursing or have committed to the four-year program to graduate with the BSN degree from your undergraduate curriculum.

Essential Things To Consider When Choosing A Nursing Program

Considering the advantages and disadvantages of pursuing a bachelor’s or master’s nursing degree can help you select the best path to achieve your goals. Your particular circumstances, such as whether you already work as a nurse, hold an RN degree, or haven’t started your nursing education yet, provide a starting place.

The time commitments and costs of earning a traditional BSN or MSN can range from four to seven years. Accelerated or bridge programs can shorten the timeframe for qualified students and reduce tuition and fees.

Salary differences can be pretty significant. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics , the median salary for registered nurses totals $75,330 per year, while master’s degree-prepared advanced practice registered nurses earn a median annual salary of $117,760.

Career longevity should also be considered. Certain specialty areas may contribute to nurse burnout, such as critical care and emergency room work. The amount of patient interaction is also something to take into consideration. RN positions involve extensive patient care, while master’s-level nursing degrees may open more doors to administrative, leadership, or research jobs.

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Clinical Component For Bsn Students

BSN internships allow you to apply your knowledge in nursing settings. When you intern, you can shadow nurses with years of experience and the wisdom that comes with it. Internship hours vary by specialization, setting, and school requirements, but the average internship takes 5-20 hours per week, and most students receive class credit for participating.

Rn Vs Bsn: Whats The Difference

Nursing as a career path offers a wealth of specialties and paths from nursing at the bedside, to research, to education, to executive leadership and more.

Depending on the path you choose, you may need different certifications and even levels of education. One question aspiring nurses often ask as they explore their options is Is the BSN program an RN program?’

Below, we break down how RN vs BSN credentials differ and explore if our RN to BSN program option might be the best choice for you.

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What Is The Study Of Nursing

Nursing is a profession concerned with taking care of ill or injured persons and providing preventive health care. Nurses work in various settings, including hospitals, long-term care facilities, public health departments, businesses, public schools, and also mental health centers.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, duties performed by nurses include providing patient care, assessment of patients, developing nursing care plans, and educating patients about their conditions.

Rn Vs Bsn: Job Outlook

Nurses will continue to be in high demand for the foreseeable future. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, demand for healthcare services will increase because of the aging population as well as the increase in chronic conditions such as diabetes, obesity, and arthritis.

There are more job opportunities with a higher range in salary* available to nursing students who have earned a BSN versus an ADN. The BLS states that registered nurses with a BSN will have better job prospects than those without one. Some of the specialized jobs for BSN-qualified nurses might include:

• Educator roles
• Departmental coordinator roles
• Management positions

Many employers now require that all nurses hold a BSN degree prior to employment. The AACN reports that 39.% of hospitals and other healthcare settings now require a BSN for new hires, and 77.4% favor BSN graduates over other nursing credentials. They also found that there was an 88% job placement rate for entry-level BSN graduates. Theres also a significant body of research showing that BSN-qualified nurses are linked to better patient outcomes. While there are still plenty of job opportunities for ADN-qualified RNs, there is significant data to prove that the workforce heavily favors BSN-qualified nurses.

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Why Rns Choose Wgu

Discover why RNs choose WGU for their RN to BSN program:

• Flexible schedule. Current RNs can continue working at their job, and keep up with their family responsibilities all while earning a degree. You don’t have to take time off work or rearrange your shiftsat WGU you don’t have to log in to classes at a certain time, and your assignments don’t have deadlines. You can work any time, any where.
• Accelerate your RN to BSN courses. When you earn your RN to BSN degree from WGU you can take your existing knowledge and put it to use. You can move through your courses as quickly as you show mastery in the material. RNs also often transfer many credits into their WGU RN to BSN bachelor’s degree program, helping them graduate faster.

Salary Potential For Rns With Adn Vs Bsn Degrees

According to PayScale, the average annual salary for an RN with an ADN is $70,700 as of May 2021, compared to the average annual salary of $86,520 for an RN with a BSN. Many employers require or strongly prefer a BSN for specialized or advanced positions. Positions with administrative responsibilities also prefer a bachelor’s. Still, there are many rewarding opportunities for both nurses with ADNs and BSN-holders.

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Adn Vs Bsn: Whats The Difference And Which Degree Should You Choose

Just over a decade ago, the Institute of Medicine issued a call to action for 80% of nurses to hold at least a Bachelor of Science nursing degree by the year 2020. Their logic was based on a growing body of evidence that nurses who hold BSN degrees are better prepared than those who hold Associate Degree of Nursing degrees to analyze data, understand evidence-based practice, promote patient safety and achieve better patient outcomes.

Since that time, there has been a substantial increase in the number of nurses who hold BSN degrees. But which degree is right for you? And why would you consider earning one degree over the other?

Adn Vs Bsn Curriculum

Both undergraduate degrees prepare nurses to provide patients care that meets accepted standards for entry-level nursing. Heres the fundamental distinction:

• Associate degree programs emphasize clinical skills, with lab training and core nursing coursework
• Bachelors degree programs similarly build clinical skills, with additional training in research, management and leadership to provide a broad, holistic and reality-based understanding of the roles and responsibilities of a professional nurse

Herzings ADN program includes class topics such as the fundamentals of nursing, adult nursing systems, newborn care, self-care and nursing process and documentation.

Our BSN program includes classes covering patient care across the lifespan, national and global health policy, nursing informatics, evidence-based nursing research and practice, mental health nursing and much more. The BSN curriculum is more comprehensive to help professional nurses learn how to deliver complete, holistic care. Our BSN program is available online, with eligibility in select U.S. states.

An ADN program is designed to help you prepare for entry-level roles as an RN, while a BSN program establishes the same foundation and expands upon it to cover advanced

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Converting From Rn To Bsn

Without a BSN or higher, career advancements can be more difficult for an RN.

But do you need to spend four years full-time in university to get your BSN? The answer is no. It can be lot faster.

If you already have a bachelors degree in another field, you can earn your BSN degree in what is called an accelerated BSN program, or second degree BSN program, in 12 – 18 months.

If youre already an RN through a diploma or associate degree, you can earn your RN to BSN degree online in as little as 12 months sometimes less while still working full-time.

Online flexibility means that you can keep your paycheck, knowing that you’ll open doors to a higher salary, better knowledge, and more specialized nursing positions in only a year.

But what does it cost? Some colleges allow RNs to transfer credits from previous college coursework in their RN-BSN programs, which can help reduce cost. For the majority of students, this equates to a cost reduction of over $7000. The ability to reduce costs, plus the flexible online format makes RN-BSN online very inexpensive.

Regardless of which pathway you choose, there is financial support available including scholarships to apply for.

Job Responsibilities For Nurses With A Bsn

With a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, youll qualify for leadership jobs which often come with a higher salary and less supervision from other physicians. Regardless of whether youre just starting out or you are already a nurse holding an associates degree, this degree is a great option if you would want to advance in your career.

The specific roles of a BSN registered nurse often depend on the healthcare setting, experience level, and patient population. However, some of the common responsibilities include communicating with doctors, care and safety, maintaining records and administering medications. Most RNs experience an evolution in their research and critical thinking skills as well as improved patient care methods after earning a bachelor of science in nursing.

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What Is A Bachelor’s Of Science In Nursing

Becoming a nurse can be a rewarding career, both professionally and personally. As a key part of medical facilities, nurses are responsible for keeping track of medication, administering care, and a variety of other duties. If you’re wondering what a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing can do for your career in the medical profession, let’s take a look at some of the requirements and benefits of earning a BSN degree.

Careers For Rn With Adn

The careers that are available for registered nurses with an associates degree in nursing include positions in hospitals, outpatient care centers, home health care services and doctors offices. Duties for registered nurses with an ADN range from maintaining health records, assisting patients with their daily care, monitor patient health statuses and giving basic nursing card to treat injuries and illnesses.

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Why Healthcare Establishments Prefer To Hire Bsn Graduates

A range of medical establishments, such as government facilities, hospitals, and military organizations, recognize the importance of hiring BSN graduates for their skills and breadth of knowledge in the field. Magnet hospitals, for example, require all nurse managers and leaders to have at least a BSN. The National Advisory Council on Nurse Education and Practice has created a countrywide call for two-thirds of all nurses to hold a bachelors degree or higher.

BSN graduates not only are better prepared for entering nursing careers, according to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing , but also yield better patient outcomes, diagnoses, and lower mortality rates. As the healthcare field continues to evolve to accommodate an aging population of baby boomers and new technologies, medical facilities will need BSN-educated graduates to navigate these changes and lead groundbreaking initiatives in improving patient care.

Terminology: Adn Vs Bsn Vs More Acronyms

Current registered nurses may be familiar with the language of nursing and skip aheadbut those new to the field researching educational programs can quickly get lost in a sea of abbreviations and overlapping terminology. What do all these acronyms mean? What is RN vs. BSN or ADN vs. ASN?

Heres a brief review of everything you need to know before diving deeper:

• ADN stands for Associate Degree in Nursing. You may also see associate nursing degrees referred to as ASN or AASN. These stand for Associate of Science in Nursing and Associate of Applied Science in Nursing, respectively. The difference between ADN, ASN and AASN are primarily naming preference, but can reflect subtle differences in curriculums or state requirements.
• BSN stands for Bachelor of Science in Nursing.
• RN stands for Registered Nurse. While ADN and BSN reference types of nursing degrees, RN represents the profession you can practice with a degree. You can qualify to become an RN with an RN diploma, ADN or BSN.
• CNA stands for Certified Nursing Assistant and LPN stands for Licensed Practical Nurse . These are entry-level jobs in nursing that do not require a degree, but can be excellent experience before eventually working towards becoming an RN.

Programs titled RN to BSN or RN to MSN are designed for RNs with an ADN/diploma who do not have a BSN.

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What Is A Bsn Degree: List Of Bsn Degree Requirements And Curriculum

Freshmen entering a BSN program will be required to complete their liberal arts education courses in the first two years of study, along with some nursing prerequisite classes that will help ease the transition into more challenging coursework. Some of the prerequisites you can take in the first two years might include:

• Foundations of Nursing
• Basics of Mental and Behavioral Healthcare
• Acute Care Nursing

Each school may set up the courses differently, so you might take one class listed during a later term.

In the second half of the degree program, there is more of a focus on advanced learning. Its at this time that you may also begin clinical rotations at hospitals or medical practices within the nearby community. Some schools are attached to their own hospital networks, which can make it easier to schedule clinical rotations in addition to your regular classes. Some schools that are part of a medical system include the University of Illinois at Chicago and New York University.

Your curriculum may be delivered in one of several forms, so its also important to look at which learning style works best for you. Classes can be held in one of the following ways:

• Online BSN Programs: courses can be completed online with some instructor-led sessions and student group chats
• BSN degree online
• In-Person: courses are held on campus in lecture halls or classrooms
• Hybrid: courses are held both online and on campus for a unique blend of learning experiences

Advantages Over an ADN

Why Get A Bsn

The ADN and BSN provide nurses with the necessary skills to succeed as RNs, offering similar coursework in nursing, nutrition, anatomy, physiology, biology, chemistry and psychology with a heavy weight placed on supervised clinical experience. The main difference is BSN programs offer training beyond essential RN skills, including the chance to develop critical thinking, communication, and leadership abilities.

While a 2009 survey published by RN magazine noted that ADN and BSN candidates holding the same position tend to be paid equally, its important to note the advantages offered by the latter degree. Professionals aspiring to advance to a teaching, research or administrative positive need the leadership skills provided by the BSN degree. Additionally, most advanced nursing positions have a minimum required education of a BSN, so an RN hoping to achieve upward mobility would need to obtain this degree level.

Many hospitals have recently started requiring RNs with an associates degree to obtain their BSN degree, due to increased demands on the nursing field. In 2010, the Institute of Medicine set a target goal of 80 percent of all nurses to hold a bachelors degree by 2020, claiming patients receive better care from nurses with higher levels of education.

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