There are multiple levels you can achieve in your nursing career, which include becoming a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), or a Registered Nurse (RN), and further career advancement by earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). Becoming an RN requires either an associate degree in nursing (ADN), which is a 2–3-year program, or a BSN, which is a 4-year program.
As with many careers in healthcare, achieving a higher-level degree often provides better advancement opportunities. This is true for those with a BSN. The RN to BSN degree online program from Arkansas State University (A-State) is designed for working nurses who want to advance their education and career opportunities.
What a BSN Degree Provides
While you can become an RN through multiple routes, the level of education and the future opportunities for those with a BSN degree are greater. The commitment to a four-year program provides more comprehensive training and clinical experience than an ADN. If your career plans include eventually seeking a graduate-level degree, a BSN is required.
The average salary for a BSN degree holder, as reported by Payscale, is $98K, while the average salary for an ADN is $75K. Over the course of a career, that pay difference can be enormous. In addition, the job opportunities for a nurse with a BSN are greater, and the American Nurses Association reports that BSN degree holders also have a higher success rate on the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX).
The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) states that “Clinicians with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree are well-prepared to meet the demands placed on today’s nurses. BSN nurses are prized for their skills in critical thinking, leadership, case management, and health promotion, and for their ability to practice across a variety of inpatient and outpatient settings.”
The BSN Degree as Preparation for Professional Practice
Champions of nursing education, The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) that recognizes that BSN-educated nurses consistently demonstrate abilities that “enhance patient care and fortify healthcare systems at large.” Further, their position is that the BSN is the minimum educational requirement for professional nursing practice and that a nurse with a baccalaureate degree is prepared to practice in all healthcare settings.
The healthcare students’ resource Sherringford identifies the BSN degree as a “pivotal qualification” that is becoming the preferred industry standard for registered nurses. Influential bodies such as the Institute of Medicine (IOM) advocate for a more highly educated nursing workforce, recognizing its role in improved patient care, including lower mortality rates and fewer complications.
BSN programs offer a curriculum that cultivates advanced skills including leadership and management, research and evidence-based practice, community and public health, and critical thinking and clinical decision-making. This provides an expanded knowledge base and better-prepared nurses who can handle complex care situations. BSN-prepared nurses can assume leadership responsibilities that can enhance the quality of care, while considering the broader socio-economic and policy factors that affect health.
Research in Nursing & Health reports that over 80% of employers show a strong preference for hiring BSN nurses and 43% of hospitals and other healthcare employers now require all new nurses to hold a BSN. Leadership opportunities and specialized clinical areas (ICU, ER, OR, Pediatrics, Labor & Delivery, Oncology, etc.) are available to nurses with a BSN degree. In addition, they have opportunities to work in community/public health, case management, informatics, research support, Magnet hospitals and military nursing.
Enhance Your Career With an RN to BSN Degree
Registered nurses who want to take advantage of increased career opportunities, higher salaries, the opportunity to enhance their ability to provide excellent patient care. Leaders among nurses can achieve these goals with the RN to BSN online program from Arkansas State University.
This program helps graduates develop leadership, communication, critical thinking and evidence-based practice skills. For those who intend to pursue graduate studies in nursing, this program provides an excellent foundation. The faculty serves as experienced mentors, and the dedicated online services team is available to answer questions and help equip you with the tools you need to succeed.
Learn more about the Arkansas State University’s online RN to BSN program.