Are you looking to take the next step in your nursing career? To advance your career, you may need to advance your degree. An RN to BSN program can provide you with the knowledge, skills, and training that will help you provide better patient care. It’s also an important credential for your next role, whether that’s right where you are or at a new facility.
1. Your BSN Could Help You Save Lives
You went into nursing to make an impact, help others, and maybe even save lives. But did you know that there’s evidence that a BSN degree makes you better at all three. Lower mortality rates, fewer medication errors, and positive outcomes are all linked to nurses who have a bachelor’s or more advanced degree.
2. You’ll Gain More Knowledge with a BSN Degree
A BSN degree program will enhance the clinical knowledge you already possess and teach you about case management, health promotion, leadership, and other valuable skills. You’ll gain a broader understanding of how to provide effective healthcare to diverse and underserved populations including patients, families, communities, and interprofessional team members. You’ll learn how to incorporate research-based evidence into the clinical practice setting. And you will feel more empowered to function at a higher level of caring, respect, and patient advocacy.
3. The BSN Degree Is in Demand
Nurses are in demand for a variety of reasons. Aging baby boomers who require more medical care and the increasing number of Americans with chronic conditions like diabetes, hypertension, and obesity, mean more people need preventative and maintenance healthcare. And who provides that care? Well-trained nurses.
4. A BSN May Be Required
In 2010, the Institute of Medicine came up with an important goal for the Nursing profession: require 80 percent of nurses to have a BSN by 2020. Although its recommendation hasn’t been fully adopted yet, some states have created legislation to make that goal a requirement. New York’s BSN in 10 does just this as it now requires nurses with an associate degree or diploma to obtain their BSN within 10 years of their initial licensure.
5. The BSN Is a Good Investment
There are many different career options in nursing. With a BSN, you’ll have an advantage over job competitors who only hold an associate degree or nursing diploma. A BSN can help you get hired more quickly and help you earn more. You will also be better prepared and qualified for a greater range of opportunities, including home care, residential, and specialty clinics.
6. The BSN Can Be a Steppingstone
Not only can the BSN help you land a better job with more responsibilities, opportunities for leadership roles, and a higher salary, it can also set in motion a path of life-long learning and achievement. The BSN can be the foundation for additional certificates, a Master’s Degree in Nursing and more.
7. Attain a BSN More Quickly Than You’d Think
As a registered nurse, you should be able to transfer in credits and experience and complete an RN to BSN program in less time than if you started from scratch. And with online programs, there’s more flexibility and convenience. If you already have an associate degree, you might be able to attain your BSN in just over a year.
8. Healthcare Is Always Evolving
You love being a nurse. You want to make a difference. But it’s challenging to keep up with the ever-evolving healthcare field. That’s why you want—maybe even need—a BSN degree.
The Bluefield University School of Nursing offers an online RN-BSN program that can fit your life. In addition to nursing, this accredited, Christian university program will give you access to a variety of exciting new career paths in patient education, risk management, and community health. You can finish your coursework, learn critical skills, and apply them immediately to a long and fulfilling career serving others.