As a registered nurse (RN), you provide invaluable assistance to sick or injured patients, administering medications and treatments, helping perform diagnostic tests, and setting up care plans. You are, arguably, the vital foundation of the healthcare field.
While an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) is technically the highest level of education you need to become an RN, many RNs find the benefits of a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) invaluable. A baccalaureate-level credential can garner you even greater esteem among colleagues and managers and enable you to become more competitive for advancement opportunities, expanded compensation, and leadership roles.
What a BSN Is and What It Can Do for You
A BSN, or RN to BSN, has a number of similarities to an ADN. Both prepare you to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX), which you must pass in order to receive your nursing license. You’ll also learn many of the same hands-on skills in both programs. The BSN provides a greater breadth of skills, however, including critical thinking, research, and leadership.
You can complete an ADN in two or more years, while a BSN degree requires a minimum of four years to complete. The time invested pays off, however. Nurses that have earned their BSN average higher annual salaries than their ADN-holding colleagues. Data collected from PayScale in September 2020 shows an average annual salary of $66,000 for an RN with a BSN degree versus $62,000 for an RN with an ADN.
Reasons to Earn a BSN
If you’re still deciding if nursing is a good fit for you, or if you have financial or time constraints to contend with, you may want to earn a diploma from a nondegree nursing program before moving on to a university-based RN to BSN program. On the other hand, you may feel you want to establish an academic foundation with an associate degree in nursing before you enroll in a baccalaureate degree program.
A bachelor’s-level degree is required before you can enroll in a graduate program. If you earn an ADN and then decide that you want to seek a graduate-level degree, you’ll need to earn your BSN degree first. If you’re ready to enroll in a bachelor’s degree program, it can be a direct path to a terminal degree and coveted leadership roles.
If you’re considering going the BSN route, here are some good reasons to do so:
- If you’re a new RN who’s having difficulty finding your first job out of nursing school, a BSN degree might give you an edge over other candidates. Many employers give BSN holders greater consideration than ADN holders, and some may only hire BSNs.
- Many employers offer higher base pay to RNs with a BSN versus those with an ADN alone.
- While upper-management positions generally require a graduate-level degree, a BSN is the path to greater responsibilities and compensation and can provide the necessary foundation for in-demand upper-management roles.
- If you wish to become an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) or a nurse educator, you’ll need a BSN degree before continuing on to graduate school.
Typical BSN Curriculum
As a BSN student, you’ll study subjects including theories and issues in professional nursing and healthcare, nursing research, and clinical leadership. Modern nursing also puts a strong emphasis on addressing the needs of multicultural patients as our society becomes more diverse and interconnected with the outside world. This means you’ll take one or more courses with a multicultural or global focus. In addition, you may take some electives with a business and/or management focus.
The UTPB RN to BSN Degree Program
The University of Texas Permian Basin’s CCNE-accredited online RN to BSN program prepares you to take on leadership and decision-making roles in patient care. As you progress through the program, you’ll develop a vital comprehension of concepts including evidence-based practice, patient-centered care, and ways of meeting the varied needs of multicultural patients.
Why Earn Your Degree Online?
Earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing online from UT Permian Basin provides many advantages. This program features asynchronous, 100% online classes that allow you to complete your coursework on your own schedule, from any location where internet access is available. You do not need to visit campus for class sessions or tests. These are significant advantages for students who may also be trying to fit work and family responsibilities in while completing a BSN degree. You can also choose from six start times a year for extra flexibility.
Our accelerated online program enables you to complete courses in seven or eight weeks. Each of those courses is taught by the same accomplished faculty who teach on campus here at UT Permian Basin. When you graduate, your degree will be the same degree you’d earn if you had attended classes in-person. Diplomas do not specify whether a degree was earned online or on campus.
What About Clinical Requirements?
UT Permian Basin’s online RN to BSN program has two required clinical courses. These courses let you work closely with an established professional to acquire invaluable experience, develop new knowledge and skills, and apply theory into actual practice within a variety of professional settings. Clinical courses are conducted in-person with a preceptor of your choosing, provided they’ve already earned a BSN and are currently working in a leadership position. You do not need to make campus visits for the clinical courses and you’ll receive all of the details and requirements for preceptors while enrolled in your first seminar course.
Elevate your career potential! See where the RN to BSN from UT Permian Basin can take you.
Sources:
https://nursejournal.org/nursing-practice/10-reasons-why-rns-should-pursue-their-bsn-degree/
https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Degree=Bachelor_of_Science_in_Nursing_(BSN)/Salary
https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Degree=Associate_Degree_Nursing_(ADN)/Salary