RN to BSN advancement has several advantages, both for you and for patients. Now is a good time to start your education and advance your career in nursing. To become a BSN nurse, you must already be a licensed registered nurse or have an associate degree in nursing. Once you have completed your associate degree, you can apply for a program and earn your BSN. To apply for a BSN degree, you must have an associate degree in nursing and be licensed in your state.
Career growth
Many nurses choose to earn their BSN because of personal reasons, including the desire to advance in their chosen career. Public opinion surveys show that nurses rank highly for honesty and ethics. Yet, many still perceive nurses as lowly educated professionals, and obtaining a BSN may enhance their professional performance. A BSN will give you greater control over your work and help you land a more flexible position. Some BSN graduates opt to pursue travel nursing or other positions in the pharmaceutical industry or case management.
Obtaining a BSN is the most common path for an aspiring nurse practitioner. In New York, a BSN degree is required for RNs within ten years of initial licensure. Many RNs may not know they want to specialize in a specific specialty until they have experience working in the field for several years. By pursuing a BSN, they can begin to explore the many specialties within the healthcare industry, and eventually earn a Master's degree.
Salary
Registered nurses with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree have more job opportunities than ever before. In addition to traditional hospital settings, registered nurses can also work in a variety of settings, such as hospices, prisons, and even answer the phone. Other options include working as a travel nurse, completing a 13-week contract abroad, and assisting cancer patients during their chemotherapy. Other opportunities include delivering babies, helping people with physical disabilities, and monitoring patients after surgery or chemotherapy.
Salary for BSN RN programs varies, but the average RN will earn eighty thousand dollars per year by 2020. There is no uniformity in state salaries, but the average salary for a BSN-trained nurse is $80,010 per year. A BSN degree also opens the door to additional certifications, which can help you increase your salary and job opportunities. For example, a nurse with an MSN or PhD can specialize in mental health or labor & delivery.
Pathways to advancement
RNs who have already completed their Associate's degree often opt to continue their education and advance their career by completing a BSN degree program. In some cases, they may test out of required coursework to complete the program more quickly. The majority of RN to BSN programs are offered online, so students can continue to work while completing the program. Most RN-to-BSN programs are completed in less than two years, which makes them very convenient for working nurses.
The R.N. to BSN program offers two guided pathways to advancement. The first requires one General Education pre-requisite and 14 months of nursing courses. The second pathway takes 21 months to complete and requires 18 months of nursing courses. Both pathways include supervised clinical experiences. Before deciding on which path to take, students are encouraged to consult with an advisor to determine if their transfer credits can help them pass their state licensing exams and excel in their nursing careers.
Accreditation
RNs who have earned their Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree (BSN) are well prepared to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination, which is required to practice as a registered nurse. But how do you find the best RN to BSN programs? The answer is simple: look for the accreditation of the programs you're interested in. Then, compare those programs' curriculum to the state requirements.
In general, a national organization such as the CCNE will accredit a BSN nursing program if it meets certain standards. These standards can cover everything from faculty proficiency to the curriculum and graduation requirements. Accreditation of BSN RN programs is important, because most hospitals only hire nurses who have graduated from a nationally accredited nursing program. ACEN and CCNE are two of the most respected accreditation organizations in the field.