To become licensed as a registered nurse, you need to complete a nursing degree program. While it is possible to work as a registered nurse with an associate degree or a nursing diploma program, there are key benefits of a BSN degree that you should consider. Understanding the advantages of BSN degree could help you decide if now is the right time to invest in your nursing education.
Key Advantages of Holding a BSN Degree
A bachelor of science in nursing degree is a four-year undergraduate degree designed to provide students with an advanced understanding of the healthcare landscape and equip them with the practical, technical, and clinical skills required to pursue licensure as a registered nurse. According to the American Nurses Association (ANA), a BSN degree curriculum typically expands beyond clinical skill development into more advanced nursing topics, such as nursing theories and strategies, public health topics, ethics in nursing, and healthcare communication.
While it is possible to enter the nursing workforce with an associate degree in nursing, the benefits of a BSN degree are worth considering. These are some of the key advantages of holding a BSN degree:
Improved Patient Care and Outcomes
Nurses who obtain higher-level degrees, such as a BSN degree, may provide patients with improved levels of care, and, subsequently, better outcomes. The AACN revealed these key findings:
- Hospital facilities that increased the number of BSN-prepared nurses on their staff were able to increase the survival rates of patients who suffered from cardiac arrest by more than 24 percent.
- Hospitals that had a nursing staff comprised of at least 80 percent BSN-prepared nurses were able to reduce the risk of patient mortality by more than 24 percent when compared to hospitals that had a nursing staff of less than 30 percent BSN-prepared nurses.
Ultimately, BSN-prepared nurses have the skills and knowledge required to provide patients with personalized care, which could improve patient outcomes significantly. The AACN notes that hospitals with higher levels of BSN-prepared nurses may reduce the rate of heart failure within their facility, minimize medication errors, and reduce the number of procedural errors that take place at the facility.
The Evolving Healthcare Field
As the healthcare field continues to change and evolve to better meet the needs of patients, BSN-prepared nurses may enjoy enhanced job security. Nurses who have a BSN degree may be in a better position to meet the needs of the dynamic healthcare landscape. Healthcare administrators and providers are actively working to provide patients with better, more personalized care, to lower the cost of healthcare, to improve accessibility, and to reduce the health equity gap that continues to persist in today’s society. As a result, they may want to hire nurses with the critical thinking and problem-solving skills necessary to address the complex challenges faced by the modern healthcare system.
Access to Specialized Nursing Roles Across Healthcare
While a nursing diploma program or associate degree could allow you to develop the clinical skills required to pursue licensure as a registered nurse, you may find that your mobility is limited once you begin your nursing career. Nurses who earn a BSN degree may be able to work in specialty areas of nursing, such as cardiology, oncology, or pediatrics. In addition, they may be able to pursue leadership positions in nursing, such as nurse educator roles or supervisory positions. Generally, you may have more career flexibility as a nurse if you choose to earn a BSN degree, increasing the value and appeal of the RN to BSN degree program.
Opportunities for Leadership and Career Advancement
While it is easy to associate leadership in nursing with senior-level nursing positions, it is crucial to keep in mind that leadership in nursing is often defined by a nurse’s ability to act swiftly and with integrity when caring for patients or resolving conflicts in the workplace. Strong leadership in nursing is essential in today’s complex healthcare system, particularly as providers look to overcome nursing staff shortages and reduce the level of burnout among the nursing workforce. Nurses who earn a BSN degree may be more likely to have the leadership skills necessary to pursue nursing leadership positions and advance their careers.
Preparation for Advanced Practice and Graduate-Level Opportunities
Nurses interested in earning a master’s degree in nursing or a doctoral degree in nursing in the future will first need to earn a BSN degree, highlighting the importance of this educational program. A graduate degree is required to become an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN). These are some of the leading advanced practice registered nurse positions:
- Nurse Practitioner— A nurse practitioner is a healthcare provider who provides comprehensive healthcare services to patients, including diagnosing patients and prescribing medication.
- Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists — A certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA) is a nurse who provides patients with comprehensive pain management services, including administering and monitoring anesthesia.
- Certified Nurse Midwives — Certified nurse midwives provide reproductive healthcare services to women and often work with patients during pregnancy and childbirth.
Exploring the BSN Journey
Knowing that there are many benefits of a BSN degree, it may be the right time to start looking into the best way to earn your bachelor of science in nursing degree. While it is possible to pursue a BSN degree immediately after earning a high school diploma, registered nurses with an associate degree could also further their education and build upon their experience. An RN to BSN degree program is a unique educational program designed specifically for working nurses who want to earn their BSN degree as quickly as possible and pursue advanced opportunities in nursing.
The RN to BSN Curriculum: Integrating Clinical Practice and Nursing Theory
The RN to BSN curriculum is unique in that it focuses specifically on nursing courses and topics not covered in an associate degree program or diploma program. In addition, many of the required courses in the curriculum also require students to complete practice experience, or PE, hours. These hands-on experience requirements replace some of the traditional coursework.
Some of the topics covered in an online RN to BSN degree program may include:
- Nurse Management
- Public and Community Health
- Strategic Planning in Healthcare
- Nurse Leadership
- Evidence-Based Patient Care
Throughout this type of program, nursing students may develop the skills required to assume leadership positions in nursing, improve their nursing practice, consider specialty areas in nursing, and incorporate the most recent medical research findings into their nursing practice.
Why Accreditation Is Vital in Nursing Education
If you are planning to pursue an online RN to BSN degree program, you may want to select an accredited program. Choosing an accredited nursing degree program ensures that you are investing in a degree program aligned with industry standards and professional expectations. At Post University, the online RN to BSN degree program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
Learn More About the Benefits of a BSN Degree at Post University
Earning a BSN degree may provide nurses with advanced knowledge and skills that could enhance their professional opportunities. At Post University, we offer an accelerated online RN to BSN degree that allows nurses to build upon their foundation and develop advanced skills that may allow them to pursue higher-level or specialized opportunities in nursing. This accelerated pathway allows you to complete your BSN degree in as few as 14 months, providing you the potential to reach your personal and professional goals as quickly as possible.
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Please note jobs and/or career outcomes highlighted in this blog do not reflect jobs or career outcomes expected from any Post program. To learn more about Post’s programs and their outcomes, please fill out a form to speak with an admissions advisor.
