Getting Your Degree
If you are a registered nurse and wish to further your education in order to move up in your career, consider going back to school to obtain a BSN. A BSN usually is more comprehensive than an associate’s degree in nursing. The more knowledge you have about your area of expertise, the more attractive you will be to potential employers. Courses that are often part of a BSN curriculum but not an ADN curriculum include Nursing Research, Pediatrics, Psychosocial Nursing, and Nurse Management and Leadership. A BSN program will also help strengthen students’ writing and research skills, which are useful if you are planning to eventually go to grad school.
Nursing is a demanding career, and you might feel as though you simply don’t have the time to balance school alongside work and the other responsibilities of life. However, there are options that make getting your degree easier. For instance, you might consider getting your degree through one of these online RN to BSN programs in Texas. Taking classes online is more flexible, and you won’t have to deal with a daily commute to campus. After passing eight completely online classes, you will have your BSN and the skills you need to take you further in your career.
More Job Opportunities
Nursing is a growing field. Nurse employment is expected to increase by 19 percent from 2012 to 2022. With nursing growing rapidly in popularity, you will want to do everything you can to stay on top of your career game. Not only will a BSN allow you to pursue more job opportunities, it will also likely increase your salary as well. People with a BSN typically earn around $20,000 more annually than people with an RN.
While ADN nurses still provide excellent care for patients, there is simply not as much variety when it comes to career paths as there is for BSN nurses. Having a BSN will give you more options when it comes to choosing your career path. Some jobs are only open to those with BSNs. For example, if you wish to become a nurse practitioner or a nurse anesthetist, you have to have your BSN. Many nurses wish to move into administrative work or teacher later in life. You also have to have your BSN in order to do either of these things.
Nurses are being encouraged more than ever to earn their BSN. The Institute of Medicine (IOM) recommends increasing the number of BSN holders to 80 percent by 2020. This means that by 2020 more employers will likely require for many job positions. Many hospitals already require nurses with a BSN for certain positions. For instance, the VA requires that nurses have a BSN in order to receive a promotion. In order to be an active duty RN, you also need to have your BSN. Make sure you stay ahead of the game and earn your BSN before 2020 hits.
Complex Health Care Systems
Every year, research allows health care providers to do more to help their patients. As a result, the health care system has become increasingly complex over the years. With these complexities comes the need for highly-trained nurses to carry out certain tasks. Nurses with a BSN have more training and are able to apply their knowledge to a wider range of situations. In addition, those with BSNs typically have higher levels of patient care and are better at making diagnoses than nurses without a BSN. By furthering your education, you can improve your skill set and make the most of your nursing career.