Earn the Versatile BSN Degree and Gain More Career Leverage
Most In-Demand Degree for Nurses
A Bachelors’ degree in Nursing, the Bachelor of Science Degree (BSN) is one of the most professionally in-demand within the field. From this degree vantage point, nurses have dozens of subspecialties open to them. In some cases professional nurses may earn advanced degrees that give them exponential salary increases. Specialties like Nurse Practitioner and Nurse Anesthetist are ultra competitive and highly coveted in the field, but both require a BSN degree to enroll in programs.
Bachelors of Science vs. Associates in Nursing
Perhaps the perennial shortage of nurses is one reason the field makes concessions for so many variations in degree process. It makes sense to make it as easy and convenient as possible to earn entry-level nursing training. At the same time career advancement is possible as well, with just as many variants. There are straightforward Bachelor of Science in Nursing programs, along with RN-to-BSN and LPN-to-BSN programs.
A four-year nursing degree program—the BSN—is preferred professionally to a two-year program, but even nurses that hold a two-year degree may enjoy long-term, well-paying careers with some sub-specialty latitude.
- The LPN-to-BSN program typically takes a Licensed Practical Nurse two and a half years of additional nursing and liberal arts curriculum before he or she earns the BSN. Most programs have a list of course prerequisites as well as a minimum GPA.
- RN-to-BSN programs are very popular among working nurses. RNs may earn a BSN with an additional two-years of study. Curriculum includes some liberal arts requirements and more advanced topics related to nursing, including topics in education, management, and administration.
BSN Spawns Career Options
The Bachelor of Science in Nursing may not be nearly as popular a pathway into the field of Nursing as is the Associates Degree, but it certainly affords the most career versatility. A nurse armed with a BSN has earning power as well as options: he or she may pursue dozens of different specialties, many of which are advanced degree programs that lead to Masters and even Ph.D. degrees in Nursing. The BSN is a primary prerequisite to any of these, along with career motivation, and a time commitment. But what is often an advantage to nursing students is course flexibility, which allows professional nurses to continue working while they attend school.
