By now, you must be aware of the current shortage of nurses in the US healthcare system. Since the aging population is increasing in number, the demand for nurses is increasing too. The only solution to this problem is to produce more registered nurses in the nation. How do you do this? People must be encouraged to take on the nursing career path by enrolling in nursing degree programs.
There are so many benefits of becoming a registered nurse today. Some people do not have to be convinced to make a career change. A nursing career lets you enjoy an excellent employment outlook plus a wide array of career opportunities. This career offers job stability, security and a great pay. Moreover, as a registered nurse, your services will always be in demand. This goes without saying how satisfying and fulfilling a nursing job is.
The Bachelor Of Science In Nursing Degree
The only way to become a registered nurse is to complete your Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree or BSN. This degree will make an impact in your earning potential as well as prepare you for the challenging career ahead. Registered nurses have huge responsibilities on their shoulders. Getting education and training from this degree program is necessary. Further, a BSN is a prerequisite for a Master of Science in Nursing Degree and a Doctoral Degree in Nursing.
Through earning a BSN, you can work in different healthcare settings including the hospital, physician’s office, home health services, and nursing care facilities. You have the ability to care for young and old patients. You can hold a supervisory role in the healthcare facility you will be working in. Registered nurses can work independently.
The BSN degree takes 4 years to finish. The first two years will be focused on general education courses. The last two years will be exclusively spent on learning about the principles and science of nursing. It is at this time that you have to do supervised clinical work too. Upon earning your BSN degree from an accredited nursing program, you can sit in the NCLEX-RN exam to obtain your licensed and be called a registered nurse.
The Different Bachelor’s Degree In Nursing
There are several types of BSN degrees that you can enroll in. It will depend on your current nursing training and your goals. The first type is the regular BSN degree which is a 4-year bachelor’s degree program in nursing. This is the degree you need to apply for entry-level nursing jobs. This is also the prerequisite degree for graduate nursing degree programs and specialties like Certified Nurse Anesthetists, Nurse Practitioners, Certified Nurse Midwives and Clinical Nurse Specialists.
The second type of BSN degree is the LPN to BSN degree. This degree program is ideal of licensed practical nurses or licensed vocational nurses who want to become registered nurses. LPNs and LVNs have already completed an Associate Degree In Nursing. Thus, by taking the LPN to BSN degree program, they can obtain a BSN degree in 4 academic semesters only.
The third type of BSN degree is the RN to BSN degree. This degree program is ideal for registered nurses who hold an associate degree or a nursing diploma but needs to earn a BSN degree. Since the RN to BSN degree program will mostly attract working nurses, the degree program offers flexible schedules. You can take night classes or weekend classes.
The fourth type of BSN degree is the Second Degree BSN Degree. This degree program is intended for working professionals who want to make a career change. The Second Degree BSN Degree credits your liberal arts education, which will allow you to only complete the nursing part of the coursework. Therefore, you can earn the BSN degree in less than 2 years.
The last type of BSN degree is called Accelerated Degree BSN. This degree program is somewhat similar to the Second Degree BSN Degree where in completed liberal arts education is credited. The main difference lies on the pace of the coursework. Since this is an accelerated program, you can expect to finish sooner. Some students can earn the BSN degree within a year but the program can take 20 months to complete.
Why Should You Get A BSN Degree?
There are plenty of reasons how a BSN degree can benefit you. After all, devoting your time and effort to completing the 4-year degree program should bring you with great rewards. One of the reasons to get a BSN degree is due to the new demands for nursing care. Back then, nursing education was different. Nursing skills taught then may not apply to the modern healthcare system anymore. Thus, the healthcare industry is looking for registered nurses who are trained for modern healthcare services.
Holding a BSN degree puts you in better light with an employer. Employers are willing to pay good money for registered nurses who completed formal nursing education and training. In fact, employers are willing to shoulder continuing education or pursing higher-level degree of their employees. They know the value of education and will certainly recognize your degree as well. Moreover, holding a BSN degree will get your more pay than nurses without one will. This is because a BSN degree will better prepare you for different nursing jobs like management and research roles.
As a BSN degree holder, there are plenty of career opportunities waiting for you. Bear in mind that to earn a master’s degree or doctorate degree, you must have a BSN degree first. There are individuals who want to start their nursing careers early so they take the easy way. However, this will leave you more problematic later on when you want to earn higher-level degrees. You will end up doing more work while you are already working.
A Bachelor of Science in nursing degree is very valuable for all nurses today. You can enroll in an on-site nursing school or choose to enroll in online nursing schools. Whichever learning method you choose, always make sure that the nursing program is accredited. Otherwise, you will not be eligible to sit in the national licensing examination for registered nurses.
Bachelor’s Degree In Nursing: Why Do You Need It? is a post from: AcceleratedNursingGuide.com
