Becoming a registered nurse (RN) typically involves obtaining an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). Recent developments in healthcare have led to ADN-prepared RNs continuing their education to boost employment opportunities.
Salary figures reflect the focus on education, too. An RN with an associate degree versus an RN with a bachelor’s degree is separated by more than $6,000, according to the ADVANCE Healthcare Network’s 2018 Nurse Salary Survey. Nurses with an associate degree earned an average salary of $75,117 while those with a bachelor’s degree earned $81,323.
Why should you advance your nursing career with a BSN? Take a look at the following section.
Getting Your BSN
Here are some benefits of becoming a BSN-prepared RN:
- Better Employment Chances: While the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects the employment of RNs to grow 15 percent by 2026, it mentions that the supply of new nurses has increased in recent years. The result is more competition for some jobs. RNs with a BSN “will have better job prospects than those without one,” the BLS adds.
- It’s the New Standard: Healthcare employers across the country have started requiring a bachelor’s degree as the minimum level of education for new nurse hires. This is especially the case at hospitals. This trend began in response to the Institute of Medicine’s 2010 report calling for 80 percent of practicing nurses to hold at least a bachelor’s degree by 2020.
- Better Employment Opportunities: If you’d like to pursue a specialty area or role in nursing, a BSN is often required. It is difficult to enter a field like public health nursing or a role like nurse manager without a BSN. These are just a couple of career paths that typically require a BSN.
- It’s Necessary for Advanced Nursing Positions: Not only will a BSN open doors to specialty areas or roles, but it is a necessary step if you wish to become a nurse executive, nurse educator or some type of advanced practice nurse (APRN). All of these positions require at least a master’s degree. Earning your BSN will allow you to pursue these rewarding and lucrative career options.
- Salary Boost: The ADN-prepared RN vs BSN salary difference of at least $6,000 is a major factor. But note how it plays into other reasons for getting your BSN. You’ll be able to secure higher-paying jobs by obtaining your BSN. For example, a BSN is typically required for nursing manager roles, and the median salary for nursing managers with a BSN is $83,873. The salary data is based on real-time information from PayScale at time of publication.
- Improve Your Skills: The reason you can secure better employment opportunities and a pay raise by earning your BSN is it advances your knowledge of modern nursing procedures and patient care. When you earn a BSN, you are better able to care for your patients and take on additional responsibilities and leadership roles in your position. You’ll become a better nurse, communicator, teammate and healthcare professional.
- It Results in Better Care: Research from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation supports an association between BSN staffing and outcomes. For instance, higher-educated nurses can lead to lower incidence of pressure ulcers, postoperative deep vein thrombosis, hospital-acquired infections and post-surgical mortality.
Advance Your Nursing Career
Campbellsville University’s online RN to BSN helps nurses achieve their professional goals and advance their careers. The fully online degree program allows you to hone your nursing skills while balancing your education with your daily life. You can complete your degree in as little as two years.