A registered nurse (RN) with a bachelor’s degree in nursing (BSN) may be better qualified to earn higher pay, better job security, and the prestige of being an advanced practice nurse than an RN with only an associate’s degree in nursing (ADN). To be considered an advanced practice nurse, you’ll need to meet the specific qualifications set by your state. In some states, this means earning a bachelor of science in nursing.
1. Enables You to Access More Career Advancement Opportunities
As a registered nurse, you may feel like you have hit a glass ceiling in your career. If you want to advance in your nursing career, you may consider upgrading your RN credential to a bachelor of science in nursing. With a BSN, you will be able to access more opportunities for career advancement.
Pursuing a bachelor of science in nursing will help you increase workplace options, such as hospital ambulatory care centers, rehabilitative centers, school nursing, and administration. You can also take advantage of many universities’ graduate or Ph.D. programs. These programs offer specialized training in health care administration and infection control.
2. Preparation for the Future of Healthcare
Healthcare is constantly changing and evolving; as a nurse, it’s essential to be ready for the future. That’s why upgrading your nursing career with an RN to BSN program can be beneficial. With a bachelor of science in nursing, you’ll have the knowledge and skills to adapt to the ever-changing healthcare landscape. Plus, you’ll be able to provide better patient care and positively impact the lives of those you care for.
The upgrade will equip you with the knowledge and training you need to prepare for tomorrow’s health challenges, enhance your leadership skills, increase your value in the job market, and become eligible for more opportunities within the industry. In addition to gaining new expertise, a bachelor of science in nursing also provides credibility that could help boost your salary over time.
3. Helps Increase Your Opportunity to Work in Magnet Hospitals
One of the benefits of upgrading your nursing career is that it can help you increase your opportunity to work in Magnet hospitals. Magnet designation identifies hospitals that meet specific standards for nursing excellence. To be eligible to work in a Magnet hospital, you must have a bachelor of science in nursing degree.
Working at a magnet hospital increases your chances of continuing in this profession and earning higher wages and bonuses. You can acquire your BSN by completing an online program through an accredited university or college. A bachelor’s degree prepares nurses for leadership roles and other specialties such as research, public health, nurse education, and more.
4. Helps Expand Your Knowledge of Evidence-Based Practice
If you’re looking for ways to improve your career and patient care, consider upgrading your nursing education from an RN to a BSN. A Bachelor of Science in Nursing can provide you with the knowledge and skills needed to provide evidence-based care. It will also prepare you for administrative roles such as staff nurse supervisor or unit manager.
You will be able to acquire critical skills in case management, critical thinking, research methods, health policy, and leadership which are not part of an Associate Degree of Nursing (ADN). That way, you can increase your ability to practice across various healthcare settings.
5. Helps Broaden Your Advocacy Skills
Advocacy is an integral part of nursing. It is the act of speaking up for patients, whether they are your own or someone else’s. It can also be speaking up for the profession as a whole. Upgrading your nursing career to a BSN program can help broaden your advocacy skills. As you learn more about medicine and science, you will access new information that could impact your patient care.
You will have more excellent knowledge of how to affect change in the healthcare system and how to advocate for those who cannot speak for themselves. You will become a better advocate for your patients by becoming knowledgeable about all aspects of their treatment and not just what is happening at their bedside.
6. Enhanced Credibility
As a registered nurse, you have already worked hard to earn your degree and obtain your nursing license. But upgrading your education to a bachelor of science in nursing can boost your career. Not only will you be more credible in the eyes of potential employers, but you will also have access to more job opportunities and higher salaries.
In addition, you will be better prepared to handle the challenges of the ever-changing healthcare landscape. The breadth of knowledge and perspective obtained through a BSN degree can help you give more informed input on medical research initiatives, drug company policies, hospital administration decisions, insurance coverage issues, and other vital issues that affect health care today.
Conclusion
One of the best ways to advance your career, whether you’re just starting or a seasoned professional RN, is by enrolling in an RN to BSN program. It will give you hands-on experience and enhance your skills, knowledge, and resume. You’ll also be eligible for more positions and may find promotions easier. It’s an excellent choice for lifelong learning and continuing education, which nurses and employers should applaud. With so many benefits, it’s worth considering if you want to upgrade your nursing career!