By Vera Mosely, Lover of education with a passion for people.
The role and responsibilities of nurses are changing as healthcare reforms are creating an increased demand for nurses with Bachelor of Science in Nursing degrees. It has been recommended by the Institute of Medicine that by 2020, 80% of all nurses should be expected to have a BSN degree. It's already started in most areas with and the abundant amount of new graduate nurses being spit into the job market at alarming rates are met with job postings saying, BSN preferred.
With these expectations in mind, along with the ever changing complexities to the healthcare system, now is the time to decide if the transition from being an RN to one with a BSN is right for you. There are many RN to BSN online programs that allow a person who is working full time and who may have family responsibilities, the flexibility to make the transition. You may ask yourself what is the value of obtaining a BSN? Here are just a few advantages of considering an RN to BSN program.
Flexibility. There are programs that offer complete online classes, while there are others that require some on campus attendance. Be sure to research several online programs before deciding which one works best for you. You may also wish to evaluate your own schedule to see what program best suits your needs, both economically and availability.
Increased Employment Opportunities. One of the greatest advantages is the one employers give nurses who have a BSN. They prefer them. Further, many employers require their current staff to obtain a BSN through continued education in order to retain their position – and will often pay toward that extra qualification.
More Responsibility Equals More Pay. As you would expect, an increase in education allows for greater responsibilities which leads to a higher pay scale. A BSN program provides the necessary skills for positions that require greater critical thinking, along with decision-making, along with leadership skills, and the opportunity to advance in management.
Career Specialization Tracks. Most nurses, whether they have a BSN or not, all usually start out as staff nurses. However, those with a BSN degree have more opportunity for rapid advancement. One simple reason is that, in order to continue on to a master's degree, which would allow for you to become a Nurse Practitioner, you must first have a BSN. Also, if you wish to pursue a specialty certification such as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, which is a nurse who assists with the anesthesiology prior to and during surgery, you must also have a BSN. With a BSN continued advancement is unlimited. So is there a benefit to continue from RN to BSN? The answer is yes.
So with all of the advantages outlined above why not choose an RN to BSN online program that works with your schedule and make the transition to a more prestigious career today?
***** Post Note*****
As you all may know, if you have been reading this blog for long, I have been going back and forth between which BSN program to go into, which LPN to RN path to follow. I have made a few stops and starts over the past few years and have change my mind more times then most of you change your fonts. I have bounced around between so many options for years, but after reading through the curriculum and speaking with the representatives at this College, I can tell you that I have found my choice. No waste of classes, no filler fluff, just career advancement at my fingertips.
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