There are many benefits of a nursing degree. Some of the top benefits of a BSN include improved patient outcomes, increased opportunities for specialization and the ability to meet rising educational standards for nursing in Magnet hospitals. With a BSN, you could also pursue career advancement through graduate education.
Nursing can be a calling as much as a career, allowing you to apply your skills to help others. To succeed in the long run as a nurse, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree is proving to be increasingly important. Holding a BSN degree rather than an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) can increase employment opportunities, raise earning potential and open greater opportunities for specialization while ensuring a higher standard of care for patients. In today’s nursing landscape, a BSN degree is a vital foundation on which to base a nursing career.
What are the benefits of getting a BSN in nursing, and how can Marian University’s 16-month Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program put you on the right track to a meaningful career? Explore the top five benefits of a nursing degree and how the right education can make all the difference within the profession.
1. Improved Patient Outcomes and Quality of Care
Nursing is a valued career filled with opportunities for advancement, but it is mainly about caring for patients and ensuring positive health outcomes. Those called to nursing want to provide the highest standard of care possible. One of the many benefits of a BSN is the ability to provide a higher standard of care that contributes to better patient outcomes.
Evidence-Based Practice and Better Patient Outcomes
It’s been proven that higher proportions of BSN-educated nurses in a care setting correlate to improved patient outcomes. In fact, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) has highlighted numerous studies demonstrating how BSN-prepared nurses are better prepared to follow evidence-based practices and contribute to better patient outcomes. One study, for example, demonstrated that a 10% increase in the proportion of baccalaureate-prepared nurses on hospital units was associated with lowering the odds of patient mortality by 10.9%.
The study authors also asserted that increasing the amount of care provided by BSN-educated nurses to 80% would “significantly lower readmission rates” and lead to shorter hospital stays. As someone called to help others, a BSN can help you provide the high-quality care that’s most needed.
Enhanced Clinical Skills
How can a BSN contribute to better patient outcomes? One reason is that a BSN program empowers students to develop stronger clinical skills. During Marian University’s ABSN program, you’ll work through intensive nursing skills and simulation labs and get plenty of hands-on experience working with patients in clinical rotations.
2. Addressing the Nursing Shortage With BSN-Prepared Nurses
It’s expected that the nursing shortage will continue for the foreseeable future as Baby Boomers continue to need higher levels of care in retirement. Consider the benefits of a nursing degree in addressing the nursing shortage:
The Need for Highly Trained Nurses
According to the AACN, it’s expected that by 2025, there will be a shortage of 78,610 full-time RNs. Hospitals, doctor’s offices, outpatient facilities and other healthcare practices need highly trained nurses who deliver evidence-based care. With a BSN, you could help bridge this gap and serve your community.
Support for Underserved Areas
The nursing shortage doesn’t affect all areas of the U.S. equally. There are many underserved areas in which the shortage is heightened. If you decide to earn a BSN and become a nurse, you might choose a career working with underserved populations who need access to high-quality nursing care.
Magnet Recognition Program
As nursing becomes more professionalized, top healthcare organizations increasingly requiring a bachelor’s level education.
For instance, the Magnet Recognition Program® is used to recognize top healthcare organizations committed to nursing excellence. These organizations are often recognized as among the top healthcare providers in the nation. They implement quotas requiring a large percentage of the nursing workforce to have a BSN-level education. As more organizations strive toward this Magnet status, a BSN qualifies you to work in some of the most desirable work environments in the field.
3. Greater Job Opportunities and Career Advancement
As a BSN-holding nurse, you will have the ability to access positions across a variety of healthcare settings. Outside of traditional hospital environments, BSN-holding nurses can work in care settings, including clinics, assisted living facilities, schools, and more. Many of these facilities have specific educational requirements to be able to work in the position. By earning a BSN, you can enter the nursing field able to access a wide array of career opportunities from the start.
Plus, you will also be positioned to pursue career advancement. Consider the following:
Access to Specialized Nursing Roles
Having a BSN degree gives you more flexibility to pursue new certifications, many of which have educational requirements, and transition from basic practice into specialty care. Because of the well-rounded base of knowledge that you can gain through a BSN, you can continue to build on it through certifications that qualify you to practice within specialized areas.
Some of the specialties you can choose from include:
- Mental health
- Behavioral health
- Acute care
- Long-term care
- Adult health
- Public health
- Pediatrics
With so many potential specialties, deciding which to pursue can seem daunting. Luckily, as part of Marian University’s ABSN program, you will complete clinical rotations, which provide the opportunity to witness how multiple care areas operate while under the watchful eye of experienced preceptors. With this experience, you can begin your new career with a plan for the future.
Learn and hear from former Marian ABSN students on what it means to be a nurse.
Eligibility for Leadership and Management Roles
Having a BSN can allow you to pursue graduate education. If you decide to go back to school to earn a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), you might then decide to pursue a role as a nurse manager or nurse administrator. Alternatively, you could seek board certification and become an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN), a type of nurse leader who still works in clinical practice as opposed to a nurse manager.
4. Preparation for Advanced Nursing Degrees
Other benefits of a BSN include having the ability to use it as a foundation for pursuing graduate-level nursing education. Consider the following:
Pathway to Master’s and Doctoral Programs
You can use your BSN as a springboard for applying to either an MSN or a DNP program, or both if you’d like to earn two graduate degrees. Nursing education at the graduate level can empower you to sharpen your clinical skills and dive into specialized areas like advanced practice roles.
See how you can become a registered nurse with a bachelor’s degree through Marian ABSN.
5. Higher Earning Potential
So far, we’ve discussed many benefits of getting a BSN in nursing, touching on opportunities and patient outcomes. If you’re considering nursing as a career, you’ll also have financial considerations. With a BSN, as opposed to an ADN, you will be eligible for more high-paying nursing positions and specializations through your degree. Second, you will be able to enter your career at higher-paying organizations, such as Magnet hospitals.
Experience the Benefits of a BSN Degree With Marian’s ABSN
With so many benefits to a BSN, you can see how earning your bachelor’s degree opens doors to a longer, more successful nursing career. A BSN degree has never been more accessible than it is now through Marian’s ABSN program.
With the prospect of a nursing career waiting, why not take the first step now and achieve your dreams? The accelerated program helps students with a previous non-nursing bachelor’s degree earn their nursing degree in as few as 16 months while maintaining standards of excellence in nursing education.
Contact an admissions advisor today to begin your nursing journey.