Why get a bachelor’s in nursing? There are so many benefits of a BSN, including stronger demand from employers and the potential to have higher earning expectations. Other BSN advantages include opportunities to specialize, earn graduate-level nursing degrees and pursue career advancement.
For many, nursing is a calling as much as it is a career. Being able to apply their skills to help others is an important aspect of the career field. Nursing is also well-known for the flexibility and specialization that it can offer.
If you have a non-nursing bachelor’s degree and are already working in another field, or if you are prepared to take on additional coursework to pursue a nursing degree as a transfer student, switching careers to nursing could be more doable than you think. To start, do your due diligence. Research the potential career pathways to figure out the right move for your transition. While you’re planning your future, be sure to check out the benefits of a BSN.
What are the benefits of a BSN degree, and how does Marian University’s 16-month Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing program put students on the right track to a long, successful career? Here we’ll discuss the top 10 advantages of a BSN and share how the right education can make a difference within the profession.
What Is a BSN?
A BSN is a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree, an undergraduate degree program that typically takes four years of full-time study to earn. If you choose Marian University’s Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program, however, you could graduate with a BSN in as few as 16 months. A BSN degree will qualify you to sit for the NCLEX-RN, which is the national licensure exam that all aspiring registered nurses (RNs) are required to pass.
Not all RNs hold a BSN. Some of them hold an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or a nursing diploma. Although graduating from these types of programs will also qualify an individual to sit for the NCLEX, only a BSN offers unique advantages. So, why get a bachelor’s in nursing? What are the unique BSN advantages? Let’s take a closer look.
What Are the Benefits of a BSN Degree?
You might be wondering why a BSN in nursing is important. What can you do with a BSN, exactly? There are many advantages to earning a bachelor’s degree in nursing, including the following:
1. Better Patient Outcomes
Nursing is a valued career focused on caring for patients and ensuring positive health outcomes. Those called to nursing naturally want to provide the highest standard of care possible.
It’s been proven that higher proportions of BSN-educated nurses in a care setting correlate to improved patient outcomes. According to a study highlighted by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, 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 lengths of stay.
2. BSN Graduates Help Address the Nursing Shortage
There is a shortage of qualified nurses in the U.S., and it’s expected that there will be a shortage of 63,720 full-time nurses by 2030. There are many elements contributing to the shortage, like increasing demand by an aging population. One significant factor is the insufficient number of nursing school faculty members.
One reason why a BSN in nursing is important is because it is a first step in exploring a career as a nurse educator. If you feel that teaching could be in your future after gaining clinical experience, then you can use your BSN as a foundation for pursuing graduate-level nursing education and then becoming a nurse instructor. As a nurse educator, you could help to address the alarming shortage of nurses in the U.S.
3. More Job Opportunities
As a BSN-holding nurse, you will have the ability to access positions across a variety of healthcare settings, including hospitals, 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 right from the start.
Beyond the requirements imposed by healthcare facilities, the type of position you are looking for might require a BSN degree. Many management positions, as well as unit coordinator or nurse educator roles, additionally require candidates with a bachelor’s degree or higher.
4. The Ability to Specialize
Having a BSN degree is an important foundation for your nursing career, as it gives you the ability to pursue new certifications and transition from basic practice into specialty care. Some of the specialties you might go into could include:
- 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 roadmap for the future.
Learn and hear from former Marian ABSN students on what it means to be a nurse.
5. Opportunities for Graduate Education
Beyond specialization alone, a BSN degree affords opportunities to pursue graduate-level education. Holding a BSN is a requirement for pursuing a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) and a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP). In these advanced nursing education programs, you can enjoy opportunities to refine your clinical skills, expand your nursing knowledge and further your nursing research capabilities. You’ll also have the opportunity to study advanced material in your chosen specialty area.
6. Career Advancement Possibilities
Should you decide to earn a graduate degree in nursing, you may also pursue career advancement. You might become an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN), of which there are four main types, including nurse practitioner and certified nurse-midwife. Or you might decide to become a nurse manager or nurse administrator.
These career paths are not for everyone, but keeping the option available to continue progressing your education and career is a key element of BSN degrees. With the ability to spend as few as 16 months earning your degree through Marian’s ABSN program, you could have more time to continue your education.
7. Higher Earning Potential
We’ve been through many of the benefits of a BSN, touching on opportunities and patient outcomes. A BSN degree could have a positive impact financially.
Firstly, you will be eligible for more high-paying nursing positions and specializations by holding a degree. Secondly, you will be able to enter your career at higher-paying organizations such as Magnet hospitals.
See how you can become a registered nurse with a bachelor’s degree through Marian’s ABSN program.
8. Increased Demand by Magnet Hospitals
Other BSN advantages include being able to pursue employment at top healthcare organizations, which increasingly require 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, the benefits of a BSN degree include being qualified to work in some of the most desirable environments.
9. Better Preparation for the NCLEX
What can you do with a BSN even before you start working as a nurse? All aspiring nurses must first pass the NCLEX. A BSN degree provides better, more thorough preparation for this highly rigorous licensure exam. This is reflected in the differences in first-time pass rates.
According to the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN), the first-time pass rates for BSN-prepared nurses compared to ADN-prepared nurses are consistently higher. That means that with a BSN, you have a better chance of passing the NCLEX on your first attempt.
10. Opportunities in Travel Nursing and International Nursing
If you’re an adventurous soul who loves to travel and meet new people, you might have a future in travel nursing. Or, you might decide to go abroad to work as a nurse in other countries. In either case, having a BSN will serve you well.
In fact, most travel nurse agencies express a preference for working with BSN-prepared nurses. Nurses with a BSN are more competitive job applicants, and they’re better equipped to pursue specialized roles at all types of healthcare facilities.
Why Get a BSN at Marian University?
With so many benefits of a BSN, you can see how earning your bachelor’s degree opens doors to a more successful and satisfying nursing career. Now that you know why a BSN in nursing is important, it’s time to consider how you’ll earn it. A BSN degree has never been more accessible, thanks to Marian University’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 admission advisor today to receive more information and begin your nursing journey.