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What does BSN stand for?

“BSN” stands for Bachelor of Science in Nursing, a degree program that addresses both general education courses and specific nursing curriculum.

A BSN often covers skills like:

• Care coordination
• Health administration
• Quality improvement and case management
• Clinical prevention and population health

• Leadership

Students can earn a BSN at an in-person college or university, but online nursing degrees can offer the same program quality with a more flexible format.

The salary range for RNs depends on a variety of factors. Experience, education and where you work (both in terms of venue and of the city) affect salaries in multiple ways. As of May 2023, it was reported that RNs made an annual salary ranging , with a median wage of $86,070, according to BLS.

Salary ranges are not specific to students or graduates of ��������ʿ�����¼. Actual outcomes vary based on multiple factors, including prior work experience, geographic location and other factors specific to the individual. ��������ʿ�����¼ does not guarantee employment, salary level or career advancement. BLS data is geographically based. Information for a specific state/city can be researched on the BLS website.

Can you become an RN without a BSN? 

As outlined above, you can become an RN without a BSN in most states. Considered by some to be the gold standard, potential advantages of a BSN include more comprehensive knowledge, potential leadership roles and an opportunity for advancement. It is also important to note that some hospitals or healthcare providers may prefer or even require their RNs to have a bachelor’s degree.��

A traditional BSN can take up to four years without experience or previous education. However, the ��������ʿ�����¼ RN to BSN program can be completed much faster since students receive academic credit for the learning achieved on the way to getting their RN license.

The RN to BSN program at ��������ʿ�����¼ takes approximately 14 months to complete with the transfer of 87 credits if you have your ADN. For those who do not have an ADN, RNs typically receive 40 total credits for their prior learning experience.

The competency-based (CB) version of the same RN to BSN program can be completed in as little as 12 months. For the CB program, students must have an acceptable associate degree that covers all their general education requirements as well as have an RN license and meet the experience requirements

Post-BSN degree and career options

Whether you see yourself specializing in a specific nursing field, taking on more administrative roles or just being more flexible in the types of roles you can occupy, it helps to know what a BSN can potentially do for you and what nurses can do after earning their bachelor’s degree to enhance their career. As highlighted earlier, registered nurses can learn leadership skills through an RN to BSN program that they can apply to their hands-on patient care and clinical experience. A BSN program also focuses on how to implement an effective evidence-based practice, leadership and population health.��No wonder a BSN can signal to employers and hiring managers that a nurse has the foundational skills to take on more responsibility. (Not to mention the degree can be a requirement for managerial or supervisor roles within a hospital.)

As you consider some career options available to RNs with a BSN, think about your ultimate life and career goals and how those pathways align (or not). Here, we’ll take a closer look at what comes next after earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing.

BSN career paths

Here are some potential career paths available to registered nurses after completing a BSN:

Charge nurse

��������������:��Charge nurses are generally RNs or licensed practical nurses (LPNs) with extensive clinical experience. They are responsible for providing general quality care while also overseeing a team of nurses working in a ward of the healthcare facility or, sometimes, providers in the entire facility. They ensure the nursing team they oversee administers the highest quality patient care possible while taking on managerial and supervisory responsibilities such as managing and adjusting patient assignments during shifts and responding in emergencies.

Job requirements: Charge nurses must be registered nurses or LPNs with significant clinical experience, having earned at least a nursing diploma, ASN or ADN. These positions generally require RNs to have clinical work experience, and some employers prefer candidates to have a BSN.��

Public health nurse 

��������������:��Public health nursing is a broad category of nursing that generally deals with issues that affect a community. This includes immunizing the public against diseases, managing opioid addiction treatment, and providing patient care after natural disasters. Public health nurses can also advocate for better health practices in their community.

Job requirements: Completing an accredited nursing program is a common prerequisite for working as a specific type of nurse. In addition, public health nurses must meet the requirements of being a registered nurse, and typically be working as an RN for at least two years. ��������ʿ�����¼ nursing programs do not have the type of accreditation required for some public health nursing positions.

Director of nursing (DON)

Overview: Directors of nursing are advanced professionals who lead nursing departments within a healthcare system. :

• Goal development for their teams
• Regulatory and legal compliance
• Budget preparation and monitoring
• Nurse recruitment, training and supervision
• Creation of work schedules for nursing staff
• Monitoring quality and safety of patient care

Job requirements: Nursing directors usually have years of bedside clinical experience as an RN. Other qualities they typically must possess include strong communication and leadership skills and a strong attention to detail. RNs can become a DON through experience, continuing education and good performance. While some RNs may be able to pursue a director of nursing role with a BSN, some companies prefer or require employees to possess a master’s degree, such as a master’s degree in Nursing (MSN).

Some employers even prefer nursing directors to have a doctoral degree, although it’s not always a requirement.

Nursing programs at ��������ʿ�����¼

If you’re a nurse looking to specialize in informatics, consider an online program such as the Master of Science in Nursing with a concentration in Informatics at ��������ʿ�����¼. In this program, you’ll learn how to analyze data to inform decision-making and patient outcomes. You’ll also learn how to work to improve systems and processes to improve the quality and safety of patient career outcomes. It prepares you to function in nursing informatics leadership roles, specialize in the design and use of electronically stored data to influence quality in care delivery and provide evidence of meeting quality, compliance, and regulatory standards and requirements.

If you’re a registered nurse looking to start your degree journey, consider one of the following programs first.

• Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing: This program teaches and sharpens post-licensure nursing skills, covering population health, health administration, business management for nursing professionals, coordination of safe care, and quality improvement and case management. It also covers critical thinking, communication, leadership, holistic nursing and much more. For this program specifically, students are only required to physically attend class one day a week. This program has an in-person clinical rotation component in two distinct courses related to public health.
• RN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (Competency-Based): This program is designed for working professionals with their RN license and one year of professional experience. If you qualify, your experience can help you fast-track through the program and avoid taking courses that teach what you’ve already learned on the job.��

Frequently asked questions

Does having a BSN make you an RN?

No. You must be licensed by a state board of nursing to become an RN.��Additionally, the ��������ʿ�����¼ RN to BSN program requires students to already be licensed nurses.

Can I get a BSN without being an RN?

All students in the ��������ʿ�����¼’s RN to BSN program must already be licensed nurses. However, other BSN programs may have different entry requirements.

Is nursing school difficult?

Yes, nursing school is demanding — and so is the field. You have to learn a lot of different information, and the stakes are high. But it is also a rewarding field with significant potential for career growth.

Is nursing in demand?

, employment for the occupation of a registered nurse is projected to grow by 6% between 2022 and 2032, making registered nurses among the most in demand of all types of nurses.��

BLS Occupational Employment Projections, 2022-2032 is published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This data reflects BLS’ projections of national (not local) conditions. These data points are not specific to ��������ʿ�����¼ students or graduates.

No matter where your career as an RN takes you someday — into public health, the operating room or advanced practice — a BSN offers a solid foundation to help build your nursing career.��