If you are a registered nurse (RN) with an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN), you may want to consider pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). With a BSN, you have the opportunity to move forward in your career and receive a higher salary. Moreover, a BSN may become a requirement for employment in the future.
What Is An Online RN to BSN Program?
RN to BSN programs allow nurses to extend their nursing education from the associate level to a baccalaureate degree. Nurses need an active RN license when applying to an RN to BSN program. Other conditions for enrollment vary depending on the school. Typically, online RN to BSN programs can take two years to complete. However, accelerated programs may be shorter.
The curriculum consists of advanced courses to prepare students for the nursing practice. Online programs generally include practical experiences that are carried out at a variety of approved healthcare locations.
Why Should You Earn a BSN?
The Institute of Medicine (IOM), renamed the Academy of Medicine in 2015, recommends that 80 percent of the nursing workforce obtain a BSN by 2020. In addition, researchers Linda Aiken, Richard Lindrooth and Olga Yakusheva, who are affiliated with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), have conducted studies that show a link between BSN-prepared nurses and improved patient outcomes. And the American Association of Colleges of Nursing recognizes the BSN as the minimum educational requirement for nurses. For these reasons, employers prefer to hire nurses with a BSN.
Nurses with a BSN are paid more than ADN nurses. According to PayScale.com as of June 2019, the annual salary for ADN nurses is $67,000 while BSN-prepared nurses earn $81,000. A BSN degree will also help you advance in your career. Some nursing jobs are open only to BSN-prepared nurses. Once you earn a BSN, you can go on to complete a master’s degree program.
Why Choose an Online Program?
Online programs are a convenient and affordable option. Fitchburg State University offers an online RN to BS in Nursing degree program that is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
Fitchburg State’s RN to BS in Nursing program prepares RNs to work in all healthcare settings. Nurses learn about legal, ethical and professional standards so they can provide socially responsible holistic care to patients. The program’s evidence-based curriculum focuses on social justice and advocacy and delves into forensic nursing.
Online RN to BSN programs are structured so nurses can achieve a balance in their life. The flexibility of an online program lets you work at your own pace. Not only does a BSN make nurses eligible for leadership positions, but it may also raise their earning potential. A BSN may soon become the required level of preparation for nurses to practice. By becoming a BSN-prepared nurse, you are ensuring you are ready to progress in your nursing career.
Learn more about the Fitchburg State online RN to BS in Nursing program.
Sources:
AACN: About CCNE Accreditation
PayScale: Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) Average Salary
PayScale: Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) Degree Average Salary
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation: Building the Case for More Highly Educated Nurses
RN to BSN: Frequently Asked Questions About RN to BSN Programs
Nursing.org: Online RN to BSN Programs
AACN: The Baccalaureate Degree in Nursing as Minimal Preparation for Professional Practice
