A Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) is one of the greatest ways to secure your position in healthcare and stand out in a field of millions of nurses. This undergraduate degree is designed to prepare aspiring nurses with the knowledge, skills, and ethics needed to deliver effective, compassionate patient care.

However, the path to becoming a registered nurse (RN) is not always linear. While a Bachelor’s in Nursing is an incredible career move and academic achievement, it’s not the only option for aspiring RNs. Today, the standard requirement to become a registered nurse is an associate degree in Nursing (ADN). However, more and more nurses are pursuing a BSN degree to advance or round out their education. And, more and more employers are preferring to hire (and promote) nurses with a BSN under their belts.

What does a BSN do, exactly, for your career? And what can BSN-educated nurses do that associate degree holders might not? Let’s explore what a BSN nurse does and what a BSN degree can do for your future in this field.

What is a BSN degree?

This might be apparent, but for those who missed it: BSN is an abbreviated way to say Bachelor of Science in Nursing. It is an undergraduate degree that typically takes four years to complete from start to finish, though different and accelerated formats are available.

BSN programs ensure aspiring (and advancing) nurses know their sciences in-and-out, understand the principles of nursing, can carry out the RN scope of practice, and deliver safe and compassionate care to patients in need.

At the culmination of a BSN degree program, students can take the NCLEX-RN licensing exam to become a registered nurse. Or, for seasoned RNs advancing through a BSN program, they can qualify for more job opportunities after graduation.

What does a BSN nurse do?

While people often refer to BSN-educated nurses as “BSNs,” this is not a formally recognized or utilized title. Therefore, there is no single definition of a “BSN” nurse. Nurses holding their bachelor’s degree in Nursing often act as registered nurses, working directly with patients in important clinical care settings. On a day-to-day basis, these RNs can be found evaluating patient conditions, creating treatment plans, administering patient care, performing diagnostic tests, operating complex medical equipment, and more. They work alongside physicians and other medical team members to coordinate patient care. They may also supervise licensed practical nurses (LPNs), nursing assistants, and other medical support staff.

What can you do with a BSN?

While BSN-educated nurses typically fulfill the role of an RN, it’s important to note that RNs with a BSN often qualify for other positions beyond the typical bedside care. From a trauma nurse to a school nurse, there are many types of nursing careers that one can pursue with a bachelor’s degree in hand.

For example, BSN holders often qualify for managerial and leadership positions, and are typically preferred in advanced specializations such as oncology, pediatrics, public health nursing, nurse education, research, case management, and more. Some employers – such as the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, and Veterans’ Administration – exclusively hire registered nurses with a BSN degree. The job duties in these varying BSN careers can be very different, depending on the employer and place of work.

Here are some examples of opportunities you can pursue as a BSN nurse:

• Army or military nurse
• Case manager
• Informatics nurse
• Neonatal nurse
• Nurse educator
• Nurse administrator
• Oncology nurse
• Psychiatric nurse
• Research nurse

There are also many advanced certifications and specialities you can qualify for as a BSN nurse.

Learn more about the opportunities here!

What can a BSN do for you?

There are many benefits of getting a BSN at any stage of your nursing career. Registered nurses holding a BSN tend to have more advanced skills when it comes to critical thinking, team leadership, and navigating systemic policies.

At Goodwin, for example, many nurses choose to pursue the RN-to-BSN program, where they can advance their experience, skillset, and career. On top of their foundational nursing knowledge, they walk away with a stronger ability to:

• Advocate for health care policies and patients in need
• Apply knowledge from nursing theory, practice, and research to their professional practice
• Coordinate patient care for individuals, groups, and entire populations
• Deliver evidence-based and person-centered patient care
• Demonstrate skills in policy and leadership
• Exercise clinical judgment and ethical decision-making based on their learning
• Implement safety science principles in the delivery of care
• Manage population health in collaboration with other providers
• Practice nursing from a holistic, visionary, culturally competent, and fiscally responsible base
• Provide safe, effective, quality, and equitable care to diverse patients
• Utilize informatics and ever-evolving technologies to deliver care

See what you can learn in a BSN program here.

What can a BSN degree do for your career?

The advanced curriculum available in BSN programs allows both new and already-working nurses to develop an advanced, well-rounded skill set. But many still raise the question: Why should I get a BSN, and is it worth it? With a much longer commitment to school, what does a BSN do for your career trajectory?

Aside from adding another award to your resume, a BSN can lead to more advanced career opportunities, including net-new prospects as well as promotions within your current organization. (Research shows that more than 70 percent of nursing employers prefer BSN graduates!) It can also lead to increased salary potential, with the added investment in school.

Plus, earning a BSN can also mean earning more credibility and respect from employers, patients, and other providers.

According to several studies – by the Journal of Nursing Administration and the Institute of Medicine, for example – a bachelor’s degree in Nursing or higher often translates to better care and better outcomes for patients. As cited by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), registered nurses with a BSN have been shown to possess:

• Enhanced assessment and critical thinking skills
• Fewer complications among patients as well as less preventable deaths
• Higher competency in nursing practice, research, and leadership
• Improved communication abilities
• Lower mortality rates among patients
• Lower readmission rates among patients
• Reduced inpatient stays
• Significantly improved skills in patient safety, evidence-based practice, data analysis, and project implementation

While the benefits of a BSN are clear, we recognize that all nurses, with the right training, are highly capable of providing high-quality patient care. Whether you choose an associate or a bachelor’s degree in nursing school, you can still gain the critical skill sets needed to be a successful nurse. Nurses who pursue BSN programs, however, do obtain a deeper and longer course of study, and therefore a wider range of competencies, than their counterparts. For this reason, they may be better suited for leadership nursing positions.

BSN program options

A BSN does a lot—for both your personal and professional growth. Now the question remains, how do you get started?

The answer will depend on your experience (or lack thereof) in nursing, as well as whether or not you have prior college credits under your belt. In general, there are three pathways to getting a BSN degree:

• A traditional, entry-level BSN program. This takes roughly four years to complete, starting with basic sciences and nursing skills, and working up towards more advanced nursing know-how.
• A flexible RN-to-BSN degree program. An RN-to-BSN is a fast-paced, flexible program designed for licensed registered nurses looking to advance in their careers. Programs can be completed part-time, online, and in as little as 12 months’ time.
• An accelerated BSN degree (ABSN). ABSN programs are an accelerated option for aspiring RNs who have already earned a bachelor’s degree in another non-nursing major. Essentially, an ABSN is a fast-track program that makes it easy to transfer prior credits and complete a BSN without another four years in school.

No matter where you are in your nursing journey—reaching for advancement opportunities, or considering the career for the first time—a BSN has a lot to offer. While it has its pros and cons, at the end of the day, a BSN can help you stand out and give you the tools needed to soar.

Learn more about what a BSN does, or can do, for your future in nursing. Or, learn more about earning your BSN degree at Goodwin University. Simply call 800-889-3282 or visit us online to request more information.