RN to BSN: More Career Opportunities Await Nurses Who Earn a Bachelor’s Degree
If you’ve been working as an RN for a while, you know that the real opportunities await for nurses who have earned a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) degree. If you’re aiming to move into a supervisory position, you probably will need to enter an RN to BSN program.
Hundreds of schools (more than 600) offer RN to BSN programs nationwide. Some will see you taking time from nursing to attend the program full-time on campus. Others.hold classes at night, so that you may work during the day. Others offer RN to BSN online, while several will see you in the classroom at BSN school and studying online.
Go Beyond the School with an Online RN to BSN Program
In fact, more and more online BSN programs are offering this “blended” curricula. BSN schools that once were on-campus only, now are offering some of the classes within their RN to BSN program online.
Don’t worry that you will need to spend the “traditional” four years to earn your bachelor of science in nursing degree. Many RN to BSN programs offer “fast track” courses so that you can finish up in one to two years. You also should see if your nursing work experience will give you extra credit toward graduation, or if you can “test out,” and take certain examinations to earn program credits.
And do not forget to research your employer’s tuition reimbursement program. Many hospitals and medical centers will pay for their nurses (and other employees) to continue their education. You also could look into RN to BSN programs that will pay for your degree if you agree to work in underserved areas of the country for a set amount of time.
Nursing schools know two things: 1) the need for nurses is critical and 500,000 nurses will need to be added to the U.S. workforce within next decade, and 2) many nurses want or need to continue working while they pursue their RN to BSN. So many RN to BSN schools are bending over backwards to accommodate nurses who wish to advance their education.
