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If you are an RN wondering if you can return to school and pursue a Bachelor of Science in nursing, then here’s the short answer: Yes, you can! In fact, nurses with BSN degrees or other higher degrees are in much more demand than ever. The opportunities are likely to expand in the coming years all the more. As a student in an RN-to-BSN degree program, you get introduced to advanced nursing concepts like management, leadership, and healthcare informatics.

An RN-to-BSN degree provides valuable prospects for students to pursue graduate studies. In addition, it helps broaden their scope of practice. Or if you are planning to pursue a specialty certification, the degree program can also prepare you for that.

While these are just some of the many benefits of opting for an RN-to-BSN degree program, let’s discuss the top ten reasons why a BSN degree program is worth it and if it is the right career path for you.

1. Career Advancement

You may have noticed more preferences given to nurses with BSN degrees when it’s about shift assignments, hiring, or leadership opportunities. It is because several health systems and hospitals now require their nurses to pursue bachelor’s degrees to ensure better patient care.

The aging population, increase in fatal diseases like Covid-19, and collective complexity of care are some of the many aspects adding urgency to the need for advanced nursing education. According to the data for March 2022, Texas has the 4th lowest nurse-to-population ratio among other states, with only 9.25 nurses per 1000 residents.

Even though there are many top RN to BSN online programs in Texas, including other nursing certifications, the statistics show the nursing shortage on a national level. However, it also means that with a BSN degree, you can easily improve your job prospects and open new career opportunities.

Whether you want to pursue a leadership role, specialty certification, or teach nursing students, pursuing a BSN degree is an excellent way to advance your career.

2. Advanced Skills and Knowledge

Being an RN, opting for a bachelor’s degree program is the best decision if you are willing to increase your knowledge and hone your skills in a chosen field. Today, healthcare professionals are expected to make clinical decisions daily. They are expected to have critical thinking skills to deal with complex cases, let alone immense knowledge.

Thus, a BSN degree curriculum offers a broader knowledge base and greater expertise as it typically offers courses covering physiology and physical assessment, anatomy, fundamentals of nursing practice, chemistry, pathophysiology, microbiology, and pharmacology. All of these topics can also be taken along with other specialty topics.

There are many specialization options, depending on the patient population and practice area that interest you the most. For instance, if you prefer working in surgery, you can go with perioperative nursing certification.

While your nursing education may have taught you the clinical care basics, an RN-to-BSN program will help you grow your academic portfolio. This is due to the coursework in advanced decision-making and critical thinking, interdisciplinary collaboration, and communication and leadership skills.

3. Higher Salaries

One of the biggest advantages of pursuing an RN-to-BSN degree program is increasing your income and making more money. This shows that by pursuing your BSN degree, you can easily set yourself up to get a higher income during your nursing career. Specializations like nurse midwife, nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, or anesthetist offer more pay than a registered nurse position. However, the salary depends on various factors, including the cost of living in the area.

Still, the difference in income clearly reflects the increasing demand for professionals with BSN in nursing. This is because more hospitals aim to improve their patient care and meet the National Academy of Medicine’s standards and expectations. Lastly, having your BSN while negotiating salary with your employer will make a strong case and give you an added advantage over other contenders.

4. Better Patient Outcomes

Many studies have suggested that patient outcomes are improved within the care of BSN-prepared nurses. In other words, the quality of patient care directly correlates to higher nursing education due to enhanced skills and knowledge. Also, it is recommended to take BSN as the minimum degree requirement for RNs.

BSN-prepared nursing leads to fewer medication errors, lower mortality rates, and greater positive patient outcomes. While patient needs are becoming more complicated, nurses must attain the requisite competencies to deliver high-quality care.

When you choose to become a nurse or seek a career in healthcare, it becomes evident that you care about others. Thus, be the best in your profession by advancing your education. Always remember why you decided to pursue nursing in the first place and then learn as much about the profession as possible.

5. Increased Autonomy

As we know, nurses are the primary component of a healthcare facility. When you have a BSN degree, you are better prepared and hold greater autonomy, especially over critical decisions in patient care. The skill is also essential when you practice outside the hospital.

The degree gives you the authority and ability to make quick decisions without needing a professional’s approval. This benefits patient care and improves patient satisfaction. The program helps you take up a broader range of responsibilities such as home healthcare decision-making, managing new health technologies, discernment for preventive and post-op care, and devising a comprehensive care plan for the admitted patients.

Plus, BSN nurses work in different roles and settings. Another greatest advantage of pursuing a bachelor’s degree is the impact your new role can have on teams, patients, and the profession. Your higher-level degree opens many doors of opportunity for you, along with the ability to influence decisions related to patient care and how organizations operate to provide nursing services.

Conclusion

There are many advantages of pursuing a BSN online degree program, including higher paychecks and increased employment opportunities. In addition, with a BSN degree, you can enable career advancement with better skills and knowledge. BSN nurses are more valued and in demand, let alone the benefits discussed above. They can provide high-quality patient care and easily qualify for better and more advanced roles and positions, including leadership.