What is a BSN Degree and what does a BSN Nurse do?

Though it’s possible to work as an RN with just an associate degree, employers are increasingly interested in hiring nurses with a BSN. A BSN is a nursing degree at the bachelor’s level that helps train nurses on key duties including patient care, research, and other healthcare topics. BSN stands for Bachelor of Science in Nursing. 

How a BSN can improve your career prospects

A BSN typically takes two and a half to four years to complete and prepares nurses to make more complex health assessments and contribute more meaningfully to the healthcare field. The expanded curriculum, which includes more clinical rotations and simulation labs, allows aspiring nurses to better hone their skills. Having a BSN improves your earning capability as nurses with a higher level of education are typically paid better than RNs in the same position. 

Though nursing is a stable career with excellent job growth and salary potential, earning a BSN helps you stand out in a crowded labor market. It reflects a deeper commitment to the nursing field and can open many doors in healthcare. A BSN also makes you eligible for a wider variety of roles including supervisory roles that come with more responsibilities and higher pay.

Routes to a BSN degree

Enrolling in a BSN degree can fast-track your education, combining basic knowledge from the associate’s degree in nursing and the advanced knowledge of the bachelor’s level. Through classroom instruction, labs, and clinical rotations, BSN students receive a well-rounded education to help their future career.

Luckily, working nurses who want to go back to school don’t need to start from scratch. RN-to-BSN programs are designed to fill the gaps between the associate degree and the BSN. It is a cost-effective way to continue your nursing education and open up job opportunities.

What is the earning potential for a BSN?

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual pay for a nurse is $77,600. However, nurses with a BSN make an average of $91,000 a year. These averages don’t account for years of experience, healthcare field, and location, which can significantly influence nursing salaries. Holding a BSN can also expand your ability to work toward a specialty, which may further increase your earning potential.

What does a BSN do?

Nurses with a BSN degree can work in many healthcare settings including hospitals, private practice clinics, outpatient centers, community healthcare centers, schools, and in homes providing individual care. As part of regular work responsibilities, a BSN nurse may:

• Assess patient condition and monitor health status
• Administer patient treatments
• Educate patients and family members about patient diagnosis and treatment
• Maintain medical records
• Work with doctors and other nurses to create patient care plans
• Delegate work and supervise other nurses

A BSN degree can vastly improve your job knowledge, prospects, and help you succeed in healthcare. It’s an investment in yourself.