If you are considering earning your online bachelor’s degree, you may be curious about what you can do with it in the field of nursing. Although you may earn your Registered Nursing title through an associate program, you may expand your options, career-wise, by earning an online Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree.
Registered Nurses are special people. They must have compassion and a love for people. As a nurse, you will oversee your patient’s well-being while they are in your care. You will perform your duties, in most medical facilities, by monitoring the patient’s care and progress, checking vital signs and administering medications and other treatments. You will play an integral role in educating the patient and their families in regard to after-home care. You will care for patients that range from the realm of preventative care to the patient in intensive care and, therefore, ranging from the ages of newborn to the elderly. You must be a caring, nurturing people person with special attention to detail. Strong clinical and leadership skills are required.
The most commonly available online degree within the nursing field is the Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing degree. Be sure to verify that your online school is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing and/or the American Association of Colleges of Nursing. You must also find out from the state in which you plan to practice if they accept your online nursing degree, as well. Please inquire about clinical experience requirements, too.
A traditional BSN degree usually takes an additional two years to complete, if you already have obtained your two-year associate degree. If you are a practicing Registered Nurse, there are “bridge programs” that allow you to obtain your online BSN degree.
Classes involved in a BSN program will typically include extensive coursework in theory which includes basic skill development, as well as, nursing technology, research and informatics. Other classwork may include anatomy, physiology, chemistry, nutrition, behavioral health and microbiology. Clinical on-the-job service is also required to obtain your degree.
Each graduate of the online Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree program must be licensed within the state you plan to practice and you must receive a passing grade on the NCLEX-RN exam.
Registered Nurses are employed by hospitals and clinics, however, with a BSN degree you may be allowed to work for the military and within public health nursing. Employers are now demanding more from their employees. Depending on the circumstances, often a RN with a BSN degree will outrank a RN with an ADN/ASN degree or diploma, however, as a BSN degree holder, you are also expected to have an expansive, exceptional knowledge of professional and leadership skills, if you want an increase in salary.
As a RN with an online Bachelor of Science Nursing degree, you can be accepted into a master’s degree nursing program, if you so desire at a later time. A master’s degree can lead to careers in administration, as a nurse anesthetist or nurse practitioner.
While the scope of work for a RN with an associate degree through an ASN program is essentially the same as a RN with a BSN degree, the latter student will have completed additional clinical job training and additional preparation, therefore, making them eligible for additional job opportunities in management, financial, research and leadership roles. If you have long-term goals for your nursing career, you should decide upon starting your educational journey in nursing to pursue your BSN degree from the beginning to place yourself in a position to apply for possible career advancements.
Please see our Top Online Nursing Degree Programs that we have compiled for your review.