Our healthcare systems rely on nurses, their expertise and their commitment to delivering top-quality patient care. As this industry expands to meet growing community health needs, medical facilities look to well-educated nurses with an elevated skill set and diversified experience. Earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree can equip you with these competencies, as well as prepare you for leadership positions, broaden your professional circles and more.
Whether deciding which nursing degree you want to pursue or if you should advance your current credentials, keep reading to find out how a Bachelor of Science in Nursing can elevate your healthcare career.
A Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) is a four-year degree designed to equip students for a thriving nursing career. Typically, these programs integrate traditional coursework to build your health sciences foundation, clinical experience to refine your hands-on skills and patient care, and faculty mentorship to support your professional development.
After graduating from a BSN program, you can sit for the to become a registered nurse.
Compared to a two-year Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN), a bachelor’s in nursing degree offers more chances to elevate your clinical skills, deepen your nursing knowledge and prepare you to meet your patients’ needs.
BSN programs go beyond the fundamentals of nursing care. They equip you with critical thinking competencies, clinical judgment, leadership opportunities and evidence-based practice skills. These programs also integrate more advanced topics into their curriculum, such as pathophysiology, public health and healthcare ethics, and prepare you for complex patient care scenarios or to continue your graduate-level education.
Additionally, BSN programs allow more time for clinical rotations, where you work alongside experienced nurses and adapt to a fast-paced healthcare environment.
Today’s healthcare field grows more complex every day, and employers seek out nurses with a robust knowledge base and advanced skills to ensure their operations run smoothly and their patients receive the best quality care. In fact, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) confirms that .
Often, BSN programs include a broader array of disciplines, deliver more hands-on experience working in healthcare settings and better equip you for the to become a registered nurse. These learning experiences and outcomes help you become a well-rounded healthcare professional prepared to deliver better patient care and excel in the field.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects the employment rate for will increase by 6% through the next decade, which may translate into an estimated 194,500 new jobs each year. By earning your BSN, you establish yourself as a competitive candidate, ready to begin serving your community’s healthcare needs.
In many fields, the more education you secure, the higher income you can expect. A career in nursing follows this trajectory. The BLS reports that registered nurses earn a , almost double the national average for all occupations. However, their salary can extend up to $132,680 based on their level of education, years of experience, state of employment, the type of medical facility and more.
Additionally, PayScale offers more education-specific income insight, reporting that BSN-educated nurses earn an average salary of about , while ADN-educated nurses average . Because it equips nurses with more robust skills, clinical practice and a broader range of knowledge, a BSN degree proves to be a valuable investment that yields a favorable return.
Due to an emphasis on collaboration and a people-first approach, a BSN program empowers you to forge lasting connections with classmates, faculty and other healthcare leaders and create a supportive network. Whether working on a group project or receiving guidance from a mentor, the relationships built during your nursing education can open new career paths, professional development opportunities and out-of-the-classroom learning that helps you grow as an effective nurse.
Pursuing a bachelor's degree in nursing can be the first step toward securing leadership roles in healthcare. Most advanced positions in the nursing field, such as nurse educator, family nurse practitioner, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist or chief nursing officer, require either a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP). A BSN degree lays the foundation for more high-level nursing education that dives into administration and policy topics, advanced clinical practice, leadership strategies and more.
When considering a bachelor’s in nursing, you must consider the practical implications — such as program completion time — which impact your career planning and scheduling needs. Ultimately, your academic background and experience determine what type of BSN program you enroll in and how long it will take.
If you have no prior nursing experience and have not earned a college degree, you can enroll in a traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing program, which typically takes four years to complete.
Or, if you have obtained a non-nursing bachelor’s degree, you can apply for an Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program. This expedited program helps you earn your degree in just 16 months.
Since 1923, ÇàÇà²ÝÊÓƵ (FranU) has been developing registered nurses in Louisiana through a holistic education rooted in excellence, service and compassion.
Housed in our School of Nursing, our two distinct BSN programs — the Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing and the Pre-Licensure Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) — offer comprehensive, nursing education tailored to aspiring nurses from diverse academic backgrounds. Both programs ensure students receive hands-on clinical experience, personalized guidance from our expert faculty members and a clear route to securing their licensure.
Whichever path you choose, beginning your nursing career at FranU empowers you to serve with competency, integrity and reverence for all of life. Take the next step toward your future by applying today!
We’re proud to be named one of Baton Rouge’s top choices for higher education. This honor reflects our ongoing commitment to academic excellence, student success and community impact.
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