Learning why a BSN is important may encourage you to apply to an ABSN program. Nurses with a BSN are in high demand because they are better equipped to provide high-quality care that improves patient outcomes. A BSN can also pave the way for career advancement.
There are multiple pathways toward qualifying to become a registered nurse (RN), but not all nursing degrees provide the same benefits. For most people pursuing a career in nursing, the best place to start is with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree. Discovering the benefits of a BSN can help you determine why a BSN in nursing is important for both nurses and patients.
At Pacific Lutheran University, our Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program confers a high-quality BSN degree in a faster timeline than a traditional BSN program. Our ABSN can enable you to graduate with a BSN in as few as 16 months. In the accelerated program, you will complete a comprehensive nursing curriculum that will equip you with career advantages, such as greater job security and more professional growth opportunities.
What a BSN Degree Is and Why It Matters Today
Registered nurses at your local health care facility may hold a variety of degrees, including an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN), an Associate of Applied Science in Nursing (AAS), a BSN, or a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN). Health-care employers are now leaning strongly toward nurses having a bachelor’s degree or higher to enter the field.
Pacific Lutheran University’s BSN program focuses on comprehensive clinical education, meaning you will practice your skills in a clinical environment. You will also learn about concepts such as health disparities, nursing leadership, preventative care measures, and nursing research. In short, a BSN degree will provide you with hands-on, immersive learning opportunities.
Benefit 1: Expanded Career Opportunities and Job Eligibility
In recent years, nurses with a BSN have become highly sought after by health-care employers. Through extensive and comprehensive clinical education, BSN programs prepare nurses to handle challenging and complex patient situations effectively.
If you are looking for a career in nursing where you will be in demand and have high job security, earning a BSN is the first step. One of the key reasons why a BSN in nursing is important is the ability to find a job after graduation.
Wondering how to become a nurse with a non-nursing bachelor's degree? Follow these steps to get started.
Benefit 2: A Foundation for Long-Term Growth
Another clear reason why a BSN in nursing is important is that it opens the door to life-long learning opportunities. Earning a BSN gives you access to continuing education and graduate study. For example, many nurses with a BSN choose to continue their education through an MSN or a DNP program, further deepening their knowledge.
Benefit 3: Stronger Clinical Skills and Patient Care Outcomes
An important factor contributing to the importance of a BSN, as well as the high demand for BSN-educated nurses by health-care employers, is that better-educated nurses drive improved patient outcomes. When hospitals increase the proportion of baccalaureate-prepared nurses on staff, the quality of care improves, and patient outcomes improve. For example, higher proportions of baccalaureate-prepared nurses are associated with reduced re-admission rates and patient mortality.
BSN programs provide extensive clinical preparation, equipping nurses to be health leaders, critical thinkers, and analytical decision-makers.
Benefit 4: Leadership, Management, and Advancement Opportunities
While your end goal right now may be to become a bedside nurse, you may decide in a few years that you want to take on a leadership or management role. To keep these options open to you, earning a BSN is an ideal preparation.
Nurses with a BSN are best positioned to compete for these high-level roles. After gaining clinical experience as a bedside nurse, you may pursue numerous leadership roles, including case manager, nurse manager, and health care administrator, just to name a few.
You may also decide to pursue a role as a:
- Clinical nurse specialist
- Nurse anesthetist
- Nurse midwife
- Nurse practitioner
Each of these advanced practice nursing roles requires a graduate degree, and earning a BSN will equip you with the tools, practices, and habits to excel in a graduate program. After earning your advanced degree and becoming certified in one of these areas, you will be able to provide patient care with greater autonomy and serve as a leader in your specialty.
Is nursing a good career? See the advantages of entering this growing field.
Benefit 5: Better Preparation for Specialized and Advanced Roles
A BSN will prepare you for nursing specialties that require in-depth expertise. You will be able to choose among roles within a hospital or clinic, such as:
- Cardiac nursing
- Critical care nursing
- Emergency nursing
- Pediatric nursing
- Pulmonary nursing
- Rehabilitation nursing
- Surgical nursing
The options are practically endless once you earn a BSN. You can also consider community roles, including:
- Home health nursing
- Legal nurse consulting
- Nurse health coaching
- Public health nursing
- School nursing
- Telehealth nursing
Benefit 6: Meeting Employer and Industry Expectations
Many employers, including some of the top health-care facilities, prefer hiring nurses with a BSN. For example, hospitals that have earned Magnet recognition prefer to hire a high proportion of nurses with bachelor’s degrees. In these hospitals, nurse leaders and nurse managers are required to hold at minimum a bachelor’s degree.
Is a BSN the Right Investment for Your Nursing Career?
Given the advantages for your career and for the outcomes of your future patients, a BSN provides the best return on investment. You will find more doors open to you, and you will develop a solid foundation for pursuing career advancement later.
Because it is possible to earn a BSN in as few as 16 months if you are eligible for the ABSN program, and because an associate degree typically takes two years to earn, it makes sense to pursue a BSN.
Start Your Nursing Journey at Pacific Lutheran University
Now that you know why a BSN in nursing is important, you may be eager to start earning your degree. At Pacific Lutheran University (PLU) near Seattle, you can earn a BSN in as few as 16 months through the ABSN program. Our accelerated nursing program offers three start dates each year in February, June, and September, which means you can get started sooner. If you have at least 60 non-nursing college credits or a non-nursing bachelor’s degree, you may be eligible to apply to the ABSN program.
Request information and connect with an admissions representative to get started.