Benefits of Earning a Bachelor’s Degree in the Field of Nursing

There are great benefits to those who hold a bachelor’s degree in nursing. However, for one reason or another many nurses don’t pursue additional credentials after receiving their registered nursing license.

The greatest benefit is the access to executive level positions within the healthcare industry. Your undergraduate education will equip you with the knowledge of how human, financial, and mechanical resources are used to provide a high level of care to patients. This type of knowledge is needed to understand what is involved in the day to day management of a hospital or similar healthcare organization.

It is an unwritten rule, but these types of positions are generally reserved for registered nurses who have obtained their bachelor’s degree in nursing; they are often seen as the best candidates for these positions. Their nursing experience gives them great insight to the medical needs of the hospital, while their bachelor’s degree curriculum provides all of the business skills needed. So much so, that some healthcare facilities prefer nurses with their bachelor’s degree in nursing over someone with just a RN license.

Nurses with a bachelor’s degree are prepared to work in practically all healthcare settings upon graduation. A nurse without a bachelor’s degree would need to obtain a certification within the specific specialty in order to work in these types of settings. Though nurses are in great demand, a bachelor’s degree will make you even more employable. This should give you the power to weigh job offers and options, which in this job market is remarkable.

The ease of finding employment makes a bachelor’s degree in nursing a transferable degree. You can freely move from state to state and country to country. Typically as a certified and/or registered nurse your license is administered by a state board, often requiring you to check with the state whenever you apply for a position after you have moved. This is to ensure you that there are no new licenses or certifications required and proof that you are practicing nursing in accordance to the rules of that particular state.

Nurses with their bachelor’s degree typically command a higher salary than registered nurses who don’t hold a degree. In many cases, their broad knowledge extends past general nursing, making these particular nurses the pick of the litter. A bachelor’s degree will also put you ahead of the growing trend in medicine. Many hospitals are starting to require a BSN as a minimum requirement. This a growing trend that has a leading number of registered nurses going back to school to obtain their bachelor’s degree in order to maintain their current positions.

Your bachelor’s degree will also allow you to be better prepared for the world as an entrepreneur. The bachelor’s curriculum will give you a broader range of knowledge in areas of finance and accounting, human resources, and general management. You will also take courses on social and cultural challenges facing the healthcare industry. These skills will help you be a better consultant, nurse case manager, or nurse writer.

Obtaining your bachelor’s degree can also allow you to expand your career for as long as you wish. Often times the physical demands of nursing can make it a difficult profession. With your bachelor’s degree you are able to switch gears and career tracks to a more professional styled position, one which is less physically demanding and with a more structured work week.

These days, gaining your bachelor’s degree in nursing is easier than it has been in the past, thanks to a mix of online and traditional schooling options. In many cases you will be able to continue working full time while you are pursuing your degree. You should be able to continue gaining experience and also be able to support yourself and or your family while going to school.

This degree is also a stepping stone for other advanced degrees. For some programs it is actually a prerequisite for the master’s degree in nursing. Although it may not be a requirement for gaining additional specialty certifications, your bachelor’s degree training will make the certification training come easier to you.

A Bachelor’s degree in nursing may seem like a big step for some registered nurses. It is quickly becoming more of a natural progression of a nursing career. The opportunity to expand your career and the flexibility to easily change locations are among the most popular benefits. In this economy the high salaries of nurses with their BSN is probably the greatest motivating factor for many who choose to pursue this degree. Despite these benefits, the healthcare industry is moving toward making a bachelor’s degree a requirement. Nursing is one of the few positions that are forecasted to be in great demand for years to come, why not ensure your survival in this exciting and ever expanding industry.