There are so many degree options in the field of nursing, so what is a BSN degree? What does BSN stand for?
A BSN degree is a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. It is typically a 4 year program designed to equip nursing students with skills to become a Registered Nurse. It also allows students to continue a higher degree program after graduation, such as graduate school. BSN degrees are also wonderful degrees for management positions in nursing, or to even work in many other non-health related occupations.
The BSN degree is often necessary if students wish to go back to school to become a CRNA (Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist), Nurse Practitioners, and other similar nursing occupations.
A BSN degree is not the only degree option for those students who wish to become an RN. You can also obtain an ADN degree (Associates Degree in Nursing). ADN degrees only take about 2 years on average, and you can become a licensed nurse and earn roughly the same pay as those with BSN degrees in many cases.
Is a BSN Degree Worth It?
Ultimately, if you ever plan to go back to school for additional degrees (Masters or Nurse practitioner), if you want to pursue management positions over your career, or if you want to achieve a 4 year degree as your educational goals, then a BSN would make the most sense. Also, a BSN would be the minimum degree needed if you ever wanted to move into another field such as teaching.
If, however, you aren’t interested in management positions, have no intentions of going back for higher nursing degrees, and just want to graduate as soon as possible and work as a registered nurse, then an ADN would probably make the most sense. There are many wonderful nurses who have no higher ambitions and simply want to work in a stable career with good pay, and they want to be the best nurse they can be in that position.
Also, since many nurses tend to be female, many also have aspirations to one day start a family and spend a great deal of time raising their children. That is certainly an admirable goal as well.
I have a BSN degree, and it took me 4 years to obtain it (the first 2 were mostly general education, while the last two focused on nursing school specifically). I also know many nurses with ADN degrees, and they are wonderful nurses who do well on the job and earn basically the same salary as their BSN counterparts.
Each nursing student will have to really do some soul searching and decide what they want to do with their lives, and what their overall career goals are. BSN is a great degree, so is an ADN.
Thinking about going to Nursing School?
Are you contemplating going to nursing school, or are you actually in nursing school right now? Nursing school can be challenging, especially if you do not know what to expect. Here is a great guide by S. L. Page BSN, RN called “How to Pass Nursing School“. This book gives you detailed information about how to pass nursing school from beginning to end. S.L. Page, the creator of this website, complied all the information students what to know about nursing school into one easy to read guide. She gives in depth information on how to succeed in nursing school.
S.L. Page graduated from nursing school with honors and passed the NCLEX-RN on her first try. In this ebook, she reveals the strategies she used to help her succeed.
Here is what the book looks like:
