4th July, 2012

Exactly What Can A Online RN To BSN Program Do For Ones Line Of Work?

Registered nurses or RNs are healthcare professionals who have obtained a diploma or have obtained degree-level training in nursing. These nurse practitioners therefore are certified by the state nursing board to work as a registered nurse. Registered nurses do not necessarily have a bachelor’s degree in nursing, but you could possibly think to yourself what difference it makes to have a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. The answer is quite simple, a registered nurse with a Bachelor of Science qualification has way more duties, which suggests more nursing job opportunities and even substantial earnings. This is exactly why a lot more RNs today are trying to upgrade their credentials to BSN. They can do this by choosing an Accelerated BSN Nursing Program.

The RN to BSN program is a transition or bridge program meant to allow RNs to get Bachelor of Science degrees. This program comes with a uniquely designed study course for nursing students who came from medical schools, community colleges and are licensed medical workers. An RN to BSN program is provided by several colleges in a very versatile and partly online format. The program is not largely online, though. The nice thing about this Nursing Program is it may be completed in only 2 semesters. The schedule of classes for this specific program is also made adaptable to help the student nurses keep employment when they’re still finishing the program.

Registered nurses who are planning to earn a BSN have to have an unrestricted and current license to practice as a registered nurse in the state in which they are applying. All those who have a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field may also consider an RN to BSN program but there will be more requirements, making the program take longer to complete. In case your RN license has expired, you will also have to take extra classes and fulfill more requirements to be eligible for the program.

Associate degree nurses that are approved for an RN to BSN program need to take these nursing courses which address principles and subjects not involved in lower level nursing courses.

- RNs aiming for a BSN degree have to take professional nursing courses, which make up 6 credit hours. They are the courses which cover concepts and subject areas that are related to how a staff nurses can perform the roles of a professional nurse. This course will certainly teach students about the duties of a professional nurse, which actually has nothing to do with managing the nursing staff.

- Learners of a BSN program must have 7 credit hours taking lessons related to subjects on alternative healthcare across a patient’s lifespan. Most of these courses focus on the way a patient needs to be cared for while taking into consideration his physical health, psychosocial well being, nutrition and his spiritual well-being.

- RN to BSN transition program students have to take a 3 credit hour training course on health promotion. This course explains to learners the function of professional nurses in illness prevention and also health promotion. This course contains strategies for the promotion of healthy and balanced way of life in various communities.

Becoming a Nurse: An Introduction

A career as a registered nurse is both demanding and rewarding. Nurses often work long hours, with night and weekend shifts, but the demand for qualified nurses is growing, and many nurses express high job satisfaction. There are not many other fields where you receive so much face-to-face interaction with people you are actively helping.

Quick Facts About a Career as a Registered Nurse

• Nursing school is a two- to four-year program, depending on whether you want to receive an associate's or bachelor's degree in nursing. (DiscoverNursing.com)
• Upon completion of a nursing program, nurses must pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) in order to become registered nurses, or RNs. (Bureau of Labor Statistics)
• Does a particular area of healthcare interest you – like cancer, obstetrics, or infectious diseases? Nurses can specialize in many different areas. (Bureau of Labor Statistics)
• Nurses can also become certified in their specialization. These certificates sometimes involve continuing education to become an expert in the field. (American Nurses Credentialing Center)
• Nursing can be an extremely hard career – you often work long shifts, handle hazardous materials, and must be able to lift and care for patients. (American Nurses Association)
• The demand for nurses is expected to grow beyond the working pool of nurses by 2020. (Health Resources and Services Administration)
• Currently, only about 6% of nurses are men. There is a high demand for male nurses. (Nurse Week)
• The average yearly salary for nurses is $67,000. Depending on the specialty and number of years worked, pay can range between $50,000 and $90,000/year. (CB Salary)
• Expected job growth for nursing is 22%, which is higher than average expected job growth. The most growth is expected to occur in private practice settings. (Bureau of Labor Statistics)
• There are many associations nurses can join that provide support for continuing education, career information, and certification. These associations can be as broad as the National League for Nursing, or as specific as the Aboriginal Nurses Association of Canada. (The Agape Center)

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Choosing a Nursing Program

• There are three ways to become a nurse: receive an associate's degree, receive a bachelor's degree, or complete a three-year diploma program through a hospital. (Bureau of Labor Statistics)
• Make sure that the program you are interested in has been accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. (NLNAC & CCNE)
• The best nursing programs give students hands-on time, working in hospitals. Students pursuing bachelor's degrees in nursing spend the most time in hospitals – the usual schedule is two years of classes, and two years of student nursing. (American Nurses Association)
• Ask about the placement rate of nurses after graduation. Many nurses who attend popular programs receive job offers before they graduate. (DiscoverNursing.com)
• US News and World Reports publishes a yearly ranking of the best schools in America. You can look up schools you are interested in on their ranking system. (US News & World Reports)
• The average cost for a four-year Bachelor's degree is $30,000 for in-state students, and the average cost of a two-year Associate's degree is $4,600 for in-state students. Compare the tuition costs of your schools before making a final decision. (CostHelper.com)
• The demand for nurses is very high, and the demand for nursing teachers may be even higher. Excellent teachers are required to make a nursing program great, so be sure to ask about the quality of professors when looking into schools. Becoming a nursing school teacher may also be a career option. (University of Pennsylvania)
• Some nursing programs may offer specialization in specific fields (pediatrics, cancer, etc), but further certification may be necessary to pursue further work in a specialized area. (American Nurses Credentialing Center)
• To advance in the field of nursing, perhaps to a management position, further degrees such as a master's or PhD may be necessary. (DiscoverNursing.com)
• The most popular schools have waiting lists, but there are many nursing programs with no waiting lists – and these are not low quality schools. In fact, getting into a less well-known program can have advantages, such as smaller class sizes. (DiscoverNursing.com)