Bachelor's Degree in Nursing
For RNs who have already earned their Associate’s of Science in Nursing degrees (ASN), there are many options these days for completing a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing (BSN). RN to BSN programs are probably the most common type of online nursing degree program available. These typically take one to two years to complete and rather than focus on the day-to-day mechanics of being a nurse, there is a more concentrated focus on nursing theory, nursing research and management skills. BSNs are thought of as leaders within the nursing community and gravitate toward upper-level supervisory positions which involve writing policy and assessing nursing data.
Online nursing school RN to BSN programs can take anywhere from a year to two, depending upon a nurse’s previous college experience and which school the courses are coming from. A BSN is like any other bachelor’s degree in the sense that a certain number of upper-level arts and humanities credits are required. If an RN has completed all the coursework for an ASN, he or she has a solid foundation upon which to carry on to a BSN. Most ASN prerequisites are the same classes required of BSN students. The ASN provides the bare bones of a solid education, as it were, and a completed BSN makes for a well-rounded education in the classical sense of the word. BSNs spend a significantly higher account of their time in classes that do not relate directly to hands-on nursing work
Because they have become so widespread, there are plenty of choices these days for RNs looking to finish their bachelor’s. RN to BSN programs are available through any number of universities, both on-site, and online. Online nursing programs for these degrees are more feasible than for other types of nursing programs because there is so little need for extra classroom time or extended clinicals. Most RN to BSN students are working nurses who spend many hours a week on the floor. This does not substitute clinical time spent with an instructor, but this experience is not discounted entirely.
Completing one’s BSN is perhaps most important if one wishes to go on to graduate school in nursing. Post-graduate nursing education is necessary to becoming a Nurse Practitioner (NP) and functioning as a doctor. Nurse Practitioners diagnose and treat conditions. Motivations for a Master’s of Science in Nursing (MSN) also include the desire to become a nursing instructor. For more information on these, as well as other types of nursing degrees, visit careerdegreesource.com.
