| If you are a registered nurse who is considering | | | | Administration, Peace Corp and Vista. You can |
| further education, there plenty of incentive | | | | work as a medical attaché in consulates around |
| following through with this plan. These days, the | | | | the world, or work toward a Masters Degree in |
| best nursing jobs are reserved for those nurses | | | | public policy to help shape public ethics and medical |
| who have an advanced degree in nursing. | | | | policy in local, state or federal government. |
| Whatever your motivation, there are many | | | | Those are just a small subset of the various |
| benefits to continuing your nursing education. | | | | nursing positions that are open to nurses with a |
| Those benefits include better jobs, higher pay and | | | | BSN. Others include working in the insurance |
| career opportunities that do not exist without a | | | | industry, product management, research and |
| BSN or MSN. Here is a look at some of the | | | | public administration. |
| benefits of continuing your education once you | | | | Nurses with an advanced degree earn more |
| become a registered nurse. | | | | money |
| You’ll learn new skills that you can use no | | | | |
| matter what you do in nursing. | | | | Even when nurses work in similar positions, BSNs |
| | | | earn more money than their non-degreed |
| The courses for your Bachelors Degree in Nursing | | | | counterparts. A more compelling detail however, is |
| will help you develop knowledge and skills in | | | | that the degree opens the door to higher paying |
| management which many hospitals and nursing | | | | career opportunities in nearly every field. A nurse |
| homes require for promotion to head nurse or | | | | working in medical management can earn above |
| charge nurse. You will learn about theories in | | | | $70,000, nearly $20,000 more than the mean |
| management, mediation and decision making. You | | | | salary for registered nurses. |
| will have a wide range of elective courses so that | | | | A BSN is the stepping stone to a Masters Degree |
| you can develop your expertise in various | | | | in Nursing. |
| specialty areas. If you would prefer to write, | | | | |
| manage, or work at a specific setting or with a | | | | If your intent is to become a nurse practitioner, a |
| particular population, the courses that you take on | | | | nurse midwife or a nurse anesthetist, you’ll |
| your way to a BSN will help you explore health | | | | need to continue your education further and get a |
| issues in age, religion, ethics and government | | | | Masters Degree in your chosen field. Those |
| policy. | | | | professions offer both more money and greater |
| A Bachelors Degree in Nursing opens doors in | | | | autonomy for a more satisfying career. |
| many different areas. | | | | Tuition reimbursement and other tuition aids are |
| | | | readily available for advanced nurse degrees. |
| A BSN opens doors in nursing beyond firsthand | | | | |
| nursing care. Among the many career options | | | | Nurses with a BSN are so valuable to an |
| that you will have available to you as a BSN are: | | | | organization that many hospitals, clinics and other |
| · Management Positions in nursing homes, | | | | medical facilities offer tuition reimbursement and |
| hospitals and clinics, including Head Nurse and | | | | other tuition aid to registered nurses in their |
| Charge Nurse positions. Staff nursing positions can | | | | employ. There are more grants and scholarships |
| keep you close to your patient care roots while | | | | available for registered nurses than there are in |
| giving you openings to advance into better paying | | | | most other fields. |
| positions with more responsibility. | | | | A Bachelors Degree in Nursing gives you more |
| · Community and Public Health nurses work | | | | job security and portability. |
| directly with the public in a variety of settings. | | | | |
| With a BSN, you’ll be qualified to manage | | | | As the medical field becomes more specialized, |
| staff and run small clinics under a doctor’s | | | | more and more nursing jobs require an advanced |
| supervision. You may be able to find work as a | | | | degree. In order to remain competitive, you need |
| nurse researcher with a team of community | | | | to advance your education beyond the standard |
| workers, or even help develop policy for | | | | continuing education that’s required to keep |
| community health standards. | | | | your job and your license. If you intend to |
| · Independent Practice is another option for a | | | | advance in your career, a BSN is a must. |
| nurse with a BSN, particularly one who specializes | | | | Many nursing schools now offer easy access to |
| in home health care or midwifery. Work through | | | | Bachelors Degree courses for Registered Nurses. |
| temporary staffing agencies or out of your own | | | | The benefits available include online classes, |
| office as a consultant with a BSN. | | | | shorter semesters and credit for your work |
| · Government Service in any field requires at | | | | experience. If you’re considering a degree in |
| least a Bachelors degree. Some of the | | | | nursing, be sure to check into colleges that offer |
| government careers that are open to nurses with | | | | courses for working nurses and make it easier |
| a BSN include military careers, the Public Health | | | | for you to gain your degree while continuing to |
| Service, Indian Health Service, the Veterans | | | | work. |