Once you have a BSN…What’s next?

An RN to BSN degree program opens up the door for quite a few options making the four years spent receiving the degree well worth it.

With a BSN, you receive more of the valuable skills desired by employers than you would with an ADN. Those with a BSN are more likely to advance much further in their careers to higher managerial roles at health facilities, such as nursing director, clinical nurse manager, and nurse practitioner. The average salaries for these positions are much higher than a typical RN salary, which is about $50,000

Additionally, the BSN degree allows you to take your education even further by qualifying you to pursue an MSN (Master of Science in Nursing).

Even in a declining job market there is always a need for more nurses, and the promising career advancement for attending an RN to BSN program is difficult to pass up.

Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist- responsible for administering anesthesia, or blocking sensation (typically pain). CRNAs are required to have the MSN degree, and therefore, must also go through an RN to BSN program. They receive an average salary of about $140,000.

Nurse Practitioner- diagnose, treat, and manager illnesses. They also prescribe for health rehabilitation, and can provide assistance in minor surgeries. Those pursuing this career generally finish an RN to BSN program and then go on to a masters program. The median salary for NPs is about $82,000.

Nurse Manager- in charge of decision making among nurses. This includes organizing, staffing, scheduling, and a variety of other management tasks. The median salary for nurse managers is $86,000.

Nursing Director- supervises nurses and other staff members to ensure that nursing activities are allowing for the most effective and efficient patient care in a research health facility. The median salary for nursing directors is about $110,000.

These are just a few of the upper-level jobs that pursuing your BSN will help you receive. There are a variety of other nursing positions for BSN degree holders.