One of the reasons nursing is such a widely popular career choice is the relative ease with which you can enter the profession. Unlike medicine, one does not require the same extent of schooling to become a nurse. Entry-level jobs are available for individuals who have completed a two-year Associate’s degree in nursing or have a hospital-administered nursing diploma.

However, the rules of career advancement for nursing are the same as those of any other profession. Upward mobility is greatly enhanced by up-gradation of skills through higher education. That’s why RN to BSN programs have mushroomed over the last few years.

An RN to BSN program is meant for Registered Nurses (RNs) who have an Associate’s degree or diploma to pursue more specialized education required for positions of higher responsibility. It gives them a chance to not only progress to supervisory or specialist roles, but also take back home a bigger paycheck. There are several other benefits of pursuing an RN to BSN program:

• It gives you a wider choice of career options, as some paths are only open to RNs who have a BSN degree.
• It trains you in clinical and non-clinical aspects of healthcare and prepares you for senior-level roles.
• You can develop skills like communication, leadership, and critical thinking required for managerial or supervisory positions.
• Your understanding, knowledge, and expertise in the field increases with a BSN degree, which employers are likely to value.
• A BSN program can help meet your long-term aspirations by preparing the ground for a Master’s degree.
• Once you have completed your RN to BSN degree, you can move from being a staff nurse to preferred clinical or non-clinical roles. While some RNs choose administrative or
• management-level nursing positions, others move into the business side of healthcare. Research, faculty, and advance practice nurse positions usually require an MSN or higher degree.

Some colleges and universities allow practicing Registered Nurses to complete their RN to BSN programs in a shorter span of time than a Bachelor’s degree would typically require. Many employers also offer educational benefits to nurses. As a practicing RN, you may be able to get part of your tuition fee reimbursed by your employer.

Admittedly, managing school with personal and professional commitments may turn out to be more than you can handle. If you are looking for more flexible study options, RN to BSN online programs could be the answer. While some such programs may be completely online, others may require you to spend part of your time on campus.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, even though the nursing profession is headed for fast growth over the next few years, the competition for quality jobs is likely to be fierce and those who have a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree will enjoy a distinct advantage over those who don’t. So, what are you waiting for? Grab the opportunity to grow in your career by both hands and enroll in an RN to BSN program today!

Tami U is a syndicated author by ExpertArticles