Difference Between RN and BSN

A lot of us still don’t know the difference between an RN and a BSN. They just simply identify them as a nurse assisting doctors in the hospitals. But in reality, a nurse will never be just a plain nurse. There are a lot of types of nurses such as, a licensed practical nurse, a nurse practitioner, a licensed registered nurse.  All of them are called nurses, but they have specific roles and functions. What is the difference between a registered nurse and a bachelor of science in nursing degree holder?

NurseRegistered nurse is a job title; they have certifications and license to prove that they undergo several intense medical training. A BSN is just a degree. It is what you get when you finish your nursing education program. But before you can achieve the title of a registered nurse, you have to take the licensure exam called NCLEX, and you need a BSN degree before taking it. You should finish the 4-year nursing program to finish the degree.  When it comes to working, registered nurses performs their typical duties, such as recording patient diagnosis,  educate patients about their home treatment, assist surgical procedures and the most important duty of a nurse is to promote life.

BSN degree holders can also work too with great but limited opportunities.  They may want to work as a public health nurse in the community or a nurse educator who teaches about promoting health. In terms of salary, Registered nurses receive a higher salary compared to BSN degree holders since they do intense and critical work. They deserve it because it’s not easy dealing with terminally ill patients, staying with them 24/7. There is a big difference when it comes to their roles and salary. Completing the BSN program is just the key for you to become a registered nurse.  Always remember, hospitals hire more competent RNs.

BSN Degree Career Options

BSNIf you are a nurse with a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing, then you can pursue a diverse allied health career, you are more secure in your career growth and have good paying job opportunities. As compared to short term nursing courses, BSN graduates are more exposed to clinical settings and the training in communication, nursing techniques and methods are more advanced. Leadership is planned and taught during the course to prepare nurses for specialized positions in research, consultation or healthcare management.

Clinical Hospital Staff Nurse
Hospitals are homes for nurses. BSN graduates usually start their careers here which may assign them to units like in cardiac care, critical care, intensive care, pediatrics, maternity wards, or oncology. There are various duties and responsibilities that will be assigned to a nurse like assisting the physician in many areas and situations. It is a job of a nurse to assist the doctor in doing certain procedures and examinations like getting the vital signs of a patient or assist during operations. They are also expected to dispense medications, evaluate patients, and implement treatments as well as document records in patient charts. Vocational nurses may under the supervision of the BSN nurses including the unit clerks and medical assistants.

Non-Clinical Hospital Staff Nurse
When we say non-clinical we mean to say that a nurse is not assigned in any clinical roles. BSN nurses can be assigned to the administrative sector of the hospital. This position is usually given to a nurse with years of experience with good performance. Nurses in the admin may have the opportunity to be a department manager or a head nurse.

Non-Hospital Nurse
BSN degree holder also has the opportunity outside the hospital. They can acquire an administrative position in a nursing home, insurance companies and government organizations. They may also have career opportunities as researchers, tutors, or instructors.

The BSN degree for nursing offers a wide training and preparation for nurses before they enter the healthcare industry. The opportunities are varied and may offer growth and good salary. The need for nurses is exceeding but quality is needed to improve the healthcare system.

Why should an ASN Must Proceed to BSN?

If you already have an Associate Science in Nursing (ASN) degree, then you have a good foundation and skills to become a registered nurse. Once you finish the degree, you are then qualified to take the NCLEX test that will give you your license. Being an ASN gives you a good opportunity to start your career in the field of nursing. The short term program design of the ASN will make it more practical for some since it will allow you to pursue a BSN degree after you graduate.

asnHowever, if you already have work in a health care institution as a nurse, you will have a smaller salary as compared to nurses who finished a BSN degree. BSN holder nurses are more respected and more trusted due to their degree. But not to worry, your ASN course is just your stepping stone that will lead you to more advancement in the field. You can take the advancement course to BSN while you work. There are many schools who offer this program in a flexible and convenient way; specifically designed for working ASN or students.

When you become a registered nurse with an Associate of Science degree, you will have a range of demanding and exhausting responsibilities that allow you to assist patients in some way. However, the degree doesn’t train you that much and your skills may not be as advanced as what the BSN nurses have. Nurses with a BSN degree is are only required a short transition time to gain a position as a practitioner. But, you will get there. Just don’t stop studying and improving yourself. Invest in an advanced degree to grow professionally, gain more training to help more people, and, of course, earn a better and higher salary.

The Buzz on the BSN Degree

As a devoted professional nursing expert, possibly with several years (or maybe decades) of bedside experience under your belt, you are assured about your abilities, you love nursing, and you know you make a positive impact in patients’ lives. You might be aware of a far away rumbling within the market regarding the push for nursing staff to get a BSN degree and perhaps you have even observed it’s getting noisier at, or nearer to, the facility at which you work. It’s true that nursing staff with an associate degree often do the same job as those having a BSN. They successfully pass the same NCLEX examination, hold the same certificate and often start at the same basic wage as a BSN degree nursing expert.

bsn-nursing-studentSo it’s no wonder why knowledgeable ASN nursing staff can have powerful emotions about the push for more nursing education. Anger is a big one, because the push could be considered as a question of a nurse’s abilities and capability. Worry is another one; concern with going back to school, composing documents and using computer program and often there happens to be concern with the “better-than-thou” conduct that was frequent in older-generation teachers. There are other issues, too, like effective time management, cost and family responsibilities.

But good things can come out of the push, too. Going back to school can provide a nursing expert with great feeling of personal success. It can help set an amazing example for your kids. Earning a RN-to-BSN degree can also open gates to special offers, higher incomes and greater regard from other nursing experts. One thing that is certain is that the changes going on in medical care will gradually impact your practice. What exactly is not as certain is how or when. Therefore, it may be sensible for you to consider going back to school for a BSN degree.

How to Finish a BSN Degree

BSN is a challenging degree. It’s a 4-year course with many difficulties to exceed and many tasks to achieve. So, here are the simple guidelines that we can share to you on how to pass a BSN degree.

BSNStudy and ready the books. This is one of the greatest tips in passing the course. You are not Newton, so you better study hard. Make sure to study your books. Your parents didn’t buy you stacks of nursing books just to display them on your study desk. Go forward, start reading the book and start studying the pages of Saunders, Pilliterri, Lippincott, or whatever nursing guides you have there.

  • The 30 to 1 Hour Concept. It’s our own way of saying this.  It’s our own phrase for learning, reviewing, and studying. If you want to study because there’s a big test coming the next day or next week, you better set yourself to study for 30 minutes to an hour then take a break for 15 to 30 minutes. Don’t study for many hours without taking a break. The theory is the mind will be drained if you don’t take a break once in a while!
  • Be with good friends. If you are in school area with different types of people learning Nursing, you better make friends with those good influence students. Don’t go with those who focus on late night partying instead of late night study. Yes, this might sound like a cliché, but believe me, it works.
  • Listen. Pay attention to your parents and to other individuals’ recommendation, most especially from the registered nurses. Pay attention to their suggestions on how you can successfully pass and graduate from a BSN program.
  • Be healthy and balanced. Eat meals that are loaded with proteins, take your daily supplement of multi-vitamins and vitamin C. Rest as much as you can. Stay hydrated. Consume dairy products before you sleep. Don’t sleep late and wake up late, but instead sleep early and wake up early, then study your notes.

BSN Career

With a BSN, you are able to have more responsibilities in your profession, as well as obtain more information in both your clinical and theoretical places. Many times, the nurse chooses to go after a BSN degree because he or she is enthusiastic about getting a better profession as a wellness professional administrator. For some, it is an issue of economical factors. Many medical care locations provide an improved wage to those who have a BSN. And for others, the reasoning is to obtain more information in their area, and obtain the recognition that a BSN will include.

When you finish your education for a BSN, you will then be able to work within many clinical configurations. However, this degree does not allow you to work as a wellness professional specialist, a clinical lecturer, or a nurse midwife. For those expecting to become a nursing specialist, qualified doctor anesthetist, nurse executive or health policy consultant, going to school for the RN to MSN program is definitely the option you should take. These applications may appear to actually avoid the BSN degree, but it is a part of the program, usually at the very start. There are also many applications that consult the BSN and MSN level together at the time of graduation.

There are always many aspects to consider when you are considering going to college. Consider whether or not you have any other responsibilities and commitments, such as work, household, activities and more. Understanding how plenty of your energy and time you can spend to your education from the start is the first thing. Usually, the RN-to-BSN programs can be completed in two years or less. The RN-to-MSN programs generally last three years. If you are able to devote yourself completely for three years, the RN-to-MSN course will save you both cash and time in the end. But for those who have household responsibilities and/or a job that they cannot quit, the RN-to-BSN program will help you get your degree quicker, and have you making more cash as fast as possible.

Job Outlook of BSN Degree

The Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing or BSN degree is rapidly becoming the defacto standard in the realm of healthcare and healthcare careers. While you will find many ways that you can be a nurse, such as the Associate of Science in Nursing, the Licensed Practical Nurse and RN, the BSN path provides a nurse probably the most chance toward career movement and employment. Although laws and regulations and practices will be different state by state, many states first need a minimum quantity of service for LPNs, RNs and ASNs to earn just before being permitted to operate in critical care models like the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), and Overnight Intensive Recovery (OIR) to list a few. Nurses who’ve gained a BSN may have the ability to work in critical care models with a shorter quantity of service time gained than other nurses or might be directly accepted to work inside a critical care unit soon after graduation.

As the initial help to generating a BSN may range from capability to earn employment inside a critical care unit, another advantage originates from a chance to later work at among the advanced practice levels in nursing. Programs offering levels in areas for example Nurse Midwife, Nurse Anesthetist, Nurse Specialist, and Nurse Teachers are just open to nurses who’ve gained their BSN degree. Using the added prestige to some nurse’s title and also the additional dedication and work needed for one of these simple advanced practice levels in nursing also comes with an additional hike to a nurse’s salary.

Based on the Work Outlook Guide, the task growth for BSN is promising, though this might vary by the kind of employment a BSN seeks and also the geographic location of this employment. In general, many companies have reported difficulty in not just bringing in, but retaining BSN’s for employment, particularly because of competition between other companies. It’s believed that between the years 2008 and 2018, job growth for BSNs will increase by 22%, much greater compared to the national average for other jobs. Roughly 581,500 new job positions are likely to be produced within this area, not counting the 100s of 1000’s of openings which will become available as current BSN’s advance, leave the area, or retire.

BSN Degree and Its Benefits

For anyone who is considering beginning the medical area but you’re undecided about precisely what degree you want to obtain, why don’t you consider getting a degree in Bachelor of Science in Nursing or BSN? Many people get into it for the pleasure of getting a chance to help others yet create virtually no mistake, as being a nurse signifies lots of diligence. Including documents and groundwork because you may be in your feet all day and dealing with prolonged hours isn’t rare. However around the upside, jobs are plentiful plus nurses get compensated substantially.

You may also receive this type of degree online just in case you made the decision to embark within this number of health care know-how. A BSN degree online can be very beneficial particularly for working people. For anyone who is presently registered to have an internet program that will enable you to get a BSN degree, then you’ll realize that, sometimes the toughest action to take requires lots of time to really study. It might be simpler for you over time in the event that you plan ahead of time and discover your routine of nursing programs on the web as distributed by the consultant that has been provided to you.

If you’re intent on getting that BSN degree, you already know it’s important to gain it the difficult way. Online BSN programs are really demanding and you have to prepare all of the important things to make certain that you simply take full advantage of them. In selecting online BSN programs, make certain they have the required accreditations and they’re associated with the best institutions or possibly your time and effort is going to be useless. Many people even mix over from RN to BSN basic web based courses. Should you want to go from RN to BSN, then basically search on the web and you’ll certainly find what you’re searching for. Yet, make certain that it’s a genuine institution before you decide to entrust nearly all of your hard gained cash.

BSN, is it a good fit for you?

Nurses are sought after today because there’s a rise of the aging population.  It’s observed that lots of nations convey more seniors compared to youthful generation.  Many would pursue this college degree, because the earnings are hefty and may give a comfortable life.  But to be able to be a great nurse, you should possess the passion for everyone and interact with others.  Nursing requires not only finishing education and training but passing a licensure exam to have the ability to work as well.  Dedication and also the winning attitude together with above average intellect can get someone to complete this college degree.

The nursing course involves plenty of science subjects. It is crucial the ambitious student comes with an interest throughout these subjects.  Knowing the life sciences for instance anatomy, biology, psychology together with other subjects is fundamental for just about any nurse.  Aside from being familiar with these sciences, student nurses must be capable of doing the work as nurses.  Nursing is about proper patient care given to every patient that comes, enabling for right treatment and healing.  Even if the nurse does not prescribe medication for the patient, it’s their duty to ensure that prescription medication is given and adopted.

Along with the extensive training that encompasses the BSN, exposure may also be incorporated. This practical program is important in many nursing courses to make it easy for nurses to get real nursing jobs.  Student nurses even follow actual duty several hours like the graveyard switch to completely comprehend how tough the task of the nurse is.  The practicum includes all the areas the nurse may be needed, from the emergency room, delivery room, operating room along with other areas of the medical institution. The task of the nurse isn’t as simple as simply putting on a white uniform or perhaps a scrub suit.  It’s a tough job to carry needing great health in addition to endurance to deal with lengthy hours at certain occasions.    The nursing course isn’t for the fainthearted, however, for individuals who’re sufficiently strong to consider proper care of others at their poorest without having to be grossed out.  With all of this factual information, if you’ve still got one’s heart for everyone and able to undergo the nursing education, then this is actually the perfect degree for you personally.

BSN Degree Course Content

BSN nursing degree applications provide a complete and well-rounded understanding that has a focus on the basic principles of the part of medical professionals in the medical care industry and which also show realistic abilities. A common Bachelor’s nursing system would be four years in length, though there are also faster and part-time applications available. The information below represents the system of a frequent four year degree.

Essentially, a BSN nursing degree would have two main components. The first half would be targeted on studying essential technology and abilities, whereas the second half would include creating understanding on the details of healing people. It should be mentioned that curricula differ between educational institutions; you should evaluate a number of syllabi before determining which organization to go to. The first and second year would usually include building groundwork on health-related abilities and medical understanding. Primary BSN nursing programs would include subjects such as physiology, anatomy, psychology, and microbiology. Learners would be predicted to become acquainted with the substance and bio-mechanical framework of the body system. This understanding would be essential when working in a medical establishment.

Related programs would also be performed during the first part of a BSN program. These can include learning about the concepts and significance of diet and exercise, as well as the concepts that are at the primary of health and fitness research. Research and sociology are also subjects that can be covered at this time. The third and 4th years of a BSN program is when concept is changed with training. During these semesters, the knowledge formerly discovered is used. In this period, programs would be provided that help learners expand their understanding of the newest treatment methods and ideas. For example, there can be the choice of learning about pharmacology, group wellness methods, and psychological wellness problems. The laws and responsibilities of working as a doctor can also be covered.

It is during the last few semesters that specific courses are taken. At this time, there can be the choice to choose an area of expertise. For example, learners can concentrate on topics associated with healing specific communities and group categories such as children or the older people. There may also be programs provided in regards to obstetric and surgery remedies.