subject: Get Your Bsn Degree And Get Respect [print this page] Although it only takes a minimum of an associate's degree to be eligible to take your exam to become a registered nurse, going further and getting your BSN degree can be very beneficial to you.
If getting promoted to upper level positions is your goal as a nurse then a BSN degree is a must. The BSN degree is a four year college degree that will enable you to pursue such nursing endeavors as research, teaching, and administration.
Most nurses start out as a 2 year associate degree registered nurse and then work their way up to a BSN degree as they work in the field.
BSN Degrees and Programs
The BSN degree will focus in on topics such as pharmacology, leadership skills, anatomy and physiology, chemistry, microbiology, nursing informatics and others.
You will complement these studies with leadership, communication, interpersonal skills, ethics and management courses which will give you a balanced perspective of the nursing field. Having this background is essential to anyone who wants to get ahead in their career, and the BSN degree is necessary if you want to pursue a master's in nursing afterwards.
Bridge Programs
Some people think of going through 4 years of school to get their BSN degree and feel that its overwhelming. And in some cases it is. For these individuals I suggest getting their two year RN and the then pursue their bachelor's degree. Taking this route allows you to earn money and gain valuable experience while finishing school.
You will find that most hospitals have programs that will pay for your BSN degree while you are employed with them.
It will take an additional 2-3 years to get this degree, but you don't have the stress of studying full time without an income, and you can apply your studies to your current position. The great thing is that it will not repeat the courses or studies that you already completed in your associate's degree course and will simply fill in the additional material that you are missing.
As you can see, obtaining your BSN degree this way can be ideal.
