Why Should You Get a Bachelors Degree in Nursing?

As populations` age and health care standards continue to rise, the demand for nurses with professional degrees has increased significantly. Whether you are currently a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), a Registered Nurse (RN) with an associate`s degree, or are just looking for a career change, there is no time like now to complete a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing. Highly qualified, skilled nurses are currently in high demand, with nursing shortages expected to last well into the next decade and beyond.

Help to Fill the Nursing Shortage

In May 2005, the National Commission on Nursing Workforce for Long-Term Care released a report entitled "Act Now For Your Tomorrow", which found that there are nearly 100,000 vacant nursing positions in long-term care facilities on any given day. They also found that the nursing turnover rate exceeds 50%. The shortage of qualified nurses is costing long-term care facilities an estimated $4 billion per year for recruitment and training expenses.

Another report by the American Hospital Association from April 2006 found that U.S. hospitals need approximately 118,000 Registered Nurses (RNs) to fill vacant positions throughout the country. With those figures, they found the national Registered Nurse vacancy rate to be at 8.5%. The report, entitled The State of America`s Hospitals - Taking the Pulse, also found that 49% of hospital CEOs reported recruitment of RNs to be more difficult in 2005 than in previous year.

The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics has also recently reported some pretty grim figures; as of the publication of the report in November 2005, they estimate that more than 1.2 million new and replacement nurses will be needed by 2014.

While billions of dollars have been spent trying to recruit new individuals for nursing degree programs and registered nursing positions, the increase in nursing school enrollment was only 9.6% in 2005 over the previous year. The increase is still not enough to meet the projected demand for nurses. With few people entering the profession, the average age of registered nurses is rising. According to a report issued by the Government Accounting Office, 40% of all RNs will be over the age of 50 in 2010.

With no end to nursing shortages across the country expected any time soon, those will the skills and qualifications as Registered Nurses will continue to be in high demand.

Start a New nursing Career

If you have found yourself wishing that your job was more meaningful, or that you could make a difference in the lives of others, a career in nursing may be just the thing for you. A career in nursing may offer you the satisfaction you had been looking for, but not found in other career paths.

If you have no prior medical background, meaning no training as an LPN or RN, you will first need to complete at least an LPN program on an actual college campus. Alternatively, you may enter an online BSN program but will need to take some of your courses on campus. On-campus instruction is necessary to learn the hands-on skills needed to perform the essential job functions of a nurse. It is not possible to complete your entire nursing education online without having ever stepped foot in a laboratory or clinical setting.

Once you have an LPN certificate, you may enter an LPN to RN Associate`s or Bachelor`s Degree program. Both the Associates Degree and Bachelor`s Degree programs can typically be completed online, as long as you have had the necessary clinical experience.

Increase Your Nursing Career Options

If you are already functioning in the nursing field as an LPN or RN without a Bachelor`s Degree, obtaining your BSN degree offers better employment opportunities, more job security, and increased career mobility. In order to meet the increasingly complex demands of today`s health care environment, many healthcare employers now prefer or require a minimum of a bachelor`s degree for their nursing staff.

Additionally, a BSN degree provides the educational preparation for nurses to practice with more independence in diverse settings, both within hospitals, and beyond. A BSN degree enables nurses to pursue more challenging careers in healthcare, obtain professional certification in nursing specialty fields, and also expands career options and job opportunities. Nurses with an BSN degree can practice at a higher level, with greater autonomy and responsibility. Additionally, a BSN degree is also the foundation for future nursing education such as Nursing Masters degree programs (M.S. in Nursing), and Nurse Practitioner programs.

Increase Your Earning Potential

As your experience and qualifications increase, so does your earning potential. Registered Nurses with BSN degrees command significantly higher salaries than non-BSN holding RNs and LPNs. The median salary for an LPN is $39,440, while the median salary of an RN is $68,400. Those figures are current as of January, 2009, and can be expected to continue to increase. Compared to Licensed Practical Nurses and Registered Nurses without a BSN, registered nurses with a BSN command a significantly higher salary.

Can I Complete My BSN Degree Online?

Depending on your situation, you may be able to obtain your Bachelor of Nursing Degree entirely online. If you have no prior nursing experience you will need to earn your nursing degree on an actual college campus because nursing school blends both academic learning and clinical experience which cannot be duplicated online. Once you have a nursing degree as an LPN or as an RN (Associate degree), the remainder of your nursing education can be successfully completed online. Today`s nurses can go from LPN all the way to a Doctorate in Nursing degree entirely online!

If you are currently a Licensed Practical Nurse or Registered Nursing, you will be able to complete your BSN degree entirely online through an accredited LPN to BSN degree program or an online RN to BSN completion program. Online coursework is equivalent to that which would be completed in a traditional on-campus setting, but may be completed at times convenient to you and offers other advantages as well which we`ll discuss next.

Why Choose an Online BSN Program?

Online nursing degree programs offers flexibility that just isn`t possible with traditional on-campus programs such as the ability to do your coursework anytime that`s convenient from any place you have internet access (24/7) rather than worrying about scheduling your work around fixed class times. Earning a BSN degree online allows you to select the nursing school and program that best suits your needs regardless of where you live, to complete your studies at your own place and pace so you can earn your degree without giving up your job and family life, costs less than traditional campus based schools, takes less time to graduate, and let`s you get started faster. There`s no need to be on any waiting list to begin an online BSN degree program either so you get to "skip to the head of the line" and you don`t even have to worry about traffic or parking either!

Explore BSN Degree Programs
Achieve the education you need to turn your nursing career goals into reality by requesting program information from nursing schools that offer accredited nursing degree programs that match your needs:
Online LPN to BSN Program Information,
Online RN to BSN Degree Completion Programs
Find Nursing Schools By State

Western Governors University

Campus

At Western Governors University, your competence - the knowledge and skills you possess - is the ultimate focus of every degree program.

Programs:

• B.S. in Nursing

Campus Locations:

San Francisco

Independence University

Campus

You can advance your career 24/7 with online education at Independence University, your proven partner with over 30 years of experience in delivering quality distance education right to our students. Our programs are designed to allow you to continue working and earning as you pursue your online degree.

Programs:

• BS - Nursing
• AS - Occupational Studies in Medical Specialties

Campus Locations:

Salt Lake City

University of Phoenix

Campus

As the largest private university in North America, University of Phoenix has more than 200 locations, and is available online in most countries around the world. Whether you're seeking a college degree at an associate's, bachelor's, master's, or doctoral level, we can help you reach your academic goal—and sooner than you might think.

Programs:

• BS in Nursing (RN Required)
• Licensed Practical Nurse/ Licensed Vocational Nurse to BSN

Campus Locations:

Reston
Grand Rapids
Irving
Sacramento
Livermore
St Louis Park
Miami
Tucson
Gardena
Lathrop
Palm Beach Gardens
Fairfax
Oakland
Lone Tree
Beachwood
Clinton Township
San Francisco
Costa Mesa
Houston
Ann Arbor
Westminster
Sugar Land
Ontario
Manassas
Phoenix
Arlington
Fairfield
Tampa
Fresno
Rancho Cordova
Daytona Beach
Elk Grove
Diamond Bar
Fort Lauderdale
Temple Terrace
Murrieta
Lancaster
San Antonio
Aurora
Mesa
Troy
Saint Paul
San Diego
East Lansing
Killeen
Salida
Pasadena
Clearwater
Spring
Woodland Hills
Los Angeles
Jacksonville
San Jose
Flint
Southfield
Bakersfield
Roseville
Westlake
Sarasota
Littleton
Hollywood
Orlando
Livonia
Plantation
Maitland
Independence
Hurst
Baton Rouge
Nashville
Dallas
Chandler

Walden University

Online

Balance your personal and professional commitments while earning a respected Ph.D., master's degree, or bachelor's degree online at Walden University. Programs offered in management, education, psychology and health and human services.

Programs:

• B.S. in Nursing (BSN)

Everest College

Campus

Develop the skills to succeed in today's highly competitive business environment. Everest College can prepare you for a rewarding career in some of today's hottest fields.

Programs:

• Bachelor of Science - Nursing
• Associate of Science - Nursing
• Associate of Applied Science - Medical Assisting

Campus Locations:

Salt Lake City
Vancouver
Portland
Colorado Springs
Atlanta
Los Angeles
Fort Worth
Everett
Milwaukee
LA Puente
Mc Lean
Denver
Kansas City
Henderson
Earth City
Seattle
Bedford Park
Torrance
Santa Ana
San Bernardino
San Francisco
Renton
Gardena
Arlington
San Jose
Springfield
Aurora
Dallas
Hayward
Alhambra
Chesapeake
Reseda
Bremerton
Tacoma
Ontario
Newport News
Anaheim
Willowbrook

University of St. Mary

Online

Give your career a boost with University of Saint Mary. We offer online degree programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels to help make your educational and professional goals a reality.

Programs:

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing

University of Southern Nevada

Online

The USN accelerated online program offers accelerated nursing education that allows you to earn a BSN in just 14 months. This new program blends the personal convenience of online course study with enriching clinical learning in Henderson, Nevada.

Programs:

• Accelerated BSN

Stevens-Henager

Campus

For more than 119 years, Stevens-Henager College has worked to train generations of graduates for new careers. Stevens-Henager College is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC). Our degree programs, designed to help graduates compete in the ever-evolving employment market, include Medical Specialties, Respiratory Therapy, Healthcare Administration, Surgical Technology, Business Management and Accounting, Computer Technology and Networking, Computer Programming, Computer Science, and Graphic Arts*. Online programs are offered via Stevens-Henager College, Salt Lake City/Murray. Stevens-Henager College Idaho Falls is a branch campus of the CollegeAmerica, Flagstaff, AZ, main campus.

*Check each campus for program availability.

Programs:

• Bachelor of Science Completion in Nursing
• Bachelor of Science Completion in Nursing Administration
• Bachelor of Science Completion in Nursing Administration (Online)

Campus Locations:

Boise
Layton
Ogden
Murray
Nampa
Idaho Falls
Lehi
Saint George
Orem
Logan

South University - Campus

Campus

With over 100 years of educational excellence, South University can give you the outstanding instruction and personalized attention you need to prepare for the real world. We offer a variety of degree programs which can be earned online or at one of our five campus locations. Options include Business Administration, Information Technology, Nursing, Criminal Justice, and more.

Programs:

• Nursing (BS)
• Nursing (RN-BSN)
• Medical Assisting (AS)

Campus Locations:

Glen Allen
West Palm Beach
Columbia
Tampa
Savannah
Cleveland
Montgomery
Virginia Beach

CollegeAmerica

Campus

Finally, a college that delivers. CollegeAmerica is truly unique in that their curriculum is designed for one purpose and one purpose only: to prepare students for success.

Programs:

• Bachelor of Science Completion in Nursing (Online)
• Bachelor of Science Completion in Nursing Administration (Online)
• Bachelor of Science Completion in Nursing Administration

Campus Locations:

Colorado Springs
Fort Collins
Cheyenne
Flagstaff
Denver
Phoenix

Medical Career Institute

Campus

Experience the Rewards of Caring, With ECPI’s Medical Careers Institute, you can Earn Your Bachelor’s Degree in 2.5 Years or Your Associate’s Even Sooner through Our Year-Round Schedule!

Programs:

• Nursing (BSN) - Bachelor
• Registered Nursing - Associate
• Medical Assisting - Associate

Campus Locations:

Virginia Beach
Newport News
Henrico
North Charleston
Richmond
Manassas
Greensboro
Greenville
Raleigh
Columbia
Charlotte

Marian University

Campus

At Marian University, our vision is to provide an education that profoundly transforms lives, society, and the world. Our mission is to be a Catholic university dedicated to excellent teaching and learning in the Franciscan and liberal arts traditions. We welcome students of all faiths who seek an educational experience framed within the context of our Franciscan values of dignity of the individual, peace and justice, reconciliation, and responsible stewardship.

Other schools may prepare you for a career. Marian University prepares you for life.

Programs:

• Accelerated BSN

Campus Locations:

Indianapolis

California College San Diego

Campus

California College San Diego (CCSD) offers degree programs in Medical Specialties, Respiratory Therapy, Healthcare Administration, Business Management and Accounting, Computer Technology and Networking, Computer Programming, and Computer Science. Online programs are offered by our affiliated college, Stevens-Henager College, Salt Lake City/Murray.

Programs:

• Bachelor of Science Completion in Nursing (Online)
• Bachelor of Science Completion in Nursing Administration with Clinical Nurse Educator Emphasis (Online)
• Bachelor of Science Completion in Nursing Administration

Campus Locations:

National City
San Marcos
San Diego

West Coast University

Campus

Achieve your educational and professional goals with help from West Coast University. We offer accelerated Health Care Administration degrees designed for working adults like you.

Programs:

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree program
• Bachelor Degree in Nursing (RN to BSN)

Campus Locations:

Ontario
Anaheim
Los Angeles
Dallas

Colorado Christian University

Campus

With a heritage dating back to 1914, Colorado Christian University is committed to offering a complete education that develops students intellectually, professionally, and spiritually. As the only member of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities located in the mainline Rocky Mountains region, and just a few minutes from downtown Denver, CCU is uniquely positioned to offer students a distinctive variety of educational opportunities and experiences. CCU is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, and offers both undergraduate and graduate programs designed to equip students to become leaders in their careers, communities, families, and in the world. CCU students are enrolled at the main campus near Denver and at satellite locations throughout Colorado.

Programs:

• Nursing: B.S. Nursing (BSN)
• RN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Campus Locations:

Colorado Springs
Sterling
Denver
Englewood
Loveland
Grand Junction