The Benefits of a Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree

No matter what career path a person pursues, investing in an education that will provide a solid foundation for that career is essential. Knowing which educational path provides the greatest future benefits to both the student and their future employer can be difficult to determine, but it’s well worth investigating before making any decisions.

According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), “Nurses with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree have demonstrated abilities that benefit patients and healthcare providers.” People often wonder what is the difference between a BSN and a B.S. in Nursing? From a curriculum perspective, it’s the same degree. However, BSN is a degree abbreviation only used by colleges and universities that have a separate School of Nursing. Other institutions might have very strong bachelor’s programs in nursing embedded within one of their schools, like a School of Health Sciences. When it comes to BSN vs. B.S. in Nursing, one is not better than the other.

While earning a B.S. in Nursing degree may require a bit more time and financial investment than an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN), the benefits of earning a B.S. in Nursing are clear and include many perks for aspiring nurses as well as for their employers and patients.

The key benefit of earning a nursing bachelor’s degree is the competitive edge it gives nurses in the job market. A 2021 report from the Journal of Nursing Regulation found that “approximately 42% of nurses in 2020 reported the baccalaureate nursing degree as their first U.S. nursing license, an increase of 5.8 percentage points from 2013.” As more nurses take the steps to earn bachelor’s degrees, it will become more difficult for nurses without a B.S. in Nursing to compete for jobs.

The demand for nurses is high across the U.S. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the demand for registered nurses is expected to grow by 6% between 2022 and 2032, which is faster than the average for all other professions. While some registered nurses (RNs) are employed with only an ADN, most employers now prefer or even require a B.S. in Nursing. As of 2019, RNs in New York who do not hold a bachelor’s degree must earn one within 10 years of becoming licensed. This provides even more incentive for those considering the nursing field to start a nursing career with a B.S. in Nursing.

Nursing can be an extremely rewarding career, but it can also be both physically and emotionally taxing. Nurses with a higher level of education may qualify for better paying jobs. According to the BLS, nurses who are employed by the government earn a median annual salary of $92,310, and those employed by hospitals earn a median annual salary of $82,250 across the U.S. Both government and hospital jobs are likely to have hiring preferences for nurses who hold a B.S. in Nursing degree.

Earning a B.S. in Nursing not only improves career prospects for nurses, but also improves outcomes for the patients under the care of those nurses. For example, a study published in 2020 found that the outcomes for patients who suffered from an in-hospital cardiac arrest improved by 24% when there was a higher concentration of nurses with at least a B.S. in Nursing employed at that hospital. The in-depth education that students receive in a B.S. in Nursing program better prepares them for the challenges of nursing employment, improving their ability to treat patients and handle the daily crises that nursing life throws at them.

One way to advance in a nursing career is to pursue leadership and management positions. The broad liberal arts education that is offered along with a B.S. in Nursing degree can be helpful for nurses who aim to manage employees. Many B.S. in Nursing degree programs include courses in communication and leadership, which are essential for nurses who plan to seek leadership positions, such as charge nurse or nursing administrator, in the future.

Although many nurses choose to maintain their RN status and enjoy long and stable careers with increased earning potential, there are also many opportunities for B.S. in Nursing degree holders to continue their education through further professional development. For instance, a nurse who holds a B.S. in Nursing and works as an RN is eligible to apply to a Master of Science in nursing (MSN) program and choose a specialty that allows them to become an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN). APRNs can choose to specialize as nurse practitioners, nurse anesthetists, nurse-midwives, and clinical nurse specialists.

Most nurses work in a clinical setting in a hospital, clinic, or nursing facility. Nurses with a B.S. in Nursing may have further opportunities to work in a more research-focused setting or to teach future nurses themselves. A B.S. in Nursing degree holder may need to earn an advanced degree to qualify for some teaching positions.

On the whole, nursing is a selfless profession, but the best nurses still deserve professional recognition. Nurses with B.S. in Nursing are eligible for employment at facilities that are part of the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s (ANCC) Magnet Recognition Program. ANCC magnet hospitals are recognized for their excellence in nursing. As of 2023, the U.S. has 604 ANCC magnet hospitals.

As indicated above, in New York, nurses are required to earn a bachelor’s degree within 10 years of their nursing licensure, even if they do not have a BSN or a B.S. in Nursing upon becoming licensed. This advanced nursing degree New York requirement is an indication of where the nursing profession is headed. As healthcare needs continue to rise with an aging population, all types of nursing care will continue to be in high demand.

The better education the nursing workforce receives, the better the outcomes will be for individual patients as well as healthcare facilities like hospitals and ambulatory clinics.