Calling all registered and aspiring nurses! In the thriving healthcare field, nurses are essential team members. Their role is among the most important, as it is their job to direct, manage, and provide critical, compassionate care to patients in need. To become a registered nurse, or to level-up from an entry-level nursing career, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) is often recommended.

Why is there a growing push for BSN-educated nurses, and what are the requirements to get a BSN? Let’s explore the benefits of a Bachelor’s in Nursing, as well as the standard BSN requirements for new nurses and current RNs alike.

Why Get a Bachelor’s in Nursing?

Today, BSN graduates have an average job offer rate of nearly 90 percent. Some employers require RNs to have their BSN degree, while others require it for career advancement. “Generally,” states the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “licensed graduates of any of the three types of education programs (bachelor’s, associate’s, or diploma) qualify for entry-level positions as a staff nurse. However, employers—particularly those in hospitals—may require a bachelor’s degree.”

If you are a current RN and looking to advance your nursing career, a Bachelor’s in Nursing is a great next step. Not only is a Bachelor’s in Nursing preferred among employers, but it is also a core stepping stone for many registered nurses into leadership and specialized roles.

For those brand-new to nursing, a BSN degree program offers a streamlined pathway into upper-level RN positions. You can get your BSN through a direct-entry program or begin your career with an associate degree, become an RN, and earn experience before pursuing an RN-to-BSN bridge.

Earn your RN-to-BSN at Goodwin University!

Benefits of a Bachelor’s in Nursing

No matter where you are in your career trajectory, a BSN degree has proven benefits. It can offer you professional credibility, more opportunity for specialization, additional and advanced job prospects, plus higher compensation for you in the end. However, pursuing a BSN degree can be challenging and time-consuming, depending on the type of program you pursue.

Earning a BSN can also help develop your future in nursing by:

• Giving you the skills, knowledge, theory, and practice needed to think critically, creatively, and ethically, demonstrate leadership, and deliver the highest-quality patient care
• Positioning you for advanced study if you choose to pursue a graduate education later down the road

Still, you may have a lot of questions about the whole “going back to nursing school” idea. Is it actually required to get a BSN? And, what are the BSN requirements requested for nursing school admissions? Will the required BSN courses be valuable for your growth?

Let’s answer these questions below.

Is a BSN required to become a registered nurse?

Becoming a registered nurse does not require a bachelor’s degree in Nursing. You can pursue many successful careers in health clinics, private practices, hospitals, and more with an associate degree in Nursing (ADN). However, as noted above, many employers are actively seeking BSN graduates. In fact, many states, like Connecticut, are working toward an 80 percent BSN workforce.

It is worth noting, however, that some specific workplaces and employers will have BSN entry requirements in place. For example, the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Veterans Administration, and the U.S. Public Health Service require nurses to hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited BSN nursing program.

What are the prerequisites for a BSN?

Bachelor’s in Nursing requirements will vary by school as well as the type of BSN program you pursue. In general, though, BSN schools tend to require:

• An application for admission into the college or university
• An application for admission into the nursing program
• Completion of science prerequisite courses, such as Biology, Chemistry, Anatomy & Physiology, and more
• A personal essay
• Completion of a pre-admission exam, such as the TEAS exam or NLN (National League of Nursing) examination
• CPR certification
• College-required immunizations, such as MMR (mumps, measles, and rubella) and varicella (chicken pox)

If you are in pursuit of an RN-to-BSN program, and already have experience and licensure as a nurse, your BSN requirements will look slightly different. For example, at Goodwin University, RN-to-BSN candidates need to hold a current, unencumbered Registered Nurse license in their state.

Alternatively, those switching careers to nursing, who have completed a bachelor’s degree previously, can pursue an Accelerated BSN. The Accelerated BSN requirements state that a candidate must have a non-nursing bachelor’s degree from a regionally-accredited university or college, and their GPA must be a 3.0 at minimum to qualify. You can learn more about the specific ABSN requirements here.

What BSN requirements must be met before graduation

Before becoming a nurse, students must understand the Bachelor of Science in Nursing requirements and meet a range of academic and clinical requirements.

To graduate with a BSN degree today, you typically must:

• Achieve a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher and a minimum of a C+ in each of the nursing courses
• Complete a minimum of thirty (30) credit hours, including all upper-division nursing courses, which must be completed at Goodwin University
• For aspiring nurses, it’s essential to know how to navigate a BSN program and how it can help your long-term career goals
• Meet all general graduation and college requirements as stated in the college catalog

What are the required BSN courses?

BSN course requirements can vary depending on your institution. In general, you can expect to cover courses in the various sciences—anatomy, biology, microbiology, pharmacology, and more—as well as leadership and advocacy topics.

Required upper-level BSN classes include:

• Clinical Nursing Leadership
• Foundations of Professional Nursing
• Health Assessment
• Introduction to Healthcare Policy and Advocacy
• Introduction to Nursing Research
• Public and Community Health Nursing
• Seminar in Professional Nursing Leadership

You’ll also be required to complete directed electives in nursing, library research, and a list of core general education courses in cultural competency, public health, global studies, communications, and mathematics for health professions (or a statistics course). We find these required courses to be especially valuable and applicable to the advancing nursing field.

Understanding BSN requirements

RN careers are growing at a rapid rate. The baby boomer population is aging and requiring more medical care. Older nurses are retiring. Patient conditions, treatments, and technologies are advancing. More nurses are being called to step in and step up. All the while, more nurses are joining the field, leading to increased competition for nursing jobs and expectations among employers.

So, now is the time to earn your BSN, whether you’re new to nursing or a seasoned RN.

At Goodwin University, RN-to-BSN students can complete their courses on their own time and entirely online. With other obligations, working nurses can earn their BSN degree in as few as 16 months part-time for added convenience. Students of our Accelerated BSN program, meanwhile, can complete their nursing coursework (through a hybrid online/on-campus format) in as few as 16 months full-time.

Visit our website if you would like to learn more about Goodwin’s flexible and accredited BSN programs. Please do not hesitate to reach out to request more information.