There is no doubting the value of a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). The BSN degree can position registered nurses for high pay potential, professional advancement, specialized career paths, and leadership roles. Research shows that a BSN education can also improve nurses’ quality of patient care.

However, not all aspiring nurses have the ability to commit to a four-year nursing degree program. And this is the traditional format for the BSN. Generally speaking, BSN degree programs consist of:

• Two years of prerequisite liberal arts and science courses and
• Two years of core, nursing curriculum (including clinicals).

Over the course of four years, students gain both an introduction to nursing as well as in-depth knowledge of the field. BSN students take classes in nursing theory, research, nurse leadership, as well as general education courses like statistics, psychology, and anatomy. A four-year BSN degree provides a well-rounded curriculum that prepares students for a variety of nursing careers. Upon completion of a traditional, four-year nursing program, graduates are eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN licensing exam.

The BSN is an excellent, entry-level pathway for anyone new to nursing, who has the time and the means to commit to a four-year nursing program. However, the traditional four-year degree path is not the only option for those seeking a BSN degree. There are alternative options that every aspiring nurse (and current nurse!) should consider as they evaluate prospective nursing programs.

Four-Year Nursing Degree Alternative #1: The RN-to-BSN Degree Path

The RN-to-BSN degree is a type of program designed for licensed, registered nurses who wish to go back to school for their bachelor’s in Nursing. It is an extremely flexible program, offered entirely online, that allows nurses to advance their education without a significant time or cost commitment.

If you are new to nursing, you may be asking, how does this program apply to me if I am not yet a registered nurse (RN)?

Well, if you are brand-new to nursing and eager to get started fast, four years may not be realistic for you right now. Fortunately, a four-year nursing degree is not required to launch a career in nursing. The standard, minimum requirement for registered nurses today is an associate degree in Nursing. This degree path only takes about two years to complete.

An associate degree in Nursing, also known as the ADN, teaches the fundamentals of nursing, preparing nurses to deliver safe, quality patient care after graduation. In an associate program, students take some general education courses, like sociology and lifespan development, science courses including anatomy and physiology, as well as major-specific courses like nurse skill development to prepare for nursing practice. Nursing students in an ADN program are also required to complete clinicals, where they gain hands-on experience in patient care.

Upon completion of an ADN program, you will be eligible to take the National Council Licensure Exam (NCLEX) to become licensed as an RN. And once you have earned your license as an RN, you can begin to practice as a registered nurse in a real healthcare setting!

An associate degree in Nursing positions you to get started in nursing faster than the traditional, four-year BSN route. You can start working, gaining experience, and making connections with other members of the healthcare team. You can collect valuable, autonomous, real-world practice that you wouldn’t have access to during a four-year nursing program.

Once you gain experience and start building connections in nursing, you can then decide to go back to school for your bachelor’s degree. Enter, the RN-to-BSN program.

The RN-to-BSN program is a part-time, online degree offering that enables registered nurses to complete their Bachelor of Nursing in as few as 12 months. Classes are taken part-time, so that you can continue working (and gaining experience) as a nurse while going to school. The online flexibility of an RN-to-BSN program also means that you can earn your degree at your convenience, completing assignments at home or on your lunch break.

If you are already a registered nurse, this BSN degree alternative is a logical next step to advance your nursing career. It is designed for busy, working nurses who desire to meet the expanding demands of employers and advance their skillsets in the nursing field.

The benefits of going from an associate degree to an RN-to-BSN program are clear:

• You can start working and gaining experience faster than your BSN-educated counterparts.
• You can build connections within healthcare and establish yourself as a nurse earlier on.
• You can get your registered nursing (RN) license more quickly than those in a four-year program.
• You can benefit from a more flexible, online program offering when working towards your BSN.

If the RN-to-BSN degree pathway is appealing to you, you can learn more by downloading our free RN-to-BSN Guide here.

Four-Year Nursing Degree Alternative #2: The Accelerated BSN (ABSN)

So, what if you are changing careers to nursing and do not want to commit to a four-year program (again)? You already have a bachelor’s degree – in a non-nursing major – but realized somewhere along the way that nursing is your true calling. Do you have to go back to school for a four-year nursing degree? What are the BSN options for those who have already completed a bachelor’s degree once?

Accelerated Bachelor’s in Nursing (ABSN) programs are designed with you in mind. The accelerated BSN is an intensive, fast-paced nursing program that is available to aspiring nurses with a previous bachelor’s degree, in a non-nursing major, from an accredited college or university.

Also called a “second degree nursing program,” the ABSN option enables students to switch careers, get licensed as RNs, and start working in the field in a matter of 16 months (full-time). However, this fast-paced program is only available to those who have previously earned a bachelor’s degree in another major. This is because you have likely already met the prerequisite, general education requirements in your previous coursework—and those credits can transfer to your nursing degree.

Accelerated nursing programs are not typically available for entry-level nurses who do not have any prior college experience. For new nurses just launching their college education, an associate degree in Nursing or a four-year BSN program are the best options when starting out.

Why Get a BSN Degree At All? Weighing the ADN vs. BSN

It’s true that an associate degree in Nursing (ADN) is the minimum, standard requirement to become a registered nurse today. However, many nurses feel it is in their best interest to pursue a bachelor’s in Nursing to advance their career prospects. As described above, the BSN can be pursued right away, upon entering nursing school (via the traditional four-year route), or can be pursued later in your career, after gaining experience in the nursing field.

The question remains: Why even take this next step? Why pursue a BSN degree, when an associate degree will suffice for a nursing career?

The answer is relatively simple: better job prospects. Nurses with a BSN education can qualify for more jobs after graduation. In fact, many employers – such as the U.S. Military, and several schools – require nurses with a bachelor’s level education. Other employers, including many hospitals, simply prefer to hire nurses with a BSN degree. According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, over 82 percent of employers expressed “a strong preference for a bachelor’s degree” when hiring RNs.

Considering that over 65 percent of registered nurses now hold a BSN degree or higher, earning your BSN can help you stay competitive in a booming workforce—and ensure you land a great career. Keep in mind that BSN-educated nurses can go beyond the patient care role. Many nurses with BSN degrees go on to pursue leadership roles in nurse administration, informatics, research, and case management. They can also specialize in areas of nursing that require a bachelor’s degree, such as pediatrics, neonatal nursing, psychiatry, and public health.

BSN nurses can also qualify for promotions and advancement opportunities beyond the RN role, including increased salary potential. It’s cited that BSN nurse salaries are about 27 percent higher than those nurses with the minimum degree requirement. Of course, this varies by employer and state.

The benefits of a bachelor’s in Nursing are clear, but there is not one “right” way to earn your BSN. Ultimately, the choice is yours. Do you want to knock out your BSN education with a four-year nursing degree? Do you wish to start with an associate in Nursing, gain experience as a nurse, then go back for a flexible and affordable BSN? Or, do you qualify for the accelerated BSN pathway?

Ask yourself these questions and then begin to research the nursing programs available to you. If you would like to learn about Goodwin University, a leading nursing school in Connecticut, you may explore our nursing programs (on-campus and online) here.

If you would like to learn more about earning a BSN, you may also download our free guide: Your Guide to Earning Your Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing.