Thank you for your interest in nursing. As a future nurse, you have the opportunity to help others in meaningful ways and make a real difference in people’s lives. Here are more details about becoming a Bachelor’s prepared nurse:
Education Requirements:
- Earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree from an accredited nursing program. Most programs take approximately 4 years of full-time study to complete if you don’t have any other college credits.
BSN programs involve rigorous science, math and nursing coursework including classes in:
- Anatomy and physiology
- Microbiology
- Nutrition
- Pathophysiology
- Pharmacology
- Healthcare communication
- Medical ethics
- Clinical nursing courses where you will care for patients in various healthcare settings under supervision.
Licensing:
After graduation, you will be eligible to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses, also called the NCLEX-RN. Passing this exam is required to obtain licensure as a Registered Nurse (RN) and begin practice. Licensure requirements may vary slightly by state.
Career Options:
With a BSN, your career options are very flexible. Here are just a few areas where you may choose to work:
- Hospitals: Work in medical-surgical units, emergency departments, labor/delivery, intensive care, pediatrics and more.
- Outpatient clinics/primary care: Work in doctor’s offices providing care, patient education and testing.
- Community health: Work for agencies providing home healthcare, hospice care, patient education and support.
- Public health: Work on health initiatives, disease prevention, immigrant care, health policy work and more.
- Nursing homes/long-term care: Work with elderly patients with chronic conditions.
- Occupational health: Provide care for employees of a specific company or industry.
- Medical/surgical specialties: Work in areas like oncology, dialysis centers, surgical units, cardiac care.
- Education: Teach nursing students in a school of nursing after gaining clinical experience.
Salary Range:
The annual salary range for a Bachelor’s prepared RN is quite broad depending on level of experience, specialty, location and employer. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report the following national salary statistics:
- 25th percentile pay (what the lowest earning 25% make) is around $61,000 per year
- Median pay (what the “middle” nurse makes) is approximately $75,000 per year
- 75th percentile pay (what the highest earning 25% make) is around $91,000 per year
Hourly wages can range from $25-$50+ depending on experience and overtime. Nursing managers and advanced practice nurses like nurse practitioners earn salaries near or over $100,000 per year on average.
Continuing Education/Career Growth:
Once licensed as an RN, many choose to expand their knowledge and career options with additional certifications, a Master’s degree, or Doctorate. Some pursue administration positions like Director of Nursing, Vice President of Patient Care Services or Dean of a School of Nursing. Others opt for advanced practice nursing roles like:
- Nurse Practitioner (NP): Can assess, diagnose and treat patients. Work more autonomously in primary care.
- Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM): Provide care to women during pregnancy, labor/delivery and postpartum period.
- Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS): Expert role for a specific clinical specialty like oncology, pediatrics, critical care etc. Provide patient care as well as educate staff.
With your Bachelor’s degree in nursing, you will be equipped to deliver excellent patient care in a variety of settings and can continuously expand your nursing career for many years through ongoing education and certifications. Nurses are in high demand and this is a very rewarding profession that directly improves people’s quality of life. Please let me know if you need any other information as you consider this career path.
Andrew Stroud