BSN Benefits for Nurses
Like many industries, the nursing profession is undergoing great change — the result of advances in medical treatments and technologies, growing healthcare needs and expectations, and a nationwide shortage of nurses.
Today, nurses provide much more than just physical care. As our healthcare system becomes more complex and physicians are able to spend less time with their patients, nurses are playing a growing role in educating patients on their care, attending to patients’ emotional and spiritual needs, and acting as a liaison between the patient and physician. Earning a BSN benefits both nurses and patients alike, and is a foundation for a successful nursing career.
The Importance of a BSN in Today’s Health Care Environment
Hiring practices are changing, too, and providers increasingly require nurses to have a nursing BSN degree or higher — Magnet organizations, for instance, require all nurses they employ to have a BSN degree or higher. These institutions are linked with increased job satisfaction among nurses as well as improved patient outcomes, and are part of a larger trend in the field where one of the chief BSN benefits is improved career flexibility.
BSN-educated nurses also have plenty of opportunities to further their educations and careers down the road, with many RNs returning to school to pursue advanced practice nursing (APN) roles such as:
- Nurse practitioner
- Nurse educator
- Nurse anesthetist
- Nurse midwife
While many of these positions require a Master’s of Science in Nursing and, in many cases, post-MSN certification, a bachelor’s degree is an essential first step, giving you a solid academic groundwork for future career advancement.
At Mercer University, we’re committed to developing practice-ready nurses who are eager to take on the challenges facing the healthcare environment today and in the future. Give us a call, or fill out the form, to have an enrollment counselor contact you about our Second Degree Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) or BSN transfer tracks.