You might hear that you qualify for more jobs when you finish a BSN degree but wonder about the actual opportunities available with an RN to BSN degree. An RN to BSN degree program helps you use the credits you earned in an RN program to complete a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. You’ll spend time taking classes and learning about nursing administration and management, which can help you land jobs in several career fields.
Nurse Educator
Nurse educators are similar to college professors but only work in nursing programs. The teachers who taught the classes you took in an RN program were nursing educators. Unlike college professors, who usually need a master’s or doctoral degree, colleges hire nursing educators who have a BSN and several years of experience. As an educator, you are responsible for handing out assignments, grading the work that students do and even creating tests. You must also keep track of students and ensure that they can handle the duties of working as a nurse. Some educators also work in hospitals and manage students during their clinical rotations.
Critical Care Nurse
Critical care nurses work with patients dealing with life-threatening injuries and medical conditions every day. Many of these nurses work in emergency rooms, but some work in urgent care centers. To become a critical care nurse, you need an RN license, at least two years of nursing experience and your nursing license. Some emergency departments will only hire nurses who also have a BSN degree. You may also need to take a test to obtain your critical care nursing license or certification.
Nurse Midwife
Nursing midwifery is one of the opportunities available with an RN to BSN degree. If you like working with pregnant women, this might be a good job for you. Considered a type of Advanced Practice Registered Nurse, nurse midwifes are responsible for working with women and helping them stay healthy during their pregnancies. Some work with women struggling with fertility and those trying to get pregnant. Many are also in the delivery room when patients give birth and help with aftercare post delivery. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary for men and women working in this field is more than $107,000 a year.
Health Manager
Many of the opportunities that open up to you after completing a BSN degree are management opportunities. If you want to take on more responsibilities at work and want to spend more time working with health care professionals than patients, consider working as a health services manager. A nursing manager handles some of the same duties but primarily works with nurses in a specific department or on a certain floor. Managers must follow state and federal laws in regards to hiring new workers and keeping patient information confidential. They also handle tasks like scheduling employees, creating annual budgets and writing reports.
Earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing after getting your RN degree should take just two years or less. Finishing that degree will help you qualify for a host of new career paths. Some of the career opportunities available with an RN to BSN degree include health managers, nurse educators, nurse midwifes and working as a critical care nurse.
Related Resources:
Top 10 Cheap Online RN to BSN Degree Programs
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