The career outlook for registered nurses is very good. Earning your BSN can help you advance your career in nursing. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, “registered nurses with at least a bachelor’s degree in nursing will have better job prospects than those without one” (2018).

Other Reasons to Pursue a BSN

Graduate School
A BSN is a prerequisite for admission into graduate/doctoral nursing programs for any advanced practice nursing degree (nurse educator, clinical nurse specialist, nurse anesthetist, nurse midwife, and nurse practitioner). Viterbo University also offers a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree, allowing BSN graduates to earn a doctoral degree in approximately four years.

Strengthen Skills
“BSN nurses are prized for their skills in critical thinking, leadership, case management, and health promotion, and for their ability to practice across a variety of inpatient and outpatient settings” (AACN, 2017).

Differences Among Graduates
“There is a growing body of evidence that shows that BSN graduates bring unique skills to their work as nursing clinicians and play an important role in the delivery of safe patient care” (AACN, 2017).

Support for BSN Prepared Nurses
“49% of hospitals and other healthcare settings are requiring new hires to have a bachelor’s degree in nursing, while 86.3% of employers are expressing a strong preference for BSN program graduates” (AACN, 2017).