Online RN to BSN Programs and Degrees

Excuses, excuses, excuses--how many times have you thought about returning to school but came up with a million reasons why it wasn't the right time? If you're a Registered Nurse (RN) interested in expanding your career past the bedside and increasing your earning potential, consider earning your online RN to BSN (bachelor's of science in nursing) degree. In today's high tech society, demanding schedules or geography no longer hold you back from pursuing your degree. You can earn your BSN in just a few shorts years and expand your career horizons by taking RN to BSN online courses. Plus, online RN to BSN programs give you the flexibility and freedom to establish a schedule that works for you. You will find hundreds of accredited online RN to BSN programs at your fingertips. Your future is in your hands.

Benefits of Pursuing an Online RN to BSN Degree Program

If you're a Registered Nurse considering a BSN for personal development--or maybe the degree is a career requirement--online RN to BSN courses offer several benefits:

• Flexibility: An online RN to BSN program gives you the freedom to set your own schedule and work at your own pace. This is especially helpful for students who maintain a full-time work schedule or manage family demands.
• Earn more money: For an RN, more education and experience typically translate to a higher salary. If you're an entry-level nurse, you may also draw a larger paycheck if you complete an RN to BSN program.
• Expanded opportunities: Completing an online RN to BSN degree program makes you a more desirable candidate for supervisory and management positions and is the stepping stone to earning an MSN in the future.
• Cost savings: By pursuing a BSN via an online RN to BSN program, you eliminate the hassles of commuting to and from a college campus. This saves gas money and wear and tear on your car. You can also avoid the stress of traffic and rushing to make it to class on time.

Earn a BSN--Open the Door to Opportunity

A bachelor's in nursing may open the door to new nursing career opportunities. In fact, a growing number of states require RNs earn a BSN to apply for certain specialty certifications such as pediatric or operating room nursing. In addition to bedside nursing, a BSN prepares you for the business-side of health care. RNs who hold BSNs may find these management or supervisory opportunities inside the hospital:

• Ambulatory
• Acute care
• Home-based care
• Consulting
• Research
• Teaching

Outside the hospital, you may pursue:

• Planning
• Marketing
• Quality and/or policy development departments of pharmaceutical and insurance companies and managed care organizations

Your bachelor's in nursing degree may also pave your way to the even more advanced master's of science in nursing (MSN), which is the stepping stone for all four advanced practice nursing specialties:

• Clinical nurse specialists
• Nurse-midwives
• Nurse practitioners
• Nurse anesthetists

Job Outlook for RNs

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports career opportunities for nurses are excellent, and it predicts 22 percent growth by 2018. That's much faster than average for all occupations. The BLS predicts physician offices, home health care facilities, and nursing centers will need RNs the most. The median annual salary for nurses in the United States is $62,450, with the highest ten percent earning more than $90,000.

Online RN to BSN Programs - The Foundation for Success

A bachelor's in nursing can prepare you for the ever-evolving health care field and put you at an advantage when it comes time for advancement. The degree can also open up new career opportunities. Earning your online RN to BSN degree offers the following:

• Larger selection of programs
• Accelerated completion time
• Flexibility to meet your needs and lifestyle

By joining the two million students who currently take courses online, you can build the foundation for a nursing career filled with opportunity and promise.