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BSN Degree Guide: What Is It, How Long Does It Take & Why You Should Pursue It?

BSN Degree Guide: What Is It, How Long Does It Take & Why You Should Pursue It?

The BSN degree to advance your career as a registered nurse currently represents the preferred level of education both for new nurses and for many employers. Earning it qualifies you for more secure and better-paying job opportunities than other similar types of certification, and helps you pursue your passion through various leadership roles, such as administration or management.

However, becoming a BSN-prepared nurse requires a lot of research and consideration. This is why we created a comprehensive guide for those who want to enroll in a pre-licensure BSN program or advance their education to the BSN level through an RN-to-BSN path. 

If you are interested in getting a BSN to become a registered nurse, here are the essential things to consider first and the extra tips and resources to get you started: 

What Is a BSN Degree? Meaning and Importance

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree is a four-year undergraduate degree that prepares aspiring learners and provides the foundational education to become registered nurses (RNs). The degree encompasses nursing theory, practice, and research, covering clinical basics, nursing informatics, ethics, leadership, and management. 

What Does a BSN Degree Do?

It is worth noting that, although earning a BSN is one path to pursuing your RN certification, it is not the only way, with professionals holding an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN), Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN), or Associate of Applied Science in Nursing (AASN) fulfilling the requirements to become an RN.

What having a BSN degree does for your career is qualify you for more advanced positions, as well as leadership and management roles. It also serves as the foundation for advancing your education later on by earning a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) in a field of your interest. 

From the point of view of professional outcomes, BSN-level education is also linked to better patient outcomes than in the case of ADN-level nurses. Additionally, the salaries of BSN-level RNs are higher than those of their counterparts with an ADN or similar degree. However, wages in the industry vary greatly based on the level of education, role, and region where you practice, and you should consult our nurse salary by state and specialization report for a more comprehensive presentation.

Read our ADN vs. BSN comparison for a more in-depth comparison of the two types of degrees RNs hold.

BSN Degree Guide

What Type of BSN Programs Can You Choose?

There are multiple ways to earn a BSN degree and receive the certification for RN practice, with the various educational routes differing based on prerequisites and the study period.

Find out more about how you can get a BSN degree and what each route entails.

However, the two main routes to earning a BSN are the full-time BSN program and the transitional RN-to-BSN path.

Full-Time BSN Program

The full-time BSN program is a basic entry-level program dedicated to learners with little or no prior nursing experience and no RN certification. 

Here are the reasons to consider enrolling in a BSN program:

  • You aim to become a registered nurse without work experience in the field.
  • You worked as a licensed practical nurse (LPN), certified nursing assistant (CNA), or similar occupation and want to advance to the RN level.
  • You are ready to commit to an extensive study of nursing core courses and gain valuable experience. 
  • You wish to reap the benefits of the highest level of education necessary for RNs.
  • You are ready to dedicate three to four years to get your BSN degree.
  • You aim to advance your education to the MSN level later on.

If you consider that earning your degree via a full-time program is the right way to go for you, you can enroll in Nightingale College’s BSN Program, a hybrid learning option that combines online instruction with supervised on-ground field experiences in one of the SOFE areas we partnered with. The program provides accredited, high-quality education in the most flexible and accessible way, allowing you to graduate in under 3 years of learning.

Learn more about the BSN Program at Nightingale College and start your nursing career!

RN-to-BSN Program

The RN-to-BSN program is a shorter program designed for those with prior experience as RNs with medical expertise. It is a good fit if:

  • You are currently an RN and want to obtain a BSN degree. 
  • You aim to apply for more diverse, higher-paying job opportunities (in nurse education, supervising, or leadership). However, BSN-prepared nurses continue to be bedside patient care nurses, so a BSN degree is not exclusive to administrative-like roles.
  • You are a working individual with a busy schedule or family commitments who needs a flexible, career-friendly BSN program.
  • You are self-motivated and ready to complete this high-intensity program in as few as 12 months.

Find out what you will learn in an RN-to-BSN program.

At Nightingale College, you can enroll in the RN-to-BSN Track, a 100% online, 1-year program that provides the necessary preparation to advance to the BSN level as a working registered nurse.

Discover more about the RN-to-BSN Path and advance your education in the most accessible way!

How Long Does It Take to Get a BSN?

The traditional, full-time BSN degree program usually takes 3 to 4 years. While most of these pre-licensure programs are on campus, you can opt for a hybrid option, like the BSN Program at Nightingale College. This offers you online didactic instruction combined with local experiential learning activities.

The RN-to-BSN Program would be the best choice if you are already a working professional looking for a BSN program compatible with your schedule. It is 100% online and career-friendly,  given the limited free time or personal commitments you might have as a busy parent or working RN.

This RN-to-BSN program can be completed:

  • In 12 months or 3 semesters, if the required general education (GE) courses have not been completed;
  • In 8 months or 2 semesters, if you’ve completed all GE requirements. 

You can benefit from advanced placement at Nightingale College for both Programs and graduate in an accelerated time frame, depending on your GE requirements. 

Enroll in the RN-to-BSN Path at Nightingale College, a 100% online 1-year program, and advance your education!

Why Get a BSN Degree

Why Should You Get a BSN?

If you are still wondering whether to acquire a BSN or have already decided, it is essential to know why learners pursue the degree and the various reasons behind advancing your education.

Here are a few of the most frequent reasons to get a BSN degree:

  • You are ready to commit to a career of serving others and want to become a registered nurse.
  • You have worked as an LPN, CNA, or in a similar role and want to advance up the career ladder.
  • You are a practicing registered nurse and wish to improve your career outlook and professional outcomes.
  • You have a bachelor’s degree in another field and want to change your career by pursuing a second degree in nursing.
  • You want to ensure you have options for advancing your career and education past the RN role.
  • You have a desire to improve patient outcomes and reach your highest potential in the role of a registered nurse.

There may be many more reasons to pursue the degree, and you should consult a comprehensive analysis of why you should get a BSN before enrolling in any program.

Why Choose a Full-Time BSN Program?

This three-to-four-year program is designed for aspiring nurses without medical experience who want to change the healthcare landscape and follow their passion for helping people. 

This pre-licensure program is also dedicated to licensed practical nurses, certified nurse assistants, and METC graduates who want to pursue better career opportunities while helping patients with more complex needs. They can apply for advanced placement and finish the program in an accelerated time frame.

Many pre-licensure programs require on-campus presence. Fortunately, the BSN Program at Nightingale College offers a blended-distance format (online didactic instruction and local experiential learning) for future learners. Nightingale’s BSN Program improves class scheduling flexibility and learning efficacy by utilizing various innovative methods and learning modalities in an online environment.

Why Choose an Online RN-to-BSN Program?

This program is designed for RNs holding an ADN who want to complete their BSN degree quickly. It is an excellent opportunity for working RNs, as you can attend the courses without taking any time off. 

The career-friendly, online RN-to-BSN Track can save you time and money in the long run. This is why it can be considered the more flexible and easier path.

This doesn’t mean this program is suitable for everybody. While it can help you greatly in juggling your priorities and personal time, an RN-to-BSN is a high-intensity program that requires a lot of discipline, dedication, attention to deadlines, and plenty of studying in a limited amount of time. 

Read more about how to choose the fastest and easiest RN-to-BSN program.

BSN Degree Prerequisites & Requirements

What are Nursing Prerequisites?

A nursing prerequisite or ‘prereq’ refers to a class you must take before attending higher-level college classes. Because many college-level classes involve complex problem solving, learners should have prior knowledge gained through general education or prerequisite courses.

Nursing prerequisites for admission are different for each program, depending on the institution, and they can indicate the course quality and difficulty level. Usually, the courses you will take will also depend on your academic profile.

The Importance of Nursing Prerequisites

Usually, the best BSN programs will always require prerequisites for admission. This allows lecturers to explore topics in more depth and approach complex issues instead of teaching basic notions during classes. That is why the breadth of BSN prerequisites is a factor that should be considered alongside the course’s length and affordability.

Typical Nursing Degree Requirements

For a nursing career, you must meet the minimum entry criteria and complete the nursing program prerequisite courses.

The usual BSN requirements include core courses (for example, English and Maths) but require a minimum entrance grade (GPA) to enroll in a BSN program. The standard nursing program entry requirements in the USA usually include:

  • Minimum scores on the SAT or ACT
  • A GPA (grade point average) between 2 and 3.25 (where 0 is the minimum and 4 is the maximum)
  • Three years of math (algebra II and geometry)
  • Three years of science subjects (chemistry and biology)
  • Four years of English
  • Two years in any other foreign language

Find out how a no-prerequisites RN-to-BSN program can hurt your learning.

BSN Curriculum

The BSN Degree Curriculum

Each university requires different sets of courses for a BSN degree. Still, the most common classes in a pre-licensure BSN or an online RN-to-BSN program are: Assessment of Health and Illness, Anatomy, or Structure of the Human Body, Health Promotion and Risk Reduction, Mental Health, Reproductive Health, Statistics, Pharmacology, Pathophysiology, Research in Nursing, Psychology, Community Health Nursing, Leadership and Management, Nursing Care and other related courses.

Also, there are other valuable requirements, such as:

  • Technical skills: Nursing learners will be evaluated during their experiential learning, and their motor skills for proper patient care (being able to do CPR, handling medications, and doing treatments) will be assessed.
  • Intellectual skills include critical thinking or the ability to measure, reason, and analyze patient information.
  • Communication abilities: You have to properly talk with patients, their families, and doctors, and have strong observation skills.
  • And good emotional and mental health to exercise the best clinical judgement.   

Find out more about the pre-licensure BSN degree curriculum and the RN-to-BSN curriculum.

What Will You Learn in a BSN Program?

Whether you choose the classic BSN program or an RN-to-BSN program means investing time, money, energy, and commitment. So it’s best to know from the start what you’ll learn during these years.

What you learn in a pre-licensure BSN program:

Throughout the BSN Program at Nightingale, you will explore all the core nursing courses and advanced classes that will help you apply what you learn during your experience at a Community Health Project and a Capstone Project. 

This way, learners can raise awareness in their community for a particular need. Projects can range from teaching correct exercise routines and nutrition information to delivering information focused on strategies to prevent domestic abuse, and educating community members on the importance of regular cancer screenings. Moreover, you learn how to improve efficiency in policies and procedures.

In summary, during a pre-licensure BSN program, you would learn what someone would learn in the ADN and RN-to-BSN programs. 

Discover the pre-licensure BSN Program here and enroll!

What you learn in an RN-to-BSN program:

This high-intensity, faster program is designed for RNs to use what they have already learned in an ADN program and give them a broader and better nursing sense. 

Not only will you learn about core concepts like disease prevention and health promotion, but the RN-to-BSN Program at Nightingale will teach you about exciting areas you haven’t explored yet, like gerontology, critical care, psychiatry, disease management, and many other fields. 

This will allow you to experience different nursing fields and discover what specialty fits your interests and abilities. Plus, it will better prepare you to manage complex patients with multiple needs. 

At the same time, you will learn about critical thinking and decision making, ethics and policy, research, technology, and community health – all are well-thought-out courses that help you pursue a specialized career.

Enroll in the RN-to-BSN Track at Nightingale College and advance your education!

Importance of Accreditation for BSN Degree Programs

Whether or not you apply for a BSN or RN-to-BSN degree program, you must ensure it is worth it. After all, you will invest your valuable time, energy, money, and hopes in such a program. This means it’s essential to look for accredited programs from a renowned and trusted college or institution that will help you find great job opportunities afterward.

Fortunately, more and more educational institutions respond to the growing demand for nursing jobs by developing online programs that give you the same level of competence as a traditional learning facility.

You can consult the complete list of certifications of Nightingale College programs (BSN or others) in our accreditations and approvals disclosure.

RN vs BSN Differences

Differences Between BSN and Non-BSN RNs

If you are wondering about the differences between RN and BSN, there are some key areas that you should consider. Advancing your education to the BSN level, even as a currently practicing RN, means acquiring more advanced skills and gaining in-depth knowledge that leads to better job opportunities, higher income, and safer practice and decision-making, which can improve patient outcomes and quality of life, as already proven by numerous studies. 

BSN vs. Non-BSN RNs: Salary Differences

Although earning a BSN degree prepares you for becoming a registered nurse, the degree is correlated with a relatively higher earning potential than RNs in general. As presented in our nurse salary by state and occupation report, nurses with a BSN are in the top 25% earners of their field.

This means that, on average, the annual salary for registered nurses who are BSN graduates is $9,530 higher than that of all RNs ($107,960 per year, compared to $98,430 per year).

However, there are notable salary differences that also arise from the state you work in and your chosen work setting. Read our BSN salary guide for a more detailed analysis.

BSN vs. Non-BSN RNs: Career Advancement Differences

Given the ever-changing health care system that triggered a growing demand for RNs globally and the complex needs of patients, it’s easy to understand why this profession has become so competitive and why employers are becoming more interested in hiring highly trained professionals with a BSN degree. Thus, a BSN degree will accelerate your career advancement.

The jobs available to you as a BSN graduate are not only more advanced, but they also allow for more independence and leadership. They also come with better remuneration, and you should know the list of the highest-paying BSN jobs to orient your career.

BSN vs. Non-BSN RNs: Patient Outcome Differences

Studies show that BSN-prepared nurses are linked to better patient outcomes, including lower mortality rates, fewer medication errors, and reduced hospital readmissions. Their education emphasizes critical thinking, evidence-based practice, and leadership, making them more effective in complex clinical situations.

BSN nurses also increase patient satisfaction through better communication and preventive care. Many hospitals, especially Magnet-designated ones, prefer BSN nurses for their broader skill set and positive impact on care quality.

Learn more about the differences between RNs who have a BSN and those who don’t.

BSN career options

BSN Jobs & Nursing Career Outlook

What is so exciting in a nursing career is that you can choose from various roles and options. Whether you’re wondering what you can do with a BSN or different alternative jobs for nurses, there are plenty of opportunities to talk about. 

What Can You Do With a BSN Degree?

You’ve earned your BSN, and now you’re officially ready for so many amazing opportunities! Since it’s a diverse profession, many career paths exist with or without patient contact.

The many clinical and bedside jobs for BSN nurses include:

Discover more BSN jobs and what pursuing them entails.

Non-bedside and non-clinical roles that are not on the frontline of healthcare delivery are primarily dedicated to experienced BSN and MSN nurses and may require additional specialized training. However, they can represent some of the best-paying options and, in some cases, some of the least stressful nursing jobs.

For example, you can choose to become:

Discover more alternative nursing careers and work-from-home nursing jobs for both BSN and MSN nurses.

BSN Scholarships

If you want to apply for a higher education program, pursuing one without financial aid or a proper budget is never easy. Fortunately, many scholarships are available for nursing learners that help them cover the potential costs of a program. 

Especially if you hold a registered nursing license, you can find and apply for different types of scholarships. They will help you advance your career by earning a BSN or MSN, as well as for research or post-graduate education.   

Find out how Nightingale College can help you with a financial aid plan for your studies!

Start a BSN Program

Frequently Asked Questions

What Does BSN Mean as a Degree?

A BSN, or Bachelor of Science in Nursing, is a three-to-four-year undergraduate degree that prepares students to become registered nurses. It includes comprehensive coursework in nursing theory, clinical practice, leadership, ethics, and research, providing a strong foundation for both bedside care and advanced career opportunities in nursing management or education.

How Long Does It Take to Get a BSN Degree?

A traditional full-time BSN Program typically takes 3 to 4 years to complete. In contrast, an RN-to-BSN Track designed for working RNs with an associate degree can be completed in as little as 8 to 12 months, depending on prior coursework and general education credits.

How Fast Can You Finish a BSN Program?

You can earn the degree in under 3 years through an accelerated or hybrid BSN Program if you have no prior RN experience. For licensed RNs with completed general education credits, the RN-to-BSN Path generally takes one year to finish, but can be completed in as little as 8 months, depending on your prerequisites.

What Is the Fastest Way You Can Get a BSN?

The fastest way to earn a BSN is by enrolling in an RN-to-BSN Program if you're already a licensed RN. Some programs allow eligible learners to graduate in 8 months by transferring in completed general education requirements.

Can I Become an RN Without a BSN?

Yes, you can become an RN without a BSN by earning an associate degree in nursing (ADN, ASN, or AASN), qualifying you to take the NCLEX-RN exam and practice as a registered nurse.

What Is the Difference Between BSN and Non-BSN RNs?

The main differences are education depth, career opportunities, and patient outcomes. BSN-prepared RNs generally have more training in leadership, research, and critical thinking, leading to higher salaries, better job prospects, and improved patient care outcomes compared to RNs with only an associate degree.

Ready to advance your education? Enroll in one of our accredited BSN Programs! 

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