Career Paths for BSN Graduates

A BSN can open up doors to career opportunities you wouldn’t otherwise be eligible for. As you look for room to grow your RN Career and more responsibility, you’ll need additional education. A Bachelor of Science in Nursing is also a stepping stone if your goal is to pursue a master’s degree in nursing (MSN) and work as an advanced practice nurse to include potential specialization in areas such as clinical educator, nurse practitioner, nurse midwife or clinical nurse specialist. Apply today and advance your RN to BSN Career!

Career Options

  • Private medical and surgical hospitals
  • Public medical and surgical hospitals
  • Schools and universities
  • Research labs
  • Home healthcare settings
  • Nursing care facilities
  • Private practices
  • Community services
  • Physicians’ offices
  • Nurse Manager or Supervisor
  • Nurse educator
  • Administration
  • Informatics Specialist
  • Medical/Surgical Nurse 
  • Nursing Case Manager 
  • Traveling Nurse 
  • Legal Nurse Consultant
nursing students discussing work, rn to bsn

BSN prepared nurses have more job opportunities and higher pay in their careers.
In February 2015, online job advertisements in North Carolina offered ADN nurses an average annual salary of $46,663 and an average hourly wage of $22.43, while BSN-educated nurses were offered an average annual salary of $69,250 and an average hourly wage of $33.29.

Sources: Olga Yakusheva: http://nursing.umich.edu/faculty-staff/olga-yakusheva

Outlook on Nursing & RN to BSN Education

On January 19, 2019, the World Health Organization (WHO) made the official proposal to declare 2020 the year of the nurse and the midwife. The Director General of WHO expresses how the role of nursing shall be “amplified and promoted” as the work of WHO and Nursing Now moves forward.

The Institute of Medicine and the AACN recommend that 80 percent of nurses have their BSN by 2020. According to the IOM, nurses with bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) degrees possess the skills, knowledge, and abilities needed to manage the increasing complexity of both patients and the healthcare system.

Source:  nurse.org

*NUR major courses start in January, May and August. Students can also begin with general education and/or elective requirements in March, June and October.

Apply to the online RN to BSN completion program at North Carolina Wesleyan University.