Career Tips & Advice

RN vs. BSN: What You Should Know

Concorde Staff

Concorde Staff

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Updated March 13, 2014. The information contained in this blog is current and accurate as of this date.
Students watch instructor give instruction in a lab.

During the last decade, policymakers and practice leaders have acknowledged that increased education makes a positive difference* and they have begun to encourage all registered nurses to further their education.

The Institute of Medicine has advised the nursing profession to educate nurses at a higher level and to better prepare graduates for the new challenges of the 21st century. Nursing environments are now more complex and require advanced skills such as leadership, research and evidence-based practice, teamwork and collaboration, and an increased focus on safety. **

So what's the difference between becoming an RN and achieving a higher education with your BSN?

A Bachelor of Science in nursing includes all of the class work found with an associate degree or diploma program as well as a more comprehensive coverage of the social and physical sciences, research, public and community health, and management. The extra class work enriches professional development, prepares you for a larger scope of practice, and provides an increased awareness of issues that impact patients and effective health care delivery.

What does this mean for you?

A BSN will provide you with a broader scope of practice and more opportunities in specialized areas than your non-BSN counterparts. You'll be better prepared to handle the increased challenges of the nation's health care system and better trained to handle increased responsibilities. A BSN will also help with career advancement by arming you with the credentials to apply for leadership and management roles in a variety of healthcare settings.

References

*American Association of Colleges of Nursing. (2013). The Impact of Education on Nursing Practice. //www.aacn.nche.edu/media-relations/fact-sheets/impact-of-education

**The Institute of Medicine. (2011). The Future of Nursing: Focus on Education. http://nationalacademies.org/hmd/reports/2010/the-future-of-nursing-leading-change-advancing-health.aspx

Take The Next Step Towards a Brighter Future

Interested in learning more about our RN to BSN program? We have a Concorde representative ready to talk about what matters most to you. Get answers about start dates, curriculum, financial aid, scholarships and more!

  1. Program length may be subject to change dependent on transfer credits and course load. Please refer to current course catalog for more information. Concorde does not guarantee admittance, graduation, subsequent employment or salary amount.

  2. Professional certification is not a requirement for graduation, may not be a requirement for employment nor does it guarantee employment.

  3. Financial aid is available to those who qualify but may not be available for all programs. Concorde does not guarantee financial aid or scholarship awards or amounts.

  4. Clinical hour requirements and delivery may vary by campus location and may be subject to change. Concorde does not guarantee clinical site assignments based upon student preference or geographic convenience; nor do clinical experiences guarantee graduation, post-clinical employment or salary outcomes.

  5. Registration and certification requirements for taking and passing these examinations are not controlled by Concorde, but by outside agencies, and are subject to change by the agency without notice. Therefore, Concorde cannot guarantee that graduates will be eligible to take these exams, at all or at any specific time, regardless of their eligibility status upon enrollment.

  6. Externships are a non-paid in-person learning experience, whose length and location may be subject to change. Concorde does not guarantee externship placement, graduation, post-externship employment or salary outcomes.