The shortage of nurses is a grave issue in the US nursing industry.

The increase in the demand for quality healthcare for an aging population, burnt out nurses, retiring nurses, and nurses switching professions are the primary reasons which have led to a shortage of competent nurses in the industry.

Hence, nursing has become an in demand profession that offers brilliant career prospects, advancement opportunities, and personal fulfillment.

However, it is a practical profession that requires years of experience, intensive training, professional education, and clinical reasoning skills. Many acute care hospitals and public health agencies choose to recruit BSN graduate nurses.

The BSN program is also popular among students as more and more students in the US are opting for a BSN degree. A BSN degree instills critical thinking skills and leadership skills in students. It also acts as a stepping stone for nurses planning to pursue terminal degrees in nursing.

Increased student influx in the BSN program has led various universities across the US to include this program in their list of programs offered. In this article, we will discuss the various reasons that make BSN a popular degree choice.

5 Reasons Why Students are Pursuing BSN Programs:

1. Job Security and Stability.

A bachelor of science in nursing degree offers job security and stability to its graduates.

The RN to BSN Programs Increase in Texas has led to competition among several organizations to recruit the top nursing talent.

Not only in Texas but organizations across the country are also offering handsome salary packages and other benefits to recruit and hold on to competent nurses.

Moreover, several unfilled positions for nursing professionals are available throughout the year, and there are not enough nurse graduates to fill them. A BSN degree makes you eligible for these entry level jobs. Hence, nursing professionals have safe and stable jobs with reliable incomes.

Some nurses complain that their salary does not make up for the stress and workload they deal with but, they are sure about not losing their jobs even during an economic crisis.

In the US, the job outlook for nursing professionals shows a 9% increase in nursing occupations between 2020 and 2030. Moreover, they are also expected to be paid an average salary of $75,330 per year.

2. Career Advancement Opportunities.

Different nurses perform specific jobs at their workplace based on their specialization. The nursing industry is evolving rapidly, and various types of nurse roles have emerged. Specialized education is required to efficiently perform specific roles.

Most specialized nursing degrees require a BSN degree as a pre requisite. For example, nurses planning to pursue a master’s of science in nursing must have a bachelor of science in nursing.

A BSN degree only provides you with basic nursing knowledge and trains you in general nursing skills. Therefore, several nurses decide to pursue specialized higher education in nursing to work in more specialized roles like cardiac nurse, clinical nurse specialist, family nurse practitioners, mental health nurses, and more.

A BSN degree also serves as a stepping stone for nurses planning to become mentors and educate the future generation of nurses. It also offers a shorter bridge to higher education for registered nurses.

Students planning to work in leadership positions or academia in the nursing industry often pursue a BSN degree to eventually enroll in terminal nursing degrees.

3. The IOM Recommendation.

The Institute of Medicine, IOM, is a non profit and independent organization that offers unbiased advice to decision makers to improve the health of the nation.

They also carry out independent research on primary issues in healthcare to find solutions.

The institute of medicine’s report of 2010 called “The Future of Nursing: Leading Change and Advancing Health” recommended that when recruiting nurses, a BS in nursing graduate should be preferred.

Because BSN graduates can help evolve the healthcare system by effectively using available data and ensuring to provide the best quality patient care.

After the report, hospitals started recruiting nurses with at least a BSN degree, and even registered nurses were encouraged to pursue this degree.

Hence, making it a popular degree choice for students planning to work in the nursing industry.

4. Variety of Work Settings.

A BSN degree allows you to travel and work in any country you prefer. The medical knowledge and skills you acquire during a nursing degree can be applied to humans anywhere in any country. Some countries may have outdated equipment and some may have the latest tools but, the role of nurses is the same everywhere.

However, you must meet the requirements of a country for you to practice as a nurse there.

Your nursing degree and experience may not be accepted in all countries, and you may be required to pass an exam before legally practicing as a nurse.

Apart from the freedom to work in different countries, nurses can also choose to work in a variety of settings like schools, nursing homes, private clinics, military bases, and more.

Some organizations may offer a higher salary while others offer a flexible work schedule, you can work in an environment that is more suited to you.

5. Affordable Degree Programs.

Some BSN programs can cost as much as $100,000 each year in private institutions. However, there are also plenty of affordable BSN degree options available that can cost about $35,000 for four years.

These degree programs provide you with quality education and offer similar career prospects and job opportunities.

Moreover, the increased demand for nurses has prompted the US government to support students by covering their tuition fees through grants and fee waivers.

Furthermore, Universities are also offering many scholarships to students enrolling in the BSN program.
More affordable degree options and plenty of grant and scholarship opportunities offered for BSN degree programs make it a popular choice for students.

What you should remember?

Nursing is a rewarding and challenging profession. All nurses planning to practice their profession or educate the next generation of nurses to require a bachelor of science in nursing, as it is a prerequisite for several advanced degrees in nursing. A BSN has become a popular degree option in the US, and several students are pursuing it.

The reasons for its popularity include the job security, stability, and handsome salary that its graduates enjoy.

Moreover, the degree was recommended in the IOM report of 2010.

The career opportunities that open up after a BSN degree also make it a popular degree option. The option to work in various work settings in different countries and affordable degree programs make it a lucrative option for young students.

Hopefully, this article will help you understand why so many students are pursuing a BSN program.