Registered nurses (RNs) ready for career moves should consider earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). These degree programs offer nurses career mobility, a competitive advantage and improved performance on the job.
A BSN is now a requirement for nurses pursuing many roles in government agencies and leading hospitals. Numerous top healthcare organizations require the degree for nurses in leadership positions. For working nurses seeking to earn this career-advancing degree, the University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW) offers a distinctly flexible and convenient online RN to BSN program.
A BSN Degree Offers Freedom of Choice and Job Mobility
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), there were 3.4 million RNs working in the U.S. in 2024. BLS projects that employment of RNs will increase by 5% between 2024 and 2034, with roughly 189,100 job openings every year.
There are also widespread, growing shortages of nurses across the U.S., according to the Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA). Given this, nurses are in demand across the country, with openings in various rural and urban environments.
A BSN degree is a crucial credential for nurses looking for a change of scenery, those interested in applying to hospitals that specialize in a branch of medicine or, in many situations, those entering the nursing workforce in competitive markets. According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), nurses with a BSN are “are well-prepared to meet the demands placed on today’s nurses. BSN nurses are prized for their skills in critical thinking, leadership, case management, and health promotion, and for their ability to practice across a variety of inpatient and outpatient settings.”
The Cutting-Edge of Competition for Nursing Career Advancement
Although nursing is in high demand, it remains a competitive environment for those looking to become managers or advanced practice nurses. Becoming a nurse manager requires years of practice, unparalleled social skills and often a BSN degree, as is the case for nurses pursuing leadership roles in Magnet hospitals.
Advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) must also hold a master’s degree at minimum. The first step toward leadership, graduate school or advanced practice is a BSN. In fact, the 2024 National Nursing Workforce Survey found that more than 73% of RNs now have a bachelor’s degree or higher, making a BSN a virtual necessity for maintaining a competitive advantage in the job market.
RNs are in an excellent position to take advantage of an accelerated RN to BSN online program, which allows them to leverage their preexisting knowledge and clinical practice experience toward their degree requirements. Additionally, nurses can complete UNCW’s online RN to BSN degree in as few as 12 months.
Driving Performance and Evidence-based Practice in Nursing
According to AACN, “Data show that healthcare facilities with higher percentages of BSN nurses enjoy better patient outcomes and significantly lower mortality rates.” Nurses who advance their education support and improve patient care. As the largest cohort of workers in the industry, nurses can drive performance and increase the adoption of evidence-based practices across the healthcare system. A BSN provides the knowledge and expertise to accomplish these goals.
With large healthcare groups like VA hospitals aiming to fill their available nursing jobs with BSNs, nurses today should plan for the long term by considering the benefits of a baccalaureate degree in nursing. Affordable, flexible options like UNCW’s RN to BSN online degree help make this level of educational attainment possible for working nurses. Yet, in the end, the beneficiaries with the most to gain are the patients.
Learn more about UNCW’s online RN to BSN program.
