Earning a BSN significantly helps your nursing career by expanding job opportunities, increasing earning potential and preparing you for leadership roles. The career benefits of earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) are significant. While there is some debate over the value of a bachelor’s degree, primarily due to the rising cost of college, the numbers surrounding a BSN paint a completely different picture.
Adding a BSN to your resume opens up rewarding career opportunities that can be well worth the investment, especially considering the availability of affordable online programs. For instance, the online Registered Nurse (RN) to BSN program from the University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW) provides you with the flexibility to advance your education while continuing to work and gain experience.
The online model of UNCW’s RN to BSN program also allows you to apply all prerequisite credits toward your degree. This enables you to concentrate on the 30-credit-hour nursing curriculum and finish your BSN in as few as 12 months.
Career Growth, Salary and Employment Outlook for BSN Nurses
BSN-prepared nurses experience strong job growth and increased employer preference compared to nurses with associate degrees. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects 5% employment growth for registered nurses between 2024 and 2034, faster than the average for all occupations. Combined with the need to replace workers who retire or leave the profession, this rate of growth will result in roughly 189,100 openings for RNs each year over the decade.
Employers increasingly prefer or require BSN preparation for new hires. Research from the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) shows that nearly 70% of employers strongly prefer BSN-prepared nurses, while 25% require a BSN for new hires.
Additionally, the median annual wage for registered nurses was $93,600 in 2024, according to BLS. ZipRecruiter reports that BSN-prepared nurses earned a median salary of $102,263 per year as of January 2026, demonstrating the financial advantage of BSN education.
The BSN Career Path
BSN-prepared nurses work across diverse healthcare settings and qualify for specialized roles that require advanced education. Nurses with a BSN typically work in general medical and surgical hospitals, while others work in physician offices, home healthcare services, nursing care facilities and outpatient care centers. According to BLS, median annual wages for RNs are the highest in government positions and in state, local and private hospitals.
A BSN also opens doors to specialized clinical positions. For example, you may work as a cardiovascular nurse caring for patients with heart disease and people recovering from heart surgery. Critical care nurses support intensive-care units in hospitals, providing care to patients with serious injuries or illnesses that require close monitoring and treatment.
Beyond direct patient care, a BSN may qualify you for positions in case management, public health, nursing informatics and research. These roles leverage the enhanced clinical knowledge, leadership competencies and research skills developed through BSN education. BSN preparation also positions you for roles in healthcare consulting, quality improvement and patient safety initiatives.
Leadership and Management Opportunities
BSN education prepares you for leadership positions, which often require a bachelor’s degree as a minimum qualification. Along with advancing your education, each year of work experience brings you one step closer to a management position. Hospital leaders and healthcare administrators are responsible for planning, directing, and coordinating medical and health services within the hospital. A BSN equips you to pursue leadership roles as a charge nurse, nurse manager or director of nursing.
Many healthcare facilities, particularly those with Magnet Recognition, require BSN preparation for leadership roles. According to the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), hospitals with or seeking Magnet Recognition require 100% of nurse managers to hold a BSN at a minimum. This requirement reflects the complexity of modern nurse management, which involves fiscal oversight, quality outcomes, staff development and strategic planning.
How a BSN Prepares You for Career Advancement
BSN programs offer courses specifically designed to develop leadership capabilities. For instance, UNCW’s online RN to BSN program includes the course Leadership and Management in Nursing, which introduces core leadership concepts in the context of professional nursing. Additionally, health policy courses guide you through the various factors that shape healthcare delivery systems.
Earning a BSN propels your career by increasing your earning power, opening new pathways for professional growth and preparing you to assume management positions. The online RN to BSN degree from UNCW provides the comprehensive education and leadership training you need to advance your nursing career while maintaining the flexibility to continue working. By earning your BSN online from UNCW, you position yourself for expanded opportunities in leadership, specialized practice and graduate education that can transform your professional trajectory.
Learn more about UNCW’s online RN to BSN program.
