Nursing is the nation’s largest healthcare profession, with the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) reporting more than 5.2 million registered nurses. Many in nursing see it as a calling. In fact, the profession maintains an 18-year streak of ranking at the top of Gallup’s annual list of honest and ethical professions.
Nurses spend most of their time with the patients, developing authentic connections and advocating for their best care options. Many Registered Nursing (RN) to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) programs emphasize the skills needed to succeed in this aspect of the job while also providing the knowledge to be well-rounded healthcare professionals. These programs can also reveal the diverse options available for nurses to advance their careers.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that the average salary for registered nurses in 2022 was $81,220 annually, or $39.05 an hour. However, this report does not differentiate between nurses with an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) versus those with a BSN. According to Indeed, nurses with an ADN earned $37.09 per hour, while nurses with a BSN earned $40.98 per hour. That increase makes a significant difference over the course of a year.
Today, more employers have expressed a preference for nurses with some type of baccalaureate preparation. In fact, “28% of employers require new hires to have a bachelor’s degree while 72% strongly prefer baccalaureate-prepared nurses,” according to the AACN.
Learn More to Earn More: TAMIU’s Online RN to BSN Program
Continued education through a program like the online RN to BSN program at Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) can help RNs further their reach as healthcare providers and increase their earning potential. TAMIU’s program is designed specifically with working RNs in mind and is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), a sign of quality and integrity. Students in the program focus on:
- Patient-centered care for diverse populations
- Integrating knowledge and accountability with relevant evidence-based practice
- Effective use of technology in healthcare
- Applying management and leadership concepts in the delivery of quality care services
- Utilizing effective communication and collaboration to facilitate safe, quality patient outcomes
Potential Jobs for Nurses With a BSN
Earning a BSN can open doors to more opportunities for nurse professionals. Some of these jobs include the following, with salary information current as of March 2024:
- Charge nurse: A BSN offers opportunities in supervisory roles, such as charge nurse positions. In addition to patient care, these professionals arrange staff training, evaluate performance and create yearly budgets. Charge nurses earn an average annual salary of $85,509.
- Case manager: Nurses passionate about providing comprehensive patient care should consider case management roles. Case managers assess incoming patients, develop care plans, schedule patient appointments and provide emotional support. These nursing professionals earn an average annual salary of $98,869.
- Public health nurse: These nurses educate the community and other healthcare professionals to support health outcomes. Their duties include giving immunizations, analyzing population data, identifying and addressing problematic trends, and improving outbreak readiness. Public health nurses earn an average annual salary of $78,437.
The number of BSN-prepared nurses in the field is at an all-time high, as is the demand for competent and compassionate nurses. The BLS predicts a 6% rise in hiring opportunities due to the aging population and increased use of preventative medicine. That said, nurse professionals will continue to earn relatively high wages. While several factors impact a nurse’s salary, including job location and overtime pay, earning a BSN is a surefire way to increase earning potential, stability and job variety.
Learn more about Texas A&M International University’s online RN to BSN program.
