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10 Reasons to Consider Pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
Considering a transition from ADN to BSN nurse? There are many potential benefits to earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).
Are you a registered nurse considering pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)? Whether you have an ADN/ASN or diploma, there are many advantages to earning your bachelor’s degree in nursing.
Continue reading to learn about the ten key benefits of earning a BSN and take the next step in your nursing career.
BSN Degree Benefits at a Glance
| Benefit | Summary |
|---|---|
| 1. Better patient outcomes | BSN-prepared nurses are linked to better patient care and outcomes; a 10% increase in BSN-prepared nurses on a hospital unit is associated with a 5% reduction in patient mortality. |
| 2. More job opportunities | BSN graduates qualify for a wider range of roles across hospitals, clinics, nursing homes and school settings; 69.8% of employers strongly prefer BSN graduates and 25% require one. |
| 3. Career advancement opportunities | A BSN opens the door to roles such as nurse manager, health educator, case manager, quality coordinator, director and medical and health services manager. |
| 4. Higher earning potential | A BSN positions nurses to compete for higher-paying, specialized roles. |
| 5. Specialization opportunities | A BSN opens the door to focused clinical areas such as critical care, pediatric nursing, cardiac nursing, public health, geriatric care and ER nursing. |
| 6. Eligibility for graduate-level programs | A BSN is the traditional gateway to an MSN or DNP, with tracks like Adult Gerontology, Family Nurse Practitioner, Nursing Education, Leadership & Administration and more. |
| 7. Meeting industry standards | Magnet-recognized hospitals require their nurse leaders and nurse managers to hold a baccalaureate or graduate degree. |
| 8. Advanced clinical skills and training | BSN coursework builds on foundational nursing education with deeper training in evidence-based practice, research, healthcare policy and leadership. |
| 9. Flexibility beyond nursing | A BSN opens non-clinical career paths such as nursing informatics, nursing education, insurance consulting, pharmaceutical research and healthcare administration. |
| 10. Can be completed in a year | Herzing's online RN to BSN program can be completed in as little as one year for nurses who already hold an active RN license. |
1. BSN-prepared nurses are linked to better patient outcomes
RNs who have completed a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree have been linked to better patient care and overall outcomes, in part because they have more extensive training and additional knowledge to draw upon.
According to studies cited by The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), baccalaureate-prepared RNs are reported as “significantly” better prepared in 12 of 16 areas related to quality and safety, and an increase in the proportion of BSN-prepared nurses in hospital units lowers the odds of patient mortality.
Additionally, a 10% increase in the proportion of BSN-prepared nurses in hospital units is associated with a 5% reduction in patient mortality.
2. BSN nurses qualify for more job opportunities
With a BSN, you may become more qualified to find work in your preferred healthcare setting, including hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, or even educational settings such as teaching hospitals or school districts. Within a hospital setting, you can work in a variety of different specialty departments, including the med/surg, critical care, post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) and more.
While roles and responsibilities can be similar regardless of the degree you've earned, there are certain RN jobs—with higher pay scales—for which employers require a BSN. These may include unit or departmental coordinator roles, nurse educator roles, and management positions that require the additional knowledge and skills that are learned in a BSN program.
In fact, many employers, including hospitals, clinics, public health agencies and school districts, prefer candidates with a BSN degree. According to the most recent Employment Research Brief from AACN (2023), 69.8% of employers express a strong preference for BSN graduates, and 25% require a BSN.
3. BSN nurses are positioned for career advancement opportunities
Ready to advance your career? With a BSN, you have a variety of opportunities for advancement. These roles may allow you to share your nursing knowledge with others, expand your own knowledge, and grow your leadership skills. Job titles you may earn with a BSN include:
- Nurse manager
- Health educator
- Case manager
- Quality coordinator
- Director
- Medical and health services manager
A BSN provides a solid foundation for greater career opportunities.
4. BSN nurses have a higher earning potential
BSN nurses are positioned to compete for higher-paying roles.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average annual salary for registered nurses is $101,420 per year ($48.76 per hour).*
Keep in mind that this amount varies based on education, role, location, experience, and specialty. Nurses with a BSN who work in specialized roles can earn higher salaries.
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5. Specialization opportunities
One of the biggest advantages of a BSN over an ASN is the ability to specialize. BSN nurses can pursue focused roles in areas like:
6. Eligibility for graduate-level programs
A BSN is the gateway to a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP). For example, if you wish to expand your skillset or increase your earnings, an MSN is a great option. Herzing University offers a variety of MSN specializations, including:
- Adult Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (AGNP). Specialize in the adult population; you can choose acute care or primary care concentrations.
- Family Nurse Practitioner: In this role, you'll provide primary and specialty care to patients of all ages, from pediatric to adults.
- Nursing Education (Nurse Educator): As a nurse educator, you will help guide the next generation of nurses and play a key role as a mentor, teacher, and role model for nursing students.
- Nursing Informatics: Combine your experience at the bedside with advanced knowledge and skills in health information and technology as a nurse informaticist.
- Nursing Leadership & Administration: This degree can help prepare you for leadership positions quality, safety, provider practice management and more within a healthcare system.
- Pediatric Nurse Practitioner. Become a primary care nurse practitioner specializing in treatment of infants, toddlers, adolescents, and young adults.
- Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner: In this role, you can help patients manage mental disorders and promote mental health awareness and education.
- Public Health. Make your impact as a fierce advocate for population health, health promotion, and community health services.
- Women's Health Nurse Practitioner. Choose the WHNP specializations to focus your care on illnesses, diseases, and overall healthcare most common to women.
However, you might not need a BSN to pursue one of these MSN concentrations. If you are interested in one of the MSN specializations listed above you may already be eligible to enroll in our RN to MSN program in that concentration without having to earn a BSN and potentially go from RN to BSN to MSN.
7. Meeting industry standards
The healthcare industry is raising its educational bar. This is partially due to Magnet status—a credential of organizational recognition of nursing excellence. Magnet hospitals require all of their nurse leaders and nurse managers to hold a baccalaureate or graduate degree.
Academic research shows that Magnet-recognized hospitals are associated with improved patient and nurse outcomes, as well as the quality of work environments.
8. Advanced clinical skills and training
BSN programs build on foundational nursing education with deeper coursework in evidence-based practice, research, healthcare policy and leadership. Graduates enter the workforce better equipped to handle complex clinical scenarios and make independent decisions with confidence.
Take a closer look at the courses required for our RN to BSN program at Herzing.
9. Flexibility beyond nursing
A BSN opens up a surprising range of non-clinical career paths for nurses who want to step away from the bedside without leaving healthcare entirely. Options include:
- Nursing informatics
- Nursing education
- Insurance consulting
- Pharmaceutical research
- Healthcare leadership and administration
- Case management
- Nurse paralegal or legal consulting
10. Can be completed in a year
If you already hold an active RN license, Herzing University's online RN to BSN program can be completed in as little as one year.
As one Herzing BSN grad put it, the experience is worth it: “Nursing school was not an easy journey, but I got through it with the support of my family, faculty and my nursing cohort classmates."
Herzing offers flexible, online classes and accessible faculty with strong professional credentials to help you prepare for new challenges.
Frequently Asked Questions About Earning a BSN
Whether a BSN is worth it depends on your career goals, but the research points in a clear direction. Studies cited by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) link a 10% increase in BSN-prepared nurses on a hospital unit to a 5% reduction in patient mortality, and 69.8% of employers say they strongly prefer BSN graduates, with 25% requiring one. A BSN also opens the door to leadership roles like nurse manager and case manager, and it's the foundation you'll need if you want to pursue an MSN or DNP down the road. If you already hold an ADN, ASN or diploma, Herzing's online RN to BSN program helps you build on what you've earned rather than start over.
An ADN (Associate Degree in Nursing, also called an ASN) and a BSN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing) both prepare you to sit for the NCLEX-RN and work as a registered nurse, but the depth of the coursework is different. ADN programs concentrate on hands-on clinical skills and day-to-day patient care. A BSN builds on that foundation with additional coursework in leadership and management, community and public health, evidence-based practice, healthcare policy and healthcare informatics. The coursework that prepares you for charge nurse, case manager, quality coordinator and other advanced roles. You can read a full side-by-side comparison on Herzing's ADN vs. BSN page.
If you already hold an active RN license, Herzing's online RN to BSN program can be completed in as little as one year. Classes run in 8-week sessions with full-time and part-time options, so you can build the program around your work and personal life. Because the program is designed for working nurses, you may be able to transfer credits from your ADN, ASN or diploma coursework.
Many advanced and leadership roles require or strongly prefer a BSN, including nurse manager, health educator, case manager, quality coordinator, director and medical and health services manager. Magnet-recognized hospitals (a credential that recognizes nursing excellence) require their nurse leaders and nurse managers to hold at least a bachelor's degree. Even in roles that don't require a BSN outright, many employers give hiring preference to BSN-prepared nurses for specialty units like pediatric care and the emergency department.
Herzing's RN to BSN program totals 120 semester credit hours, and many nurses transfer up to 90 of those credits from prior coursework. The nursing core includes courses like Advanced Leadership and Management, Community and Public Health Nursing, Evidence Based Practice in Nursing, Nursing Informatics, Policy Trends and Ethics in Nursing, Professional Role Transition, Health Assessment and Promotion Across the Life Span, and a Nursing Capstone, along with general education coursework in composition, statistics and the humanities. You can see the complete course list and credit breakdown on Herzing's RN to BSN curriculum page.
Yes. Herzing's RN to BSN program is delivered 100% online with no traditional clinical rotations. Instead, you'll complete a 45-hour community health project. Classes run in 8-week terms with rolling admissions, so you don't have to wait for a single start date each year. Explore how Herzing's online program works to see if the pace fits your life as a working nurse.
Ready to take the next step?
Enrolling in a BSN program is an investment in your patients, your career and your future.
Earn your BSN through Herzing’s flexible online program and unlock your potential for greater knowledge, earning potential, and career opportunities.
Learn more about Herzing's RN to BSN program
* BLS pay estimates calculate the median annual wage for various occupations. Per the BLS the median wage for an occupation is: "The wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount, and half earned less. Median wage data are from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey." Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook 2025. BLS median wage estimates do not represent entry-level wages and/or salaries. Multiple factors, including prior experience, age, geographic market in which you want to work, and degree level and field, will affect career outcomes, including starting salary and earnings as an experienced employee. Herzing neither represents that its graduates will earn the median salaries calculated by BLS for a particular job nor guarantees that graduation from its program will result in a job, promotion, particular wage or salary, or other career growth.