What Is a BSN Degree?

A Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) is a baccalaureate undergraduate nursing degree that prepares students to take the National Council Licensing Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) and practice as a registered nurse (RN). RNs who qualified for licensure with an associate degree can complete a BSN degree to advance their education and enhance their employment opportunities through our RN to BSN program.

The Herzing University BSN is a 120-credit pre-licensure program available year-round in a 3-year on-campus format or—in select states—online, with a bridge pathway for current LPNs, paramedics, military medics, respiratory therapists and cardiovascular technicians who want to build on their experience and become RNs. 

The baccalaureate degree program in nursing at Herzing University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).1 Herzing is also ranked by U.S. News & World Report among the Best Online Bachelor’s Programs for 2026.

In this article, we look at why employers prefer BSN-prepared nurses, the BSN pathways available at Herzing, what you’ll study, and the career and graduate-study options that open up after completing the BSN.

Why Employers Increasingly Prefer Nurses with BSN Degrees

U.S. healthcare employers have shifted toward the BSN as the preferred credential for new hires, especially in hospitals. According to the 2023 New Graduate Employment Data survey from the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (the most recent data available), 69.8 percent of employers show a strong preference for BSN graduates. 

Hiring BSN graduates is especially important for hospitals working toward the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Magnet Recognition program, which has staffing benchmarks tied to nurse education levels.

Earning your BSN can help you:

• Take on more autonomy in clinical decision making
• Open doors to specialty roles in pediatrics, gerontology, intensive care and beyond
• Build a foundation for leadership, education and administrative work
• Qualify to enroll in a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program later
• Develop a deeper understanding of nursing management, research and evidence-based practice

For a lot of nurses, the BSN helps them extend their skills beyond entry level and prepare for professional growth.

How a BSN Builds on RN Training—Or a Non-Nursing Degree

A BSN can be where you start, or it can be a step toward a higher goal. Herzing offers several pathways depending on where you are right now—and most of them are designed to honor the work you’ve already done.

Can I earn a BSN as a second degree?

Yes. Herzing’s Accelerated BSN (ABSN) is built for working adults who already hold a non-nursing bachelor’s or master’s degree and want a second career in nursing. It is a 120-credit program that students can complete in 20 to 24 months at one of multiple campus locations. It blends online general education classes with core on-campus nursing classes. Qualifying students can also complete up to nine MSN credits as part of their studies.

To enroll, you need a high school diploma or equivalent and a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution (or a foreign equivalent). 

Can I switch to nursing if I already work in healthcare?

Yes. If you already work in an allied health role, you don’t have to start from scratch. Herzing offers BSN bridge program options for several specialties:

• Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN to BSN)
• Cardiovascular Technicians (CVT to BSN)
• Respiratory Therapists (RT to BSN)
• Paramedics (Paramedic to BSN)
• Military Medics (Military Medic to BSN)

Each bridge BSN pathway is a 120-credit program that takes about 28 months, with the opportunity to transfer 54 to 90 approved credits depending on your prior education and clinical experience. You keep the clinical knowledge you’ve already built and apply it to the broader, holistic scope of nursing practice. 

Your prior experience can also inform how you grow into your nursing role. For example, CVT students may use cardiovascular experience to move toward a future cardiac nursing role, paramedics may build on emergency response experience and respiratory therapists may move toward respiratory or pulmonary nursing.

Can I go from RN to BSN online?

Yes. Herzing’s RN to BSN program is designed for working nurses with RN licensure who hold a diploma or associate degree in nursing and want to earn their bachelor’s. The program is 100% online and can be completed in as little as 12 months. You can block transfer up to 70 semester credit hours from your associate degree or diploma in nursing, with the possibility to transfer up to 90 total credits. BSN completion programs cover core skills in research, administration and leadership, community healthcare and more.

One distinctive feature of the RN to BSN program is the absence of traditional clinicals. In their place, you’ll complete a 45-hour community health project that puts your nursing skills to work in a population health setting. 

BSN Pathways Compared

What You’ll Study in a BSN Program

BSN degree programs are designed to prepare you for generalist nursing practice, with a focus on holistic, caring, safe, quality and evidence-based patient care. The liberal arts foundation builds the critical thinking, numeracy and communication skills you need for effective collaboration. Core nursing courses develop your clinical judgement and hands-on patient care skills for diverse populations in a wide range of healthcare settings.

Core areas of study include:

• Pathophysiology and pharmacology
• Clinical nursing
• Health assessment
• The nursing process and managing care
• Gerontological nursing
• Mental health nursing
• Evidence-based practice
• Public and community health concepts

At Herzing, theoretical instruction is integrated with clinical experience throughout the program, so you graduate with a reality-based understanding of the role and responsibilities of a professional nurse.

When Is the Right Time to Earn a BSN?

There’s no single right time. Some students earn the BSN as their first nursing credential; others come to it after years of work as an LPN, RN or in an allied health role.

Common signals it may be time to consider a BSN:

• You’re new to nursing and you value long-term career flexibility
• You’re an LPN, paramedic, RT, CVT or military medic ready for a more direct path into RN practice
• You already hold a non-nursing bachelor’s degree and want a second career
• You’re an RN with an associate degree or diploma and you want to qualify for leadership, specialty or graduate-level paths
• Employers in your area prefer or require BSN-prepared nurses

Because Herzing’s pathways meet you wherever you are in life — with rolling admissions and full- or part-time options — you can apply when you’re ready.

What BSN-Prepared Nurses Can Do Beyond the Bedside

A BSN can also open doors to careers beyond the hospital. The Herzing BSN prepares you for the broader scope of an RN’s role, which can include patient education and advocacy, public health and community outreach, leadership and administrative work and specialized care.

Common roles BSN-prepared nurses may pursue include:

• Patient education roles — Helping patients and families understand diagnoses, treatments and self-care
• Community and public health nursing — Supporting disease prevention and population health
• School nursing — In K–12 and university settings
• Care coordination, case management and quality-improvement work
• Specialty care — Including pediatrics, gerontology, perioperative care and intensive care

These are the kinds of nursing careers the BSN curriculum is designed to support: patient-centered, holistic and rooted in evidence.

Continuing Your Education After Your BSN

For many graduates, the BSN is just the beginning. Herzing offers several pathways to continue your education:

• MSN specialty tracks — Prepare for advanced leadership or an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) specialty. Options at Herzing include: 
  • Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Adult-Gerontology Acute Care or Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
  • Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
  • Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
  • Holistic and Integrative Health (Post master’s certificate only)
  • Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner
  • Nurse Educator
  • Nursing Leadership and Administration
  • Public Health Nursing
• BSN to DNP — BSN graduates who want to lead or drive quality improvement at the system level can pursue their Doctor of Nursing Practice without first earning a stand-alone MSN.

Take the Next Step Toward Your BSN

Earning a BSN can deepen your knowledge, prepare you for a broader scope of nursing practice and keep doors open to graduate study, leadership and specialty roles down the road.

Whether you’re new to nursing, a current allied health professional, an RN with an ADN or a career changer with a non-nursing bachelor’s degree, the Herzing BSN may be a fit. To learn more about the program, explore pathways or begin the admissions process, reach out to the Herzing admissions team or request more information today.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does BSN stand for?

BSN stands for Bachelor of Science in Nursing. A BSN is an undergraduate nursing degree that prepares you for initial licensure as a registered nurse (RN) or builds on your prior experience if you are an RN with an associate degree or diploma.

How long does Herzing’s traditional BSN take?

Herzing’s pre-licensure BSN is a 120-credit, three-year program. The timeline can be shorter if you qualify for transfer credit or prior learning, with up to 90 approved credits accepted.

Do I need a bachelor’s degree before starting an Accelerated BSN?

Yes. Herzing’s ABSN option is built for students who already hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution (or a recognized foreign equivalent). Additional GPA and entrance-testing requirements also apply.

Is the Herzing BSN accredited?

Yes. The baccalaureate degree program in nursing at Herzing University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).¹ Herzing University is also accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Can current RNs earn a BSN entirely online?

Yes. Herzing’s RN to BSN program is 100% online, can be completed in as little as 12 months and replaces traditional clinicals with a 45-hour community health project. Six start dates are offered each year.

What’s the next step after a BSN at Herzing?

After a BSN, you can pursue an MSN in tracks like FNP, AGACNP, PMHNP, Nurse Educator or Nursing Leadership and Administration. You can also move into a BSN to DNP pathway.

Disclosures

1. The baccalaureate degree program in nursing at Herzing University Atlanta, Brookfield, Clarksville, Kenosha, Madison, Minneapolis, Nashville, New Orleans, and Orlando are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org). This accreditation includes the baccalaureate degree program offered at the satellite Herzing University Tampa location.