{"id":3140,"date":"2025-03-13T13:13:33","date_gmt":"2025-03-13T13:13:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/nursing\/?p=3140"},"modified":"2025-06-17T18:02:14","modified_gmt":"2025-06-17T18:02:14","slug":"why-earn-your-bsn","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/nursing\/2025\/03\/13\/why-earn-your-bsn\/","title":{"rendered":"Yes, You Need A BSN Degree. Here\u2019s Why Every RN Should Get One."},"content":{"rendered":"

BSN-educated nurses enjoy increased job opportunities, higher salaries, and report better patient outcomes than nurses without one, making them more competitive in today\u2019s job market. But the biggest benefit of earning a bachelor\u2019s degree in nursing is more valuable than money.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re an RN with an ADN, you may wonder if it\u2019s really<\/em> worth it to go back to school for a BSN. You\u2019ve already passed the NCLEX-RN and have years of experience under your belt. Shouldn\u2019t that be enough?<\/p>\n

In 2022, 2 million nurses entered the workforce with a BSN, making it the most common degree for initial licensing<\/a>. So experience alone might not be enough to keep you competitive in this job market. But beyond staying competitive, evidence shows that having a BSN can enhance your nursing practice.<\/p>\n

From increased critical thinking skills to improved patient outcomes, the results don\u2019t lie \u2014 more education creates better nurses. And better nurses can demand higher pay and more opportunities. <\/p>\n

Building On Your ADN: What More Do You Learn With a BSN?<\/h2>\n

Your ADN program focused on teaching you basic clinical skills to prepare you for direct patient care. A BSN is a little different \u2014 it builds on the practical foundation of an ADN with coursework in critical thinking, leadership, communication, informational technology, and public health. <\/p>\n

According to Courtney Reinisch<\/a>, Family Nurse Practitioner and Professor at 麻豆传媒在线\u2019s School of Nursing<\/a>, a BSN helps nurses develop a global perspective, allowing them to understand the cultural, social, political and economic factors that affect their patients.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re not just considering individuals, but entire populations and communities,\u201d says Dr. Reinisch. \u201cThey\u2019re thinking of families, communities, and social determinants of health.\u201d<\/p>\n

That isn\u2019t just feel-good fluff, it results in better patient outcomes. Patients treated at hospitals with more BSN-holding nurses<\/a> had 24% greater odds of surviving an in-hospital cardiac arrest, 24.6% lower odds of mortality, and a 7.8% decrease in length of stay.<\/p>\n

A BSN Makes Nurses More Marketable<\/h2>\n

Critical thinking and leadership skills along with improved patient outcomes have made BSN-prepared nurses highly desirable in the job market.<\/p>\n