Nursing is one of the most in-demand jobs in America, especially post-pandemic. Due to various factors, including an aging population, increasing health problems, and employee burnout, there is an increased nursing shortage.
Nursing degrees are often among the most popular options for students who want to enter the medical field and help people daily. With so many nursing specialties and different paths that you can take, it’s hard to know where to start. To help you out, here’s a list of available career paths with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree.
What is a Bachelor of Science in Nursing?
A Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) is an undergraduate degree that prepares students to become registered nurses. BSN programs are available at community colleges, universities, and online. They can be completed in two-four years, depending on the program.
Students enrolled in a BSN program will take courses such as anatomy and physiology, pharmacology, health assessment/diagnostics and management skills, and leadership development. Once they have completed their required coursework, they will sit for a national exam called the NCLEX-RN, allowing them to practice nursing professionally with any state licensing board or agency.
You can also go for an online accelerated BSN. The online accelerated BSN can help you transition quickly to a nursing career compared to traditional on-campus degrees. With the online accelerated BSN nursing program, you also get certification that can showcase your skills to potential employers. This can help land you your dream job.
What Career Paths Can You Choose After Getting a BSN Degree?
Getting a BSN degree opens wide career paths to choose from. Here are some of the options:
Registered Nurse Practitioner
Registered Nurse (RN)-to-Nurse Practitioner (NP) programs are a great way to transition from nursing to a new specialty. If you’re interested in becoming an RN, there are many options for you to consider. If going straight into med school or working as an LPN doesn’t sound appealing, consider getting your BSN first and then pursuing further education through an RN-to-NP program.
RN-to-NP programs can be completed at either the undergraduate or graduate levels. These programs offer students training in clinical skills and theoretical knowledge necessary to become an NP.
Data shows that the registered nurse practitioner field is expected to grow 6% from 2021 to 2031. You can earn a good income by becoming an RN. Data shows that RN can earn a median annual wage of $77,600.
Nurse Educator
Nurse educators are responsible for educating students in nursing school. They work closely with faculty members and other administrators to develop curricula, design clinical rotations and prepare students for the NCLEX. Nurse educators also assist with student recruitment efforts, admissions applications, and graduation ceremonies.
Nurse educators must have an advanced degree in nursing (MSN or Ph.D.) and experience in academia or hospital settings. In addition to teaching courses related to patient care and clinical practice, nurse educators may also lead research projects on topics such as best practices relating to patient safety within hospitals or communities.
Nurse Recruiter
You’ll be responsible for finding, attracting, and hiring qualified job candidates as a nurse recruiter. You might also be responsible for screening applications and resumes, scheduling interviews, and making hiring recommendations.
The process begins with researching the career field in which you want to work to identify the best companies within that field. Then it’s time to contact those companies via email or phone calls, called “cold calling.”
Once contact has been made with HR departments at various organizations. Suppose they’re interested in talking with you about employment opportunities. In that case, you’ll schedule an appointment where both parties can discuss details about positions available as well as compensation packages offered by each company’s benefits package.
Medical Writer
A medical writer is responsible for writing and editing articles on health and medicine. They may work on a variety of publications, including journals and textbooks.
They are also responsible for the publication’s content, which means they need to understand medical terminology well to explain it in layman’s terms. Their work’s layout, design, and production also fall under their responsibility.
So if you’re interested in this field but don’t want to get your hands dirty with all those technical details, consider becoming an editor instead. According to Zippia, the average income of a medical writer is around $93,842 annually.
Nurse Consultant
You can become a nurse consultant by completing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing program. Nurse consultants are responsible for analyzing data and information to determine what is best for patients and creating specific action plans based on this information. They also work closely with physicians and other medical professionals to ensure their recommendations are effective.
Nurse consultants must demonstrate strong leadership skills, excellent written communication abilities, self-motivation and initiative, good decision-making capabilities, and more.
Health Coach
Health coaching is another career path that a bachelor’s degree in nursing can open up for you. As a health coach, you’ll be able to help patients improve their health by assisting them in managing chronic illnesses and encouraging healthy habits such as nutrition and exercise. Health coaches may be registered nurses (RNs), licensed practical nurses (LPNs), or doctors of nursing practice (DNP).
Healthcare organizations nationwide are beginning to hire more RNs with bachelor’s degrees vs. those who only have associate degrees from community colleges or technical schools because they have found that these nurses provide higher quality care than those without four-year degrees.
Travel Nurse
Travel nurse jobs are available in many country areas, including big cities and small towns. These positions allow you to travel across the United States while earning a steady paycheck.
Travel nurse jobs are also available for RNs, LPNs, and LVNs at all experience levels and specialties, so you can choose one that aligns with your interests and skill set.
Conclusion
We hope this article has helped you understand what career paths a Bachelor of Science in Nursing program can open for you. You can pick any of these opportunities based on your preferences. Once you find a job you like, you can contact employers with openings in those fields and prepare for the interviews to land your dream job.