What is the Difference between RN and BSN

Difference between RN and BSN Sneak Peek:

• An RN is a medical expert licensed to operate as a caregiver.
• State-approved programs in nursing and an ADN also prepare nursing candidates for RNs licensure, but the degree BSN qualifies nurses to practice leadership roles and for enrolling a graduate degree in nursing.
• A BSN degree’s a postsecondary nursing degree online program that either qualifies candidates to be RNs or boosts the nursing studies for previous associate degree courses or diploma RNs.
• Registered nurses’ Jobs are forecasted to increase by 6% from 2021 to 2031, as per the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics.
• BSN Career outcomes include practicing as an RN, health service nurse, and an ER nurse among others.
• The University of Phoenix offers 2 options to enroll in the RN to RN-BSN degree program: competency-based version, and the traditional format.

Skilled nurses sought after

The coronavirus pandemic has transformed how we perceive professions, but maybe not greater than the skilled nurse demand and value. But even way before coronavirus hit, “the United States faced a widespread nurse shortage,” notes Medix.com a staffing agency.

Presently, the United States (BLS) Bureau of Labor Statistics projects registered nurse jobs to increase by 6% from 2021 to 2031. But while we’re all aware that nurses are the medical landscape’s vital part, the nurse types differences are less obvious. What, is the Difference between RN and BSN?  How different is an LPN from an RN?

Here, we will answer these queries and many more to explore nursing outs and ins and the studies you require to pursue the profession career.

What is RN?

The acronym “RN” stands for “registered nurse,” and it’s a medical expert, licensed by the nursing state board, who coordinates and provides nursing care and provides both patient emotional support and information.

A registered nurse can also focus on various fields, from cancer study (oncology) to emergency medicine. A registered nurse may also pursue an outside clinic or hospital career path, including in a home-care service or rehabilitation center.

There are numerous available educational pathways to be a registered nurse, ranging from a Nursing Associate Degree or a certified nursing program diploma to a baccalaureate level course. BLS clarifies you should also be authorized by your work state.

All states issue similar national licensing exams (NLE), the (NCLEX-RN), National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses, and all of them have identical passing standard notes  (NCSBN), National Council of State Board of Nursing. Ambitious nurses should pass the exam on NCLEX to gain licensure.

The registered nurse’s roles

The registered nurse’s responsibilities and roles can rely on both the field of the RN specialization and where the registered nurse works.

In general, however, BLS considers the following RN typical responsibilities:

• Evaluate the conditions of patients
• Record symptoms and medical histories of patients
• Help with conducting diagnostic exams and assessing the results
• Deliver treatment and medicine
• Establish patient care plans or aid existing plans
• Doctors’ consultation and collaboration and other providers of healthcare
• Monitor and operate medical equipment
• Train patients as well as their families on injury or illnesses management

RNs also collaborate with doctors and other providers of healthcare, and they can supervise such nursing experts including LPNs, home care aides, and nursing assistants.

What is BSN?

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing is a 4-year, post-secondary nursing degree program. Some Bachelor of Science in Nursing courses can lead to authorization, while others are directed at registered nurses looking to boost their studies. The RN-BSN program at the University of Phoenix is for previous RNs who aspire to progress their nursing studies. It doesn’t lead to registered nurse licensure.

What is the meaning of a BSN?

“BSN” symbolizes Bachelor of Science in Nursing, which is a course degree that emphasizes both specific nursing syllabi and general education programs.

A Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree will frequently cover skills such as:

• Coordinating secure care
• Health Administration
• Case management and quality improvement
• Population health compassion
• Holistic nursing and critical thinking
• Leadership

Students are capable of earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree at a university or in-person college, but nursing degrees online can give the same program quality with an increased flexibility format.

The importance of the BSN degree

Practically, registered nurses do not have to possess a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree to operate — unless they are residents of the State of New York. The New York State executed a regulation dubbed “BSN in 10,” in 2017, which demands all registered nurses to pursue their BSN within ten years of obtaining their registered nurse license.

A Bachelor of Science in Nursing lays the fundamental foundation to chase new nursing opportunities, including teaching, administrative positions, consulting, and research.

In addition, a BSN-trained nurse is placed to complete a master’s along the nursing career path, which is essential for nurse practitioner operation or other (APRN), advanced practice registered nurse types.

Then, there’s the salary issue: BLS asserts that more learning opportunities translate to increased nursing salaries. BSN-educated nurses, for example, get on average above (LVNs) licensed vocational nurses and LPNs. LVNs and LPNs have less training (normally a 1-year, state-approved education program) and give basic patient care.

The Difference between RN and BSN

The fact that the registered nurse is an experienced role that demands licensure whereas the Bachelor of Science in Nursing a degree course is the major difference between RN and BSN.

To become a registered nurse, you will earn an (ADN), an Associate Degree in Nursing, an (ASN), an Associate of Science in Nursing, or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, (BSN) that is intended to prepare nursing graduates for licensing. All these courses, BLS remarks, involve science courses and supervised clinical practice, but the Bachelor of Science in Nursing also comprises topics such as critical thinking, leadership, and communication.

BLS adds: “Normally licensed nursing graduates of either of the 3 education programs types (diploma, associate, or bachelor’s) are eligible for the staff nurse entry-level positions. However, employers — especially those in healthcare facilities — may need a baccalaureate’s degree.”

BSN vs RN salary

The registered nurse’s salary range relies on various factors. Where you operate (both in the city and venue terms) and experience influence salaries in different ways.

But as per Nurse.org, which quotes the (AACN), American Association of Colleges of Nursing 2019 data report, the nurse’s average salary in the year 2019 was like this:

• Bachelor’s degrees RNs — $80,000
• Diplomas RNs — $78,000
• Associate degrees RNs — $75,000

Nurse.org interprets the wage gap between diploma nurses and those with a nursing associate degree resulting from experience: “The main reason why associate-prepared nurses are reporting lower wages than diploma-prepared registered nurses are likely as a result of experience years, compared to positional salaries increases and education.”

Can you be an RN with no BSN?

As illustrated above, you are capable of absolutely becoming a registered nurse without a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in many states in the meantime. But the BSN advantages— more advancement opportunities, better outcomes of salary, and more extensive knowledge— render it the gold standard of education for ambitious nurses.

How to complete your BSN

The University of Phoenix provides 2 options for RNs looking to complete their Bachelor of Science in Nursing:

• RN to BSN: Designed to boost your practice in nursing, this degree program online involves, 5-week sequential courses covering skills such as using clinical judgment and reasoning, public health facilities and community practice, and controlling healthcare resources.

• Competency-based RN to BSN: The online degree program inspires you to influence your Bachelor of Science in Nursing by accelerating your current skills. You should possess at least 1 year of working experience and have comfort in a personal-led format to thrive in this course, which enables you to concentrate on discovering new knowledge after exhibiting already known subjects or skills competency.

How long it takes to confer your BSN degree

A traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing, without previous education or experience, can take 4 years. But RN-to-BSN online programs will be finalized much faster because they allow scholars to learn what they do not know already from prior education or experience.

University of Phoenix RN-BSN program, for instance,  takes roughly fourteen months to finalize (with your ADN’s 87 transfer credits) with the same program’s competency-based version taking roughly twelve months to finish.