How Much More Can I Earn by Completing a RN to BSN Program?
Are you a registered nurse who wants to advance your career or earn more money? Several schools offer programs for registered nurses (RNs) who want to obtain a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree. Keep reading to find out more about the financial benefits of completing a RN to BSN program. Schools offering Nursing degrees can also be found in these popular choices.
RN to BSN Program
You can begin practice as a registered nurse (RN) with an associate's degree or diploma, and many schools offer registered nurses (RNs) the option to apply credits earned in those earlier nursing programs toward a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). In addition to the higher yearly salary potential, completing a RN to BSN program can improve your career outlook; the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics notes, nurses with a BSN will generally have better job prospects than those without one (www.bls.gov).
Jobs and Salaries
As of April 2011, PayScale.com reported that, overall, RNs with BSN degrees were paid more than RNs with an associate's degree in nursing (ADN). This trend held true across nursing positions, including registered nurse, director of nursing, nurse case manager and clinical nurse manager. The salary difference could be around $2,000-$10,000 per year for the various nursing roles and levels of experience.
Registered Nurse
According to PayScale.com in 2011, RNs with BSN degrees earned a median yearly salary around $57,725, while RNs who have an ADN degree made a median salary of about $55,148. You may be able to begin working as an RN with an associate's degree, then enroll in a BSN to advance to supervisory or managerial roles in nursing, which typically have higher salaries regardless of the degree you hold.
Director of Nursing
Nursing directors supervise nursing staff and other health care employees, in addition to assessing educational programs, hiring staff, managing finances and completing performance evaluations, among other tasks.
Completing an RN to BSN program is a common choice among people looking to make more money as directors of nursing. In April 2011, PayScale.com reported the median annual salary for nursing directors with an ADN as about $68,017, compared to a median annual salary of approximately $78,410 for nursing directors who have a BSN.
Nurse Case Manager
Nurse case managers provide patients with aid in identifying and choosing healthcare services, in addition to assessing resources, monitoring services and evaluating outcomes.
Nurse case managers who held a BSN earned a median income of $60,773, while those with an ADN made $57,808 a year, according to PayScale.com in April 2011. However, you may need additional training in order to become a nurse case manager. Voluntary case management certification is available through the American Case Management Association.
Clinical Nurse Manager
Clinical nurse managers are typically responsible for supervising and coordinating nursing staffs to ensure patients are receiving quality care.
Completing an RN to BSN program also pays off for clinical nurse managers. PayScale.com listed the median salary for clinical nurse managers with an ADN degree as $73,636, while those who have BSN made a median salary of about $81,335 a year.
To continue researching, browse degree options below for course curriculum, prerequisites and financial aid information. Or, learn more about the subject by reading the related articles below:
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