Getting your LPN allows students to start working as a nurse fairly quickly, but the downside is that this is the lowest kind of job on the nursing ladder. A bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) makes it possible for students to qualify for nursing jobs that give them more responsibilities and a higher salary. Once students have their BSN, they can also go on to get a master’s degree or even a doctorate in nursing.
With a BSN, students are able to work in positions of authority. Daily tasks depend on the facility where students work, but could include things like taking vital signs, tracking patient progress, talking with families about patient care, dressing wounds, and supervising LPN and RN staff members. In addition, nurses with a BSN are given more freedom to administer medication and IV fluids in most states. Some BSN programs also allow students to specialize in one area of nursing, which helps them better prepare for their job. The median salary students can expect starting out with a BSN is about $64,000, according to the 2011 salary figures reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, and as they work as an upper-level nurse, their salary increases to compensate them for their experience.
With an LPN to BSN program, students are able to get your bachelor’s degree in a shorter amount of time. Since students have already completed an LPN program, they are able to skip some of the basic courses that teach 101-level nursing skills. Instead, students jump right into learning advanced nursing skills, taking classes typically unavailable to first-year students. Along with saving time, this also saves money, since students go to school for fewer semesters in total. Keep in mind that some employers provide funds for their nurses to enter LPN to BSN programs, and since nurses are in such high demand across the country, there are also government programs you help you pay for school.
Online LPN to BSN Degrees
- LPN to BSN: Indiana State University
