Why pursue a BSN?
• 1. The worldwide nursing shortage means an abundance of employment opportunities for nursing school graduates. • 2. A variety of opportunities are available. Nurses work in a wide range of settings, including hospitals, clinics, schools, and long-term care facilities, just to name a few. There are also many fields within nursing, such as critical care, gerontology, informatics, obstetrics, oncology, pediatrics, surgery, and management. • 3. Expanding opportunities exist. As physicians become increasingly specialized, nurses have more opportunities to provide direct care to patients. • 4. There is room for advancement. With a BSN, a student can pursue a Master of Science in Nursing degree and take nursing practice to a new level by becoming a nurse anesthetist, midwife, nurse practitioner, or clinical nurse specialist. • 5. Salaries are profitable. Starting salaries for nurses can top $55,000. With more experience, the earning potential can exceed $70,000 (based on 2008 brochure). • 6
