Bsn Degree A Must For Nurse Anesthetists

Even with America's health care system in crisis, there's still a silver lining for some health care professions. Topping the list is nursing, says the U.S. Department of Labor, which projects that registered nurses will outstrip all but one other profession as the fastest growing segment of the U.S. job market through the year 2020. However, many employers are already projecting a shortage of qualified RNs that are needed to fill the many new positions the economy is likely to create.

Getting in on the expected nursing boom requires a learn-to-earn mentality. Those interested in nursing as a career can take one of several educational paths on their way to becoming a registered nurse. These include a Bachelor's of Science degree in nursing (BSN), an Associate's Degree in nursing (ADN), or a diploma program. If you're just starting out on one of these paths, you may want to weigh the pros and cons of enrolling in a BSN degree program as your first move towards a career in nursing.

Immediately choosing the BSN path is a great way to jump start a nursing career. Nurses with a BSN are much more likely to advance in their profession, says the Department of Labor, a standpoint bolstered by the fact that higher paying administrative jobs in the nursing profession almost always require a Bachelor's degree. A BSN undergraduate degree is also required to enroll in a graduate nursing program, a must if your ultimate goal is a career in one of the four advanced nursing specialties - clinical nurse, nurse anesthetist, nurse midwife, or nurse practitioner.

Of course, not everyone is just now getting started in nursing. Many RNs already hold full-time nursing jobs. Nurses like these can also take advantage of the brighter career prospects offered by a BSN degree by completing a RN-to-BSN program. According to the latest figures available, there were about 600 RN-to-BSN programs offered in the United States.

The nation's largest online university, the University of Phoenix (UOP) is often the first choice for applicants looking for a respected BSN or RN-to-BSN degree program. Working adults often find these programs ideal, especially if they want to leverage the many advantages of distance learning while continuing to work in their chosen field. The programs meld online courses with supervised hands-on clinical work at leading hospitals and health care centers. In addition to nursing, the curriculum includes classes in anatomy, physiology and microbiology, chemistry, nutrition, psychology and other behavioral sciences. A sprinkling of liberal arts rounds out the course of study.

If you're interested in more details about the UOP's BSN or RN-to-BSN programs, it's easy to get answers to your questions by requesting more information on the UOP website. Expect a qualified counselor to follow up on your request in the form of a telephone consult in which you can explore your educational and career goals, scholarship opportunities and the possibility of financial aid.