If you are about to start a career in healthcare, there are terms, degrees and programs you need to understand.
The fastest way to get into the healthcare and hospital industry is by completing either a 2-year or 3-year RN course.
From there, a number of RN to BSN online programs are offered so that you can move on to bigger career opportunities.
What exactly do RN, BSN and RN-BSN mean?
First of all, understand that the job of a nurse is primarily a vocation: it is a calling to serve those who are in need of more than a career to amass wealth.
Nobody goes into nursing just to be rich, because the fulfillment and satisfaction more than make up for the salary.
A nurse is technically defined as someone who provides bedside care and medical intervention for the purpose of rehabilitating a sick or injured person.
Nursing is focused not just on one patient but on individuals, families and communities.
It is also focused not only on just one kind of care but on many, which includes pediatric care, maternal care, geriatric care, palliative care, and so on.
A nurse assesses, plans, implements and evaluates the care of patients.
The first type of nursing professional is a Registered Nurse or RN.
A registered nurse is a healthcare provider that has gone through a 2-year Nursing Associate degree or 3-year Nursing diploma, and passed the licensure exam (NCLEX).
If you are an RN, hospitals look at you as incomplete, despite being reliable and skilled.
As you get hired as a licensed nurse, hospitals or employers in a number of states will require that you pursue a bachelor’s degree.
You need to obtain an RN to BSN degree if you wish to get the respect as a full-fledged nurse.
BSN stands for a nurse with a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing.
Nursing courses are offered in universities and nursing colleges, and take a total of four years to complete.
Accelerated BSN programs only run for 15 months.
If you are planning to establish a long-lasting and promising career in the field of nursing, you should become a BSN.
Although RNs are licensed and legit, their functions, responsibilities and benefits are limited.
They are monitored and supervised by BSNs.
An RN-BSN course is a special program that allows RNs to make a “short cut”.
They do not need to go through the full 4-year BSN course anymore.
Doing so could take a long time and is very disruptive to one’s career.
Another important term to be familiar with is “online”.
RN to BSN degree programs and accelerated BSN programs are typically offered online to give flexibility to students.
These courses attract working and practicing professionals who need to work and study at the same time.
RN to BSN online programs provide the best educational options for registered nurses.
These programs are flexible and inexpensive.
Online courses are accredited and recognized by leading hospitals and major healthcare employers in the United States.