Bachelor degree programs in nursing

You get great satisfaction in helping others. You scour health care websites for the latest advancements in medicine. Perhaps you're already a registered nurse and want to boost your credentials to advance into a management role. Online bachelor's degree nursing programs can position you for a rewarding career. In the nursing profession, you truly can make a difference.

Nursing degree programs: Getting started

There is a healthy selection of online bachelor's degree programs in nursing, including the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and the Registered Nurse (RN). Campus and online bachelor's degree programs in nursing take about four years to complete. The main difference between these two programs, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is that the BSN provides more nursing experience in non-clinical settings.

Regardless of whether you pursue a bachelor's degree for the registered nurse (RN) credential, the bachelor of science in nursing (BSN), or other nursing degree programs, classes you should expect to encounter during the course of your studies include the following:

• Human anatomy and physiology
• Biology
• Microbiology
• Pharmacology
• General Chemistry
• Adult health nursing
• Child and family care nursing
• Mental health nursing

When completing a four-year degree, classes in advanced techniques of patient care and medical technology help qualify you for positions in critical care, psychiatric nursing, oncology nursing, transplant nursing and other specialities.

Career advantages to earning a bachelor's degree as a registered nurse

Above average job growth of 22 percent is expected in registered nursing positions from 2008 to 2018, according to the BLS. Earnings may vary by employer, educational attainment, and clinical experience. The 2009 national median salaries and job descriptions for select nursing and medical administrative roles are as follows:

Registered nurses (RNs) are employed by hospitals, clinics, physicians' offices, governmental agencies, schools and long-tern care facilities. Of the 2.6 million registered nurses, 60-percent work in hospitals. May 2009 median salary for registered nurses: $63,750.

Advanced practice psychiatric nurses work with children, adolescents, families and adults, providing first-line care. In 36 states, these are authorized to prescribe medications. May 2009 median salaries match those of registered nurses: $63,750.

Medical and health services managers plan, coordinate and oversee health care procedures and policies at the clinical level--or for the entire medical facility. Earning an online bachelor of science in nursing may qualify you for entry-level roles, but most employers require a master's degree. May 2009 median salaries for medical and health services managers: $81,850.

Critical care nurses ensure that patients with critical or life threatening conditions and their families receive optimal care. May 2009 median salaries match those of registered nurses: $63,750.

WorldWideLearn.com can help you find an online bachelor's or master's degree program to suit your needs and experience. Here we help you explore nursing majors, such as an RN to BSN Major, as well as graduate degrees in nursing, nurse education, nurse administration and forensic nursing.

Whether you are ready to start a nursing program now, or still doing your research, when you pursue nursing degree programs at any level, one thing is certain: A nursing degree allows you to help others, while you help yourself.

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