RN To BSN

The nursing field is comprised of several different levels of professionals. Those with the most basic skills are nursing assistants, licensed practical nurses, and vocational nurses. However, none of these positions are registered nurses. In order to become a registered nurse, one must enroll in an accredited nursing program. The most common of these programs are the two-year Associate Degree in Nursing, or ADN, and the four-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing, or BSN.

Besides their lengths of study, the two programs also differ in their focus. The ADN focuses on the practical "nuts and bolts" of nursing. The BSN is the traditional nursing degree, as well as the one required by the majority of medical institutions when they hire nurses. For instance, nursing supervisors and case managers must have a BSN degree. This degree is also required for enrollment in graduate studies in nursing.

RN to BSN Program Details

Another course of study commonly offered these days is the RN to BSN program. This program is designed specifically for practicing registered nurses. It builds on what working nurses know, filling in the gaps in theory, research, and other sciences. RN to BSN programs bring together studies in several sciences, among them biology, physics, and social science, as well as liberal arts courses.

Why are liberal arts courses included in the BSN? Liberal arts studies benefit nurses by helping them further develop their intellectual, social and cultural knowledge and skills. The goal of the RN to BSN is to provide nurses with a profound level of usable knowledge and skills through an advanced, integrated knowledge base. Thus, in the socially interactive, diverse and demanding world of nursing, dexterity in scientific, social and cultural areas is an absolute necessity.