BSN Salary

What is a BSN?

bsn salaryThe term of BSN is referred to as the Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree, or it can be perceived as well as a registered nurse with Bachelor of Science degree in nursing. The BSN programs will help students to develop the necessary skills and to prepare for a great career in nursing by adding knowledge and a well-shaped education line. You’ll gain fundamental practice in a nursing career as well as you’ll learn about the advanced techniques that are to be found in nursing care.

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree can be seen as a must do in order to get an entry level position. Working as a BSN nurse you’ll have plenty of job duties that will often vary.

Job Description of a BSN

The significance of job duties that a BSN nurse is generally undertaking can be resumed as a variety of tasks and job duties. For instance, a BSN nurse will have to keep a track of the medical conditions of patients, as well as to monitor their symptoms and the changes that might occur in the health condition of a patient. Maintain a record and inform the doctor.

They will work with other specialty healthcare professionals such as doctors. Their tasks on this line are to assist them while they are performing the medical examinations of the patients. Communicating on an effective level is a very required and necessary skill that every BSN nurse must possess. They will have to communicate with the family members of each patient about their condition and explain as well the treatment procedure and other queries related to this.

If a patient has to go through a particular treatment, then the BSN nurse will have to be emotional supportive and keep a track of the patient’s progress. As BSN nurse, you’ll have to manage responsibilities such as supervising a team of RN’s (Registered Nurses) who were assigned under you. You’ll have to check if every nurse is taking her job responsibilities seriously and in a proper manner.

As professionals, the BSN nurses will have to improve the quality of the services that are performed by registered nurses and implement where needed right strategies.

How to Become a BSN?

Talking about education in a nursing career can be a very exciting and interesting topic. First you’ll have to identify your dream and be sure that this is truly what you want. The second step is to make sure that your high school scores are great, and you are certainly informed about the possibilities that suit you the most.

A BSN program has first to be accredited by a specialized institution. The program has a period of four years of studies but if you’ve just enrolled in and you have a previous degree or nursing coursework then you might finish in two years.

The BSN programs have a specific curriculum, and they are divided into laboratory work, clinical experience and, of course, the classroom studies. Being offered by universities, colleges and other high learning institutions they have rooted in their educational system a more extensive clinical experiences compared to other associate’s level degree opportunities or offerings.

Entering in one of the BSN programs you’ll have to possess a high school diploma or its equivalent. The prerequisites for these types of programs vary according to the degree program and by an institution. For instance, some of the schools will not require student’s for specific course prerequisites before they can follow major coursework.

Still you’ll find out that there are plenty of other institutions that will require from their students to have completed courses that involve English, communications, philosophy, science, social studies and even statistics. Before accessing the nursing major courses depending on the institution, you are required as a student to complete the basic anatomy and physiology courses.

The BSN program lasts for four years, and this program will begin as mentioned in the majority of institutions only by completing the pre-nursing coursework, regardless of the specialization the student wants to follow. Pre-nursing training involves a mix of developments that prepare the nursing students for the rigorous, and exhausting nursing program.

The BSN programs will involve course topics such as pharmacology, microbiology, health care systems, medical ethics, nutrition, research in nursing. Other topics are such as patient psychology, as well as others that are very important, and it will qualify you for a long term career in nursing.

You’ll have plenty of advancement opportunities in the nursing field by choosing to continue your education. The BSN graduates will become RN’s after they pass the National Council Licensure Examination-Registered Nurse that is mainly known as NCLEX-RN, and you’ll gain your status as an RN.

This examination is officially held by the NCSBN also known as the National Council of State Boards of Nursing. Completing these exams, you’ll have the right to own a state license.

In other cases as a BSN graduate, you have the opportunity to pursue higher education or obtain a further specialization that can be found in the nursing field. A BSN allows you to move from the level of technical nursing practice to the one of professional of nursing practice.

Work Environment and Schedule

As an RN, you’ll find plenty of work in many settings such as hospitals, physician’s offices, schools, corporations. You can even assist in the military and other facilities while being a BSN your work opportunities are doubled in the healthcare industry. As a BSN, you can also work as an Operating Room nurse, or even supervise every nurse that can be found in the OR. You can even become an officer in the military or work in this field.

You can get a greater control if you are an RN with a BSN since you can choose your job. You can also choose the location, the frequency of your travel as well as the intensity that can be found in your schedule. The schedule of a BSN will vary according to the type of facility and to the work that you have to commit to.

Pros and Cons of Being a BSN

The pros of having a BSN start with the very rewarding job opportunities, as well as chances for advancement in the nursing field. With a BSN, your salary will increase. The education that is offered through a BSN will develop in you the critical thinking skills on a higher level. Not mention that you’ll have a deeper knowledge and understanding of the influences that affect many times the delivery in the health care system.

The BSN will prepare you also for the roles of supervisor or those that involve administrative parts that are not open to those nurses who only possess an associate’s degree. The job opportunities and the chances for advancement can be fulfilled through a further education. For instance, if you’d like to become a nurse practitioner or an advance practice nurse then you’ll need an MSN else known as a Master of Science in Nursing or a doctorate.

The cons that are to be faced in this job are the stress, and the job demanding that many time appears because of the responsibilities. These are highly increased such as the supervisor role or working in the Operating Room. If you savor what you are doing, then you’ll find a way to overpass all the situations that appear.

The disadvantage when pursuing a bachelor’s degree program is that it includes two years of the workforce and two years of loan debt and tuition payments. The BSN programs require a full-time study. A nurse that is possessing a bachelor’s degree might have a slightly higher salary than a nurse with an associate’s degree. But still it might not be enough for any additional debt and the fact that they have to make up for the two years away from the workforce.

BSN job growth

The employment job growth for an individual with a BSN is projected at 19.5% or even a higher rate of increase according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is considered to be a faster than the average growth for all occupations.

The job opportunities are plenty and various according to each region or state. For instance, a BSN-RN can find work within employment facilities such as hospitals, home healthcare services, schools, correctional facilities and other as well. A BSN is considered a major asset to the health care system, leading to greater and higher job opportunities as well as better paid salaries.

This employment growth is mainly due to the educational level that one professional obtains and also due to the public health services that will always be in need for personnel that is well trained, and that knows how to do his or her job best during emergency situations and cases with various health conditions.

BSN Salary

A BSN salary in the United States is estimated to be around $77,010 per year while the upper ten percent working in this field as BSN nurses will receive an income that reaches about $130,010 per year. Those who are perceived as the lower ten percent will receive a salary that is estimated at $55,928 per year and even less.

A BSN nurse salary is estimated based on some influential factors such as the type of work setting, by state and the years of experience. According to the work setting a BSN nurse hired at healthcare services will earn a salary that reaches about $70,031 per year. Furthermore, those who are working in hospitals will earn a salary of about $66,094 per year.

Those who are working in rehabilitation facilities will take home a salary that reaches about $67,499 per year. Also, those BSN nurses who are working at Health insurance agencies receive a typical income of about $72,813 per year.

The annual salary for a BSN nurse in US is estimated to reach at about $67,016 per year with an average hourly rate of around $22.95 per hour. The average annual salary in US for these professionals is estimated to range between $49,856 and $130,210 per year with a yearly bonus that is granted and included of around $508.

The years of experience in the working setting have a word to say as well. One BSN nurse with less than one year in the field will take home an income estimated at $50,734 per year. Those who have between one year and four years of work experience will take a salary that is estimated at $60,373 per year.

Those who have 10 to 19 years of work experience in the field will earn a salary that reaches about $71,968 per year. Also, those with more than 20 years in the field will gain a salary that is estimated at around $77,036 per year.

According to the states, those who pay the best a BSN nurse can be found in California with an income estimated at $82,096 per year. At the same time, New York comes with a great offer of around $72,387 per year, Texas with $71,517, Florida $67,016 per year and other states come with their offers too.

Salary of a BSN in 2015

The salary of a BSN in 2015 is influenced by the same economic factors that were mentioned before. People will always be in a need for a BSN nurse. This happens since her training is estimated at a higher level, and the rate of mortality is lower.

The increase in the salary is being made on a constant growth since many employers will ask that an RN should possess a BSN. According to the setting in which you are working, the salary that you gain will differ. Still the figures are great since the health care industry is developing and constantly growing.

The percent of those who own a BSN is much higher than those who are only qualified as simple RN’s. This meaning that the job opportunities in this field are many, and you can find what will suit you the most.

BSN Salary in 2016

A BSN’s salary in the US, for the year 2016, is mainly influenced according to the type of specialization, the geographical location, as well as based upon the years of experienced gained in the field, and the type of employment.

According to the PayScale, salary data survey a BSN-RN or else known as an employee with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree- Registered Nurse, can expect at an average median income of around $59,981 per year with bonuses that can reach up to $1,004. A Nursing Manager that holds a BSN can expect to take home around $81,868 per year, with bonuses that get around $1,518, while a Family Nurse Practitioner can expect to earn around $88,967 per year with granted bonuses that can climb up to $4,914.

The income also increases when it comes to the years of the experience factor. For instance, one who holds a BSN with less than one year of activity will earn around $58,876 while one individual that has between 1 and up to 4 years of experience in the field will take home around $66,243. Those professionals who already have between 5 and 9 years of practice can expect at an income that gets around $71,208. At the same time, the BSNs with 10 and up to 19 years will gain around $77,697. The veterans in this field, with more than 20 years who already have plenty of experience in the field and a lot of working activity can expect at earnings that reach at $80,724.

The salaries also oscillate when it comes to states and provinces sue mainly to the cost of living in those particular areas as well as the living expenses and a few other factors. For instance in Texas, an individual with a BSN can expect at an average earning that goes up to $74,249 per year while someone who is located in New York can enjoy an income that gets at around $78,852 per year. The highest earnings can be found in California, where a BSN will gain around $90,072 per year.

BSN Salary in Canada, Australia and United Kingdom

  • In Canada, the average total yearly salary for a BSN nurse is estimated to range between C$58,328 and C$109,967 per year. The hourly wage is estimated between C$23.32 and C$35.97 per hour with an increase over time reaching between C$40.59 and C$53.45 per hour.
  • The BSNs, who are working in Australia, will gain an average yearly salary of AU$62,378 per year, due to the median hourly wage that is estimated between AU$22.49 and AU$36.97 per hour. This hourly wage in time will increase reaching to be estimated between AU$25.18 and AU$49.82 per hour. The estimated total annual salary in Australia for a BSN will range between AU$54,010 and AU$185,010 per year.
  • In UK, for instance, the expected average salary is estimated to be around £28,137 per year while the median expected salary of a BSN is estimated at £25,010 per year. The yearly bonus that is included as well is estimated to reach about £689 per year. A yearly salary in the United Kingdom for these professionals is estimated to range between £17,039 and £32,652 per year. The salaries vary according to the age, and a person who is working in a position and is in her 20s will take home a salary that is estimated at around £21,104. Also, who is in her 30s will take home an income of about £27,549 per year. Those who already are in their 50s will gain an income that is estimated around £32,640 per year.

Conclusion on BSN Salary

With an average hourly wage estimated at $22.95 per hour and an annual salary that reaches at $70,334 per year and with plenty of job opportunities, having a BSN is one of the best investments. The education that you get and the deep understanding will turn you into one of the best nurses.

The BSN salary is influenced by factors that determine the process of growth in the healthcare system. People are in need for these specialists and their support in hard periods as well as many facilities desire to hire many registered nurses who already possess a BSN.

Having a BSN will increase your chances for gaining a good salary. If you are not that stable and connected with your life and a state, in particular, you have other options. Then you can try finding a good job as BSN nurse in a state that is quoted as one of the highest paying in this field.

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  • First Published Date: 26 April, 2015
  • Last Updated Date: 17 September, 2016