Nursing Career Paths
Demand for nurses continues to rise and with the B.S. degree becoming the degree of choice for many healthcare facilities, baccalaureate-educated nurses are highly marketable.
Additionally, the Penn State B.S.N. degree creates a strong foundation for continuing into advanced nursing roles through a variety of graduate level nursing programs. The versatility of the B.S. degree provides graduates with the skills and background to pursue the career path that is right for them.
Nurses have countless options to explore different specialties, advance into leadership roles, and continue with lifelong learning while providing high quality nursing care to their clients.
Careers
Registered Nurses (R.N.s) will find that they have more job opportunities and career stability with a B.S. degree. Penn State R.N. to B.S. graduates can choose from numerous career opportunities and work in different aspects of the healthcare industry, including:
- Administrative or management positions
- Education
- Research
- Consulting
- Community and public health centers
- Social work case management
- Specialization areas
- Pharmaceutical sales
- Insurance
Opportunities for graduate studies
A baccalaureate degree in nursing is typically required to pursue advanced degrees in nursing, which prepares the nurse for roles such as nurse educator, nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, nurse midwife, nurse anesthetist, nurse administrator and nurse researcher.
The College of Nursing at Penn State offers several advanced-degree options for B.S.-educated nurses, including the Master of Science in Nursing degree offered at the Shenango Campus. This Nurse Practitioner program offered students two options:
- Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
- Family Nurse Practitioner
On-campus options are available for nurses interested in advanced clinical practice roles such as a Nurse Practitioner, or in research through the Ph.D. program. Several online options are offered to provide flexibility to working nurses across the country. These programs include M.S. degrees in Nurse Administration and Nurse Education and a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree for nurses pursuing specialization in healthcare leadership.