Demand for nurses continues to rise and with the B.S.N. degree becoming the degree of choice for many healthcare facilities, baccalaureate-educated nurses are highly marketable. The US  Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 194,500 average annual openings for registered nurses between 2020 and 2030, with employment projected to to grow 9%.

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.N. 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.) will find that they have more job opportunities and career stability with a B.S.N. degree. Penn State R.N. to B.S.N. 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 Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing at Penn State offers several advanced-degree options, most are delivered online with flexible schedule offerings. For example, nurses with a B.S.N. can enroll in the college's Master of Science in Nursing program with Nurse Educator or Nurse Administrator options. Further, the college offers an online Doctor of Nursing Practice degree with options for leadership and nurse practitioner specialties. The DNP-NP program was designed as a B.S.N. to D.N.P. program and is also delivered online through the World Campus.

Master of Science in Nursing

Doctor of Nursing Practice

Additionally, students enrolled in a Penn State Nursing program have access to all of the resources of a Big 10 R1 research university. Meaning student's can be involved in active research in areas of interest, only further helping solidify a student's future as a nurse expert. On-campus options are available for nurses interested in the B.S.N. to Ph.D. program.

Interested in learning more about enrolling in a Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing graduate program? Email our Student Recruiter Cody Hoffman to learn more!