Starting your nursing career with a BSN gives you a headstart towards attaining the greatest height.
BSN gives you the bedrock you need to become a registered nurse and earn more in your nursing career. One of the most vital questions being asked by intending RNs is ” how much does a BSN make in an hour?”
This article answers this question in detail and explores other BSN career expectations and how it is different from those of ADN and RN instead.
What is a BSN
A BSN simply stands for Bachelor of Science in Nursing. It can be viewed by some as a job title while many view it as just a pre-qualifying degree to become a registered nurse (RN).
BSN is an undergraduate-level degree taken as the gold standard in nursing education before turning to registered nurses (RNs). This otherwise called BSc Nursing is a stepping stone to your full-on nursing career.
It “introduces you to topics such as patient care technology, research, health promotion, safety and quality within the healthcare system,” said Elizabeth Christman, DNP, RN, CNE, a clinical faculty member of nursing programs at Southern New Hampshire University.
Nowadays, Nurse associations, forums, and nursing care service providers are hitting emphasis on all nurses including nurse aides to obtain a BSN.
Registered Nurses and other specialty nurses go through various training related to nursing theory & ethics, patient care, and clinical practice. However, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) expands on all that.
It brushes up your clinical skills and knowledge. Obtaining a BSN will increase your chances of landing a nursing job according to observations from the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN).
As earlier said, some view BSN as a title, particularly given to fresh graduate nurses. Therefore, it is not surprising that the article’s headline reads: How much does a BSN make an hour.
Related Article: How Much Does A Nurse Practitioner Make In A Year?
BSN Job Description: What does a BSN Do?
The specific job description of a nurse with a BSN can vary depending on the healthcare facility, level of experience, and location.
Many hospitals and healthcare facilities preserve nurses with BSN for certain roles. That implies that the job responsibilities of nurse A may differ from that of nurse B either in the same hospital or at a different location.
Below are 7 different special roles for RNs who have earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, BSN. Please note each of the BSN roles is commonly seen in Magnet Designation Hospitals.
A healthcare facility or hospital offered a Magnet Designation by the ANCC employs well-trained personnel who have obtained a BSN in clinical areas of nursing.
These selected RNs must work in the highest level of quality and safe nursing care, and do their utmost in taking care of the facility, patients, and their families. Please note that our emphasis is on the job role and what salary they make.
These are the highest paying jobs for nurses with BSN.
Infection control RN
This RN works with a team of interdisciplinary physicians, therapists, and fellow bedside nurses. They are responsible for taking measures to prevent and control infections.
Infection control nurses work with the Center for Disease Control (CDC) affiliated hospitals and they make about $67,860 on average in the US.
Nurse Case Manager
A nurse case manager oversees the patient’s affairs with regard to fulfilling his healthcare needs and care plans.
They communicate with the patient’s important family members, health insurance companies, and healthcare service providers to determine eligibility for certain medical treatments or surgical interventions.
Payscale reports that they make $74,921 per year on average in the US.
Charge Nurse
Many magnet designation hospitals love hiring charge nurses to take leadership and administrative roles.
They oversee the activities of the nursing staff and nursing support staff, including overseeing the admission and discharge of patients in different units.
Charge nurses make the national average salary of $79,688 per annum.
Military nurse
This RN works with the U.S. Military to care for wounded soldiers alongside army medics and international health workers.
These active-duty nurses serve in all the divisions of the military in peacekeeping missions and war zones. They make between $58,000 to $101,000 depending on the level of experience and job supply in the assigned area.
Telehealth nurse
As telehealth and telemedicine are gradually becoming a trend for patient care and therapy, telehealth nurses are there to serve patients remotely via virtual means. They make the national average salary of $62,925 per annum
Travel nurses, psychiatric nurses, and anesthetic nurses
These are other nursing specialties that require BSN and their pay is on the higher side, according to the average salary reports from PayScale.
But in all, all nurses have common obligations such as communicating with medical doctors & surgeons about patients’ progress, implementing care plans, maintaining patients’ records, and administering prescribed medications.
But why is there increasing emphasis by employers on a Bachelor of Science in Nursing? What is the difference between BSN and RN?
Related Article: 30 High Paying Career Changes For Nurses in 2022
Difference between BSN and RN
The direct answer is that a BSN has wider job search opportunities than an RN without BSN. Although an RN can practice without BSN, she will not be able to take up administrative positions requiring leadership skills in areas such as research, consulting, and education, according to BLS.
Also, earning a BSN is the way to unlock another option in your nursing education – your MSN. Earning an MSN can lead to the opportunity of getting higher-paying jobs according to Nurse Journal, in roles such as advanced nurse practitioners (ANPs), nurse anesthetists, and nurse consultants.
Should you choose to progress through the different levels of nursing degrees, you may find you’re able to specialize in the areas of nursing that interest you most.
How Long Does It Take to Become a BSN
Earning a BSN degree takes 4 years in college but if you are already a registered nurse, you can complete a BSN program in as little as two years by obtaining the ADN associate degree program.
The ADN degree is good if you want to further your nursing education while you’re working as a registered nurse RN. It is a wise career decision to enroll in one of the RN to BSN programs that help nurses earn a bachelor’s degree, thus increasing your job career edge.
No matter the nursing degree you obtain, all graduates must pass the NCLEX-RN© licensing examination before being officially placed in the ANA registry as a nurse.
Related Article: How Much Does An LPN Make An Hour?
How Much Does a BSN Make?
Now the big question comes: how much does a BSN make per hour? The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that RNs earn an average annual salary of $75,330 which includes both ADN and BSN prepared nurses.
This means that a BSN makes about $36.22 per hour nationwide. Remember that this is just the national average annual salary. Generally speaking, salaries can vary widely depending on the type of nurse specialty, geography, type of healthcare facility, and level of experience plus education degree level.
To find out how much nurses with a BSN earn, Nurse.org ran a salary survey and found that nurses with a BSN earn $40.98 per hour, on average. Which is $3.89 more per hour than ADNs!. Payscale salary report demonstrates that it is better to advance one’s education as nurses with higher education in the nursing field get bigger pay.
PayScale also reports that nurses with a BSN degree earn an average of $88,000 per year, while those with an ADN associate degree earn $72,000 per year.
A recent survey conducted by the AACN found that 40% of hospitals and other health care settings require new hires to have a BSN, while more than 77% of employers express a strong preference for nurses with bachelor’s degrees.
BSN Salary by State & Industry
Your take-home pay as a BSN depends on the state you work. According to BLS, the 5 highest paying states for RNs with or without a Bachelor of Science in Nursing include
- California: $120,560 annual, or $57.96/hr
- Hawaii: $104,830 annual, or $50.40/hr
- Massachusetts: $96,250 annual, or $46.27/hr
- Oregon: $ 96,230 annual, or $46.27/hr
- Alaska: $ 95,270 annual, or $45/81/hr
Your take-home pay as a BSN depends on the type of industry you work in. According to BLS, the 5 highest paying industries for RNs with or without a Bachelor of Science in Nursing include
- Business support services: $106,670 annual, or $51.28/hr
- Federal executive branch: $96,230 annual, or $46.26/hr
- Pharmaceutical and Medicine manufacturing: $92,110 annual, or $44.29/hr
- Investment pools and funds: $91,990 annual, or $44.23/hr
- Office administrative services: $89,490 annual, or $43.02/hr
Is earning a BSN Worth It?
Earning a BSN is totally worth it because it’s increasingly common for many employers to consider only BSN-trained nurses for employment. Many research shows that BSN-trained nurses have slightly sharper clinical skills than registered nurses.
They deliver high-quality nursing care service to patients and they add value to the healthcare facility as a whole.
You may begin your nursing career journey by earning the 4-year BSN degree so that you can earn an ADN degree to further after you’ve successfully become a registered nurse.
How Much Does A BSN Make An Hour FAQs
Yes, the minimum requirements to become a nurse is graduating from a state-approved nursing school and passing the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) – a standardized exam that each state board of nursing uses to license candidates for entry-level nursing practice.
Earning an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) before you begin a BSN program can launch you into the profession sooner. However, RNs are finding that a BSN can offer even more opportunities for career growth and satisfaction beyond RN licensure.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Nursing colleges that host Doctor of nursing practice (DNP) programs typically charge between the range of $40,000 to $70,000. the tuition cost mainly depends on whether the institution is private or public, and the state in which it is located
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