Even with America's health care system in crisis, there's still a silver lining for some health care professions. Topping the list is nursing, says the U.S. Department of Labor, which projects that registered nurses will outstrip all but one other profession as the fastest growing segment of the U.S. job market through the year 2020. However, many of the jobs the economy is expected to create may remain unfilled because of a lack of qualified nursing professionals.

A learn-to-earn mentality is the surest way of getting in on the expected boom in nursing jobs. Several educational paths are open to those eager to become a registered nurse. These include a Bachelor's of Science degree in nursing (BSN), an Associate's Degree in nursing (ADN), or a diploma program. If you're just embarking on one of these paths, you may want to consider the pros and cons of enrolling in a BSN degree program as your first step towards a nursing career.

Opting right away for the BSN path makes good career sense. Nurses with a BSN are much more likely to advance in their profession, says the Department of Labor, a standpoint bolstered by the fact that higher paying administrative jobs in the nursing profession almost always require a Bachelor's degree. A BSN undergraduate degree is also required to enroll in a graduate nursing program, a must if your ultimate goal is a career in one of the four advanced nursing specialties - clinical nurse, nurse anesthetist, nurse midwife, or nurse practitioner.

Of course, not everyone is just now preparing to enter the nursing profession. There are many RNs already actively at work in the nursing profession. Nurses like these can also take advantage of the brighter career prospects offered by a BSN degree by completing a RN-to-BSN program. According to the latest figures available, there were about 600 RN-to-BSN programs offered in the United States.

The nation's largest online university, the University of Phoenix (UOP) is often the first choice for applicants looking for a respected BSN or RN-to-BSN degree program. Working adults often find these programs ideal, especially if they want to leverage the many advantages of distance learning while continuing to work in their chosen field. The programs meld online courses with supervised hands-on clinical work at leading hospitals and health care centers. In addition to nursing, the curriculum includes classes in anatomy, physiology and microbiology, chemistry, nutrition, psychology and other behavioral sciences. A sprinkling of liberal arts rounds out the course of study.

Finding answers to your questions about the UOP's BSN or RN-to-BSN programs is as easy as filling out a request for information form at the UOP website. UOP follows up on requests by delegating an experienced counselor from the university's counseling staff to explore your educational and career goals, scholarship opportunities and the possibility of financial aid.

Tags: Bsn Degree, Nursing, online nursing degree, Registered Nurse, Rn-to-bsn

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