What’s the difference between an RN vs. BSN? An RN is a registered nurse, a licensed professional who assesses and treats patients. A BSN is a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree, which prepares graduates to take the NCLEX licensure exam and become RNs.
As you research nursing schools, you likely will notice acronyms like “RN” and “BSN.” When considering RN vs. BSN, note that “RN” refers to “registered nurse” while “BSN” stands for Bachelor of Science in Nursing.
While sorting through acronyms, be aware there are different pathways toward a nursing career. For example, you might not have to attend a four-year nursing school if you already have a completed non-nursing degree or at least 60 college credits. Instead, consider the Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program at Felician University, where you could earn your nursing degree in as few as 16 months.
Before enrolling in school, you’ll need to learn the BSN and RN meanings. Take a closer look at the educational and training requirements before making an informed decision for your future.
What It Means to Be an RN vs. BSN
To develop a better understanding of the BSN and RN meanings, take a closer look at each term individually.
What Is an RN?
An RN is a registered nurse who has a nursing degree and passed a licensure exam. They are licensed by their state board of nursing (BON) to provide patient care in a variety of practice areas and settings.
RNs can:
- Assess patients and monitor their conditions
- Perform health assessments and tests
- Administer medications and other treatments
- Provide patient and family caregiver education
- Assist other clinical providers during procedures
- Advocate for their patients’ best interests
RNs can choose from an incredible variety of specialties and jobs within nursing. For example, they can specialize in working with children, older adults, cancer patients, or patients with kidney failure. RNs work in various settings, including hospitals, outpatient care centers, emergency medical evacuation flights, and schools.
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What Is a BSN?
If an RN is a professional nurse, what is a BSN? A BSN is not a professional job title. Rather, it’s a nursing degree. The Bachelor of Science in Nursing allows graduates to take the licensure exam required to become an RN.
A traditional BSN program typically takes four years to complete. This type of nursing degree is designed for students with a high school diploma but no prior college education. Not every prospective nurse must attend a four-year nursing program, however. An accelerated BSN program, such as those available at Felician University, can allow you to graduate in as few as 16 months.
At Felician University, we offer both a Hybrid ABSN, which includes online coursework, and an On-Ground ABSN program, which is completed in person at our main campus. These types of ABSN programs leverage your prior non-nursing college education so you can earn your BSN on a faster timeline.
Earning a BSN, through either a four-year program or an accelerated one, is one of the main pathways toward becoming an RN, but it’s not the only one. It’s also possible to become an RN with an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN). The ADN is typically a two-year program offered at community colleges. Graduating from an ADN program qualifies individuals to sit for the NCLEX-RN and obtain RN licensure.
This raises the question: How do ADN-prepared RNs vs. BSN-prepared RNs compare? Is one program more advantageous than the other? It can be helpful to compare these two paths before making an enrollment decision.
Education and Training Requirements for Each Path
The main requirements for becoming an RN are earning a nursing degree and passing the NCLEX-RN to obtain licensure. Both a BSN and an ADN will qualify you to take the NCLEX-RN.
Earning an ADN might seem like a good move for those who want to get started in nursing quickly. Keep in mind, however, that an ADN will limit your career opportunities. You may find it difficult to pursue career advancement, as you cannot enroll in a graduate-level nursing degree program without a BSN. Furthermore, employers typically prefer to hire nurses with a BSN over those with an ADN because BSN-prepared nurses are associated with better patient outcomes.
Not only can a BSN open more opportunities to you after passing the NCLEX-RN, but you can also decide to go back to school later and build on your education in preparation for career advancement. Plus, the more comprehensive education offered by a BSN may help you feel more confident as a new nurse.
How to Choose Between RN and BSN Based on Your Goals
Now that you have a general idea of the differences between ADN-prepared RNs vs. BSN-prepared RNs, you’ll need to make a decision for your future. Consider the following factors:
Better Patient Outcomes
Often, nurses choose to enter the profession because they have a genuine interest in helping others in need. Serious or chronic health problems can take a heavy toll on an individual’s emotional well-being as well as their physical health. The attentiveness of a caring and friendly nurse can make all the difference, letting patients know they’re not going through it alone.
Although ADN-prepared nurses can certainly provide attentive care to patients like BSN-prepared nurses, studies show that nurses who earn a BSN tend to contribute to better patient outcomes.
For example, a recent study demonstrates that when hospitals have more RNs with a BSN, inpatient mortality rates decline. Other studies have found that BSN-prepared RNs are better prepared to implement evidence-based practices.
Employer Preference
Because RNs who have earned a BSN are better prepared to contribute to improved patient outcomes, unsurprisingly, many healthcare employers prefer to hire them over ADN-prepared nurses.
In fact, for some jobs and healthcare settings, a BSN is a minimum requirement. For example, all Magnet hospitals in the U.S. require all nurse leaders and nurse managers to earn at least a baccalaureate degree.
Career Opportunities and Advancement Options
Another compelling reason to choose a BSN instead of an ADN is the potential for career advancement. To pursue advanced positions, such as a role as an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN), you will need to earn a graduate nursing degree. To earn a graduate degree, you’ll first need a BSN.
Alternatively, some nurses choose to focus on the administrative side of healthcare later in their careers. As health service managers or administrators, nurses can work to ensure their organization provides the best possible care to patients. Other RNs decide to become nurse educators at universities, where they educate future nurses.
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Salary and Job Outlook Considerations
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that RNs earned a median annual salary of $93,600 as of May 2024. The job growth rate is expected to be 5% from 2024 through 2034, faster than average. While these statistics from the BLS do not differentiate between nurses with an ADN vs. BSN, nurses with a BSN can generally expect to hold higher salary command and to be in greater demand compared to nurses with less education.
Earn Your BSN Faster at Felician University
At Felician University, we aim to make a nursing career more accessible. You can choose between our Hybrid ABSN and On-Ground ABSN, which can be completed in as few as 16 months. Admission requirements include a minimum of 60 college credits or a non-nursing bachelor’s degree to get started. We offer a comprehensive, values-based curriculum that emphasizes nursing leadership and patient advocacy.
Contact an admissions counselor today to get started.