If you are thinking of advancing your career by becoming a nurse manager, now is the time. The University of South Carolina Aiken’s online Registered Nurse (RN) to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program can be an important step toward a rewarding career as a nurse manager.
What Is a Nurse Manager?
A nurse manager is a leader who oversees nursing staff on a designated floor or unit of a hospital, rehab center, nursing home or other medical facility.
As a recent article from Vivian Health noted, transitioning from a bedside RN position to a nurse manager role requires education and experience fitting the wealth of new responsibilities that nurse leaders take on. These responsibilities can include scheduling staff, resource allocation and budgeting, along with managing myriad issues that come up day to day. Nurse managers can utilize the influence they have to help improve patient care, working conditions and employee well-being.
Why You Need a BSN
Given the ever-evolving healthcare environment, obtaining a BSN is more important than ever for professional advancement in nursing. To be considered for a nurse manager position, you will likely need at least a BSN. Going beyond the ADN or nursing diploma to a BSN provides the foundation needed to improve your practice, develop leadership skills and succeed in a position as a nurse manager.
The USC Aiken RN to BSN online program can help you:
- Learn the strategic thinking skills necessary to effectively manage a staff as you work alongside them
- Develop effective communication skills to collaborate with the different networks in healthcare settings
- Enrich your patient care knowledge to enable you to train your staff and become a more effective caregiver
- Cultivate your organizational skills to manage multi-level schedules
This program empowers you to learn all of the above and more in a flexible online format while continuing to work as an RN.
Nurses are taking on more and more responsibility in a changing healthcare landscape. These increasing responsibilities mean more management positions are opening up to nurses. Preparing yourself for these openings is a wise move.
Benefits of a BSN
Moving from an ADN or nursing diploma to a BSN allows you to raise your professional expectations, making it one of the smartest things you can do for your nursing career. The following are a few advantages of earning a BSN:
- BSN holders generally earn higher salaries. According to October 2022 data from ZipRecruiter, the average salary for a BSN nurse is $99,050 per year versus a $76,721 average annual salary for RNs.
- Many nursing jobs now require a BSN. For example, having a BSN or higher is a requirement for nurse managers and other nurse leaders at top-level hospitals with Magnet designation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center.
- BSN programs go beyond clinical skills. RN to BSN curricula cover communication, leadership and critical thinking skills, to name just a few.
- Research has linked improved patient outcomes with higher (BSN) levels of nursing education.
By deciding to earn a BSN, you are investing in not only your career, but also your future. The RN to BSN online program at USC Aiken offers a way for you to make this transition while continuing to work. USC Aiken is ready to walk with you toward a more successful future in nursing. You just have to take the first step.
Learn more about the University of South Carolina Aiken online RN to BSN program.
