A BSN to MSN degree is designed specifically for students who plan to earn both a bachelor's and master's degree in nursing. The nursing students begin work toward their MSN immediately after they complete their BSN program. That said, most schools do require students to pass the NCLEX-RN, the national licensing exam to become registered nurses, before giving them full approval into the MSN program.
The main benefit of BSN to MSN programs is that they are accelerated. Students in BSN to MSN programs generally take about three years to complete all of their coursework. A master's degree itself generally takes about two years for a nursing student to complete, so students can save time and money on their education. Students who earn their master's degree of science in nursing increase their chances of employment as a registered nurse and also have a wide variety of other career opportunities.
Nurses who have their master's of science in nursing become qualified to work as nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, nurse midwives and nurse anesthetists. Individuals in these careers earn higher salaries than other registered nurses. Many programs give students the opportunity to decide which of these areas they would like to concentrate in. A master's degree in nursing also allows individuals to work as nurse educators at community colleges or vocational and technical schools.
BSN to MSN degrees are offered through many colleges and universities in traditional classroom settings. It is also possible to find BSN to MSN degrees offered entirely through distance learning at colleges and universities, as well as online schools. Many colleges and universities give students the option to take courses in classrooms or through distance learning. Note that those who earn their degree online will need to arrange to have their clinical hours at an approved health care facility.
Some schools allow registered nurses who have earned their bachelor's degree in another field to complete a BSN to MSN degree program. Many schools allow students who have graduated with a bachelor's degree in nursing from another college to enroll in a BSN to MSN degree program to complete their master's, which generally takes about one year. Some schools have requirements in addition to basic admission, such as drug screening.