Nurses share 5 unexpected advantages of earning a BSN

(Content courtesy of Chamberlain College of Nursing) Joyce Ellis, BSN, RN, CDE decided to pursue the RN to BSN Online option at Chamberlain College of Nursing when she found her job search limited, despite over 40 years of experience as a nurse. During her time in this system, Ellis achieved top grades, graduated with President’s Honors, and was offered a brand new position. The experience of educational improvement had a profound and lasting impact on her and even led her to think about pursuing a master’s degree. “I thought, ‘I’ll just take this piece of paper and I won’t learn anything new. I have been a nurse for 40 years,’” she said. “I learned a lot. I learned so many things. I found that when I went to meetings at work, I even used language I had never used before, and it helped me stand out.” Ellis and other Chamberlain graduates Online RN to BSN option shared unexpected ways during which earning a bachelor’s degree has benefited them each personally and professionally.

1. Connected me with nurses across the country

“I really enjoyed communicating with nurses from all over the country at different stages of their nursing careers,” said Theresa Peters, BSN, RN, nurse practitioner at Cancer Treatment Centers of America. “There are so many things we can learn from each other.” Nurses with diverse experiences and backgrounds come together in this system’s online environment. Through online discussions, students learn from one another, in addition to from nursing staff, and gain a broader perspective on care. “Completing the BSN program improved my nursing rating and also allowed me to see how other parts of the country handle patient care,” said graduate Kelli Mowrer, BSN, RN.

2. He made me love learning

When Donna Castellani, MSN, RN, returned to highschool, she was amazed at how supportive and inspired her professors were in a web-based environment. “During my second or third nursing course, I realized that I had a renewed enthusiasm for learning,” she said. “The professors I met online were so knowledgeable and helpful that they inspired me to pursue a teaching career.” Castellani selected to proceed her education through the RN-BSN to MSN Online Option, Educator Specialty Track, and today is a school member on the Chamberlain campus in North Brunswick.

3. He helped me grow to be a pc wizard

“The program has helped me grow in many ways,” Peters said. “I got to know my computer very well, so developing my computer skills was a plus.” The considered going back to highschool after 40 years and taking online courses was a bit daunting for Ellis. “Being an older student, I don’t have the computer skills of a 20-year-old,” she said. “The first time I had to take a quiz, I took it at my son’s house only because I panicked that my computer would crash. He put me in a quiet room and we set up two computers.” Her comfort with navigating the pc quickly improved, and she or he had the additional benefit of knowing that technical support was available 24/7 to resolve any technical issues she encountered along the best way.

4. I actually have developed greater confidence in my practice

“Personally, I am more confident today as a practitioner,” Mowrer said. “Evidence-based practice was the eye-opening class that most improved my practice work.” Ellis also saw how topics covered in her courses, similar to statistics, were directly applicable to her nursing practice. “Statistics is extremely important in learning to read,” she said. “I even worked as a clinical trial coordinator, but I never really understood how to read studies the way I do now.”

5. He made me proud

“I love feeling the pride of having my BSN,” said Kathleen Hill, BSN, RN, clinical nurse manager. “My BSN tells my colleagues that I study, analyze, interpret, and demand evidence of my nursing practice. I wish I had gone back to highschool 30 years ago.” Ellis’ son told her to put her diploma in a place where she could look at it every day. She chose her living room. “I did it for myself and I’m really proud,” she said. “The first time I wrote BSN, RN, CDE was amazing. In my Capstone course, the professor explained why you put the BSN first – because no one can ever earn a bachelor’s degree in nursing. This will stay with me forever.” Find out more about Chamberlain’s Online RN to BSN option on the Chamberlain College of Nursing website.