Nursing

Nursing Professional Development: Opportunities for BSN Graduates

Written by: University of Tulsa • Sep 23, 2024

Nurses sitting and talking around a table.

Nursing Professional Development: Opportunities for BSN Graduates

According to 2024 data from the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, nursing is the largest health care profession, with approximately 4.8 million registered nurses. As of 2022, roughly 71% of registered nurses earned a bachelor’s degree, according to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing’s Workforce Fact Sheet.

For Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) graduates, professional development is an ongoing pursuit that can include one-time courses, specialty certifications, or advanced degrees. Since nursing is an ever-changing and complex career, the subject matter will often align with the demands of the field – technical advancements or clinical expertise in an emerging topic, for example.

Professional development helps BSN graduates stay up to date with the latest evidence-based practices, and it can also help nurses define their career goals. Whether graduates have just completed their studies or have a significant amount of practical experience, nursing professional development is a smart way for nurses to thrive in their current roles while expanding their knowledge.

What Is Nursing Professional Development?

This term refers to the process of learning and training to stay current and improve one’s knowledge of the nursing field. For BSN graduates, it could mean learning new nursing techniques while on the job, completing online modules, or enrolling in a graduate degree program. Keep in mind that professional development isn’t a one-time activity.

The goal is to ensure that registered nurses are equipped to handle the medical needs of a range of patients and adapt to rapid changes. Nurse advancement opportunities are abundant. The type of professional development often corresponds to a set of personal goals, interests, or those set by an employer. Examples of goals for BSN graduates could include:

Joining a professional nursing organization
Volunteering in the community
Deciding on a nurse specialty
Becoming a subject-matter expert
Improving leadership or interpersonal skills
Participating in a Clinical Ladder program
Finding a mentor
Becoming a nurse practitioner within 3 years
Contributing to research projects
Advancing technical knowledge of work-related equipment or services (e.g., medical device carts, telehealth)

Why Is Nursing Professional Development Important?

Continuing education isn’t just for BSN graduates. However, as a recent graduate, it’s an opportune time to build skills while demonstrating ambition and marketability to future employers. Establishing professional development goals is crucial to nurses who want to monitor their growth.

Helps Keep Current With Nursing Trends

Since continuing education requirements are typically counted every two years, nurses can incorporate their new skills into hands-on patient care as they’re learning. For example, when new technologies such as smart beds or digital monitors are developed or mandated, nurses have the opportunity to learn something new that could improve the lives of patients.

By continuing their studies, nurses can continue to meet the demands of patients. As nurses learn the latest industry knowledge and skills, they gain the ability to further improve patient outcomes and satisfaction levels. Completing additional training ensures that nurses know the most recent nursing practices and evidence-based approaches.

Contributes to Career Advancement

One way to reach one’s nursing goals is to seek opportunities that fall in line with an established career plan. For nursing school graduates, professional development can open doors to a range of specializations that could alter their career trajectories. For instance, pursuing nurse leadership roles (e.g., nurse executive, nurse manager) can lead to higher salaries, more career opportunities, and increased job satisfaction. It’s important to plan achievable goals so the advancement process doesn’t seem so daunting.

Some examples of advanced or alternative career paths for BSN graduates include:

Critical care nurse (CCN)
Public health nurse
Travel nurse
Nurse educator
School nurse
Nurse administrator

Meets Employment Requirements

Health care employers typically have an established number of continuing education credits that BSN graduates must earn every two years. Some state boards of nursing also require continuing education courses for registered nurses, though not all. These courses usually do not lead to another degree, and they often focus on a specialty area.

Leads to Potential Pay Increases

By participating in professional development activities, nurses have the opportunity to expand their career options and advance their pay overtime. As of May 2023, the median salary for registered nurses was approximately $86,100, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Here are some examples of job titles and their median salaries from the BLS. Actual salaries vary by location, experience, and industry.

Nurse anesthetists: $212,700
Nurse midwives: $129,700
Nurse practitioners: $126,300
Medical and health services managers: $110,700
Postsecondary nursing instructors and teachers: $86,500

Avenues for Nursing Professional Development for BSN Graduates

A March 2024 report from the National Center for Health Workforce Analysis shows that roughly 40% of registered nurses have earned an advanced certificate or second degree. About 17% earned a master’s degree and 2.9% obtained a doctoral degree in nursing.

Here are more details on common nursing professional development options for BSN graduates:

Pursue an Advanced Degree

Nurses have quite a few degree options, and they appeal to different learners with different goals. Two considerations for working nurses are time and cost. Several schools offer accelerated or dual-degree programs to lessen the amount of time that students need to be enrolled. Since cost is also an important factor, financial aid packages are abundant, as are nursing scholarships. Many graduate degrees are geared toward nursing leadership and research, so if those areas are part of your career plan, an advanced degree may be worth considering.

Master of Science in Nursing

A Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree is often the next step for BSN graduates. These programs focus on topics such as leadership, nursing science, health promotion, nurse theory, and nurse policies. These programs typically take two years to complete.

For students who plan on using their nursing degree in a non-clinical way, these degree programs and careers options may be applicable:

Master of Business Administration (MBA)/MSN: Chief nursing officer, nursing home administrator
Master of Health Administration/MSN: Hospital manager, nurse consultant
Master of Public Health/MSN: Public health nurse, community health director

An MSN degree is also the minimum requirement to become an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN). These nurses differ from traditional registered nurses because they can prescribe medication and diagnose health conditions. Depending on the state, they can perform their duties without the presence of a physician.

MSN graduates may be able to pursue these APRN roles:

Nurse practitioner (NP)
Certified nurse midwife (CNM)
Clinical nurse specialist (CNS)
Certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA)
Chief nursing officer (CNO)
Community health medical director
Nursing curriculum developer
Chief nursing informatics officer
Nurse consultant
Director of nursing

Doctoral Nursing Degrees

A doctoral degree is the highest level of nursing degree. These programs typically take 2-6 years to complete, and they’re usually focused on research or advanced nursing practice. With a doctoral degree, individuals may seek clinical and non-clinical positions in organizational leadership, research, analysis, and direct patient care.

There are three doctoral nursing degrees available:

Doctor of Nursing Practice. At this level, nurses focus on leadership and clinical practice to pursue positions where they can lead health care teams, influence nursing policies, and implement cutting-edge solutions.
Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing. This degree enables registered nurses to perform medical research, teach nursing students, manage health care organizations, and find employment in government positions.
Doctor of Nursing Science. Research is at the center of this type of advanced nursing degree. It’s less common than the former two options. Graduates can seek positions as nurse educators, researchers, analysts, and administrators.

Examples of nursing careers that may require a doctoral career include:

Chief nursing executive
Health policy analyst
Medical writer
Program director
Research manager
Nurse informaticist
Medical services manager
Postsecondary teacher

Earn a Speciality Nursing Certification

Earning a professional certification is a great way to demonstrate expertise in a specialized field. Certifications may last one to two years and require continuing education to renew them. In some instances, employers may reimburse or cover the expense of a certification course or program. For BSN graduates, hiring managers may require candidates to obtain a certification before being hired or during a job’s probationary period. These certifications are common options for new graduates:

Basic Life Support

A basic life support (BLS) certification is one of the most critical forms of nursing professional development. Not only is it crucial for working with patients, but it’s typically a requirement for new registered nurses. Some nursing programs allow students to become BLS-certified while completing their undergraduate coursework.

Organizations like the American Red Cross and the American Heart Association offer BLS courses online and in person. Learning basic life-support techniques enables registered nurses to respond quickly to medical emergencies. Some of the course topics include cardiopulmonary resuscitation, opioid overdoses, visual survey, obstructed airways, and critical thinking. Individuals must pass a practical skills test as well as a written test. Certification has to be renewed every two years.

Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support

Much like the BLS certification, nurses can complete an advanced cardiovascular life support (ACLS) course through organizations like the American Heart Association and the American Red Cross. This type of training builds on BLS course material but concentrates on advanced cardiopulmonary resuscitation techniques. Students learn how to recognize and manage cardiac and respiratory arrests. The ACLS certification also requires a written examination. It’s valid for two years and requires continuing education for renewal.

Pediatric Advanced Life Support

Pediatric advanced life support (PALS) certification focuses on how to respond to medical emergencies for infants and children. Health professionals actively participate in hands-on clinical scenarios and watch pediatric patient videos and simulations. Nurses must hold a BLS certification to take this course. Students must pass a written exam to achieve the two-year certification that must also be renewed.

Trauma Nursing Core Course

This course is ideal for BSN graduates because the only requirement is a valid registered nurse license, while some certifications require years of experience. The Trauma Nursing Core Course (TNCC) certification trains nurses to think critically and perform immediate medical attention in trauma settings like emergency rooms and operating rooms. Most classes feature simulations, the latest trauma nursing practices, as well as assessment and care techniques.

Complete Continuing Education Courses

Continuing education is more than just a workplace requirement. It allows nurses to brush up on their skills or explore a new subject. For BSN graduates who came to nursing from another career , continuing education may be an opportunity to shape the direction of their careers by taking courses that appeal to their interests. Continuing education courses are available online and in person, and may include webinars, workshops, classes, and conferences. They typically have flexible schedules to meet the demands of working nurses.

In-service training is education that is offered by an employer during work hours. For BSN graduates, this may be a great chance to learn on the job through workshops, classes, or job shadowing opportunities. Examples of in-service topics include:

New equipment training
Patient rights and responsibilities
Medication administration
Stress management
Cultural competency
Infection control strategies
Documentation
Emergency procedures

Find a Mentor

For BSN graduates, a mentor is a valuable professional resource to navigate the field. Graduates can seek mentors through professional organizations, recruiting events, school guidance counselors, word-of-mouth, or their jobs. Mentors provide guidance, insights, and support to help new graduates get adjusted to this field and achieve their goals. The American Nurses Association (ANA) offers a mentorship program for members.

Engage in Networking

Similar to mentorship, forming a professional network of fellow recent graduates, experienced nurses, and mentors can help graduates feel less isolated and overwhelmed. Both extroverted and introverted nurses can benefit from networking. One of the best ways to network is in social settings or by joining a professional nursing organization. There are state and local organizations, along with the American Nurses Association (ANA), and specialty nurse organizations.

Read Trade Publications and Journals

Another way that BSN graduates can stay informed is by reading professional publications and journals. New nurses can gain insight into new trends, medical breakthroughs, clinical tips, practice updates, and continuing education options by subscribing to nursing publications like The American Journal of Nursing or American Nurse Today.

Additional Nursing Professional Development Resources

With so many well-known professional development options available, it can be easy to miss some of the lesser-known resources that are available year round.

Specialty Nurses Organizations

As BSN graduates navigate to their areas of interest, there are specialty nursing organizations that can offer additional expertise and relevance that are relevant to their background or education level. Some of them are:

National Association of Hispanic Nurses (NAHN)
National Black Nurses Association (NBNA)
American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP)
American Organization for Nursing Leadership (AONL)
Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses (AMSN)
Association of Diabetes Care and Education Specialists (ADCES)
National Association of Orthopaedic Nurses (NAON)
National Student Nurses’ Association (NSNA)
American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN)
Emergency Nurses Association (ENA)

These organizations also offer niche tools to help BSN graduates:

American Nurses Association

The Resources page of the ANA’s website offers tips and tools for nurses of all experience levels, including:

Teacher education tools
Lists of research grants and other funding sources
Minority fellowship program information
Nurse Focus section for new graduates that includes professional development options, articles, and career paths
Certification choices

American Association of Colleges of Nursing

This national organization creates and implements educational standards for nurses as well as private and public universities. Their Online Learning Center has an assortment of continuing nursing education resources, such as:

Upcoming webinars
On-demand webinars
Conference recordings
Learning modules

Other useful segments of their website include:

Fact sheets
Industry news
Digital conference library
Nurse residency program
New graduate employment data
Annual surveys

Advance Your Nursing Career Through The University of Tulsa

Nursing professional development can take many forms and may appeal to the aspirations of many BSN graduates. As we already stated, one option is to continue one’s education beyond the level of RN is to earn a BSN . By pursuing educational growth, BSN graduates can enhance their job opportunities, increase their pay potential, and reach their personal goals.

Graduates of The University of Tulsa’s RN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN) program can further their career by earning a graduate degree. The school offers an online Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program that students can complete in as little as 24 months. Graduates of TU’s BSN program may be given priority admission. Their RN to MSN pathway program, where students can earn a BSN and MSN together, can take as few as 24 months to finish.

Learn about how TU’s RN to BSN program can elevate your nursing career with a graduate degree.

Recommended Readings

9 BSN Careers for Graduates to Consider

Nurse Advancement Opportunities for RNs

What Can You Do With an MSN?

Sources:

ACLS Academy, Trauma Nursing Core Course (TNCC)

American Association of Colleges of Nursing, Online Learning Center

American Association of Colleges of Nursing, Nursing Workforce Fact Sheet

American Heart Association, Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support

American Nurses Association, Career and Professional Development

American Nurses Association, Nursing Professional Development Certification