What Can You Do With a BSN?

Nursing

What Can You Do With a BSN?

Written by: University of Tulsa • Jan 27, 2026

Nurse talking to a patient in a hospital bed.

For many nurses, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree offers a high level of choice, as it goes beyond teaching basic nursing skills to prepare nurses and nursing students for a range of rewarding careers. Because it can open doors that less-advanced nursing degrees can’t, the BSN is one of the most popular degree options in the field. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) reported that BSN programs saw a 4.9% increase in enrollment in 2023. Furthermore, an AACN survey revealed that about 70% of hospitals and other health care providers expressed a strong preference for BSN graduates when filling their nursing roles.

Becoming a registered nurse (RN) is just one example of what you can do with a BSN. Graduates of BSN programs can specialize in nursing care that serves specific patient populations or treats particular conditions. They can also be a great fit for careers in fields as varied as insurance, community education, or research.

Explore the potential BSN career outcomes and how an accelerated program can prepare you for them on an expedited timeline.

What Is a BSN?

A BSN is an undergraduate nursing degree that builds on the foundational nursing knowledge gained in entry-level nursing programs. While both an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) and a BSN can fulfill the educational requirement for an RN license, a BSN can lead to even more career opportunities, including leadership roles and specialized positions. This is because BSN programs focus on more advanced nursing concepts and skills, often with an emphasis on evidence-based practice and clinical training.

What does a BSN program cover? What types of skills would you typically learn in a BSN program that make you a good candidate for such a broad range of roles?

BSN Curriculum

BSN programs provide a comprehensive education on nursing principles and processes and help students develop soft skills that are essential to nursing practice. Among the topics that BSN programs commonly cover are:

Physiology
Microbiology
Writing
Pharmacology
Patient assessment
Medical technology
Population health
Health promotion and disease prevention
Research and statistical analysis
Health care quality

BSN programs may provide on-the-job experience through clinical training in various patient care environments, such as hospitals or home health settings.

While some BSN programs can take up to four years to complete, accelerated programs are available. Additionally, online BSN programs provide you with the flexibility to learn from anywhere and complete your degree at your own pace.

BSN Skills

In addition to a deep understanding of nursing concepts and clinical expertise, BSN programs aim to teach students interpersonal skills that can help them excel in their careers. A typical BSN graduate’s transferable skill set includes:

Empathy: Treating patients and others with an understanding of their concerns and the biological, psychological, social, and cultural issues that can cause them
Communication: Gathering and providing information about treatment plans and instructions to patients, families, and colleagues
Leadership: Using personal and professional judgment to make decisions about patient treatment and interactions, and taking responsibility for outcomes related to those decisions
Critical thinking: Evaluating and incorporating knowledge of research and best practices in making decisions aimed at improving care
Attention to detail: Taking care to ensure that patients receive the correct treatment and appropriate medication

Careers You Can Pursue With a BSN

There’s a lot you can do with a BSN. According to AACN’s most recent publicly accessible report, 96% of BSN graduates nationwide received job offers within four to six months of graduation. Becoming an RN is one of the most common career paths for BSN graduates. More than 71% of RNs held a bachelor’s degree or higher in 2022, according to AACN.

However, a BSN can also prepare you for a wide range of other nursing careers, including administrative roles with health care systems, insurance, or pharmaceutical companies. Below are some examples of what you can do with a BSN.

Registered Nurse

RNs coordinate medical care and treat patients. They educate patients, families, and the public about medical conditions and healthy practices. While an RN’s exact duties can vary based on the patient population they serve and the facility where they work, their typical responsibilities include:

Recording patients’ medical histories
Assessing patients’ conditions
Administering medication or treatments
Assisting with diagnostic testing and analysis
Collaborating with other health care team members
Preparing patients to manage their condition at home

Some RNs may also oversee other nurses, such as licensed practical nurses (LPNs) or nursing assistants.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that 59% of RNs worked in hospitals in 2024. Others worked in locations such as:

Physicians’ offices
Outpatient care centers
Home health care settings
Schools
Community centers

The BLS also reported that the median annual salary for RNs was $93,600 in 2024.

RN Specialties

Many options are available for RNs who wish to specialize in specific patient populations. In some cases, an RN’s work focuses on more than one patient population. RNs can specialize in pediatric oncology, for example, combining specializations in pediatrics and oncology to treat young patients who have cancer.

Below are some RN specialty roles.

Pediatric Nurse

Pediatric nurses work with patients aged 18 and younger. They generally work in pediatric care offices or pediatric departments in hospitals. Their responsibilities include:

Monitoring and evaluating patients’ symptoms
Establishing and implementing treatment plans
Coordinating follow-up treatments

Oncology Nurse

Oncology nurses assess, treat, and educate patients of all ages who have cancer. Along with other health care professionals, they provide reassurance and answer questions for patients facing a cancer diagnosis. They work in settings such as hospitals, nursing homes, and patients’ homes, where they may be responsible for:

Serving as a patient’s primary medical point of contact during treatment
Coordinating patient care, ensuring continuity of treatment among health care providers
Monitoring patients’ physical and mental status

Public Health Nurse

Public health nurses typically work in the community, educating people about diseases and chronic health conditions, including their warning signs. Among the community health services that public health nurses may coordinate are:

Health screenings
Blood drives
Immunization clinics

Emergency Room Nurse

Emergency room (ER) nurses provide urgent or critical care for hospital patients. These nurses often are among the first health care professionals to attend to patients when they arrive at the ER, treating a wide range of injuries and illnesses. They’re responsible for:

Identifying patients with the greatest need for immediate care
Treating serious wounds and injuries
Monitoring life support equipment

Travel Nurse

Travel nurses work on a contract basis, typically for a limited period, at different medical facilities. Their responsibilities vary but are typically in line with those of other RNs working with the population to which they’re assigned. A travel nurse’s job description includes:

Collaborating with physicians or health care management to schedule temporary roles
Getting up to speed quickly on each role and its requirements
Learning how to perform duties specific to a position and location

Nurse Navigator

Nurse navigators work as advocates for patients going through various complex treatment processes. They become the “voice” of the patient, helping them answer questions about treatment strategies. They also evaluate a patient’s clinical, spiritual, financial, and psychological needs, and help them obtain services to address these needs. While nurse navigators typically specialize in oncology, they can work in other specializations. Their typical responsibilities include:

Educating patients about their conditions and treatment strategies
Acting as a liaison between the patient and their physicians
Providing referrals to other key professional contacts, such as social workers

Utilization Management Nurse

Utilization management nurses ensure efficiency in health care settings. Their work optimizes care strategies while also managing costs to eliminate any unnecessary or repetitive services. They also review treatment plans, assess medical necessity, and collaborate with health care providers to ensure that care aligns with clinical guidelines. Their responsibilities often include:

Reviewing cases to ensure treatments meet medical standards
Coordinating to make sure treatments remain compliant
Maintain accurate records of past treatment methods for future insights

Non-Nursing Roles

While bedside nursing is often what comes to mind when people think of what they can do with a BSN, career outcomes for BSN graduates also include non-nursing roles, which allow graduates to apply the knowledge and skills they gained in a BSN program in a nonclinical capacity. Some of those roles are:

Health insurance specialist: Reviews and processes health insurance claims, verifies coverage, and coordinates with providers and insurers to resolve billing or authorization questions. Payscale lists the median annual salary for the role at around $59,990 as of September 2025.
Health educator: Coordinates wellness programs and develops written materials to promote healthy behaviors, including those related to managing specific conditions. Payscale lists the median annual salary for the role at around $60,030 as of November 2025.
Pharmaceutical sales representative: Assesses the needs of health care providers and educates them on the benefits of the products a company offers. Payscale lists the median annual salary for the role at around $96,220 as of October 2025.
Medical researcher: Organizes and analyzes data about medical treatments and their effects on participants in clinical trials. Payscale refers to the role as a medical scientist and lists the median annual salary for the role at around $107,780 as of May 2025.

Open Doors With a BSN

A BSN can provide a solid foundation for a range of careers, whether you’re interested in working as a bedside nurse or taking a less traditional route. If you’re interested in exploring what you can do with a BSN, the online Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program at The University of Tulsa can help you achieve your goals with greater efficiency at a pace that fits your busy schedule. This is a prelicensure option designed for students who already hold a non-nursing bachelor’s degree.

Discover how these programs can help you achieve your professional goals.

Recommended Readings

Everything You Need to Know About the Oklahoma Board of Nursing

A Nurse’s Role in Interprofessional Collaboration in Health Care

Preparing for Success in Your Nursing Clinicals

Sources:

American Association of Colleges of Nursing, New Graduate Employment Data

American Association of Colleges of Nursing, Nursing Workforce Fact Sheet

American Association of Colleges of Nursing, Schools of Nursing Enrollment Increases Across Most Program Levels, Signaling Strong Interest in Nursing Careers

American Nurses Association, How to Become a Travel Nurse

American Nurses Association, What Is a Utilization Management Nurse?

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Career Spotlight: Public Health Nurse