A career in nursing can be a practical career path for those passionate about helping others and eager to make a positive difference in the complex healthcare system. Plus, with so many opportunities for specialization and advancement, nurses can shape their own careers and pursue their unique interests over time.
While an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) can help you enter the nursing field, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) may lead to enhanced career prospects, leadership positions, and provide a foundation for graduate education.
What Is a BSN in Nursing?
A Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) is a traditional, four-year undergraduate degree program that prepares students with the clinical skills and knowledge needed to care for a wide range of patients. Many students complete a four-year BSN program to prepare for the NCLEX-RN exam, which they need to pass to become licensed registered nurses (RNs).
A BSN curriculum will typically include a mix of courses on fundamental nursing topics, from medication administration to health assessment and evidence-based practices. However, these programs also have a clinical component, so you won’t be spending all your time in the classroom.
Compared to an ADN, a BSN is designed to take about twice as long, but that’s because it goes beyond the basics and encourages students to dive deeper into nursing research, theory, and even leadership. With a BSN, students may be able to advance into leadership/supervisory roles eventually or even enroll in a graduate-level nursing program to take their studies even further.
Nursing Program Requirements
What does it take to get into a nursing program? Admission criteria can vary from one school to the next. However, many programs require a minimum of a high school diploma or equivalent (such as a GED) with a minimum GPA of a 2.0. Some programs may also have prerequisites in place that students will need to take or test out of before enrolling.
In addition to academic requirements, students applying to a BSN program should have strong verbal and written communication skills, excellent critical-thinking abilities, and a passion for helping others.
Before starting any clinical rotations within a BSN program, students may also be required to submit background checks. In many BSN programs, enrollment is limited and competition is high, so applicants should be prepared to put their best foot forward.
How Long Is a Nursing Program?
Many factors can affect the length of time it takes to complete a BSN program. The program is full time and designed to be completed in about four years.
Another option for those with a bachelor’s degree in another field is an Accelerated BSN (ABSN) program. This may be completed in as little as two years by building upon a student’s existing education.
No matter which path you take to get your BSN, you can expect your program to include a mix of classroom learning and clinical hours.
Inside the Classroom: BSN Courses and Curriculum
What can you expect from the structure of a BSN curriculum? Your first year of enrollment will typically consist of foundational courses and prerequisites, ranging from anatomy and physiology to microbiology and psychology. The first year can also be a good time to knock out some general education requirements, as these typically consist of around 15 credit hours.
After completing these courses, students can move on to core nursing classes in nursing fundamentals, health assessment, pharmacology, and evidence-based practice. In later-year courses, students may begin to explore coursework in specific areas of nursing, such as maternal-child nursing, mental health, and medical-surgical nursing.
Throughout a BSN program, students can expect to spend some time in the classroom, but a lot of time will also be spent learning hands-on through labs, simulations, case-based learning, and clinical rotations.
Clinical Rotations: What to Expect
Clinical rotations are an important part of any BSN program, offering students the opportunity to gain real-world experience in healthcare settings. Likewise, early exposure to these experiences can help students bridge the concepts and theories they’ve been learning in the classroom to hands-on practice.
When Clinicals Begin in a BSN Program
Typically, students will start clinicals during their first semester of core classes as part of a BSN program. This coursework is designed to provide students with the practical skills and basic knowledge needed to work safely (under direct supervision) in a real-world healthcare setting, such as a hospital or medical clinic.
Types of Clinical Settings
Where you’ll work during your clinical rotations will depend on several factors, ranging from your specific program to the opportunities available in your area. However, it is not uncommon for nursing students to complete their rotations in:
- Hospitals (including medical-surgical wings, emergency departments, and ICUs)
- Long-term care facilities
- Community and public health environments
- Mental health and psychiatric units
- Pediatrics and OB/GYN environments
Across this wide range of clinical settings, nursing students can put theories and concepts learned in the classroom into direct practice while gaining valuable experience that they can apply in their future careers.
Skills You’ll Practice During Clinicals
Depending on where your clinical rotations take place, the specific skills you’ll put into practice may vary slightly. Generally, nursing students can expect to gain experience with the following:
- Administering medications
- Taking vital signs and assessing patient conditions
- Performing basic procedures (including wound care and administering IVs)
- Communicating with patients, families, and healthcare teams
- Electronic documentation and patient charting
Supervision and Support
Throughout your clinical rotations, you’ll continue to receive guidance and support from clinical instructors and preceptors, who can provide valuable feedback and evaluations throughout the process. These instructors and preceptors also serve as guides to helping nursing students understand what’s expected of them during their clinical rotations and the best practices they should be following to provide patients with the best possible care.
How Clinical Placements Are Assigned
A lot goes into assigning clinical rotations for nursing students. Still, a reputable program with a long-standing reputation in the community will likely have this process down to a science.
Site and instructor availability are among the most influential factors regarding clinical rotation options. Depending on the location of the school, there may be nearby hospitals, physicians’ offices, and other medical facilities willing to take on clinical rotation students. Of course, each clinical group also needs a dedicated instructor for oversight and guidance, so this must also be considered.
Depending on the location of clinical rotations, students may be expected to commute within reason, and it’s not entirely uncommon for students to work a wide range of shifts during clinicals. This may be especially true for those working in a hospital, where care is needed around the clock.
Preparing for Licensure: The NCLEX-RN Exam
By the time you complete your BSN program, you should have the foundational knowledge and skills needed to take the NCLEX-RN exam, which is the exam you will need to pass to earn your RN license. This exam covers four main categories in nursing, including:
- Safe and effective care
- Health promotion and maintenance
- Psychosocial integrity
- Physiological integrity
In addition to coursework and clinical rotations, students can prepare for the exam by taking practice tests or independent review/prep courses. These can be a great way for students to determine their areas of strength and weakness, which can further inform their studying habits leading up to the exam and maximize chances of passing the first time around. For reference, 91.16 percent of US-educated candidates who took the NCLEX-RN passed on the first attempt in 2024.
Why Choose a BSN Nursing Program in Michigan?
Pursuing a BSN nursing degree could be a great way to kick-start your nursing career while gaining the practical, hands-on experience you’ll need in the real world. By pursuing nursing programs in Michigan, you’ll get to enjoy the opportunity to work across a wide range of diverse clinical settings. Whether you envision yourself supporting patients in a smaller, rural clinic or in a major city hospital, nurses in Michigan can explore employment options throughout the state’s growing healthcare system.When it comes to cost-effective BSN nursing programs with supporting faculty and plenty of hands-on training, Baker College has you covered. Our BSN curriculum consists of 120 credit hours in such essential areas as healthcare informatics, pharmacology, evidence-based practices, and more. Get in touch to request more information about this program or take the next step by applying today.