How to Complete Your RN to BSN as a Travel Nurse: Step-by-Step Guide
It’s important for RNs to progress their careers by obtaining a BSN and to do so they should consider undertaking a program. Many traveling nurses like to complete a BSN on the go because it opens up opportunities for advancement and pay increases when ranking for assignments. However, travel nursing assignments and RN to BSN programs must be planned well and well-timed. In this guide, we’ll learn how you can successfully finish the RN to BSN as a travel nurse, as well as the advantages of the program and how to deal with them effectively.
Why Earning a BSN Is Important for Travel Nurses
The employment of nurses possessing BSN degrees continues to rise because of the complex healthcare delivery systems and rising standards. BN has gained popularity and is accepted among hospitals and healthcare facilities since travel nurses who possess a BSN are preferred or even required due to the advanced knowledge and application gained from the program. Per AACN, the board of nursing advocates for 80% of nurses to possess a BSN by the year 2025. For a travel nurse, having a BSN means better variety in the types of positions available and a better chance in the hunt for a job.
The Advantages Travel Nursing Has Over Other Nursing Careers: Reasons to Earn a BSN.
- Increased Job Opportunities: A large number of healthcare facilities look at the preference for travel nurses having BSN credentials because of the focus on Magnet status of hospitals that offer the highest standards in nursing practice.
- Higher Earning Potential: BSN means that he/she can get better assignments and even secure better pay. Asm as a travel nurse one can be paid better since BSN identifies with better remunerations.
Things to do to finish your RN to BSN while being a Travel Nurse
The first thing as a travel nurse towards the completion of your RN to BSN is to choose the appropriate program. Online programs should also be highly preferable, since, as a result of shifting hours and assignments, traveling nursing often presents considerable flexibility demands.
1. Select an Accredit RN for the BSN Program
Make sure the program that you are willing to undergo is approved by CCNE or ACEN. An accredited program ensures that your degree will be well-known among healthcare employers and complies with the level of education necessary to advance to better-paid positions.
2. Assess Virtual Learning Opportunities
Due to the nature of the nursing profession, especially as a travel nurse, an online Capella RN to BSN program is the best. Online programs allow the person to study from any location and to organize their work according to a timetable. Such universities also provide courses part-time and full-time, and every student can work as fast as they are capable of. Also, based on the mode of delivery, certain programs allow for tremendous flexibility insofar as learning delivery is concerned in that one can engage in class activities and view videos at their convenience.
Factors to Consider When Choosing an Online Program
- Technical support: Also make sure the program has adequate technical support to provide as you could be studying from diverse places.
- Clinical requirements: It is common for some programs to have several clinical hours and they can usually be completed at healthcare facilities close to your current travel assignment.
- Plan YourSchedule Carefully: As a travel nurse, it can be a great struggle to manage your work and your college, but it is achievable. Due to working shifts, come up with a study timetable that you will be able to follow effectively and ensure that there is particular time to study, do assignments, and revise.
Here are Some Time Management Tips for Travel Nurses Pursuing a BSN
- Break tasks into smaller chunks: Do not pile yourself up with huge tasks that will stretch your time between the shifts; rather, divide such tasks into manageable bits.
- Leverage downtime: When you’re waiting between classes or between shoots you should use the time to grab a book and read or log onto an online discussion.
- Set realistic goals: Try to be progressive, but without getting overwhelmed with the tasks you have on your hands.
- Find Financial Assistance: Earning your RN to BSN may come with a price, however, there are plenty of ways travel nurses can pay for their education.
- Employer-sponsored tuition assistance: Most hospitals and healthcare agencies today make tuition assistance available to all nurse who wish to further their studies.
- Scholarships for travel nurses: Look for scholarships that are only available for nurses, provided by nursing organizations, various healthcare facilities, or any travel nurse companies.
5. Exploit Resources Available for Travel Nurses
It is with this background that the following resources can be useful for any travel nurse who wants to pursue their RN to BSN. These, and others, include; the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) as well as the National Student Nurses Association (NSNA). Another way of networking with other travel nurses is through online groups and pages where you can both learn and get encouraged as you prepare for exams.Moreover, most travel nurse agencies offer assistance to the nurses who want to continue their education, for example offering books, class groups, or an opportunity to communicate with other working travelers who also attend school.
Work-School-Life Balance You Need To Have
- BSN programs are intensive, and therefore, stressing the importance of adopting a healthy work-school-life balance. Ensure you have a balance of work and leisure activities when you are traveling to do your nursing assignment.
- Take a day of the week and commit at least 30 minutes to something that does not stress your body, such as exercise, or something that brings joy to your life like having some time with loved ones.
- Fortifying yourself and having colleagues, family, and friends who will support you helps in keep abreast. To this end, you need to talk to the travel nurse agency and your academic advisors whenever you notice that you are unable to cope with college or work.
Having Your BSN: How to Set Career Goals
Travel nursing is challenging, therefore after getting your RN to BSN, you’ll find yourself qualified to handle more demanding positions and tasks within the field. As a reference for pursuing a specific specialization. Task-specific interests may include working in Intensive Care Units (ICUs), Emergency Departments (EDs), or, seeking more authority, for instance, becoming a nurse educator or a nurse manager. Still, with a BSN, one can also go further to other specialty levels including the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) as a seek to improve his or her career.
Conclusion
It is easy to get your BSN while being a travel nurse; it is also the right investment for a future career. Selecting an asynchronous, nationally accredited RN to BSN program, mapping out your class and clinical time wisely, and utilizing the available resources, traveling nursing will be feasible while pursuing the degree. For any travel nurse who wants to improve their career the benefits of getting a BSN make it a useful venture by the reason of increased job vacancies, higher pay, and enhanced patient care. The journey to realize one’s educational or professional dreams is not impossible, if one has willpower and puts effort and the right processes into practice.
FAQs
Yes, many travel nurses indeed achieve their RN to BSN by joining an online college that lets them learn while taking assignments.
An online RN to BSN degree will fulfill the same educational standards and be equally respected by employers as long as the school is accredited.
You may balance employment and school by making a study plan, establishing reasonable objectives, and taking advantage of downtime while traveling or in between shifts.
Yes, travel nurses earning their BSN can apply for government financial aid, employer tuition reimbursement programs, and scholarships designed especially for nurses.
