Although America's health care system seems to have nothing but dark clouds on the horizon, some health care professions are faced with nothing but a silver lining. Topping the list is nursing, says the U.S. Department of Labor, which projects that registered nurses will outstrip all but one other profession as the fastest growing segment of the U.S. job market through the year 2020. However, many of the jobs the economy is expected to create may remain unfilled because of a lack of qualified nursing professionals.

A learn-to-earn mentality is the surest way of getting in on the expected boom in nursing jobs. Those interested in nursing as a career can take one of several educational paths on their way to becoming a registered nurse. These include a Bachelor's of Science degree in nursing (BSN), an Associate's Degree in nursing (ADN), or a diploma program. If you're just now embarking on one of these paths, you may want to weigh the pros and cons of enrolling in a BSN degree program as your initial step towards a career in nursing.

Immediately choosing the BSN path is a great way to jump start a nursing career. According to the Department of Labor, nurses with a Bachelor's degree are more likely to advance in their profession. Higher paying administrative positions, for example, usually require a Bachelor's degree. An undergraduate degree like a BSN is also a prerequisite for all graduate nursing programs and a must if your ultimate goal is to work in an advanced nursing specialty as a clinical nurse, a nurse anesthetist, a nurse midwife or nurse practitioner.

Of course, not everyone is just now preparing to enter the nursing profession. There are many RNs already actively at work in the nursing profession. Nurses like these can also take advantage of the brighter career prospects offered by a BSN degree by completing a RN-to-BSN program. According to the latest figures available, there were about 600 RN-to-BSN programs offered in the United States.

The nation's largest online university, the University of Phoenix (UOP) is often the first choice for applicants looking for a respected BSN or RN-to-BSN degree program. Working adults often find these programs ideal, especially if they want to leverage the many advantages of distance learning while continuing to work in their chosen field. The programs meld online courses with supervised hands-on clinical work at leading hospitals and health care centers. In addition to nursing, the curriculum includes classes in anatomy, physiology and microbiology, chemistry, nutrition, psychology and other behavioral sciences. A sprinkling of liberal arts rounds out the course of study.

If you're interested in more details about the UOP's BSN or RN-to-BSN programs, it's easy to get answers to your questions by requesting more information on the UOP website. Expect a qualified counselor to follow up on your request in the form of a telephone consult in which you can explore your educational and career goals, scholarship opportunities and the possibility of financial aid.

About the Author

Matt Paolini works from home as a distance learner. Visit University of Pheonix Online or http://www.university-of-pheonix-online.com for free distance learning info.