Choosing Between RN to BSN or RN to MSN Programs

Hospitals and healthcare organizations are placing increased emphasis on nursing education. For many registered nurses (RNs), deciding whether to return to school has become a practical question about preparation, opportunity, and long-term direction.

If you’re a licensed registered nurse (RN) considering your next step, earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) or a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) can strengthen your educational foundation and support continued professional growth. Both degrees build on your existing clinical experience while expanding your knowledge and skills.

Chamberlain University’s online RN to BSN and RN-BSN to MSN program options are designed so you can keep working as a nurse while moving forward academically, with coursework that fits into a busy schedule. There’s also an Accelerated RN-MSN, which offers a streamlined path to the MSN without completing a separate bachelor’s degree in nursing.

Each option offers distinct advantages, and the best choice depends on your experience, interests, and what your goals are for the next phase of your nursing career.

Understanding the Differences: RN to BSN vs. RN-BSN to MSN Programs
As you compare RN to BSN vs. RN to MSN programs, it’s helpful to clarify your educational goals. Is a bachelor’s the right next step for you? Or are you interested in earning both a BSN and an MSN to prepare for roles in leadership, education, or specialized practice?

You’ll also want to factor in practical considerations, such as program length, focus, and curriculum. Below, we outline the key differences between Chamberlain’s RN to BSN, RN-BSN to MSN, and Accelerated RN to MSN options.

Investing in Your Future 
    Advancing your nursing education is a significant investment, and understanding the costs up front can help you plan with confidence.

   Whether you’re considering an RN to BSN, a BSN-RN to MSN, or Accelerated MSN option, Chamberlain provides tuition and expense information to help you plan. The university offers grants and scholarships, along with expert guidance on financial aid options that can help make your continued education more accessible.

The Value of Nursing Education
Knowing how you’ll fund your education is an important step, but it’s just as important to consider the long-term effect of that investment. Advancing your education can lead to greater responsibility, expanded career options, and a stronger impact on patient care. That value becomes clear when you look at the outcomes associated with higher levels of nursing education:

The BSN Advantage
Leading nursing organizations agree on the importance of baccalaureate education for today’s nurses. You can gain those skills and knowledge through programs like the RN to BSN and RN-BSN to MSN options at Chamberlain. According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), BSN-prepared nurses bring unique skills to clinical practice and play a critical role in delivering safe, high-quality patient care.¹

AACN also cites research showing that higher proportions of BSN-educated nurses in care settings are associated with improved patient outcomes, including lower mortality rates, fewer medication errors, and shorter hospital stays.²

The MSN Advantage 
MSN degrees build on the BSN foundation and help prepare nurses for advanced practice, leadership, and education-focused roles. Common career paths for MSN-prepared nurses include:
•    Nurse practitioner
•    Clinical nurse specialist
•    Nurse educator
•    Healthcare administrator

An RN-BSN to MSN pathway allows you to build on your clinical experience while gaining specialized knowledge and skills. For nurses seeking prescriptive authority, independent patient care, or executive leadership roles within healthcare organizations, an MSN degree, like the RN-BSN to MSN Option, is typically the minimum educational requirement.

A Growing Demand for BSN and MSN Degrees
Across healthcare, expectations for nursing education continue to rise. Research shows that more and more healthcare organizations strongly prefer hiring nurses with BSN degrees, with many now requiring a bachelor’s degree for nursing roles. The U.S. Armed Forces, for example, require military nurses to hold a BSN.³

For RNs considering next steps—whether through an RN to BSN or RN-BSN to MSN pathway—this growing preference matters. It can influence which roles are accessible and how employers support continued education. Many healthcare organizations now offer tuition reimbursement and other incentives for nurses pursuing BSN or MSN degrees.

Selecting a Nursing School 
Choosing to continue your education is an important decision, and the right nursing school can make that journey easier to navigate. Whether you pursue an RN to BSN or RN-BSN to MSN, Chamberlain is structured to support working nurses balancing school, work, and life.

You’ll learn from faculty members who are experienced nurses and educators with firsthand knowledge of today’s clinical environments. Beginning with enrollment, you’ll have access to:
•    Academic advising
•    Technical support
•    Library resources
•    A supportive community of nursing professionals

At Chamberlain, that support is built into the academic experience itself, including:
•    Accredited Quality: Chamberlain is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), and its nursing programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), reflecting rigorous academic and professional standards.
•    Built-In Practicum Support: The Practicum Commitment® helps ensure you secure a practicum placement with a qualified preceptor.
•    Transfer-Friendly Pathways: In the online RN to BSN Option, for example, you may transfer up to 75% of required credits, helping you build on prior coursework and move forward more efficiently.
•    Designed for Working Nurses: RN to BSN and RN-BSN to MSN programs feature 100% online coursework with direct care components scheduled to fit around professional and personal responsibilities.
•    Relevant Learning: Programs emphasize experiential learning and practical application. In the RN to BSN Option, for example, there are no traditional exams (except for students taking MATH 225), allowing you to focus on real-world skill development.
•    A Longstanding Legacy: With more than 135 years of experience, Chamberlain has a proven history of supporting nurses throughout their education journeys.

The Future of Nursing Needs You
In hospitals, community settings, classrooms, and beyond, nurses with BSN and MSN degrees are helping shape the future of healthcare. That future depends on dedicated professionals who choose to invest in their education, strengthen their skills, and elevate the nursing profession through a commitment to excellence.

Ready to take that next step? Call Chamberlain at 877.751.5783 or request information online.

Learn more about the RN to BSN Option and the RN-BSN to MSN Option and get ready to move forward with confidence in your nursing journey.

   Chamberlain University, an HLC-accredited institution, offers bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral, and certificate programs in nursing and healthcare professions. With a growing network of campuses and robust online programs, Chamberlain continues to build on more than 130 years of excellence in preparing extraordinary healthcare professionals.
    
1Source: www.aacnnursing.org/news-data/fact-sheets/impact-of-education-on-nursing-practice
2Source: www.aacnnursing.org/Portals/0/PDFs/Publications/Benefits-of-the-BSN.pdf
3Source: https://recruiting.army.mil/MRB_Nurses/

   Chamberlain University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), www.hlcommission.com, an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.  

By Kate Rice