You probably became certified as a registered nurse (RN) through an associate degree program because it took less time than earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). There’s nothing wrong with that. After a year or two of study, you qualified for entry-level jobs. However, more and more employers require at least a bachelor’s-level education. The U.S. Public Health Service, the Veterans Health Administration, and all branches of the military are good examples. In several states, you must have a BSN to practice. It’s estimated that there will be 80 percent more nurses with BSNs in 2020 than there ...