If I want to specialize as a nurse, do I need my BSN or is an ASN sufficient?

Question

I want to someday specialize in pediatrics, women's health, or perhaps mental health. Will I need my BSN to complete extra training in a certain specialty?

Answer 1

A bachelor's in nursing is a great idea (especially if this is your first time around in college).  I specialize in developmental disabilities nursing (with an ASN and a bachelor's in Psychology that I got before nursing school).

If you have a previous bachelor's--I don't think it's necessary to immediately go for your BSN (I got the same liberal arts and research courses through my other degree).  A bachelor's degree, in general, will offer many more opportunities (also outside of nursing if you wanted to go that route)--but an ASN is good too.  It's all about experience (and you get good all-around experience of the "nurse" stuff by being a floor nurse first).

Answer 2

It's not necessary to hold a BSN to work in any of those specialties. But a BSN does provide you with a more well rounded education in nursing which would only enrich your professional worth. If you don't want to be a staff nurse the rest of your career you will be far better off earning a higher degree eventually.

You might decide you want to earn a certification or become a Clinical Nurse Specialist or Nurse Practitioner in any of these areas, and to do that you will need a bachelor's degree before you can go on to graduate school.

But just starting out as a staff nurse in these areas, all the training you will need will be provided by your employer upon hire.