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Continuing Your Nursing Education

Healthcare professionals take their education seriously, and rightfully so. Every registered nurse has undoubtedly worked hard to receive those two important letters, RN, after their name. Many nurses are motivated to continue their education. The benefits to seeking a higher level of education are well supported in the literature — benefits that impact not just nurses themselves but their patients as well.

Ready for More Responsibility

BSN-prepared nurses help patients by assessing workflow issues, researching potential solutions, implementing change and monitoring outcomes. Being able to critically assess potential issues and plan interventions are attributes of an efficient leader. Therefore, many of these BSN-prepared nurses are certainly qualified to move into management, leadership, administration or research roles.

Many hospital policies and procedures are now steered by evidence-based practice. A nurse with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing has received additional education related to topics such as statistics, comprehensive research methods and theories.

According to a recent American Mobile article discussing results of a 2017 survey of registered nurses, “48 percent of nurses say they won’t pursue further education, which is up from 43 percent in 2015. Of those planning to continue their education, 21 percent will seek a master’s degree and 16 percent a bachelor’s degree in nursing. Only 23 percent of millennial nurses were not planning to continue their education. Thirty-nine percent of the millennials want to pursue a master’s degree.”

It is possible that these results are different from those of years past due to the fact that many nurses are coming out of school already prepared with a BSN. LVN and diploma programs are becoming harder to find nationally and many employers now list a bachelor’s degree as a preferred qualification. While requirements differ from state to state, some states are considering a mandate that practicing nurses hold a BSN degree.

Trends in Nursing Education

Returning to school for a bachelor’s degree (or higher) can take a considerable amount of time. The American Mobile article looks deeper into the survey results by interviewing Marie Spencer, Ph.D., RN, CRRN, Vice President of Nursing/Chief Nursing Officer of Burke Rehabilitation Hospital in White Plains, New York. She explains that the changes in survey results may also be related to an aging workforce.

Spencer mentions another critical piece of the puzzle regarding changes to nurses’ education ambitions. She says that nurses are not always rewarded monetarily for pursuing advanced education. She states, “A lot of nurses do not feel they want to go on. Because it’s more stress going to school, and they are not compensated for it.”

Contributing factors include an aging nursing population and many new graduates coming to the workforce with a bachelor’s degree. With a continued nursing shortage and need for strong leadership, there has never been a better time to consider earning a BSN degree. RNs can complete their bachelor’s degree through UTA’s specially designed online RN to BSN program in as few as nine months.

A BSN-prepared nurse may find that many more opportunities exist for career advancement. Having flexibility and versatility in work can provide an increased level of job satisfaction and career longevity.

Learn more about the UTA online RN to BSN program.


Sources:

American Mobile: 2017 Survey of Registered Nurses

Nurse Journal: RN Requirements by State and Qualifications

American Mobile: RN Survey Finds Rising Concern About Nursing Shortages


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