Benefits of a BSN Degree for Nurses
As health care continues to advance and patients’ needs become increasingly complex, a growing number of hospitals are establishing new standards for their nursing staff — for example, only hiring nurses who hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree. The expanding responsibility of nurses makes the benefits of a BSN even more important.
Furthermore, there are additional reasons health care providers are increasingly seeking out BSN-educated registered nurses.
Advance The Profession
The benefits of a BSN are clear at a national level. When the Institute of Medicine (IOM) released its landmark report, The Future of Nursing, a little over a decade ago, they laid out a number of recommendations aimed at better preparing the nursing profession overall for the 21st century. Among the goals they presented, none garnered so much attention as the suggestion that 80% of registered nurses hold a BSN by the year 2020 — and while this ambitious goal has yet to be met due to a variety of factors including a nationwide shortage, the industry continues to move in that direction.
Magnet-designated hospitals, which the American Nurses Credentialing Center recognizes for excellence in patient care delivery, are great examples. These hospitals require every nurse with management or leadership status to have at least a BSN degree. Additionally, health care facilities applying for Magnet status must have a plan in place for employing an 80% baccalaureate-prepared RN workforce. Not to mention that some states, such as New York, have passed their own legislation regarding RNs obtaining BSN degrees.
Demand for Your Skills
While nurses still carry out many of the skills-based roles many of us typically associate with nursing — such as giving injections, inserting IVs and intubating patients — they’re also playing an ever-greater role in decision making, advocating for patients’ care, delivering evidence-based care, collaborating within multidisciplinary care teams and more.
All of these additional nursing responsibilities illustrate how important it is to have nurses with the benefits of a BSN education.
Better Patient Outcomes
Another of the key benefits of a BSN is that having a BSN degree can benefit your future patients. Countless studies have shown that hospitals and providers with a greater percentage of nurses holding BSN degrees yield better patient outcomes, including lower rates of 30-day readmissions and failures to rescue.
You’re likely entering the nursing profession at least partly because of your passion for patients. By investing in your education with a BSN, you’re setting yourself up to become a well-educated nurse prepared to manage complex healthcare situations.
Opportunities for Advancement
By earning a nursing BSN degree, you can start your career with an in-demand nursing credential. While an associate degree nursing education can teach you the basics of nursing, it can fall short in developing your critical-thinking and decision-making skills.
The benefits of a BSN in nursing include cultivating these advanced skills and expanding your education to include leadership, research and public health. A BSN positions you well for a career with abundant opportunities for personal and professional growth.
Ready to use your non-nursing college experience to become a nurse in 16 months? Call us today, or fill out the form to have a CSP Global ABSN admissions counselor contact you.