While it is possible to get into a nursing career without the need to get a bachelor of science in nursing, more and more healthcare employers are actively looking for nurses who possess this qualification. There are many reasons why an increasing number of employers prefer to hire BSN-educated nurses including achieving magnet status and the studies that have connected higher nursing education to better patient care and outcomes. While getting a BSN might be more work and more expense compared to getting an associate’s degree in nursing, there are several reasons why aspiring nurses might consider going the extra mile when taking this step to get into this career. A BSN is not just more ideal for the healthcare employers since it can also have a range of additional benefits for nurses including easier employment and more opportunities due to the rising demand, more opportunities for future career progression and better pay in some cases.
The nursing shortage that is currently a problem in the US means that there are going to be even more open nursing positions in the next decade or so, with employers set to take on thousands of new nurses in the near future. However, despite this need for nurses, more and more employers are requiring their new hires to be educated to the BSN level due to a need to improve healthcare and nursing as a whole.
Why Do More Employers Want BSN-Educated Nurses?
With more employers actively seeking Magnet status to provide certification that they offer an exceptional standard of care, they are also looking to hire more BSN-educated nurses in order to facilitate this. For a healthcare employer to be awarded Magnet status, one of the main requirements is that at least 80% of the nurses that they employ hold a BSN or higher. In addition to this, employers have also changed their hiring practices and requirements to favor nurses that hold a BSN due to studies that have found BSN-educated nurses to be more effective when it comes to improving patient care and outcomes. According to statistics, there are around 4% fewer patient deaths and less hospital infections when an additional 10% of the nursing workforce holds a BSN. In addition, healthcare environments with more BSN-educated nurses often find that there are fewer unnecessary ER visits for patients, fewer rehospitalizations, and shorter stays in the hospital.
How BSN-Educated Nurses Impact Healthcare
BSN-educated nurses are having a significant impact on healthcare recently. Along with the improvements that can be made to patient care and overall outcomes that are mentioned above, BSN-educated nurses are also in a better position to reduce the nursing shortage and improve nursing of the future. This is mainly because, in order to qualify to train as a nurse educator, a BSN is typically the minimum requirement. In addition, BSN-educated nurses are often better trained and equipped for dealing with the stresses and pressure of this job and are less likely to change their careers as a result, along with being a better mentor to nursing students and nurses who are new to their careers.
What Are the Main Reasons for Nurses to Consider Getting a BSN?
Whether you are just starting out with your nursing career and want to get your first nursing qualification, or have been working as a nurse with an associate’s degree in nursing for some time, there are several reasons to consider getting your BSN. Some of the main reasons why more and more current and aspiring nurses are jumping straight into studying for the BSN include:
* Better Career Opportunities:
For many nurses who want to advance their careers in the future, a BSN will often open up many better career opportunities. For the most part, advanced nursing degrees such as the MSN or DNP that are required for many advanced careers in nursing will require applicants to hold a BSN at a minimum. If you hope to get into a future career as a nurse manager, nurse leader, nurse executive, nurse educator, family nurse practitioner or psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner PMHNP, you will usually be required to have a BSN in order to be accepted to study on the training programs that are available to prepare you for these roles. In addition, many specialty areas of nursing such as nurse midwifery will also require nurses to hold a BSN at the least in order to apply for training to pursue these roles. You can access ample opportunities by finding the best staffing agency for nurses.
* Online Degree Programs Available:
Another reason to study for your BSN whether you’re a nurse or considering becoming a nurse in the future is that there are now more BSN programs available online than ever before. For aspiring and current nurses, this has made the process of getting a BSN much more flexible and cost-effective. Rather than giving up four years of your life to study for your BSN on-campus, an online program will often be flexible enough for you to design your own study schedule to fit around your current commitments, which can ultimately make it easier and less stressful to achieve. In addition, the option to study from home on your own time which is often available from many of the online BSN programs that are available means that you can save a significant amount of money on many of the costs that are associated with attending traditional nursing school classes and lectures on campus.
* Legal Requirements of the Future:
In the future, it is expected that getting a BSN is going to be something that is legally required for all registered nurses. If you are already working as a nurse or planning to work as a nurse in New York State, this is something that you will have already experienced due to the new BSN In Ten legislation that was recently passed. Under new laws, all nurses who are working in New York are now required to gain a BSN within ten years of getting their license, and other states are expected to follow suit in the future as the evidence of better healthcare provided by BSN-educated nurses continues to mount. Because of this, more aspiring nurses and current nurses are considering getting their BSN as soon as possible to ensure that by the time this qualification is required for nurses everywhere, they are already prepared.
* Reasons to Study for Your BSN Online
It’s clear to see that there are more reasons for nurses and future nurses to consider getting a BSN than there is to not get one. If you are currently working as a nurse or want to go into a nursing career in the future, getting your BSN online can be an ideal option to consider. Online BSN programs offer a lot of benefits compared to campus-based programs including the additional flexibility allowing you to fit your career around your current commitments and create a study schedule that works for you rather than fitting your life around the school’s schedule. Because of this, it is no surprise that it’s a popular option with current registered nurses who need an option to get their BSN while continuing to work full-time in their nursing role. Some other key reasons to consider getting your BSN online include:
* More Cost-Effective:
While tuition costs are unlikely to differ much whether you decide to study online or on-campus, there are many ways in which an online BSN program can turn out to be much cheaper. Since you can do most of the studying and attending classes and lectures from home, the amount you will save on not commuting to classes over four years can add up substantially, for example. In addition, the ability to fit studying around your job means you can avoid losing income.
* ABSN Programs:
For aspiring future nurses who are currently working in a different career, an online accelerated BSN might be the best choice to consider. The ABSN is designed to provide professionals who currently have a bachelor’s degree in a different subject with the skills and knowledge that they need to become a nurse. It can be an ideal choice for people who are currently working in a different healthcare role, but is also ideal for anybody with a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing subject of any kind. Since this degree program takes into consideration your previous degree education, it typically takes around half the time that you would expect a traditional BSN program to take, allowing you to get into the nursing career faster. And, since these programs are available online, they are easier than ever to fit around your current career as you prepare to change.
* More Employer Support:
While more healthcare employers want BSN-educated nurses, the nursing shortage means that many employers might find it difficult to support nurses who want to cut down their hours or take time off work to get their BSN. Since online degrees are more flexible and easier to fit around working, nurses who choose to study for a BSN online are often more likely to get the full support of their employer.
Today, highly-educated nurses are in higher demand than ever before, with plenty of great reasons to consider starting your career as a nurse with a BSN.
