Today, nursing is one of the most rapidly growing and dynamic professions. A degree in nursing offers individuals job opportunities at many different levels. Data compiled by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) shows that employment within the nursing profession is going to see substantial growth between 2012 and 2022. The growth rate predicted can be attributable to a number of different factors that include a current shortage of nurses, a large aging population, and a greater demand for health care services. Nursing is a profession which focuses on promoting the wellbeing of others, helping patients to cope with illnesses and diseases, and providing direct patient care under the supervision of physicians. It can be a demanding job and requires a tremendous amount of determination.
When most people think of a ‘nurse’, the image that typically comes to mind is that of a registered nurse. Registered nurses are professionals who have traditionally completed a diploma or associates degree in nursing and who have subsequently passed the nursing licensure examination for registered nurses. For more in depth training however, candidates must work towards a Bachelor of Science in Nursing.
A Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) was not always regarded as the entry level qualification for RNs. Today, however, more and more employers require registered nurses to have at least a BSN to qualify for certain nursing positions. The nonprofit Institute of Medicine in 2010 unveiled its initiative which recommends that 80% of the nursing workforce should have a Bachelor of Science in nursing degree by 2020. A survey carried out in 2013 by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) found that more than 40% of healthcare employers now require new nurses to have at least a BSN. The AACN also considers a BSN to be the “minimum educational requirement for professional nursing practice.”
When considering a BSN, several factors are often cited in calling for nurses to have higher levels of education. These include:
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