Title V Cooperative 2 + 2 Degree Program |
|
Why pursue a B.S. degree in Nursing? |
| |
|
The BSN Deficit
|
| The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that employment for registered nurses will grow faster than any other occupation through 2012. The National Advisory Council on Nurse Education has recommended that at least 65% of the national nursing workforce hold a baccalaureate or higher degree, currently, only 43% do. |
| |
| Decreasing Educational Opportunities |
| As the demand for BSN graduates increases, the number of educational institutions awarding the degree has not, making it tougher for students to earn this degree and adding to the shortage in health care staffing. |
| |
| Increased Employability |
| In 2001, 98.6% of graduates of RN to BSN track programs had jobs waiting for them upon graduation. |
| |
Essential for Career Advancement
|
| The pathway to professional level nursing practice is the four-year BSN degree. While RN’s can begin practice with an associate degree, holding a BSN degree is necessary to work at the manager and supervisory level. This is true in any type of health care setting. |
| |
Essential for Professional Development
|
| The BSN degree is the starting point for pursuing a career in Advanced Practice Nursing. Advanced Practice Nurses are prepared in master’s degree programs and include the following four categories of clinicians: Nurse Practitioners, Clinical Nurse Specialists, Certified Nurse Midwives and Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists. In order to pursue any of these masters’ degrees it is first necessary to earn a BSN. |
| |
| *Information provided courtesy American Association of Colleges of Nursing |