The demand for registered nurses (RN) with Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degrees grows constantly. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) found that a quarter of hospitals and other healthcare institutions require new hires to have a BSN.
What’s more, most of those healthcare providers — nearly 70%— express what the survey terms “a strong preference for BSN program graduates.” An excellent way to secure a nursing position is to earn a BSN through a program like the Eastern Michigan University (EMU) online RN to BSN.
Why Most Hospitals Seek RNs With BSNs
In 2010, the National Academy of Medicine (part of the National Academy of Sciences) released a report asserting that by 2020, the U.S. healthcare system should increase its pool of RNs with BSNs from 50% to 80%. According to The Future of Nursing 2020-2023: Charting a Path to Achieve Health Equity, the percentage of RNs with a BSN has not yet reached 80%, but more nurses have their BSN than ever before.
Plus, patients have better outcomes with a more highly educated group of nurses overseeing their care. A Research in Nursing & Health article noted a correlation between the percentage of BSN-educated nurses on a unit and a reduction in the mortality and readmission for patients in that unit.
Nursing: A Growth Field
The requirement for more education isn’t slowing the growth of nursing. According to the 2022 National Nursing Workforce Survey, more RNs hold a baccalaureate degree or higher than those who don’t (over 70%). From 2020 to 2022, RNs with BSN degrees increased to just over 50%.
Further gains in knowledge and technology certainly contribute to the need for an expanded nursing pool. In addition, the overall growth of the nation’s population and a greater awareness of health risks like smoking mean that there are simply more people to care for — including Baby Boomers who have already entered or will be entering their 70s sometime in the coming decade.
A BSN education prepares nurses to be more informed and invested members of the healthcare team. More education doesn’t just mean improved patient outcomes. For an aspiring RN, there are more advantages to going through a BSN program.
Pursue Your BSN Degree Today
The growth of RN to BSN programs and online RN to BSN programs has allowed working nurses to earn their BSN degrees more conveniently than in the past. EMU’s online RN to BSN program addresses the two most common concerns nurses have when considering a return to school: cost and time. Students can start the degree program at six different times during the year and complete their studies in 12 to 24 months, all while maintaining their day job.
The future of nursing lies in the hands of nurses with BSN-prepared nurses, and — as hospitals and other healthcare institutions are saying — the future is already here.
Learn more about Eastern Michigan University’s online RN to BSN program.
