Are the days of associate degree nurses (ADNs) numbered?
Thatās the gist of an October 14 Wall Street Journal article titled,
The story examines why more and more hospitals today are requiring their nurses to hold a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) degreeāor be working toward one.
Why the requirement for BSNs? Reasons include:
- The Institute of Medicineās 2010 call for 80 percent of nurses to hold a bachelorās degree by 2020
- The growing complexity of healthcare
- An influx of new nurses attracted by good wages and the prior two-year-degree standard
- Evidence that more educated nurses deliver improved health outcomes
In addition, more hospitals are striving to achieve āMagnetā status, a designation that recognizes nursing excellence and quality patient care. Top nurses at Magnet hospitals are required to hold bachelorās degrees.
The Institute of Medicine calls for 80 percent of nurses to hold bachelorās degrees by 2020.
Featured in the article is Megan Goodman, a 30-year-old aspiring nurse from Pennsylvania who graduated with an associate degree in May. Despite applying for dozens of nursing jobs, Megan has yet to land a job in her chosen field.
āTruthfully, an associateās program is not really going to get you anywhere anymore,ā Megan is quoted as saying. She is currently working two part-time jobs (lifeguard and emergency medical technician) as she continues to apply for jobs.
She has also enrolled in an online RN to BSN degree program.
āItās really wearing me down,ā she said. āI wish hospitals would look at the person. I have life experience.ā
Education stats forĀ Wisconsin nurses
According to the , only 44 percent of nurses in Wisconsin currently hold a BSN. (This compares with 55 percent of nurses nationally.) Another 36 percent have an associate degree, and nearly 8 percent have a high school diploma. Eleven percent hold a master’s.
As more hospitals require BSNs, the pressure is sure to mount onĀ job-seekingĀ nurses who donāt have them.
Get a Ā鶹ֱ²„ Degree Guide
Download an introductory guide (PDF) to the self-paced, competency-based Ā鶹ֱ²„ programs, including details about costs, admission requirements, and more.
Discover an RN to BSN program that makes the most of your nursing experience
If you are an ADN (or a diploma nurse with sufficient post-secondary credits) who would like to increase your job security and upward mobility with a BSN, the Ā鶹ֱ²„ RN to BSN degree-completion program may be for you.
Offered by the UW-Milwaukee College of Nursingāthe largest nursing program in Wisconsin, ranked in the top 6 percent of nursing programs in the nation by U.S. News & World Reportāthis online, competency-based program is made to fit the busy schedules of working adults.
Students in Flexible Option programs can start any month, work at their own pace, and make progress using the nursing experience and skills they already have. Sounds like a program that busy nurse from Pennsylvania would like!
Hereās what twoĀ of our Flex RN to BSN students have to say:
āMy goal was to finish a BSN degree in one year, and I did it! Thanks to the self-paced Flexible Option format, I was able to complete 36 credits while working full time as an ER nurse.ā āLori Kenyon, Madison, Wis.
āIāve gained a lot of knowledge on the job. Thatās valuable because Flex lets you earn credit for what you know. It doesnāt matter where, when, or how you learned it. As long as you can prove it and use it to complete your assessments, you can use it to move ahead.ā āCarla Lundeen, La Crosse, Wis.
Click here to .
Looking to advance your career with a bachelorās degree in nursing? Find out more about the flexible RN to BSN degree program today. Questions? Call 1-877-895-3276 or email flex@uwex.wisconsin.edu to speak with a friendly enrollment adviser who will be happy to help.
Ā鶹ֱ²„ Student Stories
Busy ER Nurse Earns BSN Online in Less Than a Year Through Ā鶹ֱ²„
Why One Busy Nurse Chose the Ā鶹ֱ²„ās RN to BSN Program
Busy ITĀ SpecialistĀ and Bass Player Still Finds Time to Earn His Bachelorās in Information Science and Technology Degree
CT Technologist Finds New Challenges, Direction with Competency-Based Diagnostic Imaging Program
Competency-Based Degrees a Smart, Affordable Option for Busy Professionals Like Craig Kilgo