Nursing is a dynamic profession, and patient-centered care has evolved and become more complex; therefore, it is crucial to have an educated nursing workforce that is better fortified to meet the needs of an evolving healthcare population and system.
The baby boomer generation makes about twenty percent of the population in the United States will be sixty-fives and older by 2030 (Salmond & Echevarria, 2017) . With an aging population, people living longer with chronic diseases, and millions of citizens in the U.S. having access to coverage in healthcare, it is imperative that a BSN degree must be used as an entry-level requirement for registered nurses (Salmond & Echevarria, 2017) .
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According to the IOM (Institute of Medicine), registered nurses with a BSN degree deliver high quality of care, and hospitals with BSN graduates have improved patient outcomes than their RN counterparts. Nurses with a BSN degree are in demand so that they can meet the dynamic needs of the market (Salmond & Echevarria, 2017) .
Review of Literature
Studies have shown that there is a significant connotation between the levels of education of a BSN and patient outcomes in critical care settings as well as mortality rates (Salmond & Echevarria, 2017) .
Other studies indicate that the level of experience of nurses in the clinical field is much more important than their level of education in improving patient outcomes and reducing medication errors in hospitals (Salmond & Echevarria, 2017) .
A BSN degree provides a stable foundation for the evolving roles of nurses as well as new models of care (White, 2017) .
The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that if the 80 percent threshold of BSN nurses is not met my 2020, there will be a scarcity (1 million) of nurses by 2022 (Potera, 2015) .
The AACN (American Association of Colleges of Nursing) states that BSN degrees prepare nurses to meet the needs that have been placed on nurses today.
Many hospitals in the United States are urging nurses with an AND to go ahead and obtain their BSN (Potera, 2015) .
Care within hospitals in the United States has become more multifaceted, and nurses need to make analytical decisions when it comes to taking care of sicker patients (Tartavoulle et al., 2018) .
The competence of nurses in a healthcare setting largely deo=pends on the knowledge and skills that were taught to them (Potera, 2015) .
Studies have shown that the transition from RN to BSN is difficult once nurses get back to their previous workplaces (White, 2017) .
The nursing profession is suffering due to various levels of entry into practice.
Discussion
The implementation of a BSN degree in the profession will revamp the image of competence by meeting the qualifications that hospitals represent (Fawaz et al., 2018) .
The implementation of a BSN degree within 10-years of being granted a license shows how the nursing profession is continually changing and that learning is required to meet the needs of patients today (Djukic et al., 2019) .
Collaboration between education institutions, hospitals, and employers ensures that the support of organizations should match the funds needed for a BSN degree (Fawaz et al., 2018) .
Educators must ensure that the courses from RN to BSN programs addresses the needs of nurses and health care (Djukic et al., 2019) .
Nurses need to understand the reason why BSN nurses are better than ADN nurses and inject the findings into BSN programs (Fawaz et al., 2018) .
The BSN workforce in the United States must be prepared to meet higher levels of education in masters and doctoral programs that are essential for nurses to act as primary caregivers (Tartavoulle et al., 2018) .
Numerous healthcare institutions in the U.S. have paved the way in demanding for nurses to obtain a BSN degree for entry-level positions. (Tartavoulle et al., 2018) .
The BSN degree should be used as an entry-level requirement in public health and community settings (Djukic et al., 2019) .
A BSN degree assures that the future nurse has more substantial knowledge of patient care (Djukic et al., 2019) .
ACCN data indicates that market forces tend to favor baccalaureate nurses over those with an associate degree, and their mean job placement has decreased (Djukic et al., 2019) .
Conclusion
The unemployment rate for nurses with an associate degree is higher than that for nurses with a baccalaureate degree.
Financial concerns, competing priorities, and lack of time are the main barriers to nurses achieving a baccalaureate degree both the entry-level and through academic progression programs.
Educators and healthcare facilities should promote lifelong and interprofessional leavening so that nurses are equipped to work in evolving healthcare environments.
The AACA should move from providing care from the hospital to providing care in a community setting.
References
Djukic, M., Stimpfel, A., & Kovner, C. (2019). Bachelor's Degree Nurse Graduates Report Better Quality and Safety Educational Preparedness than Associate Degree Graduates. The Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety , 45 (3), 180-186. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcjq.2018.08.008
Fawaz, M., Hamdan-Mansour, A., & Tassi, A. (2018). Challenges facing nursing education in the advanced healthcare environment. International Journal of Africa Nursing Sciences , 9 , 105-110. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijans.2018.10.005
Potera, C. (2015). Bachelor’s Degrees Not Only Save Lives, They Save Hospitals Money. AJN, American Journal sof Nursing , 115 (2), 14. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.naj.0000460668.95532.82
Salmond, S., & Echevarria, M. (2017). Healthcare Transformation and Changing Roles for Nursing. Orthopaedic Nursing , 36 (1), 12-25. https://doi.org/10.1097/nor.0000000000000308
Tartavoulle, T., Adorno, M., Garbee, D., Kensler, P., Manning, J., & Pierce, S. (2018). Predictors of Success in BSN Students. International Journal of Nursing Education Scholarship , 15 (1). https://doi.org/10.1515/ijnes-2017-0028
White, E. (2017). A Comparison of Nursing Education and Workforce Planning Initiatives in the United States and England. Policy, Politics, & Nursing Practice , 18 (4), 173-185. https://doi.org/10.1177/1527154418759666
