Because nurses have the greatest amount of contact with patients, a patient’s progress and health is largely dependent upon their care and intervention. One factor that consistently benefits patients is having nurses with advanced education; those with an advanced education tend to be more competent and well-versed in the intricacies of healthcare.
Statistics show that hospitals with a higher percentage of nurses who hold bachelor’s degrees in nursing have patients with better outcomes, lower mortality rates, and fewer adverse effects from treatment or hospitalization. In these hospitals, a patient is more likely to receive the appropriate and timely response to changes or deterioration in health.
Although the current minimum educational qualification for entry-level nurses is a two-year associate’s degree in nursing, many hospitals prefer a four-year degree or require new hires to get their bachelor’s degree within a specified time frame. The Institute of Medicine projects that by 2020 nearly 80 percent of all nurses will hold a bachelor’s degree.
Other benefits of a highly educated nursing workforce include better care of the more complex or critically ill patient, shorter hospital stays, and greater familiarity with technology. If you’re interested in becoming a nurse, enroll in CNI’s Associate’s Degree in Nursing (RN) program today. Graduates of the AND (RN) program will be prepared to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) for licensure as an RN. From there, you can enroll in a bachelor’s degree program.