A new survey has found a significant increase in the number of students looking to add an advanced degree in nursing to their resumes in order to advance within the health care profession. The report by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) showed that enrollment in all types of professional registered nursing (RN) courses increased during the past year, including a 3.9% jump in entry-level bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) degree programs. AACN President Kathleen Potempa said the news is encouraging seeing that the medical community will need an influx of new nurses within the next several years. "With the Institute of Medicine and other leading authorities calling for significant increases in the number of nurses with baccalaureate and graduate degrees, moving to prepare a more highly educated nursing workforce has become a national priority," Potempa noted. "AACN is pleased to see robust interest in baccalaureate, master's, and doctoral nursing programs. A separate survey by the AACN also found strong hiring levels for new BSN graduates. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, job opportunities for registered nurses are expected to grow by 22% through the end of the decade. |