Oct 25, 2018 2:09:48 PM
– but the Need for More Nurses with BSNs Continues
There are more nurses advancing their education in Vermont now than there were five years ago, resulting in better outcomes for patients, healthier communities, and more job opportunities for those nurses. More than 50% of Vermont’s registered nurses hold a Bachelor of Nursing or advanced degree.
A Future of Nursing State Implementation Program grant working to build a culture of health through nursing will sunset October 30, 2018. But, the need for nurses with their BSN continue to grow.
It’s no secret that healthcare is growing more complex and that nurses play a critical role in providing care. By the year 2030, it is projected that there will be a 50% growth in the population aged 65 and older and according to the Institute of Medicine, nurses with baccalaureate in nursing degrees improve community health outcomes
Increasing the proportion of nurses with BSN degrees to 80% by 2020 is a key recommendation made by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) in its 2010 report, The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health. Vermont is working to reach the IOM goal of 80% BSN-prepared nurses by 2022. Reaching 80% requires both an increase in newly licensed RNs with baccalaureate degrees, and an increase in previously licensed nurses returning to school for their BSN.
Now that all nursing schools in Vermont offer programs for earning a Bachelor of Nursing, and more institutions are supporting higher education attainment for nurses, the end of the Campaign comes at a time when there are multiple resources to support nurses in their quest for more education and degree advancement.
The Future of Nursing: Campaign for Action project, sponsored by the Vermont Action Coalition, was funded with grants from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the AARP Foundation, the KeyBank Foundation, and supported by Vermont AHEC (Area Health Education Centers), Vermont nursing organizations, hospitals and colleges.