Importance of Baccalaureate Degree in Nursing for Career Growth

This article discusses the importance of baccalaureate degree in nursing for career growth and how it helps in encountering more job opportunities with high salary. It also highlights the recommendations of IOM Future of Nursing and the benefits of higher educational qualification in nursing field.

Running head- NURSING ASSIGNMENT
NURSING ASSIGNMENT
Name of the student:
Name of the university:
Author note:

1NURSING ASSIGNMENT
Answer 1
According to IOM Future of nursing recommendation 4, population of nurses having
baccalaureate degree should increase to 80% by 2020 (Altman et al., 2019). As I am currently
a registered nurse having associate degree in nursing and in addition also pursuing my
bachelor’s degree in nursing to enhance my skill in this field. Hence by 2020, I will complete
my bachelor’s degree in nursing and will able to fit into the recommendation 4 of IOM future
of nursing.
Answer 2
According to IOM Future of nursing recommendation 5, the number of nursing staff
possessing a Ph.D. should be double by 2020 (Altman et al., 2019). If I have to fit into the
recommendation 5 of IOM, I have to get a doctorate by 2020 which is not possible. I am at
present doing baccalaureate’s degree in nursing which will be completed by 2020 and after
that to get a doctorate some more time will be required. Hence I do not fit into the
recommendation 5 of IOM Future of Nursing as I will not be able to get my doctorate by
2020, but I have future plans to get a doctorate afterwards.
Answer 3
According to IOM Future of nursing recommendation 5, all nurse should engross in
lifelong learning (Altman et al., 2019). As I am already a registered nurse with associate
degree and also pursuing bachelor’s degree in nursing, it will increase my knowledge in the
respective field. Apart from the degree, practical experience of the work also contributes in
gathering knowledge and enhances learning. I will work day in and day out with my patients
and colleagues from interdisciplinary healthcare team for gaining more knowledge.

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Accessing wide range of educational material, performance appraisal and personal life
experiences would also help in the process.
Answer 4
Bachelor’s degree in nursing helps in encountering more job with supervisory roles.
A registered nurse with associates degree can also work in a health organization, but
registered nurse with baccalaureate degree are provided with more job opportunities with
high salary. Hence, nurses with Associates degree are returning back to school to pursue
bachelor’s degree in nursing for more motivation and better job options (Harris & Burman,
2016). After acquiring the baccalaureate degree, I will have more options and can work as an
ICU nurse, operating room nurse, emergency nurse, paediatric nurse, charge nurse, geriatric
nurse and registered nurse supervisor. I will get more preference over other having only
Associates degree. After completing the baccalaureate degree, I can go for master in nursing
and can pursue doctorate also.
Answer 5
Education contributes in the career growth by gathering knowledge, experience and
skills (Auerbach, Buerhaus & Staiger, 2015). As a registered nurse with Associates degree in
nursing, I am familiar with the nursing program and the work environment of the health
organization. However, the baccalaureate degree will help me in gathering more knowledge
and it will also enhance my soft skills which will reflect in my resume. Hence, I will get
better job opportunities as compared to those having less educational qualification. Nurses
with baccalaureate degree are usually given supervisory roles, higher salaries and more
responsibility. Therefore after completing the degree, I will get more recognition and will
grow professionally.

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Answer 6
Higher educational qualification helps in self-improvement. Practical knowledge is
the key to success in nursing field. Baccalaureate degree helps in enhancing patient handling
skill and also increases professional values (Suliman & Aljezawi, 2018). It will also help in
improving my communication skill and hence, I will be able to analyse the patient’s pains
and sorrows in a better way and will be able to formulate improved nursing care plans for
better-quality results. After getting my baccalaureate degree, I will be more aware with the
consequences of patient mishandling and will be able to deal with that in a healthier way.
Apart from the practical knowledge, it will also increase my theoretical knowledge about
diseases, their prevention and treatment.

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References
Altman, S., Butler, A., Shern, L., Committee for Assessing Progress on Implementing the
Recommendations of the
Institute of Medicine Report The Future of Nursing:
Leading Change, &., Medicine, I., & National Academies of Sciences, a. (2019).
Achieving Higher Levels of Education. Retrieved from
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK350161/#ref_000203
Auerbach, D. I., Buerhaus, P. I., & Staiger, D. O. (2015). Do associate degree registered
nurses fare differently in the nurse labor market compared to baccalaureate-prepared
RNs?. Nursing Economics, 33(1), 8-14.
Harris, P. W., & Burman, M. E. (2016). Nurses returning to school: motivators, inhibitors and
job satisfaction. Journal of Professional Nursing, 32(2), 85-93.
Suliman, M., & Aljezawi, M. (2018). Nurses’ work environment: indicators of satisfaction.
Journal of nursing management, 26(5), 525-530.