Why do so many hospital systems value nurses who have a bachelor’s degree? Why does the bachelor’s degree increase a nurse’s chances of getting hired and experiencing job security?

We sat down with Dr. Cheryl Nosek, chair of the Daemen University Nursing Department, to find out why there is a distinction among nursing students with their bachelor’s degree among hospitals.

Better patient outcomes more often

Nosek believes the bachelor’s degree helps nurses look at things from a broader, critical thinking perspective so that they are able to recognize subtle changes in the patient’s condition more quickly and therefore can intervene sooner to improve patient outcomes.

“There is a fair body of research to support that hospitals with a greater percentage of bachelor’s prepared nurses have higher positive patient outcomes,” Nosek said.

The evidence is there, and the results are lifesaving.

B.S. in 10 Legislation

The state of New York established its B.S. in 10 legislation, which requires new nurses to earn their bachelor’s degree within 10 years after they earned their license.

“If you don’t have your bachelor’s degree within 10 years, you lose your RN license, and hospitals don’t want to take that chance,” Nosek said.

Nosek explained that hospitals look for candidates who have their bachelor’s degree because they do not want to invest a lot of time and resources in their nursing staff members only to lose them because they are no longer licensed to practice.

“While 10 years sounds like a lot of time, it really can go by very quickly,” Nosek pointed out.

Increased chances for Magnet status

Another reason many hospital systems look for nurses with their bachelor’s degree is that it can help them achieve Magnet status – a credential awarded by the American Nurses’ Credentialing Center (ANCC), an affiliate of the American Nurses Association (ANA), that puts them “a step above,” as Nosek described it.

In order to meet Magnet status, hospitals must meet several criteria demonstrating excellence in nursing and patient care as well as innovative advancement within the practice.

One of the requirements of achieving Magnet status is having a higher percentage nurses on staff with their bachelor’s degree.

Conclusion

Ultimately, there are several reasons a bachelor’s degree is beneficial for nurses, especially those looking to work in a hospital setting. Hospitals value the skills nurses learn by adding another layer to their education, which ultimately can result in advanced critical thinking as well as developing better practices for their jobs and profession as a whole.

Learn more about how you can advance your nursing career with Daemen University’s RN to B.S. program.