American Sentinel University has developed a Bachelor of Science Nursing (BSN) Readiness Worksheet to help nurses assess how they feel about continuing their education and gauge their readiness to pursue a BSN. Nurses can print out the complimentary worksheet at http://www.americansentinel.edu/wp-content/uploads/BSN-Readiness-Worksheet-PDF.pdf, respond to ten statements and then tally their score results to see how they rate on a BSN-readiness scale.
AURORA, Colo. (PRWEB) May 20, 2013
AURORA, Colo. – May 20, 2013 – American Sentinel University, a leading online accredited university, has developed a Bachelor of Science Nursing (BSN) Readiness Worksheet to help nurses assess how they feel about continuing their education and gauge their readiness to pursue a BSN. Nurses can print out the complimentary worksheet, respond to ten statements and then tally their score results to see how they rate on a BSN-readiness scale.
New industry standards and complexities of patient care call for nurses to receive additional education beyond basic pre-licensure requirements. Many hospitals and health care organizations are calling for nurses to either earn a BSN or RN to MSN degree. Now more than ever, nurses should consider going back to school and determine how they can leverage the push for an advanced degree to accomplish career and personal goals.
“It’s important for nurses to evaluate their thoughts and feelings about continuing their education and ask themselves if there is a specific career path they would like to take, or if they want to move up the nursing ladder, earn more promotions to receive higher salaries and gain greater respect from their peers,” says Karen Whitham, EdD(c), MSN, RN, CNE, chair of nursing, RN-BSN programs at American Sentinel University. “By addressing their career and professional motivations, they will be able to determine if they are BSN-ready and if this is the right path for them to realize their goals.”
Many nurses who return to school to fulfill an employer’s requirements do not believe, at first, that their new BSN will change the way they practice nursing. However, several key factors are behind the push for a workforce of BSN-prepared nurses, says Whitham.
“Several studies have demonstrated that lower levels of patient mortality are associated with advanced education levels of the nurses. Increased education is also associated with patient safety and quality of care,” she says.
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) and the Institute of Medicine (IOM) launched an initiative to respond to the need to assess and transform the nursing profession. Whitham points out the initiative recommends that organizations achieve a 90 percent BSN-prepared nurse workforce by 2020.
Whitham says that there are several key characteristics of BSN-ready nurses.
Baccalaureate graduates have education that enhances their professional development and enables them to better understand the cultural, social, political and economic issues that influence health care.
Additionally, nurses with the ability to think in a systematic and logical manner will reflect on and question the reasoning process to ensure quality care.
Due to the complexity of today’s health care environment, Whitham says that bachelor’s level nurses are better prepared for leadership, management, in-depth research and community health and education roles.
“A BSN nurse may work in a hospital setting and hold positions in education or management or work in the private or public sector,” says Whitham. “A BSN is the first step toward furthering their education, such as earning a MSN or Ph.D.”
Download the BSN-Readiness Worksheet
Now is a great time for nurses to gauge their BSN-readiness and determine what additional resources they need for their professional success. Download American Sentinel’s BSN-readiness Worksheet here to identify key areas of strength and weakness and create a plan to address the path to success.
Learn more about American Sentinel University’s RN to BSN degree program, go to http://www.americansentinel.edu/health-care/rn-to-b-s-nursing.
About American Sentinel University
American Sentinel University delivers the competitive advantages of accredited online nursing degree programs in nursing, informatics, MBA Health Care, DNP Executive Leadership and DNP Educational Leadership. Its affordable, flexible bachelor’s and master’s nursing degree programs are accredited by the Commission for the Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). The university is accredited by the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC). The Accrediting Commission of DETC is listed by the U.S. Department of Education as a nationally recognized accrediting agency and is a recognized member of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.
# # # Reported by PRWeb 11 hours ago.
AURORA, Colo. (PRWEB) May 20, 2013
AURORA, Colo. – May 20, 2013 – American Sentinel University, a leading online accredited university, has developed a Bachelor of Science Nursing (BSN) Readiness Worksheet to help nurses assess how they feel about continuing their education and gauge their readiness to pursue a BSN. Nurses can print out the complimentary worksheet, respond to ten statements and then tally their score results to see how they rate on a BSN-readiness scale.
New industry standards and complexities of patient care call for nurses to receive additional education beyond basic pre-licensure requirements. Many hospitals and health care organizations are calling for nurses to either earn a BSN or RN to MSN degree. Now more than ever, nurses should consider going back to school and determine how they can leverage the push for an advanced degree to accomplish career and personal goals.
“It’s important for nurses to evaluate their thoughts and feelings about continuing their education and ask themselves if there is a specific career path they would like to take, or if they want to move up the nursing ladder, earn more promotions to receive higher salaries and gain greater respect from their peers,” says Karen Whitham, EdD(c), MSN, RN, CNE, chair of nursing, RN-BSN programs at American Sentinel University. “By addressing their career and professional motivations, they will be able to determine if they are BSN-ready and if this is the right path for them to realize their goals.”
Many nurses who return to school to fulfill an employer’s requirements do not believe, at first, that their new BSN will change the way they practice nursing. However, several key factors are behind the push for a workforce of BSN-prepared nurses, says Whitham.
“Several studies have demonstrated that lower levels of patient mortality are associated with advanced education levels of the nurses. Increased education is also associated with patient safety and quality of care,” she says.
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) and the Institute of Medicine (IOM) launched an initiative to respond to the need to assess and transform the nursing profession. Whitham points out the initiative recommends that organizations achieve a 90 percent BSN-prepared nurse workforce by 2020.
Whitham says that there are several key characteristics of BSN-ready nurses.
Baccalaureate graduates have education that enhances their professional development and enables them to better understand the cultural, social, political and economic issues that influence health care.
Additionally, nurses with the ability to think in a systematic and logical manner will reflect on and question the reasoning process to ensure quality care.
Due to the complexity of today’s health care environment, Whitham says that bachelor’s level nurses are better prepared for leadership, management, in-depth research and community health and education roles.
“A BSN nurse may work in a hospital setting and hold positions in education or management or work in the private or public sector,” says Whitham. “A BSN is the first step toward furthering their education, such as earning a MSN or Ph.D.”
Download the BSN-Readiness Worksheet
Now is a great time for nurses to gauge their BSN-readiness and determine what additional resources they need for their professional success. Download American Sentinel’s BSN-readiness Worksheet here to identify key areas of strength and weakness and create a plan to address the path to success.
Learn more about American Sentinel University’s RN to BSN degree program, go to http://www.americansentinel.edu/health-care/rn-to-b-s-nursing.
About American Sentinel University
American Sentinel University delivers the competitive advantages of accredited online nursing degree programs in nursing, informatics, MBA Health Care, DNP Executive Leadership and DNP Educational Leadership. Its affordable, flexible bachelor’s and master’s nursing degree programs are accredited by the Commission for the Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). The university is accredited by the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC). The Accrediting Commission of DETC is listed by the U.S. Department of Education as a nationally recognized accrediting agency and is a recognized member of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.
# # # Reported by PRWeb 11 hours ago.