Nurses who enroll in an RN to BSN program are at the forefront of healthcare trends that help them provide the best care possible. Many RNs with an associate degree or nursing diploma choose to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Nursing to enter into management positions, but that’s not the only reason. The current preference for nurses with a BSN is tied to results; studies show a correlation between nurse education and better outcomes for patients as well as higher job satisfaction for nurses.
The online RN to BSN program at Texas A&M International University helps prepare nurses for the ever-evolving and increasingly complex environment in healthcare by expanding a nurse’s skill set and knowledge through a curriculum of dynamic health assessment, research and cultural care.
Health Assessments in a Challenging Healthcare Environment
Nurses are an essential part of healthcare, often with more face-to-face patient time than other practitioners. And while their care is invaluable, the training they have received may not be sufficient in the future. The population of older Americans continues to grow, with members living longer than they did in the past. They often have simultaneous ailments and treatments, and their care has become more complex, according to NursingLicensure.org. Managing care and maintaining patient health in the face of multiple diagnoses can fall on nurses’ shoulders. Moreover, medical innovations change rapidly, so having the tools to locate and evaluate current research could prove life-saving.
With an advanced curriculum in assessment, evidence-based practice, community nursing and more, the online RN to BSN program at TAMIU helps nurses develop comprehensive assessment skills through all life stages. Students learn to use critical thinking to evaluate current research and let that inform their clinical judgements. Leading medical associations assert that the research-practice gap is a danger to patient prognosis. The RN to BSN program helps bridge that gap.
Culturally Sensitive Care and Patient Communication
Nurses’ ability to advocate for and treat patients is dependent upon effective communication and their ability to understand how culture, values and environment may influence a patient’s health and attitudes about healthcare. While clinical experience can help develop those skills, an RN to BSN program can help advance them further through an exploration of cultural variations in approach to care. It is essential to accurately identify and help resolve patients’ health issues while considering their individual values and needs.
Better Patient Outcomes
Research shows that the quality of patient care provided by BSN nurses is higher and that they have helped contribute to lowering mortality rates. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (2013) conducted rigorous studies that associate an increase in BSN nurse hospital staffing with a lower incidence of pressure ulcers, post-operative deep vein thrombosis, hospital-acquired infections, and post-surgical mortality, notes Nurse Journal. The New York State Nurses Association is also a proponent of the RN to BSN program: “In 2011, when the BS in 10 proposal first came up for debate, the association issued a memo citing a 2003 University of Pennsylvania study that found that for every 10% increase in a hospital’s staff holding bachelor’s degrees or higher, there are 5% fewer deaths in surgery,” according to NursingLicensure.org. These kinds of outcomes are most likely the driving force for the wide support of RN to BSN programs.
The online RN to BSN program at TAMIU offers a practical learning path for nurses to improve the care they provide, whether they plan to move into management or not. From developing clinical decision-making skills and assessing current modalities through research to improving job satisfaction and patient outcomes, a BSN program can prepare a nurse to excel in the challenging and ever-changing environment of the healthcare field.
Learn more about Texas A&M International University’s online RN to BSN program.
Sources:
NursingLicensure.org: The Future of the Associate Degree in Nursing Program
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation: The Case for Academic Progression
Nurse Journal: 10 Reasons Why RN’s Should Pursue Their BSN Degree
