With the changes in legislation and the advances in technology, it’s no surprise that the healthcare landscape is shifting. To handle increasing complexities of care and greater responsibility, continuing education and training is becoming increasingly important for nurses. As a leader in your healthcare organization, it’s important to emphasize the value of higher education and serve as a role model to your team by encouraging them to pursue advanced degrees. Share these five benefits of a higher nursing degree with your team to get them thinking about the importance of continuing education.
Specialization
By choosing a specialization, nurses no longer have to be a “jack of all trades”, but can focus on the area of nursing that interests them most. The most common specializations include neonatal care, psychiatry, diabetes management, research, midwifery, and nursing education.
Deeper Understanding
Advanced education is one of the most useful tools a nurse can obtain to improve the quality of their patient-care on a day-to-day basis. Medical advancements and new illnesses are continuously being discovered, as well as new medications and treatment techniques to combat them. Having a deeper understanding of illnesses, medical techniques, and treatments makes a nurse that much more successful at their job.
Better Hours
A higher degree usually gives nurses access to advanced leadership and management positions. Many of these positions function on a traditional Monday thru Friday, 40-hour workweek, as opposed to 12-hour shifts. This is ideal for nurses who want a better work-life balance in order to spend more time with family and friends.
Higher Pay
According to a study by Georgetown University on education and the healthcare industry, nurses with a bachelor’s degree see an average of a 43 percent salary increase after earning a graduate nursing degree. Specialties such as practitioner and anesthesia see a substantially larger increase.
Nurse Advocate
Having an advanced degree opens the doors for nurses wanting to improve working conditions for themselves and their colleagues. Positions like Chief Nursing Officer are usually only offered to nurses with graduate degrees in nursing research and education.
Looking for nurses with advanced degrees to help fill your open positions?
BOS Medical Staffing can provide the talent you need. Since 2008, BOS Medical has brought talented nurses, therapists and medical administrators together with top facilities in Northeast Georgia and nationwide. Contact BOS Medical today to find your next hire.
