Earn Your BSN While Working as a Travel Nurse

Earn your BSN while putting your associate’s degree to work as a Travel Nurse.

Are there still well-paying nursing jobs available for RNs with Associate Degrees? Or should I study for a BSN degree to stay competitive in the current healthcare job market?

These are questions Registered Nurses who don’t have a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) are asking themselves as more healthcare facilities demand higher education as a hiring prerequisite. Associate degree RNs with several years of clinical experience are often overlooked while nursing jobs are awarded to BSN-prepared healthcare professionals.

Throughout the healthcare industry, we see several reasons for the increased demand for a highly-educated nursing staff. There are two reasons that are attributed to this most often. First, there have been studies that show hospitals with BSN-educated nurses representing a higher portion of their staff rank higher in quality-of-care. Secondly, Magnet status hospitals and those that strive for the designation must have BSN-educated RNs in leadership roles. In addition, the Institute of Medicine is calling for 80% of the nursing workforce to be BSN-credentialed by 2020.

While many facilities, especially those striving for Magnet status, are shifting towards a BSN-educated nursing staff, there are thousands of hospitals and other medical facilities searching for and hiring talented nurses with associate’s degrees and will continue to do so.

This HRSA study predicts that by 2037, there will be nursing workforce shortage of 6% -- that is, a shortage of 207,980 full-time equivalent RNs. Based on the current rate of BSN-educated graduates entering the workforce, it would be nearly impossible to fill all of the open nursing jobs throughout the country. Experienced RNs with Associate degrees and diplomas will be required to fill these important roles. In fact, are currently recruiting for RNs at all educational levels and often offer above-average wages to help fill in these vacancies and support hospital staffing shortages.

Not surprisingly, the shift to higher education in nursing has been an ongoing trend. In the 1980s, 55% of RNs held a hospital diploma, 18% an Associate’s degree, and 22% achieved a BSN. A Rasmussen University study recently reported that 70% of nurses now hold a BSN degree, marking a complete reversal from 1980.

While RNs with Associate’s degrees will continue to have career opportunities throughout the foreseeable future, those who have aspirations to move into management or leadership roles will need pursue a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. Hundreds of U.S. nursing schools have developed distant-learning “RN to BSN” programs for those who want to pursue the advanced degree while continuing to work in their profession. Programs can be completed in as little as one to two years.

Travel nursing offers the ideal opportunity – earn a competitive salary and benefits package while studying for your BSN in an online program. The experiences and educational advantages you will gain as a travel nurse working in a variety of hospital settings, including large teaching or university hospital settings throughout the country, will enhance your studies while preparing you for future leadership roles.

Additionally, travel nursing jobs provide the opportunity to make useful and important healthcare connections. In completing up to eight 13-week travel nurse assignments over a two-year period, you can gain experience and develop relationships that will likely be even more useful once you’ve completed your advanced degree.