Healthcare is a progressive and rapidly evolving field. Medical breakthroughs are rolling out at an unprecedented rate, and new and more effective medications are helping patients live a longer life. For this reason, healthcare needs professionals who can match the pace of these transformations and upskill themselves to meet the increasing demand of patients. As the frontline force of healthcare, nurses are required to expand their knowledge base and meet healthcare standards.

Why nurses should prioritize higher education

Today, a nursing diploma doesn’t suffice to provide the best care to the patients and remain competitive. For instance, when navigating their way through complicated technology, nurses often lack technical proficiency. Nonetheless, nurses who upskill themselves are prepared to meet the challenging demands of healthcare head-on. Therefore, enrolling in BSN, MSN, and similar higher degree programs is always a viable idea. Besides, the introduction of online degrees has made this process more manageable and convenient. Now, nurses can enroll in an advanced degree program and work in the care facility simultaneously. They can also decide their study timing by keeping in mind their gruelingly hectic shift schedules. Whether working as FNPs or geriatric nurses, they can easily pursue higher academic programs. For instance, the MSN Family Nurse Practitioner degree program allows nurses to enhance their skillset alongside preparing them for advanced roles.

The trend is to enroll in specialized advanced degree programs to boost their careers and hone the essential skill set. Now, let’s further corroborate why nurses should prioritize higher education:

1. Boost employability

Given the recent pandemic events, healthcare faces a shortage of skilled nurses ready to tackle patients with novel diseases. Since the older nurses are about to retire in the next few years, hospitals everywhere are searching to find the right candidates. Currently, there are more positions open for skilled nurses in healthcare than there is a supply. According to BLS, the employment of nurses will grow by 9% through 2030. But what’s concerning is that it’s approximately six times less than the number of opportunities available for nurses. Hospitals highly demand nurses with advanced education. Some hospitals have even mandated new nurses to have a BSN or an MSN degree while applying. Simultaneously, they encourage their existing workforce to enroll in higher education programs to qualify for senior positions.

2. Pursue the specialization of your choice

After venturing into the healthcare field, many nurses opt for specializations to accelerate their career advancement. However, in-demand specializations are open to you only when you have a BSN or an MSN degree. Therefore, nurses willing to boost their career and get affiliated to a specific area of nursing such as cardiology, anesthesia, pediatrics, etc., must strive for getting higher education.

These specialized roles come with more responsibility, hence boosting your professional standing.

3. Secure leadership roles

Nurses have stood strong through the challenging and nerve-wracking period of the pandemic. They have provided more than their professional capabilities, ignoring their family and personal well-being. In the aftermath of the pandemic, nurses have a greater demand for autonomy and a place among decision-makers. Skilled nurses believe that a certain level of independence increases patient outcomes when they can make the decisions without wasting time. Besides, gaining control is not just a professional demand but a need of the hour.

Nurses can gain this control and autonomy by advancing themselves academically. With MSN and DNP, nurse practitioners are qualified to work in leadership positions, lead teams and make decisions to enhance care quality. Nurses can also improve patient satisfaction by capitalizing on their experience of working close-by patients.

4. Earn a higher salary

Ensuring optimal quality healthcare, improving patient outcomes, and coordinating with staff members are critical nursing functions. But one must not deny that nursing is a lucrative career too. Owing to the significance of their work, nurses get a reasonable amount per year. This salary increases by getting higher education or an in-demand certification. A new degree implies higher responsibilities, so, understandably, their salary increases too. Nurses with a Master’s degree can earn $97,000 annually, higher than the salary of nurses with a BSN, which is $88,000 yearly.

Besides, the salary rises as you gain more experience.

5. Improve patient outcomes

Getting higher education in nursing means familiarity with new concepts and patient care methods. Nursing degrees prepare nurses to wear various hats in healthcare facilities. They are trained to work in a highly complicated environment where technological applications are becoming a norm. Telehealth and informatics are revolutionizing healthcare, so MSN and DNPs degrees prepare nurses to work in this dynamic environment. Nurses also get better at employing evidence-based practices to improve patient outcomes with better education.

6. Improve your soft skills

Nursing degrees are not all about medical knowledge. There is a greater emphasis on improving soft skills. During these programs, nurses learn to effectively manage and work in teams, analyze patient data, and excel at decision-making. Complicated case scenarios improve analytical skills, team-based projects improve teamwork and collaboration. With hands-on experience, they learn to solve problems, offer viable solutions, and conduct research-based interventions.

Furthermore, enhancing nurses’ communication skills is an essential part of nursing degrees. Since nurses work in a people-centric profession, honing effective communication becomes indispensable.

7. Ability to mentor others

Healthcare is not only facing a shortage of nurses. It’s in dire need of skilled personnel who can train the new nurses and prepare them for assuming professional responsibilities. Mentors can help fulfill this gap. Studies also highlight that a good mentor can reduce employee turnover, boost employee morale, and increase satisfaction among nursing staff.

Higher education helps you assume mentoring roles in hospitals and care facilities and work with new and old nurses. New nurses are often unaware of various procedures, protocols, and processes in healthcare. Hence, they look for someone who can lead them through this stressful period.

Conclusion

Advanced education is essential for nurses as it enables them to remain competitive in the fast-changing healthcare environment. Getting a higher salary, attaining a better position socially and professionally, and assuming higher roles are the perks of advanced nursing education. Higher education also allows nurses to utilize research-based practices and ensure a safe environment. A lesser talked-about impact of higher education is on one’s health and well-being. There is ample literature guaranteeing that better education positively impacts your health and well-being.