Earning a nursing degree may increase job opportunities

Earning a nursing degree may increase job opportunities

Last year, registered nurses (RNs) held more jobs than workers in all other healthcare-related occupations, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports. In an effort to satisfy the demand for qualified professionals in this field, a number of institutions are offering increased nursing degree options.

Schools such as St. Vincent College in Connecticut are giving students the option of earning their nursing degree online, the CT Post reports. The format was designed to give practicing RNs the freedom to continue working at their day jobs while they earn a degree. Students who participate in this program will have the option of completing it in two years.

Joanne Wolfertz, vice president and dean of the college, told the news source that the program is meant for those who already have an associate's degree in nursing. She added that patients who receive care from a nurse with a bachelor's degree often have better outcomes.

The BLS reports that registered nurses held approximately 2.6 million jobs during the 2008 fiscal year.

By Mark Danson