Hospital system increases educational requirements for nurses

Hospital system increases educational requirements for nurses

In an effort to ensure that they are attracting highly qualified applicants, some healthcare providers are increasing their minimum requirements for new hires.

For instance, Great Neck, New York-based hospital group North Shore - LIJ Health System recently announced that new nurses will need to hold a bachelors degree when they are hired, or earn one within five years of gaining employment with the company, Health Leaders Media reports.

Company officials told the news source that the new policy was enacted based on recent research, which suggested that highly educated nurses can lead to more effective care.

“There is growing evidence that developing a more highly educated nursing workforce improves patient safety and leads to higher-quality, more cost-effective patient care,” Michael Dowling, the company’s president and CEO, told the media outlet.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, individuals who hold bachelors of science in nursing degree are likely to advance their careers more quickly than nurses who have fewer educational qualifications. These courses of study may serve as ample preparation for campus-based or online masters of science in nursing.

By Stefanie Hughes