Internationally-Trained RNs Can Help Meet US Demand for BSNs

With the U.S. falling short of the goal to have 80 percent of nurses with bachelor's degrees by 2020, according to the Journal of Nursing Scholarship, the need for qualified and trained nurses continues to grow. While statistics show a substantial increase in the number of nurses that have obtained bachelor's degrees since 2005 (44 percent to 57 percent), that still falls shy of the demand by healthcare facilities across the country.

Need For Nurses With BSNs Continues To Grow

The growing demand for nurses with bachelor's degrees in the U.S. is nothing new, but has continued to balloon as the Baby Boomer generation ages and healthcare coverage expands extensively. These nurses play a vital role in the health outcomes of patients, as studies have shown links between nurses with a bachelor's degree and lowered mortality rates in patients at hospitals across the U.S.Studies such as these actually prompted the National Academies of Science, Medicine, and Engineering to make the 80-percent goal.While hospital units do show a small increase in the proportion of nurses with BSNs since 2010, according to the Institute of Medicine, the need only continues to grow. Prior to 2010, American hospital units showed a 1.3 percent increase in nurses with bachelor's degrees. In 2010 and beyond, this number increased to 1.9 percent in an American hospital unit, showing the need for nurses with BSNs. There are hospital units that are upholding the 80 percent goal in their unit. They have shown an increase, moving from only 3 percent in 2009 to 7 percent in 2013, but it's not enough.Unfortunately, the U.S. is running short of these qualified nurses and isn't expected to meet its complete 80 percent goal until the year 2029. This is nine years shy of initial estimates. Critical care units are anticipated to reach the benchmark in 2025, but in both instances, it leaves hospitals today falling short of BSNs they need to fill their ever-growing void.

An International Nursing Solution

It has been suggested that the legislators change U.S. policy, requiring all nurses to receive a bachelor's degree as part of their educational training. While this would help meet the 80 percent milestone, it doesn't offer a solution that helps in the near-term. In fact, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo recently signed into a law a requirement that nurses earn a BSN within 10 years of initial licensure.An alternative to ensure that qualified and trained nurses are placed in hospitals today can be provided through internationally-trained nurses. International nurses that work with PassportUSA have the educational training that is required by your healthcare facility and can help fill the need for nurses with bachelor's degrees now.PassportUSA facilitates the integration of these nurses into your facility, allowing you to fill vacant positions with highly-trained and educated nurses with BSNs. These nurses can allow your hospital to operate at a higher capacity and provide the level of care that is required by your patients.International nurses with BSNs, along with PassportUSA's assistance, can help fill your hospital's growing need for nurses with a higher level of education while helping to meet the 80 percent goal within your unit today.U.S. HEALTHCARE ORGANIZATIONS: If you are looking for a cost-effective, temp-to-perm nurse staffing solution, please connect with our Business Development Team.