Madison School of Healthcare Blog

You won't find many people who deny that nurses lead hectic, jam-packed lives. You also won't find many (if any) healthcare educators or employers who deny the importance of nurses getting their BSN degree. So how can busy nurses in a RN-BSN program stay on track in pursuit of their academic and career goals? My advice is to remember what your "end goals" are, practice mindfulness and maximize your study schedule hours.

When thinking about career advancement, the question isn't "why?" but "how?" The Madison School of Healthcare has you covered in our new Employer Q&A video series, which offers expert nursing and healthcare career advancement insights. No matter where you stand in your career, we have expert recommendations to help you take things to the next level.

The nursing profession has existed for hundreds of years, so you can imagine just how much it has evolved over time. It wasn't until the late 1800's that Florence Nightingale proposed the idea of organized education for nurses—before that, women took on jobs as caretakers with no formal training at all.

If you're an RN with an associate degree, it's likely you've read an article or two about why you should earn your BSN. Okay, it’s probably more like too many articles to count, on top of recommendations from your employer, mentor, friends and maybe even a nosey stranger. RNs understand why a BSN is important, but deciding when it’s the right time to go back to school is another decision in its own right.

Healthcare is a hot industry for job growth right now. In fact, the number of healthcare jobs is expected to grow faster than any other industry between 2014 and 2024. As baby boomers age, and members of Generation X have children, the need for healthcare professionals will continue to rise. Here are four careers that are in high demand right now.

Jim Massey has worked in the healthcare industry for nearly 24 years. He worked as a medical assistant and a surgical technician before earning his associate degree and becoming a registered nurse (RN), a role he’s embraced for the past decade.

As the healthcare industry continues to witness growth requiring greater numbers of qualified medical professionals and leaders, there has never been a better time to become a nurse manager. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, national employment of medical and health services managers is projected to increase by 22 percent through 2020. To get ready for those opportunities, many experienced floor nurses are taking steps now, such as completing an RN-BSN program and talking with their employer about other requirements. But, what is the story behind the numbers? There are four reasons nurse managers are in high demand today, and it all starts with a growing patient population.

If you’re an RN, you know that many nurses are making the decision to return to school to earn their BSN. Whether your goal is to further your career or meet employer demands, the fact is that having a bachelor’s degree is becoming an industry standard for nurses. In fact, the Institute of Medicine’s The Future of Nursing report recommends that 80 percent of nurses have a bachelor’s degree by 2020