Nursing education can be a lifelong process. When you started, you may have earned your LPN, RN, or BSN, and you moved forward into your career with all sorts of hopes, goals, and aspirations. You may have wanted to work in a particular specialty, had your sights set on the traveler lifestyle, or were focused on making sure you could pay the bills, give your kids a good life, and plan for your eventual retirement.
During the many years of your career, you may have chosen to pursue various certifications, joined workplace committees, and accumulated countless skills and competencies. But how do you know when it’s time to advance your education?
The Educational Edge
Going back to school is a big decision with far-reaching implications. There’s the financial cost, of course. Still, there’s also the time commitment, the potential inconvenience to your family, and how going to school and working can complicate your life unless you’re lucky enough to be in the position to take time off from work while you’re back in school.
For LPNs/LVNs, the decision to return to school can directly relate to wanting more career mobility. Many acute care and other facilities only employ RNs, and if you want to move up the nursing career ladder, earning your RN can be a very practical step, with the added benefit of increasing your earning potential.
When you have your RN, advancing to a BSN can boost your earnings, and we know that some facilities lean much more heavily toward nurses with a BSN. In the original 2011 Future of Nursing Report by the National Academy of Medicine, the recommendation was for the number of baccalaureate-prepared nurses to be increased by 80% by 2020. The 2020 updated report states that the number of nurses with a BSN has now surpassed the number with an associate’s degree.
The same 2020 report also makes the following statements:
“…Nationally, a higher percentage of Black/African American, Hispanic, and particularly Asian RNs relative to White RNs have a BSN,” and “proportionately, more Black/African American and Asian RNs than White and Hispanic RNs have a master’s degree, or a doctor of nursing practice (DNP) or a PhD in nursing.”
The report adds, “Analysis of data from the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) shows that between 2010 and 2017, the number of RNs who obtained a doctoral degree increased rapidly, with those obtaining a DNP far outnumbering those obtaining a PhD.”
And finally, “…the proportionate growth among POC RNs was even greater. For example, the number of Black/African American RNs who obtained a DNP increased from 139 in 2010 to 826 in 2017 (a nearly 5,000 percent increase), while the number earning a PhD increased from 52 to 107 (105 percent) over this same period.”
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), registered nurses (without distinguishing between RNs and BSNs) earned a median annual salary of $86,070 in 2023. Meanwhile, nurse practitioners enjoyed a mean yearly wage of $128,490. For nurse anesthetists (a specialty that requires a doctoral degree), we see an annual base salary of $183,025.
We can conclude that educational advancement in nursing most definitely impacts earning potential. As we can see from the statistics, nurses of color have been increasingly embracing the career mobility offered by advancing their education. This translates into a more educated nursing workforce and likely a more competitive job market based on the proportions of nurses who have that extra educational edge.
Taking the Plunge
So, when do you go back to school? Is it best when the kids are young, or do you wait until they’re teenagers and need you less? If your spouse is shouldering more of the childrearing burden, how will that impact their life and career?
Like anyone else, nurses may find themselves caring for elderly parents, possibly while also raising children. What do you do if you’re a so-called “sandwich generation” member?
There’s also the question of getting older. How does it feel to return to school in your 30s instead of your 50s or 60s? How much energy does it take, and can you summon the stamina for what’s to come?
When it comes to choosing between strictly online learning, a “brick-and-mortar” school, or a hybrid program, making the right choice is imperative. Sometimes, getting out of the house and sitting in a classroom is a welcome break from the distractions of home. Online learning can be convenient, but if kids run around and have constant messes to clean up, you might find it hard to get any schoolwork done.
Whether it’s timing, cost, type of program, or other concerns, there’s a lot to consider when advancing your nursing education is on the table. Considering the potential benefits and weighing your options, you’ll decide what makes sense for your career. School isn’t for everyone, but for those who take the plunge, it can open countless doors along the nursing career pathway.
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