Introduction
Education is an essential condition for any profession requiring specialized knowledge. In healthcare, all medical staff working with the patients must have relevant training and qualifications to provide high-quality care. This essay will examine the importance of education for nursing and argue that continuing it should be mandatory as it can have a positive influence on the nurses’ competency, knowledge, and attitudes. My educational level, current options on the job market, and professional education goals will also be discussed.
Current Educational Level and Job Opportunities
At the moment, I have an associate degree in nursing (ADN), and I am currently earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). The ADN allows me to begin my career, although the job options are somewhat limited. The most realistic entry-level positions for a person with an ADN are becoming a nursing assistant, a licensed vocational, or a registered nurse (NurseJournal, 2021). It can be argued that the first two options are more reasonable compared to the latter as they only require successful completion of a two-year or shorter training program, passing the NCLEX-PN exam, and obtaining a state license (NurseJournal, 2021). After gaining an ADN, becoming a registered nurse is also possible, but the degree is less competitive than a BSN. Therefore, the applicant with a BSN will likely be preferred over the candidates with an ADN. In addition, the degree does not allow pursuing a specialty, further limiting employment options. Overall, ADN can help secure entry-level positions and positions that do not require specialized knowledge.
Goals for Professional Education
Increasing one’s level of education can have a meaningful impact on competitiveness in the current job market. According to Rekha (2020, p. 61), the Institute of Medicine (IOM) report The Future of Nursing recommends practitioners achieve “higher levels of education and training through an improved education system that promotes seamless academic progression.” The report also suggests nurses must practice medicine to the full extent of their training and education (Rekha, 2020). Thus, one of the central recommendations in the report is to continuously pursue better and more specialized training that will allow them to be more engaged in practical patient care. Considering these suggestions, I would like to complete my BSN and pursue a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree with a focus on healthcare administration and receive a Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) degree. A dual MSN/MHA degree would require at least 12 months of full-time education to complete, and I plan to obtain it within the next 2 to 3 years.
I believe a dual MSN/MHA degree would substantially affect my competitiveness in the current job market. Gaining a BSN in addition to the ADN will help me become eligible for a wider range of entry-level positions, and further education will allow me to develop valuable skills and earn more clinical hours. Moreover, an MSN degree requires a selection of specializations, which I believe will increase my competitiveness. In my opinion, the job market for nurses is oversaturated with applicants who only have an ADN or a BSN and have no specialty. Therefore, gaining an MSN/MHA will contribute to me being a more qualified and desirable candidate. Specialization in administration will allow me to assume a more active role in the profession and become a healthcare leader. Although I would still be qualified for entry-level positions due to the absence of extensive experience working in healthcare, I believe the MSN/MHA degree will permit me to gain more knowledge in the selected specialization and progress quickly in the future workplace.
Continuing Nursing Education
Continuing nursing education has a positive impact on the practitioners’ competency, knowledge, and attitudes. According to Kamariannaki et al. (2017), many nurses are motivated to further their education because they are committed to their profession, want to improve their skills and acquire new expertise. Learning about new developments in healthcare or the correct performance of specific procedures can impact the nurses’ knowledge and competency. For example, Bijani et al. (2018) note that continuing education programs raise awareness about occupational injuries such as needle sticks and contaminated blood exposure, resulting in safer practice. It can be asserted that expanding nurses’ knowledge on specific topics and procedures leads to them developing competence in those areas. However, constant practice is required to maintain the acquired skills. Furthermore, professional attitudes can be improved by continuing education programs. Various training programs can help recognize the impact of personal attitudes and values on the practice, including working with patients and other medical staff.
Continuing education is also related to the Scope and Standards of Practice outlined by the American Nurses Association (ANA). Professional training is one of the standards identified by the association. According to the ANA (2015, p. 76), practitioners must seek “knowledge and competence that reflects the current nursing practice and promotes futuristic thinking.” Nurses are expected to integrate the knowledge they acquire into practice and share it with their peers to improve the overall quality of care (American Nurses Association, 2015). Moreover, further professional training is consistent with the ANA’s code of ethics. It provides that practitioners should advance the professions “through research and scholarly inquiry, professional standards development, and the generation of both nursing and health policy” (American Nurses Association, 2015, p. 37). Thus, continuing professional education is an obligation and an ethical duty of a nurse.
Overall, I believe continuing education should be a mandatory requirement. The medical field is constantly developing, and new medications and procedures are approved for practice every year. Therefore, it is essential for all medical personnel, including nurses, to be familiar with recent advancements in their field of work. Furthermore, the healthcare system itself is continually changing and evolving, leading to medical professionals adopting new roles in their workplace. Thus, further training is needed to prepare practitioners and other staff for the various functions they may need to undertake (Rekha, 2020). I think nurses should further their education every 3 to 5 years and that their place of work should support them financially in this pursuit.
Conclusion
In summary, nursing practitioners need to seek further education in order to become more knowledgeable and competent in their field of work. Professional training is mandated by the ANA Scope and standards of practice and the code of ethics for nurses, although it is not a compulsory requirement in most healthcare organizations. I believe it should be obligatory as all medical professionals must be aware of the new developments in the field and be prepared for different roles. Although my educational level limits my employment options to entry-level non-specialized positions, I aspire to gain an MSN/MHA degree to become a leader in healthcare.
References
American Nurses Association. (2015). Nursing: Scope and standards of practice. Web.
Bijani, M., Rostami, K., Momennasab, M., & Yektatalab, S. (2018). Evaluating the effectiveness of a continuing education program for prevention of occupational exposure to needle stick injuries in nursing staff based on Kirkpatrick’s model. Journal of the National Medical Association, 110(5), 459–463. Web.
Kamariannaki, D., Alikari, V., Sachlas, A., Stathoulis, J., Fradelos, E. C., & Zyga, S. (2017). Motivations for the participation of nurses in continuing nursing education programs. Archives of Hellenic Medicine, 34(2), 229–235.
NurseJournal. (2021). Guide to entry-level nursing. Web.
Rekha, S. G. (2020). The future of nursing: Leading change, advancing health. IP Journal of Paediatrics and Nursing Science, 3(3), 60–63. Web.