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Does Having a BSN Actually Make You a Better Nurse?

Written By: Jessica Lyons

7 Min Read Published November 13, 2024

The Correlation Between Nursing Education and Patient Outcomes
Benefits of BSN-Prepared Nurses
How Does Having Nurses Earn Their BSN Improve Patient Outcomes?
Barriers to Earning a BSN

Does Having a BSN Actually Make You a Better Nurse?

In recent years, there has been a big push for nurses to get Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degrees. But does earning a BSN actually make you a better nurse?

According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), improvements in patient outcomes were found among nurses with higher levels of education based on various studies done over recent years.

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The Correlation Between Nursing Education and Patient Outcomes

Several studies underscore that nurses with higher levels of education—particularly those with bachelor’s and master’s degrees—are associated with better patient outcomes.

The landmark 2011 report by the Institute of Medicine (IOM), now the National Academy of Medicine, called for increasing the proportion of nurses with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) to 80% by 2020. As of 2022, more than 70% of nurses hold a BSN or higher per the 2022 National Nursing Workforce survey.

This recommendation was based on extensive research indicating that nurses with BSN degrees generally provide safer, higher-quality care compared to those with lesser educational qualifications.

Studies consistently find that hospitals employing more nurses with BSN degrees experience reduced rates of adverse patient outcomes, such as lower mortality rates, decreased incidences of infection, fewer medication errors, and shorter hospital stays.

For example, a study published in the journal Health Affairs showed that a 10% increase in the proportion of BSN-prepared nurses within a hospital was associated with a 7% decrease in patient mortality. These findings emphasize the substantial impact of higher nursing education on patient health and survival.

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Benefits of BSN-Prepared Nurses

Surgical Mortality Reduction: Hospitals that increased their proportion of BSN-prepared nurses experienced a 32% decrease in surgical mortality cases.
Inpatient Mortality Rates: Research indicates that hospitals with 80% BSN-prepared nurses had 24.6% lower odds of inpatient mortality compared to those with only 30% BSN-prepared nurses.
Cardiac Arrest Survival Rates: The report notes a striking statistic: an increase in BSN-prepared nurses was associated with 24% greater odds of survival among patients experiencing in-hospital cardiac arrest.
Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD): An increase in BSN-prepared nursing staff was linked to a 10% lower odds of death in patients with ADRD.
Length of Hospital Stay: The presence of more BSN-prepared nurses also contributed to a reduction in the average length of hospital stays, decreasing from 5.1 days to 4.7 days, which reflects a 7.8% decrease.

Source: AACN

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How Does Having Nurses Earn Their BSN Improve Patient Outcomes?

There are several key reasons why higher nursing education leads to improved patient outcomes:

Enhanced Critical Thinking and Clinical Judgment: Nurses with higher education levels receive more training in critical thinking, clinical judgment, and complex problem-solving. These skills allow them to make accurate, timely decisions in complex situations and recognize early signs of potential complications in patients, which can be lifesaving.
Evidence-Based Practice: BSN and MSN programs place a strong emphasis on evidence-based practice (EBP), teaching nurses to critically evaluate and apply the latest research findings to patient care. This education equips nurses to adopt best practices and contribute to healthcare improvement initiatives within their organizations.
Expanded Knowledge Base: Higher education provides nurses with deeper knowledge in areas like pharmacology, physiology, and health assessment, as well as specialized fields such as gerontology or mental health. This broader understanding translates to more informed, holistic patient care and a better grasp of complex medical conditions and treatments.
Leadership and Communication Skills: BSN and MSN programs focus on leadership, communication, and collaboration skills. Nurses with advanced education are better prepared to coordinate patient care, advocate for patients, and work collaboratively with physicians, pharmacists, and other healthcare professionals.

Barriers to Earning a BSN

While the benefits of advanced nursing education are well documented, barriers do exist. Tuition costs, time constraints, and workforce shortages can make it challenging for nurses to pursue further education.

Additionally, while research shows the benefits of BSN and advanced nursing degrees, some argue that clinical experience is equally, if not more, important in certain settings.