Support Nurses to Return to School for their BSN: A Needs Analysis of Nurses and Nurse Leaders

Patient and system outcomes improve with BSN-prepared nurses, yet Utah continues to fall below the national average. Importantly, these outcomes also improve when the workforce reflects the population they serve. Purpose: This project explored nurses' and nurse leaders' views on leadership development, support and barriers to returning to school and, particularly for underrepresented minority (URM) nurses. Methods: Surveys captured the perceptions of nurses (n=126) and nurse leaders (n= 59) and thematic analysis identified four major key findings. Results: Themes included 1) what competencies nurses want to explore to become leaders in their healthcare settings, 2) what nurses want to improve their career options, 3) the factors of balancing work, life, and family, and 4) how nurses from underrepresented minority groups are supported when returning to school. Conclusion: Nurses value a BSN degree as a means of furthering their career, becoming a nurse leader, and attaining respect within their workplace. Nurses and nurse leaders recognize gaining a BSN helps advances a nurse's career and improves the health outcomes of patients. Yet, nurses experience many barriers and challenges in returning to school and nurses from URM groups have the same levels of support as others; thus, potentially overlooking systemic inequalities.