Newly graduated nurses who hold an associate's degree should continue educating themselves for the chance to pursue better professional opportunities, according to the dean of a nursing program in Arizona.
The Sacramento Bee reports Anne McNamara with the College of Nursing at Grand Canyon University said during a keynote speech that increased schooling will behoove people looking for nursing jobs, especially as the population grows older and medical and nursing needs increase.
"The difference is employers are seeking nurses with a B.A.," McNamara told the California Nurse Leaders conference in September, according to the news source. "They should be very assertive. Look at the movement toward long-term care and assisted living. I tell graduates, 'Your first job may not be saving lives in the emergency room.'"
The increased demand provides the opportunity for nurses to reflect on how they may approach the healthcare market.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, nurses help coordinate care for patients while also providing advice and information for patients, their family, friends and additional loved ones.