NRS-440VN.Reflection Paper 284 29.docx NRS-440VN Achieving Higher Levels of Education

NRS-440VN.Reflection Paper   284 29.docx  NRS-440VN  Achieving Higher Levels of Education    Grand Canyon University: NRS-440VN  Achieving Higher Levels of Education  In 2010 the Institute of Medicine (IOM) released the report "Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health," the report contained several recommendation to improve the health care system for patients and health care workers. One of the recommendations made by the IOM was that nurses should pursue higher levels of education. Their goal was that by the year 2020 80% of the working nurses would have a Bachelors degree or higher. This paper will discuss jobs available based on education levels, how the author intends to pursue her education, how levels of education affect the job market, how continuing education affects a nurses competency, attitude, and knowledge, and whether continuing education should be necessary for the nursing profession.   Job Options Available Based on Education  The author of this paper currently holds an Associates degree in nursing (ADN), and has passed the national boards also known as the NCLEX-RN and is considered a Registered Nurse (RN). With this title there are several jobs available in the current area. Since the author resides in a rural area where the need for nurses is high, a new graduate is able to go straight into a specialty such as the emergency department, surgical center, renal dialysis, or labor and delivery without any medical-surgical or on the floor experience. However with just an ADN there are no sup