UC Davis Labor and Delivery Nurse Earns BSN to Drive New Career in Nursing Management

AURORA, Colo., Aug. 9, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Advanced nursing degrees are necessary for healthcare because the industry values education and credentials as part of its culture.

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As more hospitals are expecting RNs to make business decisions that affect the bottom line and patient outcomes, more practicing registered nurses (RNs) are seeking an RN to BSN (Bachelor of Science Nursing degree). These nurses want to advance their education and career opportunities and turn to CCNE-accredited online nursing degree programs to encourage their job retention and promotion.

A Foot in the Door at Mercy Medical Center
Aracely Eres was equipped with her RN and Spanish/English translation certification and volunteered in 2009 at UC Davis Medical's Women's Pavilion as an interpreter and then worked at Mercy Medical Center.

Her career focus was to make a positive impact on her patients and organization. Once a nursing position opened up in labor and delivery, she applied for the job. She soon realized that advancing her nursing education was critical to her future success in her new role.

Eres worked in the postpartum area and felt great reward working primarily with the hospital's Spanish-speaking clientele. "I love working in this area because I feel like I'm making a difference during a very exciting, often very stressful and painful time in a woman's life," she says.

Earning the BSN
UC Davis is a teaching hospital and requires all nurses to hold at least a BSN, so two years after starting her job, Eres began to research online BSN programs.

"Nurses can start working with an RN license, but nurses with a BSN are in higher demand due to so many hospitals wanting to advance to magnet status. Evidence has also shown that patient outcomes are better in hospitals that have a higher percentage of Bachelors prepared nurses," says Elaine Foster, Ph.D., MSN, BSN, RN, Associate Dean and Professor, Nursing Graduate Programs at American Sentinel University.

Dr. Foster points out that a BSN prepares nurses for a broader role in acute care, primary care, and community health settings. It also provides education in other needed services such as nursing management, health promotion, and disease prevention.

Eres reviewed many online BSN programs and chose American Sentinel's RN to BSN program. "A colleague was an American Sentinel student and had an excellent experience. The BSN program had all of the elements I was looking for as well, with affordability and student support being among the most important," she says.

Eres took her first class in 2013 and after having such a positive experience while continuing to work full-time, she decided to continue for the MSN after completing the BSN in 2015.

"For nurses like Aracely that plan to move into nursing management, an MSN is quickly becoming the minimum education they'll need to earn a future promotion and provides them with the specialized knowledge that employers are seeking," says Dr. Foster. "A master's degree opens the door to more opportunities and helps distinguish a nurse as the most qualified candidate for management positions."

Sights Set on Leadership
Eres chose the nursing management and organizational leadership specialization for her MSN to ensure she has the skills and knowledge to secure management opportunities in the future.

"I believe that the more education you have, the more power you have to drive your career."  Eres has her sights set on becoming a Nurse Practitioner. "If I want to make an impact, I need to position myself within my organization to do so. I know that my education will help me get there." 

Learn more about American Sentinel University's online RN to BSN/MSN program at http://www.americansentinel.edu/nursing/rn-to-m-s-nursing or call 866.922.5690.

About American Sentinel University
American Sentinel University delivers accredited online degree programs in nursing (BSN, MSN, and DNP) and healthcare management (MBA Healthcare, M.S. Information Systems Management, and M.S. Business Intelligence and Analytics). Its affordable, flexible bachelor's and master's nursing degree programs are accredited by the Commission for the Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), of One Dupont Circle, NW Suite 530, Washington, D.C., 20036. The DNP program is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) of 3343 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 850, Atlanta, Ga., 30326. The University is accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission, DEAC, 1101 17th Street NW, Suite 808, Washington, D.C. 20036, (202) 234-5100, www.deac.org

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