Transitioning associate degree in nursing students to the Bachelor of Science in nursing and beyond: a mandate for academic partnerships.

The Institute of Medicine recommendation for 80% of nurses to achieve a baccalaureate degree in nursing by 2020 becomes a major challenge in Texas with only 37.3% of nurses holding this degree in 2010 (Institute of Medicine, 2011). The challenge requires a 42.7% increase in the percentage of baccalaureate-prepared nurses. Regionally, nurse educators together with nurse practice partners are seeking solutions to this challenge. One region in west Texas approached this challenge by first developing and launching a needs assessment for current associate degree nurses, nursing students, faculty, and nurse managers. The results of this needs assessment are presented in this article. Following institutional review board approval, three surveys were developed to capture the perceptions of students enrolled in Texas associate degree nursing (ADN) programs and their faculty regarding enrollment in a bachelor of science in nursing program. A similar survey was developed for chief nursing officers in acute care settings in west Texas. Respondents in all categories suggested that time, financial constraints, and perceived difficulty in completing needed prerequisite general education courses were barriers to RNs continuing their education. Because most of the respondents hoped to return to school within 5 years, recruiting ADN graduates who have been out of school 5 years or less seems to be where schools of nursing should invest their recruitment efforts.