Take stock in yourself and invest in an advanced nursing degree.

How are those new years resolutions holding up? I’m sure you’re well on your way to sculpting that body you’ve always dreamed of, have already read a few books and quit smoking. Wait, those are my resolutions and the answers are no, no and working on it. I think it’s best to do what a friend of mine says and that’s making new years goals, not resolutions. That way you have the whole year to accomplish whatever it is you’d like to change!

As a traveling nurse or nurse in general, I’m sure there has a come a point in time where you’d like to change something about yourselves and your career. Maybe you feel as though that just being a RN isn’t good enough and you want to challenge yourself and excel. Having the desire to improve should always be part of the fabric of your being, while complacency should never be. You’ve already accomplished much by becoming a nurse, something that not many are made for, but why stop there? Take what you already know a step further and go for that Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). There are many BSN programs out there available to nurses looking to advance their careers and there are a few traveling agencies that offer total reimbursement of the programs costs as long as you are a traveling nurse with them. These accelerated programs are designed for the traveling nurse on the move or those with already busy lifestyles. All you need is a computer with an internet connection. If your current employer doesn’t offer some sort of reimbursement program you can also go after the degree yourself and then deduct the expenses on your taxes… So long as (Treas. Reg. 1.162-5(a) your expenses must be for education that either maintains or improves your job performance or is required by your employer or by law to keep your salary, status or job. Read the story about one nurse who took on the IRS by herself after gaining her BSN degree.

Advanced degree programs in nursing can open up many doors in your career and these include positions in school nursing, occupational health, rehabilitation, home care, hospice care and case management. Graduates of accelerated BSN programs often aspire to advanced nursing professions, such as nurse practitioner or nurse anesthetist. Why stop there? You can go even further and take that BSN and go after the Masters in Nursing Science. Read about a nursing student’s quest for a BSN.

So forget the resolutions, give yourself a goal for the year and go for the next level in nursing. Besides achieving your personal goals a BSN or any advanced degree in nursing will give you a greater advantage and knowledge base to excel even further. Sign up today, it will be the best investment you can make in today’s economy.