Voices of Associate Degree Nursing RNs About the Pursuit of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree

New developments in health care delivery, changes in the demographics, and the increasing complexity of health problems of the general population require baccalaureate prepared nurses. However, the educational preparation of the majority of nurses in the workforce is the diploma and associate degree level. This project study explored the reasons that hindered the graduates of the Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) program of a community college in South Texas from pursuing the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree. ADN-prepared nurses will have to go through a transformation process as they pursue the BSN. Mezirow's transformational learning theory served as the conceptual framework for this case study of graduates obtained through purposeful and snowball sampling. Individual and focus group interviews were conducted; codes were identified from the transcribed interviews and grouped into themes during data analysis. The barriers that hindered the graduates from going back to school to pursue the BSN degree were time; finances; family responsibilities; life events; and out of state, online RN-to-BSN programs. To address those barriers, a seamless RN-to-BSN transition program in the community college was developed. The ADN RNs who go back to school and obtain the BSN degree will promote positive social change by providing high-quality and patient-centered care, improving patient care outcomes, and leading initiatives on health promotion and wellness in the community.