Networking opportunities present themselves through peers and faculty as well. Some nurses return to school for a BSN as the first step to an advanced practice degree. They are becoming more career oriented, rather than job oriented. Schoolcraft advises students who know that they will be continuing on to graduate school to look at programs carefully. She sees a growing trend to make programs more attractive for RNs by doing whatever possible to ease the transition.
Many nurses begin the journey of continuing education without yet having a firm goal in mind.
According to Colombraro nurses are not content to sit back and just rest. Around Beckwith encourages students to shop around when it comes to higher education. There's a variety of programs. Find something that meets your needs, but also consider a school's reputation. Schoolcraft also advises prospective students to investigate all of their options, especially how programs account for previous educational and practice experience.