ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) — Mission Health is changing its hiring requirements for registered nurses as it works to grow its workforce and fill open positions.
The health care system will no longer require newly hired nurses to have a four-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree or to earn one within five years of being hired. Instead, applicants will only need a two-year associate degree in nursing to qualify.
Mission Health said the change recognizes the skills that associate degree nurses bring to patient care and aims to expand the pool of qualified applicants.
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Leaders from AB-Tech Community College, which trains nurses who work in the Mission Health system, said associate degree nurses have long served the region.
“Associate degree nurses have been in this community providing care to this community for well over 50 years. They have been providing excellent care,” said Christy Andrews, chair of nursing at AB-Tech. “Our graduates have – by the time they leave – they will have had over 800 clinical practice hours prior to graduating.”
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Andrews also noted that all students must pass the same exam to become a registered nurse, regardless of what degree they have.