Escalating the pathway from the associate's degree in nursing to the bachelor of science in nursing and/or the master of science in nursing: what is standing in the way?

For more than 25 years, promoting higher levels of education for registered nurses (RNs) has been a strategic theme in national reports. Yet, only 42.2% of RNs in North Carolina hold a bachelor of science in nursing, a master of science in nursing, or a doctorate in nursing. Creating a seamless educational pathway for RNs is essential for achieving this goal.