The goal of the Vermont coalition of the Future of Nursing Campaign for Action is to increase the proportion of nurses with a BSN degree to 80 percent by 2022. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) reports that 773 nursing students were enrolled in, and 192 graduated from, baccalaureate degree or higher nursing programs in 2013. They included both new nurses and ADN holders who were furthering their education to increase their income potential and opportunities for advancement.
According to the AACN, all of Vermont’s five schools of nursing now have RN to BSN programs, providing a seamless academic progression for ADN-educated RNs. The Association is also dedicated to identifying barriers that prevent ADN-educated RNs from continuing their education and ways to overcome them.
A Look at Salaries for BSN-Educated RNs in Vermont
It is recognized that BSN-educated RNs earn the highest salaries among RNs, except for those in advanced practice. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics 2013 survey of RN salaries listed the following for BSN-educated nurses in Vermont.
- 75th Percentile Annual Salary – $73,690
- 90th Percentile Annual Salary – $87,190
- 75th Percentile Hourly Wage – $35.43
- 90th Percentile Hourly Wage – $41,92
In contrast, the average annual salary of an ADN-educated RN in Vermont is $63,260. It is noted that RN salaries in Vermont are approximately $3,000 higher than in neighboring Maine where the 90th percentile annual salary is $84,130.
The monetary advantages of education are clear looking at the results of the 2012 annual salary survey published by the Advanced Healthcare Network for Nurses. The survey revealed the following results for RNs in the Northeastern states showing a bachelor’s degree resulting in an average salary nearly $9,000 higher than an associate’s degree.
- Associate Degree in Nursing – $64,592
- Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing – $73,665
The survey also reports that non-profit hospitals/health facilities pay the highest salaries, followed by government and for-profit institutions respectively.
Salaries for BSN-Educated RNs in Different Locations of Vermont
The Vermont Department of Labor Occupation Information Center reveals that average RN wages are highest in the Burlington Metropolitan Area.
It is noted that the Department of Labor lists a bachelor’s degree as the required educational level for registered nurses in the state.
The following table shows the results of the 2013 US Bureau of Labor Statistics survey of BSN-educated nurses in different cities.