Formal education leading to the degree of a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). As of 2010, 37.9% of registered nurses (RN) held an associate degree in nursing (ADN) as their highest degree in nursing and 57.2% held a BSN or graduate degree (HRSA, 2013) as their highest degree in nursing. Additional considerations: The American Nurses Association (ANA) has consistently affirmed the BSN as the preferred educational preparation for entry into nursing practice (ANA, 2015). The Institute of Medicine (IOM) recommends increasing the percentage of nurses with a BSN or higher to 80% by 2020 to meet the needs of diverse patient populations (IOM, 2010).