Patient safety and the Institute of Medicine (IOM) report recommendation for an 80% BSN workforce by 2020.

Research, first published over a decade ago, has shown that every 10% increase in the number of registered nurses (RNs) educated with the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) in hospital staff is associated with a 4 % decrease in the risk of death for patients.' Nurse staffs with higher proportions of BSN and Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) prepared nurses demonstrate increased productivity and better patient outcomes.^-^''''^' ' Therefore, in 2008 the American Nurses Association (ANA) House of Delegates resolved to support initiatives that require new diploma and associate degree (AD) prepared RNs to complete the BSN within ten years after initial licensure, exempting those individuals who are already licensed or enrolled as students in diploma or AD programs when legislation is enacted.' The Ohio Nurses Association (ONA) adopted this resolution in 2009 and the Ohio State Nursing Students'Association (OSNA) has endorsed the BSN in Ten initiative.