While two-year degrees aren’t in danger of going away, a 2010 Institute of Medicine report on the future of nursing has prompted increased interest in the hiring more highly educated nurses. In fact, the report’s call for an increase in the percentage of nurses with bachelor’s degrees by 2020 has prompted some employers to require that new hires have baccaulaureate degrees. The recommendation in “The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health” also led legislators in New York and New Jersey to propose a law last year requiring nurses with Associate Degrees to earn a B.S.N. within 10 years. The...