(BPT) - As the U.S. health care system continues to evolve, industry demand for more highly educated nurses is growing. Data from the American Association of Colleges of Nursing shows current and prospective nurses are responding to rising education requirements: enrollment in all types of programs at nursing schools across the country increased from 2010 to 2011.

Some nursing schools offer graduate certificates that allow nurses to expand their expertise and meet critical areas of need in the nursing profession. Offered to nurses with a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree, graduate certificates are designed to enhance nurses’ professional competencies and prepare them to apply for national certification in specialized disciplines.

“As the patient population becomes more diverse, and the delivery of care more complex, nurses with advanced knowledge and skills can influence the quality of care that patients receive,” says Carole Eldridge, director of graduate programs for Chamberlain College of Nursing. “With expertise in in-demand disciplines, nurses can also expand their current scope of practice and increase their professional marketability.”