[christine_chapel]

I haven't heard of this trend, but I can definitely see it happening. I would think it would happen according to what state you have your license in, though.

[TheCommuter]

This is hogwash, and it will not happen anytime soon. This rumor has been floating around since 1965, but it has never been implemented.

South Dakota made the BSN degree the minimum entry point for nursing a few years ago, and it failed miserably. They had to return to the nationwide practice of utilizing ADNs and LPNs quickly.

[forrester]

There is NO WAY for the 4-year universities to meet the demand for nurses. We have neither the faculty nor the class space. There is little incentive for nurses to get the advanced degrees, period.

I figured out that it cost me $140,000 (lost overtime and school costs) to get the BSN and MSN degree.
How much did my salary go up with either degree? 0

Politically, the community college system is very well protected. Most politicians see it as a way for those with less opportunities to advance themselves.

Maybe, if we can take back control over our practice domain, we can build towards this goal over the next decade or so....slowly

[hypocaffeinemia]

This has been a rumor for years. While I agree with the sentiment, the logistics will prevent this from becoming a reality any time in the next twenty years (at least).

[light4Him]

I have not heard of that myself either... Although it is interesting. I wonder how they will work that out? The only difference between an RN and one who has a BSN is $.25 where I am from. The only thing that a BSN can do for you is allow you to teach. So, I am not really sure why they are doing that... it's hard enough as it is to get through RN school, so why not make it harder with the shortages and all, right? That makes perfect sense...

[tferdaise]

I have been wearing my flameproof suit for a while. One of the problems I have with nursing students today is, they are looking to make the fast buck. I hear it all the time the reasons why you went into nursing. Granted it can be one of the reason why, but the other you have to have a genuine care for people.

I'm currently in a BSN program, and it has got me thinking competely diffeent about nursing. This problem has got me thinking and watching my co workers on how they interact with others at work.

The biggest problem I see is, change, people do not like it. But I'm just wondering what the powers to be in the nursing world is waiting for on making the BSN degree the entry level degree. The community colleges would be an important part of this transistion since the university would not be able to handle the inflex of the students.

I always use Engineering as my reference point regarding how the level of nursing should be. Im just hoping one day it well become a reality.

Originally Posted by MLOS

I'm donning my flameproof suit here ... but I am disturbed by nursing students (some very near graduation) and occasionally even practicing professional nurses who don't seem to comprehend that nurses are licensed by the individual states/territories. Or that as such, the individual states/territories are free to (and do) vary somewhat in their requirements for licensure and even vary slightly in some nitty-gritty details of scope of practice. Over and over again we have threads here that debate whether or not it is "legal" to do such-and-such as an RN or LPN ... with a number of posters demonstrating by their posts that they do not clearly understand the difference between the scope of practice as defined by their state vs. the policies/procedures/practices of an individual facility.

How can we present a professional image when some of our members aren't clear about the profession itself? On that point, I agree wholeheartedly with Linda RN, BSN.

[tferdaise]

There is a push for NPs to have a DnP (Doctor of Nursing Practice) just like the entry level for nursing to be a BSN. I have a feeling that the DnP will happen faster then the BSN....

Originally Posted by trippinwitchu

Recently, I have even heard the "rumor" that in the future nurse practitioners would be required to get their doctorate. I have done some research and the idea has been tossed around, but is currently a "no-go."
No one should stop reaching for their highest potential. Furthering one's education is always a good idea and should be a priority.

Nursing IS a serious profession and requires years of education and training. The fact we have to sit for boards and are scrutinize by governing bodies (all for protecting the public welfare and the profession) makes this a profession!! And a good one!!!

Unfortunately, there are some schools that do not serve the profession or even their students, well. This needs to change.
Arguing about what is or isn't distracts from the issue at hand....the shortage, the need for highly trained nurses, the money to train them, etc.

[linzz]

Ontario, Canada has just done this in 2005 or 2006, not sure when. It will be interesting to see how and if it will all work out.

[loriangel14]

I don't see why people say BSN for entry could never happen. It has here.

[hypocaffeinemia]

Originally Posted by loriangel14

I don't see why people say BSN for entry could never happen. It has here.

Your system's set up to promote it.

Here in Texas, there's one BSN program for every 5-8 ADN programs. To make such a thing possible, a ton of subsidy would need to go for not only hiring new professors but making costs affordable. Tuition for my ADN is running me about $4000 including prequisites. If I were to do the second degree BSN at my local university I would have to spend somewhere in the neighborhood of $25,000 (minimum).