[orionquilts]

I suspect it has just come down the pipe. The Director of Nursing in our program was informing our class just last week. There has been movement afoot for years about the issue. In my area having your BSN makes a difference in your salary, and allows for more lateral and upward mobility. My hospital will pay me to get my BSN, and then increase my salary, so it's a win-win. I don't think having your BSN makes you a better nurse than an ADN nurse. Only your passion and your heart can do that.

[emtb2rn]

"I suspect it has just come down the pipe. The Director of Nursing in our program was informing our class just last week. There has been movement afoot for years about the issue."

So, your director informed you about legislation that was going to become law that isn't yet on the table in the legislature? Might be a long wait...

Here in NJ, this topic has been an undercurrent for years. Apparently, ever since the BSN programs really took hold. Hasn't gone anywhere. Yet.

[Altra]

Originally Posted by orionquilts

If my research is correct, North Dakota already requires a BSN to practice. My nursing instructors informed us this week that in 2012, Washington State will require BSN degrees to practice. A grandfather clause will be in effect. Personally, if we wanted to become a "profession" this is what has to happen. Nurses have wanted to be recognized for the professionals that we are. I don't know if this is the best first step, but it is happening. I will complete my ADN soon. I would be grandfathered in, but I want my BSN for personal reasons. Hang on, it's going to be a bumpy ride!

North Dakota implemented its BSN requirement for RNs in 1987 but repealed it in 2003.

Can you provide a source for the supposed changes in Washington state? I can find no reference to it within the Washington Administrative Code Chapter 246-840 which deals with practical and registered nursing.

http://apps.leg.wa.gov/WAC/default.aspx?cite=246-840

Nor can I find any reference to such a change in a listing of recent legislation passed this spring. http://www.leg.wa.gov/documents/lic/...rts/cutoff.pdf

[orionquilts]

I knew I had read about ND. Okay, the information from Washington comes from the Washington Center for Nursing. It is not 2012, but 2020, which is a ways down the road. www.WACenterforNursing.org.

In the Latest News link, you can read Washington State's Master Plan. But a brief synopsis goes like this: "We recommend that beginning in 2020, all newly licensed RN's in Washington State have or acquire a Bachelor's degree in Nursing within 10 years of licensure. This recommendation does not affect nurses currently practicing at that time."

In the Master Plan, 2012 is the year that ADN programs should have agreements in place with BSN programs to allow RN's to easily slip into RN to BSN programs. I got this emailed to me from an instructor tonight. They got the years incorrect, and it is NOT yet mandatory. They are going to have to pay nursing instructors more money before they can require nurses to have their BSNs. Sad fact is that as an acure care nurse I can make more money than my instructors with all their years of experience. When instructors make a living wage, the colleges will be able to graduate more nurses. Hope this helps.

[ann945n]

I for one support entry level RN's being BSN. I went from CNA to LPN to RN ADN and now almost an RN BSN. Having gone through every level of nursing so far I can see the benefits to all my levels of education. I think uniting all RN's under one degree will only further unify the profession and give us more ground to advance our practice but also there is a lot I have noticed that was missing in my ADN program that my BSN program is now filling in. I think all ADN programs should be allowed to have some sort of time frame to allow them to partner with 4 year university to offer their programs as BSN programs so we dont loose critical nursing school programs. Hopefully that will happen in Washington state but like anything change is hard!

[tferdaise]

I just did a search and found out that like nursing, you have to have paperwork showing you graduated from a accredited Law School to sit for the Bar.

I think you have missed the whole point regarding to have a BSN as an entry point into nursing...

Originally Posted by NexLvlDad

If an individual can pass the NCLEX and perform adequately, who cares if the individual holds a BSN, ADN or a diploma. I don't think nursing is such the disenfranchised profession in healthcare because the perception is that a nurse brings 1 year of school preparation. To help the profession there has to be more pragmatic challenges to tackle that will actually result in improved conditions, treatment and respect of nurses throughout healthcare. What's interesting is how difficult it is to enter and endure law school to become a lawyer and yet any one without a law degree or any other educational preparation can sit for the bar exam and if passed can practice law.

[tferdaise]

I can't not agree more, and I don't think you will find anyone on this board who is for the BSN as the entry point into BSN would disagree with yuor comment. Having your BSN does not make you a better nurse. But it would standardize the entry point into nursing. MANY professional Org's have done this in the past without problem.

Originally Posted by orionquilts

I suspect it has just come down the pipe. The Director of Nursing in our program was informing our class just last week. There has been movement afoot for years about the issue. In my area having your BSN makes a difference in your salary, and allows for more lateral and upward mobility. My hospital will pay me to get my BSN, and then increase my salary, so it's a win-win. I don't think having your BSN makes you a better nurse than an ADN nurse. Only your passion and your heart can do that.

[emtb2rn]

Originally Posted by ann945n

I for one support entry level RN's being BSN. I went from CNA to LPN to RN ADN and now almost an RN BSN. Having gone through every level of nursing so far I can see the benefits to all my levels of education. I think uniting all RN's under one degree will only further unify the profession and give us more ground to advance our practice but also there is a lot I have noticed that was missing in my ADN program that my BSN program is now filling in. I think all ADN programs should be allowed to have some sort of time frame to allow them to partner with 4 year university to offer their programs as BSN programs so we dont loose critical nursing school programs. Hopefully that will happen in Washington state but like anything change is hard!

What about 2nd career folks who already have a BA/BS in another field? How do they get managed?

[lindarn]

Originally Posted by tferdaise

I just did a search and found out that like nursing, you have to have paperwork showing you graduated from a accredited Law School to sit for the Bar.

I think you have missed the whole point regarding to have a BSN as an entry point into nursing...

"Reading for the Law', is only available in a few states, Washington State being one of them. They are tutored by licensed attorneys, and must pass vigourous tests at regular intervals. It is not the cake walk that you think it is.

Lindarn, RN, BSN
Spokane, Washington

[tferdaise]

This is simple there are many bridge programs out there that allow folks with other undergrad degress to get thier BSN as well as MSN's in the same amount of time as getting their ADN. Look at www.UCSf.EDU for more info on this. They are the leader in this type of program.

Originally Posted by emtb2rn

What about 2nd career folks who already have a BA/BS in another field? How do they get managed?