BSN minimum requirement

Nurses General Nursing

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It is my firm belief that the minimum requirement for nursing should be a BSN. We want to be accepted as a profession, yet we allow 2 year programs to dominate the field. Now I went to a 2 year program and will be finishing my BSN this semester. My school did a great job preparing me for "tasks" of nursing, but oh, it is so much more than that. Many other countries have moved or are moving towards 4yr degree minimums and the US needs to stay atop in this competative field. The nursing shortage will not always be here and it is to your advantage to get your degree now. The 2 yr programs will make a great footstep in the years to come, but the 4yr degree will become the RNs of the future. As nurses move into the 21st century we need to pull together to demonstrate our power as a profession, the only way to do this is to have strong, educated nurses in not just bedside tasks but critically thinking, politics, research and community health. Think about it, comments welcome.

This is the same issue that has been around for my whole 20 yr nursing career and still as usual most people are missing the point. I don't know of anywhere that says more education makes you a better nurse. I too got my ADN first and then went on for my BSN. I don't think my BSN made me a better nurse, but it DID allow me to experience areas in nursing that the ADN program did not, ie leadership, community nursing, research.

I do believe that before nursing ever becomes a recognized profession, it must develop these standards. Look at most all professions and you see not only entry level education requirements but most require graduate level degrees.

Just to add fuel to the fire, think of this, I believe that most ADN, diploma, BSN nurses are far superior clinical nurses than the Ph.D prepared nurse, then why is the Ph.D nurse the Nursing School Clinic instructor.

This is the same issue that has been around for my whole 20 yr nursing career and still as usual most people are missing the point. I don't know of anywhere that says more education makes you a better nurse. I too got my ADN first and then went on for my BSN. I don't think my BSN made me a better nurse, but it DID allow me to experience areas in nursing that the ADN program did not, ie leadership, community nursing, research.

I do believe that before nursing ever becomes a recognized profession, it must develop these standards. Look at most all professions and you see not only entry level education requirements but most require graduate level degrees.

Just to add fuel to the fire, think of this, I believe that most ADN, diploma, BSN nurses are far superior clinical nurses than the Ph.D prepared nurse, then why is the Ph.D nurse the Nursing School Clinic instructor.

LBurns, I got just one wuestion for you. Are you a "better" nurse now because of your BSN program, because of the fulltime clinical experience you got in your day job, or is it becuase you were able to to apply the stuff you covered in class last night to your clinical challenge on the floor today?

Just wondering.

LBurns, I got just one wuestion for you. Are you a "better" nurse now because of your BSN program, because of the fulltime clinical experience you got in your day job, or is it becuase you were able to to apply the stuff you covered in class last night to your clinical challenge on the floor today?

Just wondering.

Hey, LBurns, you're definitely boldly going... I am, like you, a diploma [instead of ADN] who did the BSN completion and MSN route.

I came out of my BSN and MSN very proud of my basic preparation but thinking, "Wow! Why do we do this? Why do we create these levels of entry? This second hand citizenship? This immediate and never ending reason for divisiveness within our profession?" I abhor the "class wars" that emanate from the different levels of preparation. You can see them fought here ALL OF THE TIME. Like you, I also had similar thoughts about how well my BSN rounded my preparation and really added some depth to my great technical nursing; loved the research; felt the liberal arts prep promoted good critical thinking, too. Overall I echo everything you said in your post. I do believe that BSN should be the level of entry for those reasons but mostly because it allows an individual nurse to easily walk forward from the bedside into other roles when (or if) she tires of the role that the ADN/diploma program so aptly prepares their students for.

But you know what? The nursing education AND health care consumer speaks. They want the ADN. They are willing to bet that any aspirations they may suffer will happen down the road and they'll deal with it then. Hospitals hire ADN's and will continue to and ADN's experience decent mobility up into middle management positions. This impact of consumerism baffles me. I would like to believe that if I knew then (when I was choosing my diploma program) what I knew now, that I would choose the most clinically strong BSN program that I could find. But read these boards. Nurses are interested in an expedient education, a means to an end. Not many of them seek professional career preparation. This is not bad or good, it simply is. This actual, factual prevailing attitude means that we are light years I believe from seeing nursing education move solely into the Baccalaureate realm.

I still cling to my beliefs and know where I would direct any one who asked me to for a professional nursing education. But hear the voices here. I believe here we hear the voices of the common nurse, much more so than we would at an ANA convention. Much of the "extra" impact the BSN offers is not wanted or required or appreciated by nurses. Since those of us who went through the progression process are not likely to (nor should we) report that before the BSN progression we did malpractice, but now we do superlative practice, the impact of the BSN completion is truly hard to quantify. We might report that we see situations in a broader sense and maybe we just have an expanded vocabulary with with to describe it. Can you sense the cynical smile of the non-BSN prepared as they read that? I think I love nursing more than ever since completing my degrees, but to concretely quantify what the BSN completion added to my practice is very difficult. If we can't quantify it in a way that those who don't have it will want it [sufficient to make in the level of entry], what do you think will happen? Pretty much what does happen. We muddle along with class wars flaring up here and there, taking some casualties and not much gets resolved. (But, oh, the _cost_!)

Great thread. Stimulating thoughts. Keep on keepin' on.

Hey, LBurns, you're definitely boldly going... I am, like you, a diploma [instead of ADN] who did the BSN completion and MSN route.

I came out of my BSN and MSN very proud of my basic preparation but thinking, "Wow! Why do we do this? Why do we create these levels of entry? This second hand citizenship? This immediate and never ending reason for divisiveness within our profession?" I abhor the "class wars" that emanate from the different levels of preparation. You can see them fought here ALL OF THE TIME. Like you, I also had similar thoughts about how well my BSN rounded my preparation and really added some depth to my great technical nursing; loved the research; felt the liberal arts prep promoted good critical thinking, too. Overall I echo everything you said in your post. I do believe that BSN should be the level of entry for those reasons but mostly because it allows an individual nurse to easily walk forward from the bedside into other roles when (or if) she tires of the role that the ADN/diploma program so aptly prepares their students for.

But you know what? The nursing education AND health care consumer speaks. They want the ADN. They are willing to bet that any aspirations they may suffer will happen down the road and they'll deal with it then. Hospitals hire ADN's and will continue to and ADN's experience decent mobility up into middle management positions. This impact of consumerism baffles me. I would like to believe that if I knew then (when I was choosing my diploma program) what I knew now, that I would choose the most clinically strong BSN program that I could find. But read these boards. Nurses are interested in an expedient education, a means to an end. Not many of them seek professional career preparation. This is not bad or good, it simply is. This actual, factual prevailing attitude means that we are light years I believe from seeing nursing education move solely into the Baccalaureate realm.

I still cling to my beliefs and know where I would direct any one who asked me to for a professional nursing education. But hear the voices here. I believe here we hear the voices of the common nurse, much more so than we would at an ANA convention. Much of the "extra" impact the BSN offers is not wanted or required or appreciated by nurses. Since those of us who went through the progression process are not likely to (nor should we) report that before the BSN progression we did malpractice, but now we do superlative practice, the impact of the BSN completion is truly hard to quantify. We might report that we see situations in a broader sense and maybe we just have an expanded vocabulary with with to describe it. Can you sense the cynical smile of the non-BSN prepared as they read that? I think I love nursing more than ever since completing my degrees, but to concretely quantify what the BSN completion added to my practice is very difficult. If we can't quantify it in a way that those who don't have it will want it [sufficient to make in the level of entry], what do you think will happen? Pretty much what does happen. We muddle along with class wars flaring up here and there, taking some casualties and not much gets resolved. (But, oh, the _cost_!)

Great thread. Stimulating thoughts. Keep on keepin' on.

I AM GONNA KEEP THIS REAL SIMPLE........................WE ALL TAKE THE SAME STATE BOARD EXAM!!!!!!!!!!!!! ENOUGH SAID.

I AM GONNA KEEP THIS REAL SIMPLE........................WE ALL TAKE THE SAME STATE BOARD EXAM!!!!!!!!!!!!! ENOUGH SAID.

Originally posted by MARTRN:

I AM GONNA KEEP THIS REAL SIMPLE........................WE ALL TAKE THE SAME STATE BOARD EXAM!!!!!!!!!!!!! ENOUGH SAID.

Thankyou, no one could say it better than what you have said. I graduated 8/99 from a HOSPITAL, YES A HOSPITAL SCHOOL OF NURSING. I always have to tell a BSN nurse what she has to do or help her to understand what is going on. I can't believe that you people have the nerve to sit and say that you are better than someone else because you have a BSN, MSN, PHD, or degree in IDIOT HEAD. This is why everyone wonders why nursing is in the up heavel it is in now. Because we as nurses want to be more than what we are. Glorified butt wipers. Yesss. That is all you are. Do you think that because you have more education in THIS particular field you are better than someone else. You are soo wrong. You need to be happy that the Heavenly Father blessed you enough to allow you to make it that far and even farther if HE chooses to allow you to. Just remember this, it's not where you started at but where you end up. Obviously, you all forgot where you came from.. Besides most of you wont step foot into a nursing home because this is beneath you also, so tell me, who is going to take care of them. Get over it. All you are doing is making a living. If you all want to see improvement in the profession that we are in than first you need to look at your self and know that you can't control nothing but you mouth and your actions. All of the different types of nursing are here to stay. At least for as long as you or I live, believe that. Also, no matter what you or anyone else says, I am a PROFESSIONAL. So quit, I can't believe that you a person who had to go on to get your BSN would say something like that. What you should be saying is "I wish I would have went straight for MY BSN instead of getting my ADN/Diploma", whatever it was that you got first. I can't beleive that we are in the same profession of caring for others because obviously you all are thinking of apperances only and what comes behind your name. Remember you never know everything that's why you had to go back to school. If I offended anyone, SO WHAT!!!!!!!! Because this is only for those who feel as though ADN, Diploma,and LPN's are beneath them. The Heavenly Father only knows what you think of CNA's. And for your information. I am currently obtaining my BSN just because I want to not to attempt at putting others down. Bye for now.

[This message has been edited by sheripa (edited March 05, 2001).]

Originally posted by MARTRN:

I AM GONNA KEEP THIS REAL SIMPLE........................WE ALL TAKE THE SAME STATE BOARD EXAM!!!!!!!!!!!!! ENOUGH SAID.

Thankyou, no one could say it better than what you have said. I graduated 8/99 from a HOSPITAL, YES A HOSPITAL SCHOOL OF NURSING. I always have to tell a BSN nurse what she has to do or help her to understand what is going on. I can't believe that you people have the nerve to sit and say that you are better than someone else because you have a BSN, MSN, PHD, or degree in IDIOT HEAD. This is why everyone wonders why nursing is in the up heavel it is in now. Because we as nurses want to be more than what we are. Glorified butt wipers. Yesss. That is all you are. Do you think that because you have more education in THIS particular field you are better than someone else. You are soo wrong. You need to be happy that the Heavenly Father blessed you enough to allow you to make it that far and even farther if HE chooses to allow you to. Just remember this, it's not where you started at but where you end up. Obviously, you all forgot where you came from.. Besides most of you wont step foot into a nursing home because this is beneath you also, so tell me, who is going to take care of them. Get over it. All you are doing is making a living. If you all want to see improvement in the profession that we are in than first you need to look at your self and know that you can't control nothing but you mouth and your actions. All of the different types of nursing are here to stay. At least for as long as you or I live, believe that. Also, no matter what you or anyone else says, I am a PROFESSIONAL. So quit, I can't believe that you a person who had to go on to get your BSN would say something like that. What you should be saying is "I wish I would have went straight for MY BSN instead of getting my ADN/Diploma", whatever it was that you got first. I can't beleive that we are in the same profession of caring for others because obviously you all are thinking of apperances only and what comes behind your name. Remember you never know everything that's why you had to go back to school. If I offended anyone, SO WHAT!!!!!!!! Because this is only for those who feel as though ADN, Diploma,and LPN's are beneath them. The Heavenly Father only knows what you think of CNA's. And for your information. I am currently obtaining my BSN just because I want to not to attempt at putting others down. Bye for now.

[This message has been edited by sheripa (edited March 05, 2001).]

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