BSN minimum requirement

Nurses General Nursing

Published

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.

Okay, only a student here (ADN), but wouldn't you say that either way-ADN or BSN-your education is only giving you a good foundation, that most of your learning comes from actually being out in the real world? Granted, you get an enormous amount of information, and the BSN can offer different opportunities, but either way, it's what you do with all that knowledge and how you learn to actually apply it to the real patients after graduating. Also, there are so many older students, single moms, working students, etc., for whom it is just not feasible to start with a full time four year program. These type of students make up the majority of our nursing program-there are very few younger students able to focus only on school-most of us need to work, have families, etc. Take the ADN program away and you are losing a large population of students-and with the whole nursing shortage thing, how will that affect staffing, patient care, etc.? I plan to pursue my BSN in a few years, but I have no doubt that I will be prepared to be a nurse with my ADN.

Okay, only a student here (ADN), but wouldn't you say that either way-ADN or BSN-your education is only giving you a good foundation, that most of your learning comes from actually being out in the real world? Granted, you get an enormous amount of information, and the BSN can offer different opportunities, but either way, it's what you do with all that knowledge and how you learn to actually apply it to the real patients after graduating. Also, there are so many older students, single moms, working students, etc., for whom it is just not feasible to start with a full time four year program. These type of students make up the majority of our nursing program-there are very few younger students able to focus only on school-most of us need to work, have families, etc. Take the ADN program away and you are losing a large population of students-and with the whole nursing shortage thing, how will that affect staffing, patient care, etc.? I plan to pursue my BSN in a few years, but I have no doubt that I will be prepared to be a nurse with my ADN.

I agree that there should be some standard level of entry. Not to say that one level of education is better than another. I obtained my associate degree in 95 and have since gone on and am now working on my master's. Nursing has been striving toward calling itself a profession since I started and differentiating the different types of education would be a start. The issue of the state board has come up and I believe that there should be different exams for the different levels. It is a completely different type of education and those that have obtained that should be rewarded with increase pay and yes, those letters do mean something, especially to those that have earned them. I do not think that obtaining a BSN made me a better nurse but it has opened my mind and my ability to think more critically and holistically than I could before. I didn't learn anything in my ADN program about family or community health nursing and I certainly didn't have a management and leadership class.

I agree that there should be some standard level of entry. Not to say that one level of education is better than another. I obtained my associate degree in 95 and have since gone on and am now working on my master's. Nursing has been striving toward calling itself a profession since I started and differentiating the different types of education would be a start. The issue of the state board has come up and I believe that there should be different exams for the different levels. It is a completely different type of education and those that have obtained that should be rewarded with increase pay and yes, those letters do mean something, especially to those that have earned them. I do not think that obtaining a BSN made me a better nurse but it has opened my mind and my ability to think more critically and holistically than I could before. I didn't learn anything in my ADN program about family or community health nursing and I certainly didn't have a management and leadership class.

The original post recognized the importance of a standard for entry level into practice. As I have already stated, there should be a standard. IMMEDIATELY, this begins a fight of 'who is better than who.' One observation I have made, is that the nurses with ADN's and Diplomas are posting many negative things about individuals with BSN's. From a psychological standpoint [yes, I didn't only walk away with the BSN, but I double majored in Psychology]--This is a typical response from individuals who manifest low self-esteem. They think that people are immediately attacking them.

The degree does NOT mean that one person has greater 'psychomotor' skills than another. Only time and experience [i don't care what your educational level is] will bring about that level of competency. There was an excellent book that explains just this concept, written by Patricia Benner called "From Novice to Expert". I highly recommend it.

We all have horror stories from working with MANY nurses. I have worked with BSN's who couldn't read a glass thermometer, and I have met diploma nurses who could not adjust to a new position as they were 'trained' [i hate that word when we use it to describe an educational process] in a hospital school of nursing--went to work for that hospital, and then later left. They were so 'trained' to work in that hospital that they could not comprehend the fact that different facilities operated in different ways. I have also worked with some ADN's who would come up to me and ask me "what does this order mean: metoproprolol 25 mg orally BID- hold for SBP

So, moral of the story is... you find 'challenges' everywhere. We should really stop attacking each other, acknowledge what we each bring to the table, and consider how we could improve nursing for the future. I personally liked my BSN program that gave 3 years of clinical practice. I think that was an excellent idea, however, I am sure others may disagree.

------------------

Tis with our judgements as our watches, none go just alike, yet, each believes his own.

-Alexander Pope

The original post recognized the importance of a standard for entry level into practice. As I have already stated, there should be a standard. IMMEDIATELY, this begins a fight of 'who is better than who.' One observation I have made, is that the nurses with ADN's and Diplomas are posting many negative things about individuals with BSN's. From a psychological standpoint [yes, I didn't only walk away with the BSN, but I double majored in Psychology]--This is a typical response from individuals who manifest low self-esteem. They think that people are immediately attacking them.

The degree does NOT mean that one person has greater 'psychomotor' skills than another. Only time and experience [i don't care what your educational level is] will bring about that level of competency. There was an excellent book that explains just this concept, written by Patricia Benner called "From Novice to Expert". I highly recommend it.

We all have horror stories from working with MANY nurses. I have worked with BSN's who couldn't read a glass thermometer, and I have met diploma nurses who could not adjust to a new position as they were 'trained' [i hate that word when we use it to describe an educational process] in a hospital school of nursing--went to work for that hospital, and then later left. They were so 'trained' to work in that hospital that they could not comprehend the fact that different facilities operated in different ways. I have also worked with some ADN's who would come up to me and ask me "what does this order mean: metoproprolol 25 mg orally BID- hold for SBP

So, moral of the story is... you find 'challenges' everywhere. We should really stop attacking each other, acknowledge what we each bring to the table, and consider how we could improve nursing for the future. I personally liked my BSN program that gave 3 years of clinical practice. I think that was an excellent idea, however, I am sure others may disagree.

------------------

Tis with our judgements as our watches, none go just alike, yet, each believes his own.

-Alexander Pope

Originally posted by Brownms46:

Bickering...B****ing?? I think not! Even though I totally disagreed with the original poster, I have enjoyed reading the posts that sprang from it. The following is a quote from one I truly enjoyed..."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"

This post validated my original post! "Allows the 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" Now lets see if my uneducated tired old brain can grasp this concept. Now tell me if I get it wrong now. So the ADN/diploma programs aptly prepare their students for...umm now let me see here...nursing?? Hold on..I'll get it ...if those programs prepare them to nurse at the bedside...umm where does the BSN/MSN programs prepare you to work?? Hmmm..must NOT be at the bedside..eh? Now..let me go even further here...oooh this means really stretching my brain matter ...hold on...neurons are firing...HEY..I get it. Get you ADN....go on to get your BSN/MSN...so you DON'T have to work at the bedside anymore...is that it??? OOOhhh ok...so now...if having your BSN should be the entry level to nursing...and all the BSN as getting away from the bedside...and there are no other levels of nursing...ummm...now let me see here.....WHO IS AT THE BEDSIDE??

OOh don't tell me...IT's THE NEW GRADS!!! Now won't that increase superlative patient care. Yeah ...right!

Gloria

I had to come back to see what everyone was writing is this was the best of all. I LOVED ALL THAT YOU SAID, WOULDN'T THAT BE NICE . If New Grads were the norm for bedside care. Great idea.

Originally posted by Brownms46:

Bickering...B****ing?? I think not! Even though I totally disagreed with the original poster, I have enjoyed reading the posts that sprang from it. The following is a quote from one I truly enjoyed..."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"

This post validated my original post! "Allows the 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" Now lets see if my uneducated tired old brain can grasp this concept. Now tell me if I get it wrong now. So the ADN/diploma programs aptly prepare their students for...umm now let me see here...nursing?? Hold on..I'll get it ...if those programs prepare them to nurse at the bedside...umm where does the BSN/MSN programs prepare you to work?? Hmmm..must NOT be at the bedside..eh? Now..let me go even further here...oooh this means really stretching my brain matter ...hold on...neurons are firing...HEY..I get it. Get you ADN....go on to get your BSN/MSN...so you DON'T have to work at the bedside anymore...is that it??? OOOhhh ok...so now...if having your BSN should be the entry level to nursing...and all the BSN as getting away from the bedside...and there are no other levels of nursing...ummm...now let me see here.....WHO IS AT THE BEDSIDE??

OOh don't tell me...IT's THE NEW GRADS!!! Now won't that increase superlative patient care. Yeah ...right!

Gloria

I had to come back to see what everyone was writing is this was the best of all. I LOVED ALL THAT YOU SAID, WOULDN'T THAT BE NICE . If New Grads were the norm for bedside care. Great idea.

Originally posted by Tim-GNP:

Since spreading strife is my greatest joy... I submit this idea: go to your favorite doctor, and ask him/her how many years they went to school. Ask them what kind of a degree they have. Then go to a few more doctors and ask them the same questions.

I think that the point of this discussion was making nursing a profession, by establishment of a minimal requirement for entry level into practice-not who has the better psychomotor skills.

Insofar as those who only view nurses as 'butt wipers' I think it's your own butt you should wipe, with your RN license.

That was me who stated that and I stand behind it because that is a daily task for any nurse who cares about her pts. As for your remark take your license and wipe you "butt" with it then lick it with your fat a** tongue stank ho*. And you wonder why we are not considered as professionals right.

Originally posted by Tim-GNP:

Since spreading strife is my greatest joy... I submit this idea: go to your favorite doctor, and ask him/her how many years they went to school. Ask them what kind of a degree they have. Then go to a few more doctors and ask them the same questions.

I think that the point of this discussion was making nursing a profession, by establishment of a minimal requirement for entry level into practice-not who has the better psychomotor skills.

Insofar as those who only view nurses as 'butt wipers' I think it's your own butt you should wipe, with your RN license.

That was me who stated that and I stand behind it because that is a daily task for any nurse who cares about her pts. As for your remark take your license and wipe you "butt" with it then lick it with your fat a** tongue stank ho*. And you wonder why we are not considered as professionals right.

Hi colleagues. I agree with previous posters who write that the BSN as entry level for nursing practice should not deteriorate into a debate about who's better.

As a diploma nurse with a BSN (note I don't write former diploma nurse), I support some mechanism of condensing titles and standardizing nursing education. I do agree that the BSN programs, the ones in my area anyway, don't adequately prepare graduates for bedside nursing practice although I have found that BSN graduates frequently overcome their deficits within the first year or two and become very good practitioners as with ADNs and Diplomas.

I support changing the entry level requirements for nursing practice mainly for two reasons. First, it is my belief that taking this action would reduce alot of the animosity, conflict, and lack of support between the various nursing titles and educational backgrounds-it would primarily increase nurses' strength. Improved professional status, positive recognition, and pay would be a welcome after effect although we are working on these now.

Secondly, and I believe more importantly, I would like to see nursing education and titles changed as an act of rebellion against the AHA and AMA for staying in what should have been our business in the first place-dictating to us what is in our best interests and the patients' best interest while all along they've been taking the kitchen sink. (Yes, I know that nursing has been shooting itself in the foot).

If I'm not mistaken, wasn't it these two groups that were adamantly opposed to the entry level suggestion in the first place, because somehow it would affect their level of power and control over patient care and over us and make them work even harder to establish a very high level of power, prestige, and independence?

Hi colleagues. I agree with previous posters who write that the BSN as entry level for nursing practice should not deteriorate into a debate about who's better.

As a diploma nurse with a BSN (note I don't write former diploma nurse), I support some mechanism of condensing titles and standardizing nursing education. I do agree that the BSN programs, the ones in my area anyway, don't adequately prepare graduates for bedside nursing practice although I have found that BSN graduates frequently overcome their deficits within the first year or two and become very good practitioners as with ADNs and Diplomas.

I support changing the entry level requirements for nursing practice mainly for two reasons. First, it is my belief that taking this action would reduce alot of the animosity, conflict, and lack of support between the various nursing titles and educational backgrounds-it would primarily increase nurses' strength. Improved professional status, positive recognition, and pay would be a welcome after effect although we are working on these now.

Secondly, and I believe more importantly, I would like to see nursing education and titles changed as an act of rebellion against the AHA and AMA for staying in what should have been our business in the first place-dictating to us what is in our best interests and the patients' best interest while all along they've been taking the kitchen sink. (Yes, I know that nursing has been shooting itself in the foot).

If I'm not mistaken, wasn't it these two groups that were adamantly opposed to the entry level suggestion in the first place, because somehow it would affect their level of power and control over patient care and over us and make them work even harder to establish a very high level of power, prestige, and independence?

+ Add a Comment