How much education to be a state inspector?

[mondkmondk]

My hubby has started his pre-req's for his RN, then plans to pursue bachelor's and master's. He says he wants to be a state inspector. Does he need all this education for that?

Blessings, Michelle

[elkpark]

I am a surveyor with my state's Department of Health. I just returned today from some survey training, where I had the opportunity to meet surveyors from all over the U.S. Many of the nurses stated that a BSN was required to be a State surveyor in their state, while others lived in a state that required a Master's degree.

I have an associate degree RN with 10 years of nursing experience in varied clinical settings. Although postings for this position in my state say "Masters preferred", it just ain't gonna happen. I live in a state with a high cost of living and low state wages. The salary range offered will not attract a registered nurse with a Master's degree.

Bottom line, different states have different requirements.

oldladyRN

I worked as a surveyor in my state with an MSN, and I think that it made me a better surveyor -- but I certainly can't see a rationale for requiring that as a minimum for the job!! I got paid the same as the ADN-prepared surveyors, and I was hired for my many years of clinical experience, not the degree. :)

[caliotter3]

Just out of curiosity, I looked at the vacancy announcement for my state. Wow. Master's degree can be substituted for one year of required experience, but the master's degree only need be in a related health field, such as laboratory technology, microbiology, psychology, physical therapy, MSW, etc. Does not have to be nursing. The required education is bachelor's degree in the same areas. You don't have do have a college degree in nursing. And LPNs (LVNs) can subtitute two years experience for each year of required experience. So much for nursing education being a driving factor in selection for this job.

[elkpark]

Just out of curiosity, I looked at the vacancy announcement for my state. Wow. Master's degree can be substituted for one year of required experience, but the master's degree only need be in a related health field, such as laboratory technology, microbiology, psychology, physical therapy, MSW, etc. Does not have to be nursing. The required education is bachelor's degree in the same areas. You don't have do have a college degree in nursing. And LPNs (LVNs) can subtitute two years experience for each year of required experience. So much for nursing education being a driving factor in selection for this job.

My state does not exclusively use nurses as surveyors -- they use people from all the health occupations you find in hospitals. We had surveyors who were dieticians, social workers, psychologists, lab techs, physical therapists, etc. The common denominator is that they all have significant clinical experience in their particular field.

When I was surveying acute psych inpatient settings, our team (for the entire state) was made up of our team leader, who was an ADN-prepared (psych) RN, two social workers, myself (MSN) and a BSN-prepared RN, and a psychologist.

[Midwest4me]

i'm sorry but, i was referring to various rn degrees and not lpn's. i have never known an lpn to be a surveyor.

oh gosh, i was merely clarifying that indeed an rn is what is needed in our state; no restrictions are placed on the education level of that rn; apparently one can be adn, bsn, or msn.