BSN Only Is A Wall Street Scam

Nursing Students ADN/BSN

Published

The push for Magnet status and BSN Only is rooted firmly in fraud. As usual, this Wall Street scam has many players and angles. To those that study propaganda and disaster capitalism; the latest from the CEO class is testament to how dumbed down the average worker has become in America.

I went to NSG school 16 years ago. The cost for a ADN at a major university, minus grants, was about 12 grand. My alma mater wants over 50 grand for me to finish my BSN. A full 90% of that BSN will be done on line. That my fellow brothers and sisters is a CEO wet dream come true. Very little staff or facility cost to eat into that profit margin.

One of reasons CEOs want BSNs is because of the student debt factor. We all know what kind of work nursing is. Short staffing is the norm since I became a nurse. Ancillary staff is always in short supply and often has a less than perfect attitude. The short term profit motive takes priority over patient care and safety today, so much so that managers don't even try to hide it or make excuses for it. We know what this leads to, another shortage. The CEOs want to the next generation of RNs deep in debt. RNs that owe 40 to 100 grand (common with the cost of education today) in student loans will think twice before leaving NSG to have kids or find work in less demanding professions. Try to unionize ?? Not too many RNs will rock the boat on any issue that bucks the bottom line. Try to improve staffing or patient care ?? My loan cost about 120 a month for 10 years, the new RNs will fight for very little thanks to the cost of school today and the CEOs know it.

Online schools are the biggest players in this scam. Online education schools can cost as much as an ivy league school, with the taxpayer footing the bill. Online schools offer many degrees to students across the country. NSG plays a major role in keeping these failed schools green with your tax dollars. Online schools are a failure across the board.

Most students that in-role will never graduate. The few students that do graduate will find their degree worthless in today's job market. The default rate on the student loans paid to these schools will make even the most jaded taxpayer want to vomit. NSGs role in all this is simple. Online schools are forced to operate under a 90/10 rule. If online schools can get just 10% of students to graduate or just 10% to find a job, the online schools can continue to get government (taxpayer) money for the other 90%. Non BSN RNs are proven students. Non BSN RNs have a track record of success in academics and will more than likely finish any online program. Non BSN RNs when they enter these programs most likely have a job and will have that job when they graduate. Are you putting this together yet ?? The push for the BSN Only is a propaganda ploy from Wall Street funded PR firms. Edward Brenays would be proud. The more non BSN RNs that attend online schools, the more students the online schools can in-role and get paid for. It is important to mention that the 90/10 rule was forced on the schools by congress because of the dismal default rate. The schools win, the Wall Street Investors win, hospital CEOs win, the non nursing students that drop out lose and the American taxpayers lose. NSG will lose as well. Workers that are trapped because of debt become slaves to the greed of the system. The greed of this system will hurt the patients we care for.

Specializes in FNP, ONP.

Without a thesis statement, logically laid out premise, actual facts, and cited peer reviewed sources, the argument in the OP holds no merit.

Thanks for your replies! (I knew you'd be a fountain of info on the subject). And, I admit to a secret longing to live in one of those nurse dorms. Perhaps I was influenced by an old Barbara Stanwyck movie called "Night Nurse", lol.

I confess to not knowing exactly who, but have a fair idea - because they are still at it . . .

As my instructors were often graduates of diploma schools, they tended to be quite miffed at the reputation their schools had of turning out a bunch of fluffy-heads or "handmaidens". Or they were apologetic about their education, which made me sad. I've had an interest in the topic since that time.

Am going to throw some *ahem* unfamiliar terms at you; nursing theory, education of nurses, training of nurses. *LOL*

Much of the bump rap against diploma programs seems to come from the idea they did not nor could not prepare students with the foundations of nursing theory that was becoming more and more required as healthcare and the profession changed. The view was that hospital diploma programs "trained" nurses rather than educated them. Of course there was a wide range between the various programs in the United States, but that seems to be some of the main strikes against that system.

This would expalin why so many hospital programs began to partner with community or other colleges starting around the 1980's or perhaps 1970's. Such arrangements would give hospital students the exposure to various college level courses (along with the credits that would transfer perhaps a bit more easily) which would produce the "rounded" nursing education ADN and BSN programs offered.

When Canada began to migrate over to making the BSN required for entry into the RN profession a few diploma schools tried an arrangement with colleges/universities where students would take their gen ed and much of their non-nursing courses at the four year school, whilst the nursing program took care of the rest. This didn't last as colleges/universities began to shy away from awarding degrees to students where a large part of their credits came from a source they had no direct control over (the nursing schools), so that was the end of that.

If you're up for a good read, pipe: http://www.jblearning.com/samples/0763752258/52258_CH02_Roux.pdf

Diploma Nursing program, circa 1912:

Catalogue - University of Cincinnati - Google Books

Various diploma nursing programs offered in New York City and their course requirements, circa 1912(starts on page #106):

Opportunities for war time training for women in New York City, 1918-1919 - Clearing House for War Time Training for Women, Intercollegiate Bureau of Occupations, New York - Google Books

Specializes in Hospice / Ambulatory Clinic.
Without a thesis statement, logically laid out premise, actual facts, and cited peer reviewed sources, the argument in the OP holds no merit.

I imagine a conversation with the OP would go something like this. At least I hope it would be that funny.

How the financial system works

How to run a country

I agree with you rickbar. The BSN and Magnet Status push are two of the biggest scams perpetrated on the American public today. I am a male nurse in Phila., PA and have spoken with nurses who have been in the field for over 20 years. They have told me that in fact, there is no better care provided at Magnet Recognized Hospitals than non-Magnet hospitals. As one nurse put it; "Hospitals pay the ANA thousands of dollars for what is nothing more than a fake seal of approval." It is much like the "new and and improved" product marketing scam of the 70s where the content of the product was unchanged and a new and improved label was stamped on the box. As a matter-of-fact, many nurses have said conditions worsened once their hospitals achieved magnet status. These included having to float to other areas where nurses where not comfortable and being pulled form patient care to attend perfunctory meetings so management can tell the magnet evaluators that nurses are involved with decision making.

And because magnet hospitals must have a certain percentage of its nurses educated at the BSN level, hence we have the BSN scam. I agree with you that healthcare facilities love to hire nurses who are deep in debt. They are less likely to fight ridiculous patient to nurse ratios as well as being forced to float to areas of non-familiarity. As another nurse put it; "Nothing says keep your mouth shut like a $450 a month student loan debt." But there are other reasons. Many hospitals rent space to schools who offer RN-BSN programs. What better way to ensure seats are filled than for a hospital to require its nurses to earn a BSN. Also many in hospital management as well as physicians have affiliations with four year colleges and universities. I researched the IOM and found that over 90% of its members are in some way affiliated with a four year school.

What the uninformed public needs to know is that there is no clinical component in most RN-BSN programs and nurses will learn nothing that will help them with patient care. Rather they'll be writing a few more papers in APA format on current nursing issues and Theoretical Foundations. It is a racket that hospitals are telling the general public that they will receive better care because most of their nurses have BSNs and their hospital is Magnet Recognized.

I recently spoke to a young nursing student whose hospital based nursing program told them that unless they go on for a BSN, they will not be employable. This hospital rents space to an RN-BSN program. Need I say more.

I agree with you hey_suz that there is nothing wrong with advancing one's education. I just feel it should be a nurse's choice and not healthcare facilities telling their nurses that they must get a BSN within 3 years or risk termination. As I've stated in previous blogs, over 90% of IOM officials are in some way affiliated with a 4 year college or university. Given the premise that over 200 schools have closed their doors over the last 10 years (Nursing Spectrum, Jan. 9 2012), the IOM has a vested interest in trying to increase enrollments at colleges and universities by suggesting that all nurses should earn a BSN. And I can say for certain that once they have most nurses running back for a BSN, in five years they'll want to have them running back to school for a Master's. I have looked into RN-BSN programs and will not consider it unless it's reasonable since I already have a B.A. in business.

Can you please tell me which State University program you found that was under $10,000? That is the most reasonably priced program I've heard of to date.

Specializes in PeriOp, ICU, PICU, NICU.

Currently my hospital pays 30 cents an hr for BSN. At the moment, I cannot afford or justify going back to school. I am a single mother working 2 jobs and cannot do it period.

If booting me out because of my ADN comes to push or shove, then so be it. My facility will lose a great nurse, preceptor and charge nurse. If I go back to school it will be for something non-nursing with hopes of securing a job elsewhere and continue earning a good ol' living until I retire or die.

So frustrating.

Can you please tell me which State University program you found that was under $10,000? That is the most reasonably priced program I've heard of to date.

How hard have you looked?

I picked the $10,000 figure I mentioned earlier more or less at random -- I knew that I paid a lot less than that, but I also went through the program many years ago and I assumed the cost had gone up since then. I just googled the school's website to verify the current cost and found that the BSN completion program is estimated to cost less than $5,000.

"Completing your BSN through WCU's RN to BSN program is very affordable! Tuition and fees for the entire RN to BSN Program are estimated to be $4800, including textbooks!" Western Carolina University - RN to BSN Program

The school is Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, NC, part of the UNC system -- but I'm sure there are lots of other reasonably priced BSN completion programs "out there." $50k or more for a BSN completion program strikes me as highway robbery, plain and simple.

Specializes in Clinical Research, Outpt Women's Health.

WGU of Texas claims it can be done for 7k.

I live in the Phila., PA area and when I Google RN-BSN programs the hits I get are mostly from this area such as the major universities, Thomas Edison, Walden......... But thanks for the WCU info, I will look into it. Still feel it's something I shouldn't have to do since I already have a Bachelor's in business along with my nursing license. And just like Jesse_RN, I'm getting frustrated and considering going into another field. Again, let me warn all nurses that once they have everyone running back for a BSN, they'll start pushing for the MSN five years after and then the Doctorate.

I went into nursing to help people; not to be a perpetual student and line the pockets of those that run 4 year colleges and universities. It is without a doubt the biggest racket going on today. And it was just confirmed again last night by a nurse acquaintance with 27 yrs experience who said; "It's sad but it's all about the money now."

Thanks CrunchRN.

I checked out of Texas. I believe their website said it was approx. $3125 plus books and fees for each 6 month period. The length of time to complete the program will probably depend on what they will accept as transfer credits.

The push for Magnet status and BSN Only is rooted firmly in fraud. As usual, this Wall Street scam has many players and angles. To those that study propaganda and disaster capitalism; the latest from the CEO class is testament to how dumbed down the average worker has become in America.

I went to NSG school 16 years ago. The cost for a ADN at a major university, minus grants, was about 12 grand. My alma mater wants over 50 grand for me to finish my BSN. A full 90% of that BSN will be done on line. That my fellow brothers and sisters is a CEO wet dream come true. Very little staff or facility cost to eat into that profit margin.

One of reasons CEOs want BSNs is because of the student debt factor. We all know what kind of work nursing is. Short staffing is the norm since I became a nurse. Ancillary staff is always in short supply and often has a less than perfect attitude. The short term profit motive takes priority over patient care and safety today, so much so that managers don't even try to hide it or make excuses for it. We know what this leads to, another shortage. The CEOs want to the next generation of RNs deep in debt. RNs that owe 40 to 100 grand (common with the cost of education today) in student loans will think twice before leaving NSG to have kids or find work in less demanding professions. Try to unionize ?? Not too many RNs will rock the boat on any issue that bucks the bottom line. Try to improve staffing or patient care ?? My loan cost about 120 a month for 10 years, the new RNs will fight for very little thanks to the cost of school today and the CEOs know it.

Online schools are the biggest players in this scam. Online education schools can cost as much as an ivy league school, with the taxpayer footing the bill. Online schools offer many degrees to students across the country. NSG plays a major role in keeping these failed schools green with your tax dollars. Online schools are a failure across the board.

Most students that in-role will never graduate. The few students that do graduate will find their degree worthless in today's job market. The default rate on the student loans paid to these schools will make even the most jaded taxpayer want to vomit. NSGs role in all this is simple. Online schools are forced to operate under a 90/10 rule. If online schools can get just 10% of students to graduate or just 10% to find a job, the online schools can continue to get government (taxpayer) money for the other 90%. Non BSN RNs are proven students. Non BSN RNs have a track record of success in academics and will more than likely finish any online program. Non BSN RNs when they enter these programs most likely have a job and will have that job when they graduate. Are you putting this together yet ?? The push for the BSN Only is a propaganda ploy from Wall Street funded PR firms. Edward Brenays would be proud. The more non BSN RNs that attend online schools, the more students the online schools can in-role and get paid for. It is important to mention that the 90/10 rule was forced on the schools by congress because of the dismal default rate. The schools win, the Wall Street Investors win, hospital CEOs win, the non nursing students that drop out lose and the American taxpayers lose. NSG will lose as well. Workers that are trapped because of debt become slaves to the greed of the system. The greed of this system will hurt the patients we care for.

Rickbar: I believe you live in my area. We know that also the so-called nursing leaders are driving the BSN push as just about all of them are affiliated with insituttions that stand to gain by having nurses run back foir higher degrees. The recent casualty is the closing of a 91 yr old nursing school in this area (eliminate the lower cost options). Last year, I had the ear of a news reporter who wanted to push the story. Only I couldn't find any nurses willing to speak up for many of the reasons you mentioned. As one nurse put it; "Nothing says keep your mouth shut like a $400-$500 a month student loan debt." Would you be willing to speak if I can get the reporter to listen again.

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