Education Conspiracy

[Avid reader]

Does anyone see a huge difference between an ADN and a BSN prepared nurse, nursing skills wise? Very little of my BSN coursework have been utilized on the floor and to be honest, experienced Diploma nurses frequently possessed better skills. Sure, there was management and leadership skills, but unless that is your intent, I cannot see the point.

Personally, the nurse with desire and curiousity for her craft have always appeared to me better, at not only practical skills but also interpersonal. I acquired more debt but little else.

Is there collusion between the AACN and learning institutions pushing this agenda? Why is it so few nursing international bodies have adopted very little of this trend?

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

Sorry Commuter, I'll apologize profusely if you could name five such countries that propogates such requirements to practice on the floors as a Reg Nurse ie needing a Bachelor's.

Article from 2009 listing 8 such countries: The Importance of the Baccalaureate Degree in Nursing Education | peoriamagazines.com

Many countries, like Canada, Sweden, Portugal, Brazil, Iceland, Korea, Greece and the Philippines already require a four-year undergraduate degree to practice nursing.

And considering the length of time since this article was published, it could be that there are more countries where a bachelors degree is the minimum entry.

[Avid reader]

Rose Queen sorry to be disagreeable but critical thinking? Absolutely untrue regarding Sweden and Canada. Sweden education is basically free and you have a population that is immensely curious which believe me makes discussions a nightmare. Frequently in Vancouver and certainly not the case there. No disrespect, but Portugal, Brazil and Greece, are you really going to believe an article that cites those countries and many humble apologies to those countries which are amongst the loveliest I've visited, but a BSN, really! Critical thinking!!!

An uber driver a couple of days ago, lawyer making ends meet. Bravo to him. Work is work and he was paying his bills. That's the point. If it is in the best interest of everyone, wonderful. I simply do not like to be manipulated because for some reason I've had enough of conmen!!

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

Rose Queen sorry to be disagreeable but critical thinking? Absolutely untrue regarding Sweden and Canada. Frequently in Vancouver and certainly not the case there. No disrespect, but Portugal, Brazil and Greece, are you really going to believe an article that cites those countries and many humble apologies to those countries which are amongst the loveliest I've visited, but a BSN, really! Critical thinking!!!

Perhaps you need to do some more research. British Columbia, the province of Vancouver, recognized programs are either all baccalaureate programs or re-entry programs, meaning that those nurses have already completed a degree. Study to be a nurse

[Avid reader]

Rose, I did a qualification in the UK for psych nursing called an RMN which was transcribed automatically in Canada, actually B.C., to RPN, Worked agency in Burnaby for three months. No BSN was required, not even the managers had BSN's. Peripheral fact, Vancouver is amongst the loveliest places I've visited except for house prices. Minutes outside of the city are the most stupendous of scenery. Clean is an understatement.

[RunnerNurse09, BSN, RN]

I am in my last semester of my bsn program, and yes I do think it adds to the clinical expertise, at least my program. The program I had required more pathophysiology, a detailed assessment course, and genetics. I feel like I am a better, more clinically able nurse because of it.

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

Rose, I did a qualification in the UK for psych nursing called an RMN which was transcribed automatically in Canada, actually B.C., to RPN,

RPNs are different than RNs. To be an RN, one must have a BScN.

[RunnerNurse09, BSN, RN]

And ps, none of my bsn had any theory in it.

[Avid reader]

Rose, my qualifications are RMN, Reg Mental Nurse which frankly was the best of my education, SRN, equivalent being a Reg Nurse here, costing me all of nothing since my father is English, then back to America for my NCLEX and a BSN for one year, cost $13,000 and one year of my life learning absolutely little. In the UK their Reg Nurses are exceptionally well prepared for immediate entry onto the floors. Very little preceptor ship necessary. Their sisters are bred by dragons with real fire breathing capabilities with a horrific dry wit which can be worse than being burnt. I'm not sure if you can actually just be an RMN to become an RPN. All of the European nurses that I met from as many as say fifteen different countries, no one had a BSN. Yet, they were all quite competent albeit with dental challenges:D

Please understand, I'm questioning if we are being taken for a ride?

[caliotter3]

The whole thing has become a racket in my opinion

This. Many times over.

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

Please understand, I'm questioning if we are being taken for a ride?

If you paid $13,000 for an RN to BSN program, you sure got taken for a ride.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

I posted this because of several other comments re conversions and personal experiences. I have nothing against further education and fell for an MBA incursion myself until I realized that 80% of the students were genuine idiots who will never convert that experience into something productive. Cost me $6,000 but could have been far worse if I hadn't opted out. I do not mean to offend others with further education, kudos to them but some people simply want to be nurses without being pressurized to spend far more money than is necessary.

As a preceptor, I have not noticed a big difference between a new grad with a BSN and one with an ADN -- except for the fact that the BSNs always seem to start the job telling me about their plans to be an NP or a CRNA and they're just here "to get some experience first". Usually that means the minimum experience necessary to be accepted into the program of their choice. The ADNs come to the job excited about taking care of the patients, and that makes me excited to precept them. I will add that the MSN grads -- the MSN as entry-level grads -- seem to be particularly clueless when they start on the unit. That could be the type of people who choose an MSN over the much less expensive ADN, or it could be that the local MSN program is just bad.

[Leedeedee]

Entry level nursing courses in the UK, Australia and NZ are now only available at Bachelor's degree level. The majority of UK nurses are still Diploma educated, but for new registrations they require BSc Nursing Studies. Australia is now refusing to register UK trained nurses who do not have a Bachelor's degree. The rush to BSN degrees isn't only in the USA.