NY State may require nurses to obtain 4-year degrees

Nursing Students ADN/BSN

Published

But some worry that an already severe shortage will become worse.

New York is mulling over a requirement that would force all RNs to earn a bachelor's degree in order to keep their RN certification-a step that critics worry could serve as a body blow to a profession already facing a severe shortage.

Under the state Board of Nursing proposal, RNs with associate's degrees would have to earn bachelor's degrees within 10 years, or their RN certifications would be downgraded to that of licensed practical nurse. That would make nursing somewhat like teaching in New York state; certified K-12 teachers need master's degrees or must obtain one within three years of starting a job. It would also add years and thousands of dollars to the difficulty of becoming an RN...

Full Article: http://www.rochesterdandc.com/news/0413BA3TIOG_news.shtml

Did mine in 6 months so yes It can be done.

I'd also like to know how an associate's degree can be obtained in 6 months.

That's interesting. As a traveler, I worked there in 2003, and I don't have a BSN/BS/BA. Several of the longterm traveler (2 years) also were not Bachelors degree holders. In addition, several of the regular staff, were diploma or ADNs. On a critical care level floor.

In fact, the hospital had a great deal of Canadian traveler nurses, that had neither a Bachelor's degree (grandfathered in prior to the newer Canadian nursing requirements) nor had they taken the NCLEX (not a requirement in PA at that time).

Things have changed since 2003. I was told when I contacted them a few months ago for a new grad position that they will only hire BSN.

Did mine in 6 months so yes It can be done.

do you mean you did the ADN prereqs in 6 months or you did the actual ADN in 6 months. I'm confused. :uhoh21: i know that at a few schools around there is atill a way to get the "2 yr" degree in 2 years, but in most it is 3 years full time not counting any lag time between acceptance and start date of the program. As a nursing student (yeah!) starting RN ADN program next month, i can tell you that I don't know of anyone who hasn't been in school for at least 1 year already prior to acceptance. This is a big reason why many of us will do a direct transfer to the RN-BSN program at the university because w will only have aoubt 1 year left to finish the BSN. Just makes sense for us to finish when we are that close to the degree anyway.

Specializes in CCU, Trauma and forensic, Home Hospice C.

I am a senior BSN student and I find this unbelievable. RN's have been the majority of my mentors and preceptors! We all take the same boards! I just don't see the logic.RN's on the job today do more than ever, but if they are already doing the job why be forced to get a BSN?

Specializes in CCU, Trauma and forensic, Home Hospice C.

To the post saying BSNs don't get hands-on...not true.We have many hours of clinical.Different rotations each semester.We have two or three classes in managment and research. I support RNs but please get your facts right about BSNs.An RN to BSN program focuses more on management since the student there already has an RN.At my university we work our butts off in clinicals!:confused: :no:

Sorry it wasn't 6 months it was 7.5 months June-January from Regents/Excelsior College, and yes it was an ASN degree.

Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

BSN nurses do get hands on clinical experience, and they DO have "common sense".

ADN nurses can think critically despite "only" being "ADN nurses".

Can we dispel the myths and move past stereotypes already?

Nuff said, there.

Specializes in CCU, Trauma and forensic, Home Hospice C.
BSN nurses do get hands on clinical experience, and they DO have "common sense".

ADN nurses can think critically despite "only" being "ADN nurses".

Can we dispel the myths and move past stereotypes already?

Nuff said, there.

Right on! thank you.We really don't need RN's and BSN's against each other.We do the same jobs and have the same training and most importantly take the same NCLEX. So lets stick together!

Specializes in school nursing.

No problem - soon Hillary Clinton - our NY state senator who is pushing for this law will be your leader as well (President Hillary Clinton 2008 is coming soon to a voting booth near you!) - and her new heathcare laws will require ALL nurses have a 4 year degree. Just hope nobody gets sick and needs a nurse because nurses will be even harder to come by in the USA

Specializes in CCU, Trauma and forensic, Home Hospice C.
No problem - soon Hillary Clinton - our NY state senator who is pushing for this law will be your leader as well (President Hillary Clinton 2008 is coming soon to a voting booth near you!) - and her new heathcare laws will require ALL nurses have a 4 year degree. Just hope nobody gets sick and needs a nurse because nurses will be even harder to come by in the USA

so GOP talking points again? of course blame Hilary....Like the last few years under the shrub and all his lies have been good for healthcare???? i for one wish Bill could have run again.Politics asisde.BSN programs have long waiting lists and lots of new grads.In todays comlex healthcare system where nurses do 80% of what MDs used to do maybe a 4 year degree is the necessity of the future of nursing. We have a year of med/sur5g clinicals, a year of comples care plus 3 month rotations in peds, pych nursing , labor and delivery etc. PLUS we have to take ATI's every semester to continue on. I realize that a lot of people have a knee jrk reaction to the name hilary Clinton but why? is it because she is a intelligent, savvy, and powerful woman who may be president? Considering what the current one has done it would be a godsend . I think RNs are great and like i said in a previous posting I support you all and think all Nurses rock. But considering the number of BSN's coming into the workplace patient care will not be compromised. A number of RNs where I work have gone back to school to get BSN's that the hospital pays for.To play devils advocate ....wouldn't it be better to have a 4 year degree in order to be treated like the professional you are rather than a doctors appendage? Its the 21st century and nursing is changing hopefully for the better. I think that nursing needs to meet the challenge by providing more education in things like transcultural nursing, nursing research, patient's rights/advocacy. and a better understanding of patho, and other sciences equal or surpassing what MDs get? Like a previous post said what is wrong with getting a Bachelors or Masters in order to get better pay and the respect we deserve.Whereas i don't think RN's who have been on the job and do it so well should be forced to get BSN's. I do believe it is the way of the future if we are to get the respect we deserve. I for one plan to stay in the ED as a staff nurse or maybe charge but i am not getting a BSN to be in management.I opted for my schools BSN program because of the depth of training we get. So lets not make this political and lets stop this insecurity that some RNs seem to have toward the trend in getting or requiring BSN's. the times are changing!I guess its my own naivete that most nurses aren't conservative, but open-minded and nonjudgemental.:nono: :idea:

Specializes in Oncology/Haemetology/HIV.

Several points:

- Hillary to be president? - It is hardly likely to happen. And that comes from this nurse that cannot stand King George Bush.

- Are Nurses seen as appendages of MDs? Not hardly likely. Nurses consistantly are rated much higher on honesty polls than MDs, which demonstrate clearly that the Public views as clearly separate from MDs, and actually somewhat better in some important aspects of caring for them. The vast majority of my patients believe what I say and have greater respect for me than the MD.

I have found that the only people that really view us as handmaidens, are the older MDs themselves, some Administrators/PR people, some older nurses and the elderly.

Some of us are seen as professional because we act and work like professionals, and that comes across whether we have special initials on our nametags or not.

- We are doing 80% of what MDs do? I don't know what MDs you work for, but MDs, much like RNs, are responsible for substantially more than they appear to be doing. As RNs, we have LPNs/MAs/UAPs sayin that they can easily do our job, that they do X% of our jobs, when we know that there is much more to what we do. It is the same sort of arrogancy to say that RNs are doing 80% of what MDs, and ignores the many things that they do.

- Bachelor's degrees and Master's degree do not mean that we will be paid more as a group, or that it will garner us respect. Ask English/PR/Journalism/Education majors what they get paid, how many hours that they put in and how they are treated compared to nurses. I make more and have more job security than the vast majority of MA/BAs of my acquaintance, work few hours, and don't have to wear heels, or dry clean only clothing. There are English majors, working at Starbuck's or Barnes & Nobles. Teachers, in particular are treated badly, paid poorly, and put in a great deal extra time.

What is your source for this statement?

In todays comlex healthcare system where nurses do 80% of what MDs used to do .:nono: :idea:
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