ANA rec BSN vs ASN

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I've been thinking about this lately; When we were in school, the head of program was very passionate about nurses joining the ANA-something like less than 5% of all nurses are members, and if we all joined "what a voice we would have" in politics and policy. I do plan to get to a BSN-eventually, maybe-but I am 42 with three teens and their college looming-so who knows? I really agree with this-we need to use our numbers for power. I understand that raising the level of education might raise the overall respect and pay-but most patients don't know what degree you have-they judge you by your care and outcomes. But, I also keep thinking-"Why should I support a group who basically thinks that that I am too underqualified and undereducated to be a good nurse?" Because all rhetoric about being pro-nurse aside, that's what they mean..

What do you think?

. It's one thing to promote an idea of advancement, and another entirely to create a nurse "caste" system -- which exists in the minds of the "professionals," but wonderfully, not usually at the bedside.

Regarding what is perceived at the bedside: The pts often can't tell the nurses from the CNAs, or housekeeping for that matter. They have no idea who even a nurse, let alone differentiating bettween different types of nurses. They just care about how quickly their calllight is answered, if they get relief from pain, if they have someone to talk to, etc...

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Specializes in Critical Care.

My analogy to the BSN/ADN debate:

Two exactly identical station wagons except 1 has an automatic transmission and 1 has a standard transmission. You can't tell them apart looking at them.

But here are all these people out there complaining that the reason this station wagon is being used like a station wagon is because they don't all have automatic transmissions.

You might get your automatic transmissions someday, but don't be surprised when you get what you wish for that, A) You're still treated like a station wagon, and B) because there won't be anymore standard transmission station wagons to help bear the load, you are even more on your own.

Good luck with that.

~faith,

Timothy.

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Well ladies, it seems as if my "right-winged agenda" has offended someone. so I will bid you all a farewell with an apology to anyone who got their feelings hurt.

David

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so to all those that oppose a natl org or this natl org-- what is your solution for professional solidarity? what would be better? If you don't like the ANA position on ADN v BSN- what should they be encouraging?? keeping in mind of course that 100% participation is not going to happen- I know but what would draw you in? :idea: :idea: :confused:

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Specializes in Telemetry, Med/Surg.
Well ladies, it seems as if my "right-winged agenda" has offended someone. And either this forum is "Anti-Male" or "Anti-Conservative" so I will bid you all a farewell with an apology to anyone who got their feelings hurt.

David

Well, actually, most of us really didn't care. And, I am not female, sir.

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Specializes in Telemetry, Med/Surg.
so to all those that oppose a natl org or this natl org-- what is your solution for professional solidarity? what would be better? If you don't like the ANA position on ADN v BSN- what should they be encouraging?? keeping in mind of course that 100% participation is not going to happen- I know but what would draw you in? :idea: :idea: :confused:

I would think that any organization to be successful needs an effective outreach program, and an active committment to "listening." This would help dispel the perception (whether correct or not) that the group (the ANA) is aloof, distant, elite, etc. I really doubt that this will happen with the existing group -- as the pro-ANA people here will attest -- since (apparently) there is nothing wrong with the ANA, only with the majority of nursing that has this perception, and likewise doesn't participate.

I believe a strong solidarity movement is beginning in nursing, and it's coming from groups like the CNA, and other labor organizations. It isn't here yet, but a strong voice is emerging.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

A successful organization has to ACTUALLY represent the people it wants to be its members.

It's not the American BSN Assoc. and so maybe, just maybe, for it to be successful, it should represent more than BSN nurses. I could be wrong; but maybe telling 70% of RN's that we are holding down the 30% that are 'true professionals' has something to do with only having a 5% overall membership rate.

I'm a member of the AACN. They support and lobby for nursing issues WITHOUT supporting candidates. If the ANA wants my dollars, they have to stop being left wing advocates and start being nursing advocates. The 2 positions are not synonymous.

These are the 2 reasons I'm not now nor will be a member of the ANA. You asked what the ANA has to do to get me to take another look. This is my answer.

~faith,

Timothy.

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Well ladies, it seems as if my "right-winged agenda" has offended someone. And either this forum is "Anti-Male" or "Anti-Conservative" so I will bid you all a farewell with an apology to anyone who got their feelings hurt.

David[/QUO

your gender never occurred to me-

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

sorry....double post.

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Specializes in Med-Surg.
Well ladies, it seems as if my "right-winged agenda" has offended someone. And either this forum is "Anti-Male" or "Anti-Conservative" so I will bid you all a farewell with an apology to anyone who got their feelings hurt.

David

David, people's reactions to your post has nothing to do with your gender. Just because people don't do agree with your ideas doesn't make the whole site "anti" anything.

Trust me on this, from my many discussions with conservatives on the Current Events board on this website, you are not alone in your conservative feelings.

We left wing liberals tend to be very vocal in our opposition to the right, so please don't go. Most of us are pretty moderate anyway. Keep it in perspective one or two people might have taken exception to your post, but is that any reason to judge the whole website and leave? Be proud to express your opinion regardless of what the rest of us think.

Tweety, male, ultra-liberal left wing Bush-hating homosexual....anti-union, ADN graduate, pro-BSN, pro-enviornment, pro-life Nurse

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

sorry. never mind.

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

As long as ADN nurses presume that when someone says "BSN should be the entry level for the professional nurse" what they really mean is "ADNs aren't good nurses and are holding down the profession", the issue will not get serious consideration.

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