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?

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

LOL

Uh, Mystery5, female, Ultra-centrist here:coollook: Bush hater, Kerry hater, anti-union, pro-life, anti-war, pro-enviornment, pro-nationalized health-care, anti-drug companies, pro-holistic healing, homebirthing, medical heretic, devout Catholic here.:chuckle

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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.

If you have read articles in AJN and ones published by the ANA , you would realize that's exactly what they mean-They are more than willing to come out and say it-The ANA supported the findings of a flawed study that "found" that a patient would be more likely to suffer a negative outcome if cared for by an ADN vs. a BSN prepared nurse. I have read these articles, I've talked with ANA memebers, BSN and MSN prepared nurses; I don't form opinions just because I "feel" a certain way-I gather facts. To be honest, I never even knew that this was an issue until our head of program mentioned it during a management class-then I decided to research to see if it was true and what the arguments were.

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Specializes in Med-Surg.
If you have read articles in AJN and ones published by the ANA , you would realize that's exactly what they mean-They are more than willing to come out and say it-The ANA supported the findings of a flawed study that "found" that a patient would be more likely to suffer a negative outcome if cared for by an ADN vs. a BSN prepared nurse. I have read these articles, I've talked with ANA memebers, BSN and MSN prepared nurses; I don't form opinions just because I "feel" a certain way-I gather facts. To be honest, I never even knew that this was an issue until our head of program mentioned it during a management class-then I decided to research to see if it was true and what the arguments were.

I'm not necessarily talking about people who make informed decisions. Personally, I'm not even sure I support the BSN as the standard idea myself. I just take the statement "The BSN should be the entry level for the RN" for what it is and don't read where the ANA says things like the following:

"-"Why should I support a group who basically thinks that that I am too underqualified and undereducated to be a good nurse?"

...telling 70% of RN's that we are holding down the 30% that are 'true professionals'

We could go on and on. It's very difficult to promote the BSN agenda without stepping on the toes of ADNs. Maybe they just accept that and go on with it anyway. Because there's no way around it. In the technical university accepted definition of a "profession" the members hold bach. degrees.

Again, I'm not even sure I support their and universities hell bent mission to make nursing a "profession". Give me safe ratios, adequate supplies, etc. I've got more concerns besides this issue. :)

I've also read the articles Karen posted and I didn't necessarily find them all to degrading and no where did I read that ADNs aren't good nurses.

I might add, that right now I choose not to join the ANA, but the BSN advocacy has never bothered me.

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Specializes in Med-Surg.
LOL

Uh, Mystery5, female, Ultra-centrist here:coollook: Bush hater, Kerry hater, anti-union, pro-life, anti-war, pro-enviornment, pro-nationalized health-care, anti-drug companies, pro-holistic healing, homebirthing, medical heretic, devout Catholic here.:chuckle

Wow, for a Catholic and a homosexual, we have a some common ground don't we. :rotfl:

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Wow, for a Catholic and a homosexual, we have a some common ground don't we. :rotfl:

Well, whattya know?... guess ya can't stereotype folks, can ya???:Melody:

:coollook:

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

I am sorry you feel this way. No one holds your gender against you ( I had no clue you were male or female nor did I even consider it). And like Tweety said above, there are plenty who share your conservative viewpoints here at allnurses. I don't mind that , either. What I do mind is someone calling others "ignorant" because they hold a different political viewpoint than you do; it does NOTHING to bolster your argument or help anyone understand where you are coming from. It's an automatic turn-off to me, so yes, I have serious heartburn with that. Also, your initial post had little to do with the actual subject at hand.

If you are offended by my saying all of this, I apologize. It's not a matter of picking on your "gender" or "conservative viewpoint", but the way you expressed it. Have a good day.

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
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.
You are right. But that would not be the ONLY reason, would it? We have hashed it all out here before , so I won't bore you.
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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
Well, whattya know?... guess ya can't stereotype folks, can ya???:Melody:

:coollook:

well, you can. but it would seriously retard one's understanding, wouldn't it? :)
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Specializes in Med-Surg.
Well, whattya know?... guess ya can't stereotype folks, can ya???:Melody:

:coollook:

Now way. Stereotypes are wrong. But you're an ADN nurse, what do you really know?

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Specializes in Med-Surg.
You are right. But that would not be the ONLY reason, would it? We have hashed it all out here before , so I won't bore you.

Exactly. I got a strange case of Deja Vu because I remember a typing almost the exact same thing a while back. Probably on more than one occasion. So I defer to discussions past and humbly end my involvement in it...........this thread that is. :rotfl:

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Now way. Stereotypes are wrong. But you're an ADN nurse, what do you really know?

At least I know what I don't know, unlike those BSN nurses...:coollook:

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
Exactly. I got a strange case of Deja Vu because I remember a typing almost the exact same thing a while back. Probably on more than one occasion. So I defer to discussions past and humbly end my involvement in it...........this thread that is. :rotfl:
rofl......don't quit, I love your input. I just know I have gone on and on and on ad nauseum about my feelings on the whole BSN-only entry to nursing.....

Anyone who knows me (and my 17,000 posts) knows I feel about this one..... :rotfl:

That said, I sit here contemplating an RN-MSN program---I do want to educate myself more, but wish there were another option than BSN/MSN as "the right education" for nursing. I love going to school, love learning, but BSN material bores me and as an experienced nurse, other than research , really don't see much use in the material they will force down my throat. That is another story, I know..... :rolleyes:

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