Are you worried you will lose your job if you don't get your BSN?

elkpark · Feb 15, 2013

Depends entirely on the employer. But the trend is certainly in the direction of preferring or even requiring the BSN. Some employers consider an ADN/diploma plus a BA/BS in something else to be a close enough equivalent to a BSN, some don't.

20 years ago (wow, has it really been that long?), when I was in a BSN completion program in my nearest state university, a large cohort of the BSN completion students were nurse managers from the largest local hospital -- the administration had called them all together one day and announced that the hospital was going to an all-BSN policy for unit nurse managers, and, unless you had a BSN by (X date) you were not going to have your nurse manager position (they weren't going to fire them, but they would be moved back into staff nurse positions). So, a whole bunch of them had traipsed over to the school and signed up for the BSN completion program. (They were v. put out about this and most of them were a pretty toxic presence in the classroom all the way through the program.)

I'm guessing that, if you're working on a BS in biochem, you're planning on using that to get out of nursing (or maybe into a CRNA program?) If so, what does it matter?

PrayeRNurse, ASN, RN · Feb 15, 2013

The IOM states that by 2020 80% of all nurses will hold a BSN or higher degree. There were several reasons for the change from ADN to BSN. One of the reason is the multi- point entrance system into nursing that is currently in place. A majority of nurses hold a ADN. While nurses are seen as professional we are not seen as a profession because we do not have a four year degree requirement as does other professions. This prevents nurses from being invited to sit at policy setting tables with "the big boys". By requiring a BSN degree it will move nursing from professional to a profession. It really is for the best even as it causes most to seek a higher degree. I would love to recommend Arizona State University as a wonderful online RN-BSN program. Best to you as you look for the future.

llg, PhD, RN · Feb 15, 2013

The IOM states that by 2020 80% of all nurses will hold a BSN or higher degree.

For the record, the IOM has no power to regulate anything. All they can do (and did) was recommend the 80% by 2020 goal. A lot of nursing organizations have supported that goal -- but it is not a mandate by the government. It is just a goal that a lot of organizations and employers have adopted.

lolakbolak · Feb 15, 2013

You're saying its only a goal but it seems that most hospitals now require it. I just don't want to waste time and money on a BSN if my goal is to get a BS in biochem, it'd be a huge waste of time for me

brandy1017, ASN, RN · Feb 16, 2013

What are you planning on doing with a BS in biochem? Are you still planning on working as a nurse and doing this as a hobby. All I can say is going back to school for a passion without planning to get a different and hopefully better job is a very, very expensive hobby! While I don't have my BSN I did go back to school and take classes at various times over the years and looking back I wish I hadn't wasted the money on school and used it instead for savings, retirement, heck even a good vacation! College is too expensive for a hobby if you ask me! You can learn for free and even audit online college classes for free and save your money for other things! I wish I had that money back I spent on college, not to mention the student loan debt.

elkpark · Feb 16, 2013

I'm still wondering, if your goal is to get a BS in biochem (and I'm certainly not criticizing that in any way), are you looking to get out of nursing and pursue a career in something else, or are you expecting a BS in another discipline to benefit you in some way within nursing? If you're wanting to get out of nursing, then I certainly would not pursue any further nursing education. If you're expecting a BS in biochem to benefit you professionally in nursing, I'm interested in how you think that is going to work.

ORoxyO · Feb 16, 2013

Since my hospital system was taken over by another a couple years ago, people ARE losing their positions due to not having a BSN. But not staff nurses...it's managers, educators, or anyone in a leadership position down to charge nurses. They have been given an opportunity to go back to school for the BSN with a time limit to keep their jobs. If they do not want to go back to school or did not finish in time, they were demoted to staff nurse or given the opportunity to resign.

If you are worried about losing a staff nurse position that pays your bills while you are in school for your BS in biochem...you should have nothing to worry about. I do see any hospitals suddenly firing all significant amounts of nurses or forcing them back to school to keep their staff nurse jobs.

Requiring a degree for new hires is different than requiring it of current staff.

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · Feb 16, 2013

OP: I'm not worried about losing my current jobs if I don't complete my BSN. One of my facilities is going for Magnet and would be thrilled if I finished the BSN, but they won't fire me if I don't. They're very pleased that I'm ANCC-certified, as that's their other big push: they want as many of us as possible to be certified.

I'm more concerned about finding future jobs, since many facilities are now pushing for BSN nurses, even if the nurse is experienced. So I do plan to complete the BSN this year, to help keep myself competitive as well as develop myself professionally.