BSN minimum requirement

Nurses General Nursing

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It is my firm belief that the minimum requirement for nursing should be a BSN. We want to be accepted as a profession, yet we allow 2 year programs to dominate the field. Now I went to a 2 year program and will be finishing my BSN this semester. My school did a great job preparing me for "tasks" of nursing, but oh, it is so much more than that. Many other countries have moved or are moving towards 4yr degree minimums and the US needs to stay atop in this competative field. The nursing shortage will not always be here and it is to your advantage to get your degree now. The 2 yr programs will make a great footstep in the years to come, but the 4yr degree will become the RNs of the future. As nurses move into the 21st century we need to pull together to demonstrate our power as a profession, the only way to do this is to have strong, educated nurses in not just bedside tasks but critically thinking, politics, research and community health. Think about it, comments welcome.

Originally posted by JulieW:

Reading your post was an exercise in futility. Take english COMP next semester. It'll help.

Get a life and eat ****!! Ha Ha.

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Originally posted by JulieW:

Reading your post was an exercise in futility. Take english COMP next semester. It'll help.

Get a life and eat ****!! Ha Ha.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Originally posted by FamilymanRNBSN L/D:

What a heated exchange...

I think some truth can be found in both camps.

Having many ways to the same goal seems devisive to some, yet provides opportunity

to the level which the individual chooses...

This is america, and we celebrate our differences. I am a male in nursing and from what I can gather from this forum

BSN to be or not to be? I would say it doesn't matter as much the degree after your name if you still let people walk all over you in the work place. It has been my experiance working my way up through the ranks, first a Monitor tech then a CNA, and unit secretary, and now an RN BSN in L/D that service is what we do. People are our

business. To love or care for others youmust first care about yourself. Degrees

3-4 yr. will only be as valuable as those representing the proffession. So if your an ADN RN and you say now to crappy stafing your a proffesional, or if your an BSN RN and you refuse to take report at shift change to protest unsafe conditions, then you have done all uf us proud. What I hope to see more of is the balance of both compassion with the long term reality that

speaks not only of nursing's strength to "wipe butts" or take report on 12 pts or whatever, but the healthy to say no when needed to protect not only the pt, but the

caregiver. Most nurses look at the overworked side of things from a shivilrous

point of view. This is magical thinking at its best. Reality says that the proffession

will fail to thrive if we portray weak, push

over types who can't see the value inherent in the Question "what's in it for me?" We all get paid right! Is it only because nursing is so touchy feely that we fail to see the inherent $ value in our services.

I'm not saying I'm in it for the money, but I'm not saying I'm not in it for the $ either...Are you catching my drift...?

Todd from Tulsa

Todd you said everything that I said in a nutshell and maybe I said it in a harsher and different way. I don mind "butt wiping", I really don't like to do it but I will because my pts. need it and the CNA's or techs need the help. I love my job. This is something I have been involved with since I was a small child. Maybe I did become a bit angered when I wrote my post because I picked up a certain amount of weakness in some ant all individuals. But, a few people saw it as there time to act, all I could do was the same. But, we all know we don't and can't do this job for free (most of us anyway) because we need to make a living to survive but also for me I love interacting with my pts. the staff is what I don't like working with because as we can see people can take what you say and place a different meaning on it because they don't understand what you are saying. then we get what we have here. People telling me to wipe my butt with my RN license because they didn't like what I ssid. Tell me this Todd, don't we have to wipe feces off of an individual if they are incapable or unable to do it for themselves? If we didn't do that simple task for our pt. wouldn't we have a problem on our hands? Why are so manyt people here afraid to admit that is one of the biggest parts of our job esp. if you wotk in CCU, ICU, or you do Total Pt. Care. I worked two nights ago on a M/S floor and 60% of the time that is what I was doing becauase we didn't have any aides. Just me rambling. But, I like what you said and the wasy you said it.

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Originally posted by FamilymanRNBSN L/D:

What a heated exchange...

I think some truth can be found in both camps.

Having many ways to the same goal seems devisive to some, yet provides opportunity

to the level which the individual chooses...

This is america, and we celebrate our differences. I am a male in nursing and from what I can gather from this forum

BSN to be or not to be? I would say it doesn't matter as much the degree after your name if you still let people walk all over you in the work place. It has been my experiance working my way up through the ranks, first a Monitor tech then a CNA, and unit secretary, and now an RN BSN in L/D that service is what we do. People are our

business. To love or care for others youmust first care about yourself. Degrees

3-4 yr. will only be as valuable as those representing the proffession. So if your an ADN RN and you say now to crappy stafing your a proffesional, or if your an BSN RN and you refuse to take report at shift change to protest unsafe conditions, then you have done all uf us proud. What I hope to see more of is the balance of both compassion with the long term reality that

speaks not only of nursing's strength to "wipe butts" or take report on 12 pts or whatever, but the healthy to say no when needed to protect not only the pt, but the

caregiver. Most nurses look at the overworked side of things from a shivilrous

point of view. This is magical thinking at its best. Reality says that the proffession

will fail to thrive if we portray weak, push

over types who can't see the value inherent in the Question "what's in it for me?" We all get paid right! Is it only because nursing is so touchy feely that we fail to see the inherent $ value in our services.

I'm not saying I'm in it for the money, but I'm not saying I'm not in it for the $ either...Are you catching my drift...?

Todd from Tulsa

Todd you said everything that I said in a nutshell and maybe I said it in a harsher and different way. I don mind "butt wiping", I really don't like to do it but I will because my pts. need it and the CNA's or techs need the help. I love my job. This is something I have been involved with since I was a small child. Maybe I did become a bit angered when I wrote my post because I picked up a certain amount of weakness in some ant all individuals. But, a few people saw it as there time to act, all I could do was the same. But, we all know we don't and can't do this job for free (most of us anyway) because we need to make a living to survive but also for me I love interacting with my pts. the staff is what I don't like working with because as we can see people can take what you say and place a different meaning on it because they don't understand what you are saying. then we get what we have here. People telling me to wipe my butt with my RN license because they didn't like what I ssid. Tell me this Todd, don't we have to wipe feces off of an individual if they are incapable or unable to do it for themselves? If we didn't do that simple task for our pt. wouldn't we have a problem on our hands? Why are so manyt people here afraid to admit that is one of the biggest parts of our job esp. if you wotk in CCU, ICU, or you do Total Pt. Care. I worked two nights ago on a M/S floor and 60% of the time that is what I was doing becauase we didn't have any aides. Just me rambling. But, I like what you said and the wasy you said it.

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Specializes in Everything except surgery.

You know, I must give it to most of you. There have been some really good posts on this subject. Yes, I responded in anger at the original post, and a little sarcastic also. But I must say this has been a very enlightening discussion.

Most of you have posted somethings that have given me pause for thought on both fronts.

All would prefer to be treated as a professional, and have their experience, and expertise appropriately acknowledged. But we have to listen to each other, as we listen to our patients, and not just discard what doesn't suit us. I still don't believe the field of nursing, here in these United States, can in our lifetime, all of sudden switch to being a miminum 4yr education entry field. It maybe something that could possibly be accepted in a progressive process, somewhere in the distant future. However, I do think becoming more sensitive to each others contributions to this profession is a better way to steer toward that goal, then looking down "your" noses at those who for economic, family or whatever reasons, chose to come into this field on the different levels now allowed. Or because now that you have obtained your higher degree, the lesser degree is no longer a valid one to become an RN. Yes...I know I too, must work on my feelings about those who wave their higher degrees in my face, when they possess little or no real practical expertise, and fail to live up to the level of nursing their degrees should have prepared them for. That is until someone of a lesser degree precepts them, ...takes them by the hand, and helps them to function during the one or two years it takes for them to get up to speed.

Wait a min...don't get those fingers to pecking yet! But after reading some of the posts here, I think maybe I might have made an error in my rush to judgement. So here's a question. Since the BSN is "supposedly" much more prepared than anyone else. Why not have a more difficult board exam to pass? A seperate exam, that really tests the merits of your arguement, that you're better prepared, and are functioning with a higher level of knowledge than those without a BSN. Because your point loses validity, when the different levels of RNs are able to pass the same exam.

Boy am I going to get it now! It's just a thought. :-) Wait..don't go yet! Now what if, this fictional exam were to be established. What would you then do with the current lesser degreed nurses? Would you allow for their experience level to be able to take this more difficult exam, and granfather them in? Or should they, with all their skills, and experience, be forced to go back, and take the same courses you did? I mean really, what path do you feel would be prudent to allow the profession to evolve into this minimum BSN entry level?

I could expand on this further, but I'll let you bite on this first.

"They can eat me, but they can't kill me"

Gloria

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Specializes in Everything except surgery.

You know, I must give it to most of you. There have been some really good posts on this subject. Yes, I responded in anger at the original post, and a little sarcastic also. But I must say this has been a very enlightening discussion.

Most of you have posted somethings that have given me pause for thought on both fronts.

All would prefer to be treated as a professional, and have their experience, and expertise appropriately acknowledged. But we have to listen to each other, as we listen to our patients, and not just discard what doesn't suit us. I still don't believe the field of nursing, here in these United States, can in our lifetime, all of sudden switch to being a miminum 4yr education entry field. It maybe something that could possibly be accepted in a progressive process, somewhere in the distant future. However, I do think becoming more sensitive to each others contributions to this profession is a better way to steer toward that goal, then looking down "your" noses at those who for economic, family or whatever reasons, chose to come into this field on the different levels now allowed. Or because now that you have obtained your higher degree, the lesser degree is no longer a valid one to become an RN. Yes...I know I too, must work on my feelings about those who wave their higher degrees in my face, when they possess little or no real practical expertise, and fail to live up to the level of nursing their degrees should have prepared them for. That is until someone of a lesser degree precepts them, ...takes them by the hand, and helps them to function during the one or two years it takes for them to get up to speed.

Wait a min...don't get those fingers to pecking yet! But after reading some of the posts here, I think maybe I might have made an error in my rush to judgement. So here's a question. Since the BSN is "supposedly" much more prepared than anyone else. Why not have a more difficult board exam to pass? A seperate exam, that really tests the merits of your arguement, that you're better prepared, and are functioning with a higher level of knowledge than those without a BSN. Because your point loses validity, when the different levels of RNs are able to pass the same exam.

Boy am I going to get it now! It's just a thought. :-) Wait..don't go yet! Now what if, this fictional exam were to be established. What would you then do with the current lesser degreed nurses? Would you allow for their experience level to be able to take this more difficult exam, and granfather them in? Or should they, with all their skills, and experience, be forced to go back, and take the same courses you did? I mean really, what path do you feel would be prudent to allow the profession to evolve into this minimum BSN entry level?

I could expand on this further, but I'll let you bite on this first.

"They can eat me, but they can't kill me"

Gloria

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Wow, this post was rough. I know that I have said some things on this B/B that I would like to take back. I worked as a cna for several years. I heard this debate and I witnessed a lot of power tripping by several nurses. I also had the privelege of working beside some of the best. I am a first generation college grad. My father was a factory supervisor and my mother was a house wife. I was planning on working as a nurse aid. I also wanted to get married and have a family. I had no intentions of ever going to college it did not appeal to me at all. It was my experience working as a nurse aid that changed my mind. In nursing there is a clear rank and file. Tittles are very important and the one thing that allows someone to move up in the chain is going to school and obtaining an education. Is a cna a nurse no. Why? Because they have not gone to school. Is a nurse aid with a BS a nurse? No but they are now educated and can leave the field.

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Nursing assistant

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Wow, this post was rough. I know that I have said some things on this B/B that I would like to take back. I worked as a cna for several years. I heard this debate and I witnessed a lot of power tripping by several nurses. I also had the privelege of working beside some of the best. I am a first generation college grad. My father was a factory supervisor and my mother was a house wife. I was planning on working as a nurse aid. I also wanted to get married and have a family. I had no intentions of ever going to college it did not appeal to me at all. It was my experience working as a nurse aid that changed my mind. In nursing there is a clear rank and file. Tittles are very important and the one thing that allows someone to move up in the chain is going to school and obtaining an education. Is a cna a nurse no. Why? Because they have not gone to school. Is a nurse aid with a BS a nurse? No but they are now educated and can leave the field.

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Nursing assistant

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BSN as entry into practice is a good idea with two drawbacks:

1. Those now in school or licensed must be "grandfathered" or we will have less RNs when we need more.

2. The University nursing programs to provide the education for the numbers of nurses we need don't yet exist.

PS This is my opionion only.

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BSN as entry into practice is a good idea with two drawbacks:

1. Those now in school or licensed must be "grandfathered" or we will have less RNs when we need more.

2. The University nursing programs to provide the education for the numbers of nurses we need don't yet exist.

PS This is my opionion only.

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Obviously nursing has a long way to go if we ever plan on getting anywhere as a profession. Never in my short career have I ever looked down upon another nurse because of her education level. I am an ADN nurse who is now working on a master's. Until we can join together as a group and work for a common good we will never achieve any goals. Come on people. We are in a desperate time right now with the nursing shortage and why in the world would any one want to join this profession after reading this post.

[This message has been edited by lablover (edited March 07, 2001).]

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Obviously nursing has a long way to go if we ever plan on getting anywhere as a profession. Never in my short career have I ever looked down upon another nurse because of her education level. I am an ADN nurse who is now working on a master's. Until we can join together as a group and work for a common good we will never achieve any goals. Come on people. We are in a desperate time right now with the nursing shortage and why in the world would any one want to join this profession after reading this post.

[This message has been edited by lablover (edited March 07, 2001).]

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