BSN requirement for all RNs

george57 · Sep 22, 2004

Guess I have to had my thoughts on this subject. I usually am on other areas of the dicussion boards.
I am an AS RN, started out as an LPN years (and I do mean YEARS) ago. The very best nurses that I have had the pleasure to work with are the diplomia nurses. The knowlage base with them was exceptional. The poorest bedside nurses were the BSN. Seems like most of the time they were in school it was spent on classes like statistics, leadership, management, nursing research, life cycle, et. This is not ment to take anything away from the BSN, all I am saying is that the True bedside nurse was the diplomia nurse.
I intend to go back and add BSN after my name as some point in time.
The nursing shortage is extreme this time around it would be insane to ask all nurses to have a BSN. I understand the concept but do not agree with it.

"We're all needed".

I am a diploma nurse with a BSA(obtained some years later). I have practiced for many years. There is room for everyone and we need AD, Diploma, BSN, etc. for now and in the future. What you do after you graduate will make you the nurse you want to be. You have to willing to learn from those who have the hands on experience. Many hospitals have a mentoring program so look for one that will give you guidance and direction. Share your knowledge with others. I may not have a BSN but I can find someone to help me when I need the details or can direct me to a resource. It's a continuous learning process. When you stop wanting to learn, it's time to move on.

SmilingBluEyes · Sep 22, 2004

Should a bachelors degree be required for all RNs?

nope.

payday · Sep 22, 2004

I swore I would never go any further than my a.s. degree but am finding out that there are more opportunities with the bsn especially in the hospital setting. I've worked with wonderful lpns, diploma rns. bsn's and not so great ones of every educational setting as well.

PennyLane, RN · Sep 22, 2004

In an ideal world, yes. In order for the "profession" to be on par with other professions which require at least Bachelor's degrees.

And yes, this topic has been debated many times here. However, I see nothing wrong with a new debate with new members. If you don't want to read the thread, just skip it. No biggie in my eyes. I skip many threads I don't feel like getting into.

CHANTELRN28 · Sep 23, 2004

Should a bachelors degree be required for all RNs?

I am working on my BSN and before I started I thought it was full of unneccessary classes. Now that I am almost finished I find that I have learned a lot. My program is geared toward the working RN and involves a lot of application to current practice. After that you have to prove what you have learned by presentations, papers, debates, etc. It really is a great program and broadens your ability to provide great nursing care.

I am not really sure if it should be required but it does make for a better nurse all the way around!

MZachry · Oct 8, 2004

I am going to school for an ADN. So, I am not answering this way because of my own situation.

I don't feel that RN's should have a BSN. Many extra classes are not in the nursing field anyway. So, someone has a BSN, and one has an ADN. Is the fact that one had to take history or government classes going to make a difference in care? NO! For that matter, I've taken many of the non-nursing courses in preparation to go for my BSN. I have received a scholarship for an ADN, but plan on going after employment for my BSN. This is only for my own state of mind, just to know I did it....and hopefully a pay increase!! :rotfl:

I would have been Nursing 10 years ago if I had known an ADN was available.

pokey sn · Oct 11, 2004

There's the dead horse, where's my stick?

:chuckle: :rotfl:

pokey sn · Oct 11, 2004

There's the dead horse, where's my stick?

:chuckle: :rotfl:

Tweety, BSN, RN · Oct 11, 2004

In an ideal world, yes. In order for the "profession" to be on par with other professions which require at least Bachelor's degrees.
And yes, this topic has been debated many times here. However, I see nothing wrong with a new debate with new members. If you don't want to read the thread, just skip it. No biggie in my eyes. I skip many threads I don't feel like getting into.

Well said and I agree with both statements. (with emphasis on "ideal") :)

Tweety, BSN, RN · Oct 11, 2004

In an ideal world, yes. In order for the "profession" to be on par with other professions which require at least Bachelor's degrees.
And yes, this topic has been debated many times here. However, I see nothing wrong with a new debate with new members. If you don't want to read the thread, just skip it. No biggie in my eyes. I skip many threads I don't feel like getting into.

Well said and I agree with both statements. (with emphasis on "ideal") :)

flaerman · Oct 19, 2004

I am a diploma nurse with 19 yrs of hospital based nursing experience. At one time I worked in large teaching hospital in Phila that had a BSN student mentor program and was the only non-BSN nurse in that program, I worked with 4 kids in 4 yrs who had taken only 2 pt's in clinical and were graduating when I was done them in 8 wks, well I made nurses out of each one. Do I need a BSN, NO why would I?????? I rec'd more clinical experience in school than any ADN or BSN nurse ever did. Not having a BSN doesn't effect my ability to care for pt's and I will match skills against any BSN nurse any day. I am not in management and have no desire to be, one day I may get my BSN through a challenge type program and if I want a degree than I would get my MSN and specialize, maybe even teach........ flaerman

Fiona59 · Oct 19, 2004

Canada has eliminated two year RN's as an earlier poster said. No hospital trained nurses, no community college nurses.

The BScN includes one years worth of Arts credits.

This requirement has spawned a new nursing degree that admits people with other BA's to nursing and gives them a BScN in an accelerated programme.

I can honestly say they were some of the worst student nurses I've ever had to work with. They felt that bedside patient care was beneath them. I also had one explain to me that there was nothing they could learn from an LPN. This was after how I explained that you need to raise the bed to working height and lower the siderails to give a bedbath. This student honestly thought that she'd be getting LPNs to do all her bedbaths and patient care after she had graduated "because you don't have a degree and I'll be the Charge Nurse). Her original degree was in Medieval French Literature.

The male students were business degree types who wanted to go into hospital/healthcare management.

Not getting too many hands on nurses there are we!