BSN

[RNMAN718]

It seems ridiculous to me that "magnet status" requires BSN and having it gives better reimbursement for hospitals. Does it not seem as if it is only a ploy for educational institutions to get more money

[applesxoranges, BSN, RN]

Well, let me think of how to word this.

Nursing is simply different. The other healthcare fields have moved into a position of requiring more education for entry positions such as pharmacists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, etc. Nursing has a dozen and 1 ways to enter the profession.

Under the guise of a shortage, we have increased the number of schools and the number of graduates which allows hospitals to not raise wages and have the pick of who they want to work for them. Some nurses still talk about hiring bonuses and being able to have multiple job offers before they left school. Is that true? I don't know.

Now, one thing that does make me nervous is when people will cite studies about hospitals based in other countries. I know a year or two ago there was a huge debate about bachelor-prepared nurses and they cited a study without fully researching and understanding how the nurses were prepared in that region. I argue for a more strict nursing curriculum that cuts out unnecessary classes and focuses primarily on nursing for a full 3 years of nursing education (for most BSNs, there is at least one year of general education classes that are not science related). That area actually had a similar model of what I proposed. So that was slightly amusing.

In all honesty, I think BSN nurses should have more nursing and science education and less general education classes.