In 2010, the 80% BSN by 2020 initiative rolled out in an effort to boost nursing’s competency level. Have we reach the 80% goal? Read on to find out if we’ve made progress over the past 10 years.
A decade ago, our healthcare system was growing more complex and patients were sicker than ever. In response, The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Institute of Medicine (IOM) rolled out a 2-year initiative to determine if the nursing workforce was prepared to face these challenges. Data was gathered, analyzed and in 2010, the IOM released a report of evidence based recommendations to improve the skill and competency of working nurses.
80% BSN by 2020
The report was clear… nurses needed a higher level of education. Therefore, the IOM pushed for more BSN nurses by setting the goal of 80% of RNs earning a BSN by 2020. When the report was released in 2010, only 49% of nurses were educated on a baccalaureate level.
Distinct Differences
BSN and ADN nurses fill many of the same positions, with both performing similar tasks. But, there is a growing number of research studies that show BSN graduates bring greater skill to their work than ADN or diploma graduates. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) provides an overview of numerous studies in the fact sheet, The Impact of Education on Nursing Practice.
According to research, BSN graduates are better prepared to:
Use evidence-based practice
Analyze data
Implement and manage projects
Communicate with other disciplines
Promote patient safety
Work in leadership positions
Nurses with a bachelor degree have also been linked to:
Lower odds of patient deaths
Better patient outcomes
Leading to lower costs
Fewer adverse events
Fewer medication errors
Stronger use of research
Stronger leadership skills
Progress Towards Goal
The nursing profession won’t meet the goal of an 80% BSN workforce by 2020, but progress is being made. The Future of Nursing’s Campaign for Action works to implement the IOM’s 2010 recommendations. Here is a quick look at their progress:
Starting in 2012, the number of nurses graduating with a BSN, including RN-to-BSN, is higher than those graduating with an associate degree.
From 2010 to 2012, the number of RN-to-BSN graduates increased by 180%.
In 2018, the percentage of working nurses with a bachelor's degree (or higher) was up from 49% in 2010 to 57% in 2018.
Since 2010, the number of nurses with a doctorate degree has doubled.
To reduce the hurdles faced by nurses in obtaining advanced degrees, 30 states are now enrolling nursing students into 1 of 5 promising program models:
RN-to-BSN degree from a community college to allow RNs to complete bachelor education at a community college
State or regionally shared outcomes-based curriculum
Accelerated RN-to-MSN programs
Shared statewide or regional curriculum between universities and community colleges.
Shared baccalaureate curriculum to shorten the time between obtaining an associate and a bachelor's degree.
Making it Easier to Return to School
ADN graduates share common concerns about returning to school. Online RN-to-BSN programs are designed to address these concerns by:
Building on previous education to shorten the time it takes to earn a BSN
Providing multiple start dates for RNs to enroll at a time convenient for them
Formatting coursework to be completed at a time and place that works best for the student
Making online programs more affordable than traditional campus-based programs
Nurses may also qualify for loan forgiveness and loan-for-service programs
BSN Minimal Degree for Entry Level Nurse
The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) stated in a draft position paper the organization “strongly believes that registered nurses should be minimally prepared with the bachelor of science in nursing or equivalent nursing degree”.
So where does this leave the associate level nurse? The National League for Nursing (NLN) argues entry points into the nursing profession shouldn’t be limited, as more nurses are needed to ease the nursing shortage. In addition, the NLN argues 2-year community college programs are “front and center in attracting students of color and those who may be marginalized by economic disadvantage”.
Does The ADN Still Matter?
We are all feeling the strain of the nursing shortage, especially as the pandemic marches on. What does this mean for ADN graduates? It’s impossible for baccalaureate programs to graduate enough nurses in a time-frame needed to fill the current (and future) shortage gap. Both inpatient and outpatient settings need all the nursing “hands on deck” they can get. So, the answer is a loud “YES”, associate trained nurses are still needed and new grads will have no problem finding a job.
What Do You Think?
Do you agree with requiring a percentage of working nurses to hold BSNs? Also, is it fair for employers to mandate the nurses they hire to obtain a bachelor degree within a specific time-frame?
Specializes in M/S, LTC, home care, corrections and psych.
I cannot believe that this conversation continues on to this day. My mother graduated with her ADN in 1971 and the question was "Do we get rid of the LPN's and force everyone to be an RN?" Almost 50 years later the question remains and the nursing shortage continues. The majority of the BEDSIDE nurses are the ADN's and LPN's with the BSN's in administrative positions. How is that supposed to improve patient outcomes? I knew more as an LPN about bedside patient care than several RN's because I had more clinical hours and pharmacology. BETTER education is the key to better patient outcomes not MORE education.
Specializes in Neurosciences, stepdown, acute rehab, LTC.
5 hours ago, By-a-thred, RN said:
I cannot believe that this conversation continues on to this day. My mother graduated with her ADN in 1971 and the question was "Do we get rid of the LPN's and force everyone to be an RN?" Almost 50 years later the question remains and the nursing shortage continues. The majority of the BEDSIDE nurses are the ADN's and LPN's with the BSN's in administrative positions. How is that supposed to improve patient outcomes? I knew more as an LPN about bedside patient care than several RN's because I had more clinical hours and pharmacology. BETTER education is the key to better patient outcomes not MORE education.
Yes not only that , but I feel like new grads are so lost and stressed coming on the floor ... I think more hands on would be better than more theory. I mean , I love didactic education and think that it probably does improve outcomes but nobody talks about how maybe more solid hands on bedside training could also improve outcomes. The whole obsession with keeping BSN nurses at the bedside is outdated to me and needs to be rethought. I think there are a few ways to rethink this (whether through more incentive to get educated along more incentive to stay at the bedside, better retention in general , more training for new grads,etc etc ) but this method of telling nurses over and over to get your BSN because it will improve outcomes is obviously not working. I also think they could look more into how experience improves care. It’s intuitive to me that a more experienced workforce would maintain good outcomes at least as well as or even more than a less experienced , more educated workforce. We’re just beating dead horses here . I’m definitely seeing some better methods of improving outcomes at my teaching hospital than I did at the more rough places I worked , but many/ Most people don’t work at a teaching hospital sooo...
Yes not only that , but I feel like new grads are so lost and stressed coming on the floor ... I think more hands on would be better than more theory. I mean , I love didactic education and think that it probably does improve outcomes but nobody talks about how maybe more solid hands on bedside training could also improve outcomes. The whole obsession with keeping BSN nurses at the bedside is outdated to me and needs to be rethought. I think there are a few ways to rethink this (whether through more incentive to get educated along more incentive to stay at the bedside, better retention in general , more training for new grads,etc etc ) but this method of telling nurses over and over to get your BSN because it will improve outcomes is obviously not working. I also think they could look more into how experience improves care. It’s intuitive to me that a more experienced workforce would maintain good outcomes at least as well as or even more than a less experienced , more educated workforce. We’re just beating dead horses here . I’m definitely seeing some better methods of improving outcomes at my teaching hospital than I did at the more rough places I worked , but many/ Most people don’t work at a teaching hospital sooo...
I don't advise young people to get a BSN because it will make them a better nurse. It's the best way to get more job opportunities. But I am in the BSN for entry crowd with the caveat that there are cost effective alternatives for students. And that doesn't mean online.
This may go back into effect after COVID-right now I think a nurse with recent experience and an RN behind their name is enough during a crisis.
I even got a letter from the department of health saying I can use my Inactive LPN license for emergency use-I have my RN so I didn’t need to do it-I’m also high risk so out of patient care I will stay for now- but most hospitals a couple years ago would hire 2 year RNs in my area with experience, or in some cases require a BSN within so many years but they had enough tuition reimbursement to cover the costs and I had all the general ED so only nursing courses left-but my child is getting big and I want to have the time with her before I’m paying for her collage. I got my RN 15 years after my LPN. Going back to school now—I am just not feeling it.
This may go back into effect after COVID-right now I think a nurse with recent experience and an RN behind their name is enough during a crisis.
I even got a letter from the department of health saying I can use my Inactive LPN license for emergency use-I have my RN so I didn’t need to do it-I’m also high risk so out of patient care I will stay for now- but most hospitals a couple years ago would hire 2 year RNs in my area with experience, or in some cases require a BSN within so many years but they had enough tuition reimbursement to cover the costs and I had all the general ED so only nursing courses left-but my child is getting big and I want to have the time with her before I’m paying for her collage. I got my RN 15 years after my LPN. Going back to school now—I am just not feeling it.
I got my BSN twenty years after getting my nursing license. Some parts of the curriculum were disappointing, but it did open some doors for me. Maybe down the road you'll change your mind. Vet the programs well if you do, there's a lot of RN to BSN crapola out there...
maybe slightly off topic but it seems like its getting harder to transition from LPN to RN... the colleges hardly take any LPN's and that leaves the sketchy online options generally... RN to BSN however... I could have gone virtually anywhere and lots of those options didn't even have a nursing program.
... not off-topic at all. It's IMPOSSIBLE to discuss this problem without including LPNs as part of the solution. This overt exclusion/segregation has historically been part of nursing's problem overall.
... not off-topic at all. It's IMPOSSIBLE to discuss this problem without including LPNs as part of the solution. This overt exclusion/segregation has historically been part of nursing's problem overall.
I'm genuinely confused as to how this relates to the central theme of the post. I thought it was about whether the push for RNs to have a BSN was being achieved.
How are LPNs a part of the solution? Or are you addressing a different problem?
I'm genuinely confused as to how this relates to the central theme of the post. I thought it was about whether the push for RNs to have a BSN was being achieved.
How are LPNs a part of the solution? Or are you addressing a different problem?
The fact that you appear to be "befuddled" proves my point.
Ouch. Well, I guess the fact that you don't want to help me understand proves you have an ax to grind. Also, insinuating that I "appear" to be "befuddled" is unnecessarily confrontational. You don't know me, and if you've been the victim of RN to LPN snobbery or condescension, I'm sorry, but don't put it on me.
Let me try to better explain what I was getting at.
My point was that the OP's post concerns an effort to have 80% of RNs have a BSN by 2020. You wrote that it's "impossible to discuss this problem without including LPNs as part of the solution."
What, as an LPN, are you proposing as a solution? (Honestly, I don't even think that it is a problem, or if so, it doesn't make the top ten facing nursing today.)
By-a-thred, RN, ADN
49 Posts
I cannot believe that this conversation continues on to this day. My mother graduated with her ADN in 1971 and the question was "Do we get rid of the LPN's and force everyone to be an RN?" Almost 50 years later the question remains and the nursing shortage continues. The majority of the BEDSIDE nurses are the ADN's and LPN's with the BSN's in administrative positions. How is that supposed to improve patient outcomes? I knew more as an LPN about bedside patient care than several RN's because I had more clinical hours and pharmacology. BETTER education is the key to better patient outcomes not MORE education.