Can a RN legally supervise BSN's and MSN's?

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I have a concern. I've heard of nurses at the BSN and MSN level expressing concerns about having to be supervised by a nurse who only is a registered nurse. The RN (registered nurse) has some years of experience but ever since she got the position of supervisor there has been concerns of her ability to govern the nursing department without having a bachelor's or master's degree in nursing. Basically, this is like saying someone with an AA degree is qualified to be a university professor whose requirement is to hold at least a master's degree. Obviously, a person that holds an AA degree cannot be a professor at any college nor university. Should this not also be the requirement, especially in an outpatient surgery center where one's health and well-being are at stake be similar? How can an RN be above an MSN in rank? Is this ethical and legal? The work environment is allegedly in constant tension with a high turnover rate. Please advise. Where should I turn to, to  find if this is a legal violation.

I agree with you COMPLETELY. I was recently replaced by a BSN, RN. Who had four years more experience than I as a graduate. The nurse was "thrown" in the field during 9/11 the ones that technically didn't finish training, but they needed nurses. Normally, that would be a badge of honor for an experienced nurse. She jumped to unit to unit to unit in management positions, started in ICU but no real skills that maintained management positions or people skills. I on the other hand, am an associate nurse with a bachelors in psych and a masters in public health, promotion and education. Have worked in every area of nursing there is, but I don't count for the experience that I have.  I no longer am qualified to precept in an office, yet this other BSN person is, based on the new Director, who is a DNP who had no people skills.

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Well, someone with a BSN or MSN would be able to find that information without coming to this page. 

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Maybe I'm not understanding - are you saying an RN is supervising and advanced practice provider? Maybe for employment issues? Surely not for clinical issues, correct?

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traumaRUs said:

Maybe I'm not understanding - are you saying an RN is supervising and advanced practice provider? Maybe for employment issues? Surely not for clinical issues, correct?

I am pretty sure it's an RN supervising another RN but the subordinate has a less-terminal degree than the supervising RN. I don't think it's about licensing. It's a one-sided pissing contest between two people of the same license but different degrees earned. 

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traumaRUs said:

Maybe I'm not understanding - are you saying an RN is supervising and advanced practice provider? Maybe for employment issues? Surely not for clinical issues, correct?

 

Sometimes for clinical issues just because you have an higher degree does not always make you the better educated person.

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The bottom line is that we're all nurses.  Our common goal is to advocate for our patients, and to give them the very best care we can, no matter what arena we work in, or how many letters we have behind our names.  

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Exactly that's what I've been saying from the beginning.

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.
Zaphina said:

 

Sometimes for clinical issues just because you have an higher degree does not always make you the better educated person.

Uh, I politely disagree. As a very experienced APRN, I will not be clinically supervised by an RN. Nor would I put myself in that position. As I stated above, an RN could supervise an APRN for employment issues (ie schedules, HR matters). However, clinically, I have full practice authority in my state. Of course, I do have a supervisor. 

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traumaRUs said:

Uh, I politely disagree. As a very experienced APRN, I will not be clinically supervised by an RN. Nor would I put myself in that position. As I stated above, an RN could supervise an APRN for employment issues (ie schedules, HR matters). However, clinically, I have full practice authority in my state. Of course, I do have a supervisor. 

I think they meant more like a DNP, RN is not more educated on clinical decisions than a MSN, APRN simply because the doctorate degree is technically higher than the MSN. I think you two are making the exact same argument. Zephina is clearing referencing the fact that degree does not determine license while you seem to have interpreted degree for license (APRN/RN versus DNP/MSN/etc). There was no indicator by Zephina that an RN should have oversight regarding clinical decision making of an APRN. 

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traumaRUs said:

Maybe I'm not understanding - are you saying an RN is supervising and advanced practice provider? Maybe for employment issues? Surely not for clinical issues, correct?

In reference to multiple previous posts that answer this question, this is not what is being said.

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