Do Bachelor's Degrees Save Lives? - The Facts about Earning a BSN
In most lines of work, there’s one clear path to getting your foot in the door. But nursing is unique in that it offers multiple paths to entry-level positions. Whether you’ve earned a diploma, an associate degree or a bachelor’s degree, you know there is more than one way to become an RN.
Some assert that there are some pretty distinct differences in the capabilities, responsibilities and patient outcomes that come with each educational milestone. It's no secret that more voices in the field are citing those differences as a driving force behind the push to convince more RNs to pursue BSN degrees. But are the benefits as clear-cut as they've been made out to be?
Here's what we found from doing some research on what has been written.
The push for more BSNs
Initiatives like "80 by '20" and "BSN in 10" have become hot topics in the nursing world, but they're often misunderstood. Here's a quick breakdown of the differences:
80 by '20 is a call-to-action that requires 80 percent of nurses to hold bachelor's degrees by 2020. This initiative has been put in place by the Institute of Medicine in tandem with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
BSN in 10 is a proposed policy that would require new nurses to obtain their BSN within 10 years of entering the field if they wish to continue practicing. The initiative originated with the New York State Nurses Association and has received support from the House of Delegates of the American Nurses Association.
The motivation for initiatives like these is threefold. Proponents hope to see improvements in patient care; increased prospects and longevity in nursing careers; and efficiencies in the ability of healthcare facilities to manage increasing patient loads.
It hasn't taken long for other healthcare organizations to align with these commitments. Many hospitals may be drawn by the motivation to uphold high standards of patient care and professional development in order to achieve magnet status, while others can't seem to ignore the question, "Do bachelor's degrees really save more lives?"
The link between education & mortality rates
Healthcare organizations and hospital leadership continually recognize the contributions made by nurses of all educational levels. But many have acknowledged reports that suggest qualifications impact mortality rates.
What does the data say?
Studies suggest a correlation between patient mortality rates and the level of education achieved by their nurses. A 2014 study supported by the National Institutes of Health reported a 7 percent decline in patient mortality for each 10 percent increase in the number of nurses who hold bachelor's degrees. Put simply, nurses with more education appear to have better patient outcomes.
The study brought the conversation a step further by comparing patient outcomes with nursing workload. Hospitals in which 60 percent of nurses hold bachelor's degrees and care for six or fewer patients saw a 33 percent decrease in patient mortality when compared to hospitals in which only a third of nurses hold a bachelor's degree and care for up to eight patients.
This suggests a significant decrease in the number of patient deaths for nurses who have more education and also care for fewer patients. The data suggests that healthcare organizations recognize the need to not only increase RN qualifications, but also increase the number of nurses available to care for patients.
The added benefits of earning a BSN
Because many healthcare facilities are prioritizing a bachelor's level education for RN candidates, the number job prospects for nurses with bachelor's degrees has seen a huge surge in recent years.
In fact, Burning-Glass was used to identify more than a million RN job postings from the past year and found that candidates holding a bachelor's degree qualified for 78 percent of them, while diploma and associate degree holders qualified for just 53 percent.1
The prospects are also greatly increased for RNs hoping to progress into advanced nursing positions later in their careers. For example, we examined nearly 100,000 nurse manager job postings from the last 12 months. The data revealed that candidates with bachelor's degrees qualified for 70 percent of the jobs available, while associate degree holders qualified for just 25 percent of them.2
But the job vacancies don't tell the only story here. There is also increased earning potential for bachelor's degree holders. Nurse manager candidates with bachelor's degrees can expect a $7,000 increase in mean annual salary.3
Are BSNs worth more than the hype?
The initiatives in place to encourage more RNs to earn bachelor's degrees are hard to ignore, but there are two sides to every coin. Some professionals are pushing back despite support from leading healthcare organizations. It's a debate that continues to rage throughout the comment streams of nursing blogs across the Internet.
So what do you think? Are there tangible benefits to a nursing workforce with a higher percentage of bachelor's degrees? Is the jump from RN-BSN worth it? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Penn, which in my opinion sets the bar in the healthcare spectrum, has done a research study that directly correlates a decrease in mortality when the nurse is BSN prepared. Robert Wood Johnson has done a study on better patient outcomes with a BSN prepared nurse at the bedside.
I work for a very large healthcare system, our "mother" hospital only hires BSN prepared and that is one of the reasons they consistently rank at the top of best hospitals. They also encourage research from nurses at the bedside- because that is what will make huge impacts in the medical community. Nurses publishing this research will NOT be taken seriously in the medical community without a degree to back them. How can we "sit" at the big boy table and be taken seriously as clinicians if we as a profession don't continue to evolve through education and commit to the success educated nurses bring to our profession? We could make so many changes and impact patient outcomes so much more if we push for furthering our education. Where is the standard? Every other medical profession has a "line in the sand" so to say, about what at minimum is required to succeed- and those minimums are more than a bachelors degree. I think setting a BSN standard, is the very least we could commit to as a profession.
My hospital will also pay 100% for a nurse to obtain a BSN. It's foolish to not take advantage of that. However, it's no ones responsibility but ones own, to pay for education if you wish to better yourself and advance in your profession.
I think you're misinterpreting what the Penn (Aiken) studies say about the current state of RN education. The studies did not focus on current graduates, they included all nurses which included a large number of nurses who graduated when there was a significant difference between BSN and non-BSN curriculum. Partly as a result of these studies, there are few ADN programs left that don't utilize a partnering BSN programs curriculum. The studies didn't isolate what specifically about BSN grads that lowered their patient's mortality risks, but the only likely contributer would be the substance of their nursing education, which currently does not vary significantly between BSN and ADN grads. So was it not the curriculum?
I'm all for better education, but not a in-name-only change that not only does not improve the education of nurses, but makes it far worse. To take the current ADN programs and move that capacity to BSN granting schools would double the number of students squeezed into already overloaded clinical sites around BSN schools, which would significantly harm the quality of education. What makes much more sense is to take what's good about BSN programs, presumably the curriculum, and distribute it to optimize clinical opportunity, which is where we are already at.
Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.
The "some say" and the unspecified "hospital organizations" suggest to me that after 51 years of trying, the interconnected organizations selling the "hot topic" have not demonstrated a causal relationship between outcomes and the BSN vs any of the other shared factors that could account for the results.
I see that the article has included the staffing factor in the mix, which further clouds the issue. Back in 2003, Linda Aiken used the same data for her "staffing" study and her subsequent "patient outcomes" study but she didn't combine them when she offered her conclusions.
So this advertisement in article form is a pleasant recital of the talking points we've heard for years.
What is new is the extreme tightening of the job market for nurses. For that reason yes, your best course of action is to get your BSN.
Specializes in Mental Health, Gerontology, Palliative.
MunoRN said:
While I get Rasmussen's desire to sell their $47,000 RN to BSN program, it is a bit ironic that one of the supposed advantages of a BSN is a better understanding of statistics and research, and yet they mangle statistics to try and sell their program......
Bloody hell, my BSN cost me $3,000 for the whole degree
They Irony about the whole ASN BSN debate, I have seen more ASN pass the NCLEX on the first try then BSN. Guess all that paper writing didn't give the critical thinking skills after all.
That definitely depends on your area. My BSN program had a 97% pass rate the year I graduated. That same year, the two closest ADN programs were 86% and 91%.
To be perfectly fair, though, the next closest BSN program's pass rate was 82%. Not all schools are created equal, regardless of what kind of degree is obtained.
I agree. Grandfather everyone in by 2022. After that be like Canada/Europe mandate to be a RN have a four year degree or accelerated bachelors or higher degeee. In addition, make LPN/RPN programs a two year diploma program. That the program allows you to bridge enter into a BSN program as a third year student.
Have any nurse with an associates be allowed to keep their degree and only have the option to work in LTC/Rehab/Outpatient facilities/Doctor offices. BSNs can work anywhere and in hospitals after 2022.
Make community college free!
Your idea is a slap in the face for all the experienced ADN and diploma nurses working in hospitals now! The truth is we are the ones most likely to stay at the bedside whereas most of the BSN nurses get out of the hospital ASAP, some to management and others become NP's. So if admin mandates BSN only they are going to have even more turnover then they do now!
Penn, which in my opinion sets the bar in the healthcare spectrum, has done a research study that directly correlates a decrease in mortality when the nurse is BSN prepared. Robert Wood Johnson has done a study on better patient outcomes with a BSN prepared nurse at the bedside.
I work for a very large healthcare system, our "mother" hospital only hires BSN prepared and that is one of the reasons they consistently rank at the top of best hospitals. They also encourage research from nurses at the bedside- because that is what will make huge impacts in the medical community. Nurses publishing this research will NOT be taken seriously in the medical community without a degree to back them. How can we "sit" at the big boy table and be taken seriously as clinicians if we as a profession don't continue to evolve through education and commit to the success educated nurses bring to our profession? We could make so many changes and impact patient outcomes so much more if we push for furthering our education. Where is the standard? Every other medical profession has a "line in the sand" so to say, about what at minimum is required to succeed- and those minimums are more than a bachelors degree. I think setting a BSN standard, is the very least we could commit to as a profession.
My hospital will also pay 100% for a nurse to obtain a BSN. It's foolish to not take advantage of that. However, it's no ones responsibility but ones own, to pay for education if you wish to better yourself and advance in your profession.
Truthfully bedside nurses are not really professionals in the true sense of the word. We lack real autonomy and are treated more like work mules than professionals! Not every nurse is interested in climbing the ladder and doing research, to those that do, more power to them! I'm sorry I don't believe a BSN will give us more say at the table because to hospitals we are worker bees not professionals. If anything requiring more college enables hospitals to push workers around more because student loan debt is the most dangerous debt out there and there is virtually no way to get out of it except pay it off or die! Over 100,000+ seniors are seeing their social security garnished over unpaid student loans. In fact the it was just in the news the Texas rangers accosted a man over a very small amount of old unpaid student loans and arrested him and they are planning on doing this to many more people! Things are getting crazy out there! It is becoming common where I work to talk to nurses who have six figure debt for their education and they aren't even all BSN's! Many have another BA/BS from a private college and then get their ADN from another expensive private college!
As to your hospital paying 100% for BSN that is rare, most hospitals are cutting tuition reimbursement to save money and aren't offering bonuses to help pay off student loans now that there isn't a shortage anymore. The VA is the only hospital system I know of that really helps pay off student debt and pay for a BSN! Most private hospitals aren't that generous! Heck even our health insurance requires several thousand out of pocket if we are hospitalized!
The citizens of Europe must look at the USA and shake their head at how we have become a third world nation where neither health insurance or education is paid for by the govt! We are one of the only wealthy countries where people must indebt themselves just for the hope and chance of a good job with no guarantee and if we have the misfortune of becoming sick we may find ourselves bankrupt financially!
I don't think everyone can do acute care. It takes smarts, strength and endurance.
I think acute care nurses are underrated.
I agree 100% while hospitals are improving things like emergency response teams and new grad residencies, when it comes to safe and fair staffing ratios not so much! Ditto to a no lift environment with appropriate ceiling lifts etc to protect our backs and bodies! If hospitals wanted to support nurses and cut the turnover all they have to do is provide fair staffing ratios, CNA's and support staff, and adequate equipment including and especially lift equipment. That will go further than demanding a BSN; and if they want BSN's they should be willing to pay for it with generous tuition reimbursement! Tuition reimbursement has been cut in half where I work and a clause has been added denying it if you have a written warning in your file for one year and they write people up frequently over little things since this policy was added! Also they used to require a yearly seminar for the clinical ladder and pay up to $300 year for that, but they no longer made it mandatory. I'm sure it was to save money! You can actually still go to an employer paid seminar, but it isn't mandatory nor is it encouraged, rather you have to seek it out yourself!
Most frustrating thing about BSN is the lack of actual classes, at least around where I live. Everything is online which might be great for some people but there are other whole function better with an actual teacher not text on a screen.
Even more appalling is the amount of cheating and paid papers that goes on so people can get their BSN! I spoke with one of my professors at one point out of frustration. My hands on skilles were top notch, 90's on the 2 physical assessment tests we had to do. But academically I was struggling because nothing was clicking. Her advice? Cheat. Take your test with the book open. Take the test with other classmates with the book. People weren't scoring high because they were memorizing and understanding the information. They were just copying from the book. How is that better?
Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
Spuen said:
Her advice? Cheat. Take your test with the book open. Take the test with other classmates with the book.
This advice would not have worked out for the online BSN program I completed last year since all tests were proctored. I had to visit a community college testing center, submit photo ID, sign in and out, and take my tests while being monitored by a proctor and closed circuit camera.
Tenebrae, BSN, RN
2,021 Posts
One thing I learned particularly in my first degree in social policy was how to analyse reports and articles for bias.
An article written by a nursing school as to why students should spend a whole bunch more money, yea well.
Some of the best nurses I have worked with were hospital trained (ASN/diploma) trained.