Future of Associate programs and RN to BSN programs

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Does anyone have a clue what the future holds for these programs? From a post on here I found out that Rutgers is no longer gonig to have an RN to BSN program. I have heard rumors that they are looking to get rid of all 2 yr RN programs and require a BSN altogether.

This leaves me in a state of uncertainty and wondering what I should do, and I am sure there are others in the same boat. I start a 2 yr progam at my local community college in the fall. My plan was to complete the RN program there and then go to a RN to BSN program at one of the 4 yr schools here locally. So, my understanding is that if I were to complete the 2yr program at GCC and then transfer to Rutgers I would still have to complete 4 yrs. That would be 6 yrs as a fulltime student to obtain a 4 yr degree. Has anyone heard as to whether this is to be the expected norm? Are all schools planning on doing this? Is this a NJ thing or is this just one school getting rid of their upper divsion program?

thanks...

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Specializes in Infusion.

I have been accepted to an ADN program at the local comm college and will be done in 2 years. I plan to do an online RN - BSN when I am done. If you can't find something locally, look for online programs and get their pre-reqs done. Have you already finished all of your nursing pre-reqs?

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I have been accepted to an ADN program at the local comm college and will be done in 2 years. I plan to do an online RN - BSN when I am done. If you can't find something locally, look for online programs and get their pre-reqs done. Have you already finished all of your nursing pre-reqs?

Sounds exactly like my plan. I will be finished with my ADN May 2012 and the university where I earned my Bachelor's degree offers an online RN-BSN program that requires only 2 on campus meetings.

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I will only have micro, psych of human dev, and an elective left to do after this summer. How about you?

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I will only have micro, psych of human dev, and an elective left to do after this summer. How about you?

I will start my nursing classes in August and that's ALL I HAVE TO HAVE!!!!!!

I have finished ALL my prereqs! Yeeehaw! LOL

I started out in nursing so I had some university level courses (that my CC is accepting) then switched my major. Luckily some of my classes from my degree transferred too. So, I took a computer course in the Fall and A & P 2 in Spring and that finished them up.

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Individual schools frequently change the programs that they offer. In these times of budget cutbacks, many programs with multiple pathways to a BSN (entry from high school, 2+2, RN-BSN) are considering whether they can offer everything they used to.

I've seen other schools close down multiple MSN programs (ones with low enrollment). It may be that Rutgers decided that they wanted to focus more resources on some programs since many other state schools offer the RN-BSN

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Specializes in Infusion.

I finished all my pre-reqs to get into the ADN program last term (quarter system). In order to matriculate or whatever they call it, I will need an RN and will need to be gainfully employed in a RN job so that I can do my skills clinicals and testing at a hospital. I will also need to take epidemiology, sociology, cultural anthropology to go from RN to BSN. Very doable considering what I've been through already. The total program cost will be a little over $10 thou.

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I will graduate from my ADN program in May of 2011. Then I want to get into Rutgers New Brunswick to do my RN-BSN.

Is it true that Rutgers is shutting down this program?

I haven't heard anything about the school getting rid of RN-BSN program.

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I will graduate from my ADN program in May of 2011. Then I want to get into Rutgers New Brunswick to do my RN-BSN.

Is it true that Rutgers is shutting down this program?

I haven't heard anything about the school getting rid of RN-BSN program.

You may make the cut, but I am not sure. There was another post on here in the region section about Rutgers. Someone else pointed it out to me and said it was on their website. Sure enough, if you go to the Rutgers website and do a search for "phase out rn to bsn" or "phase out of upper division" it pops up that they are getting rid of it. I really wanted to go there too!

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Specializes in Urgent Care NP, Emergency Nursing, Camp Nursing.
Does anyone have a clue what the future holds for these programs? From a post on here I found out that Rutgers is no longer gonig to have an RN to BSN program. I have heard rumors that they are looking to get rid of all 2 yr RN programs and require a BSN altogether.

Individual schools frequently change the programs that they offer. In these times of budget cutbacks, many programs with multiple pathways to a BSN (entry from high school, 2+2, RN-BSN) are considering whether they can offer everything they used to.

I've seen other schools close down multiple MSN programs (ones with low enrollment). It may be that Rutgers decided that they wanted to focus more resources on some programs since many other state schools offer the RN-BSN

UVA Grad Nursing largely hits the nail on the head - just 'cos Rutgers decided to do something, doesn't mean everyone's going that route. Further, there have been position papers flying around proposing that the BSN be the lowest entry-level degree since at least the 1970s (i.e. before I was born) yet there are still loads of ADN and a few Hospital Diploma programs left - mostly because the supply of nursing program seats in BSN programs is greatly outstripped by demand. Nurses have to be trained somewhere, and the only places available that can meet demand in the US are the community colleges, which cannot grant anything higher than an associate's degree. Other than forcibly dropping all the RN programs at community colleges down to the LPN level (which definitely would not go over well), there's really no good way to get to BSN-entry as a standard for the RN.

Also, the 'lag' in moving to BSN-entry is the same reason I don't put much stock in the pronouncement that the DNP will be required for entry for all advanced practice nurses starting in 2015 - I personally don't see the infrastructure being in place by then.

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Specializes in Pediatrics.

The 'push' to phase out AD programs has existed for over 40 years now. Many feel the entry level for RN education should be at the BS level. The powers that be still promise that this will happen. This would put a lot of schools out of business, the competition for schools would be even greater, and the faculty shortage would be more prominet (as they expect BSN educators to be Docorate prepared).

I had this discussion with my colleagues recently, after hearing this topic discussed at a conference. It seems that even if the NLN, NCSBN or individual states do not require a BS as the minimum degree, many hospitals will require (many hospitals are already). This essentially does change the requirements (in the mind of potential students: if they can't get a job as an AD prepared nurse, why bother getting the AD?)

So, if this ever does happen (whether it be in your neck of the woods or nationally), there will be a demand for RN to BS programs. NY has toyed around with the BSN in 10 idea: NJ is just around the corner (both geographically and figuratively). If NY mandated this, NJ would have to answer the educational demands (as many NJ nurses are NY registered). I wouldn't worry too much (yet). If you are thinking as AD as your entry level, this will not be straightened out in 2 years from now, and you would likely be grandfathered in:smokin:

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thanks all! :):):)

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