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?
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.
I wouldn't say the reason is "mostly" because of a lack of BSN program seats -- the pro-BSN-minimum folks haven't even managed to convince the entire nursing community that a BSN as entry to practice is necessary/desirable; they're nowhere near convincing the general public. And nursing licensure and regulation ultimately depend on the state legislatures (as representatives of the public), which tend to be very pro-community college (understandably). For better or worse, all those ADN programs aren't going anywhere anytime soon ...
You have to understand that New Jersey is in some serious budget problems and the amount of money that Rutgers is getting from the state was recently cut (which is why they boo'd the governor at commencement) so that may be a direct reason as to why they are getting rid of their RN-BSN program. However though, I think it also has to do with a lot of schools beginning to make the transition of having those kind of programs made available online because it's much more convienent for working nurses than to sit in a classroom. It might also be because the programs enrollment was low. They're not going to keep a program open when there might only be 10-20 students.
Of course you're always going to run into your issues. Major hospitals in NYC are PREFERRING a BSN, yet the community college ADN programs have the best nursing programs in the city. So they are expecting a lot of people to do the RN-BSN route, so neither programs is going anywhere.
elkpark
14,633 Posts
I wouldn't say the reason is "mostly" because of a lack of BSN program seats -- the pro-BSN-minimum folks haven't even managed to convince the entire nursing community that a BSN as entry to practice is necessary/desirable; they're nowhere near convincing the general public. And nursing licensure and regulation ultimately depend on the state legislatures (as representatives of the public), which tend to be very pro-community college (understandably). For better or worse, all those ADN programs aren't going anywhere anytime soon ...