First, I do not want to challenge nurses with several years of clinical experience that are ADN or diploma trained nurses or those nurses that graduated recently with a ADN, and I do not want to challenge anyone by saying that there is a difference between the ADN versus the BSN prepared nurse.
There is a push for all nurses to be BSN prepared or for ADNs to achieve their BSN; however, there is no increase in wages for the majority of those with their BSN or those going from an ADN to a BSN. I find that as a workforce, we do not understand our worth. Why do we need the BSN as it costs more and it has no pay benefits. Students that have an ADN from a community college have less student loans, and they make the same a student that has a BSN; however, the BSN student has increased student debt with no increased monetary income to show for their degree.
I challenge the nursing workforce to acknowledge our value as a profession, and demand an increase in pay if we are to have a BSN. The current yearly income of a nurse is based on the costs of an ADN level of education; however, it does not match the cost of a BSN cost of education. If I am required or it is preferred that I have my BSN, I need to be paid accordingly. I do not practice nursing strictly for the income, but I do appreciate putting a dollar value on the work I do.
While I agree a BSN should get paid more, there isn't necessarily more experience implied with a BSN. I know there have been many studies that indicate that a BSN is better at critical thinking, etc. I have worked with all levels even MSN at the bedside. I have known good and not so good nurses at all levels. I am an ADN (16 years), my nephew is a BSN (2 year since grad), my aunt (his great aunt) is a diploma nurse (too many years to count) and she can literally wipe the floor with the both of us.
Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.
This is what I have never understood. We as a collective group of professionals no matter what title you possess behind your name, can never agree on what is an acceptable "entry-level" of practice. The major Nursing organizations , the REAL POWER PLAYERS, either refuse to, or just don't know how set the "standard;" if they did, we wouldn't be beating this dead horse who refuses to die. And further more, how can "they" be the "leaders" of our profession if they can't agree amongst themselves and have the nerve to attempt to "lead" and set "standard" for us? It's a fair question.
If entry into practice is going to be the BSN, JUST DO IT ALREADY! Force the local community and technical colleges to offer ONLY BSN programs along with the 4 year universities because it is THE SET STANDARD AND ANYTHING LESS WON'T RECOGNIZED (in terms of RN education); and then there will be nothing to "debate" about.
I think the nursing leaders would have declared BSN entry the law of the land if they could have. The problem is that each state has separate scope of practice laws, and education requirements to ensure safe and competent care is delivered to the public.
The impetus for BSN entry came from only one of many stakeholders. not through public or employer demand. To me it makes the patient outcome debate even more destructive. If every single nurse agreed on BSN entry it would not guarantee it would happen. You might think if hospitals really believed their mortality and failure-to-rescue rates were as alarmingly different as some suggest based on ADN vs BSN they'd refrain from obstructing it's path in the state legislatures, but they did just that.
You might think if hospitals really believed their mortality and failure-to-rescue rates were as alarmingly different as some suggest based on ADN vs BSN they'd refrain from obstructing it's path in the state legislatures, but they did just that.
I think the hospitals are more worried about keeping a steady stream of cheap labor than anything else.
Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.
Long as the message about a "nursing shortage" is still being shouted from the housetops, ADN programs are not going anywhere. End of story.
Those who run and or have vested interests in associate degree programs will point to they are the quickest way to produce "much needed" nurses. They will also point to the cost difference between themselves and a four year program.
On the political front there is not a state governor or legislature yet ready to take on the unions and or other powerful lobbies that run ADN programs. From community to private colleges you are going to have to work very hard to convince state lawmakers to essentially shut down vast numbers of schools and potentially creating hundreds of unemployed.
Now if a state moved to some sort of mandatory BSN for entry it would give some cover, but the same problems listed above would remain.
There is also at a time when states have been cutting back financial aid who is going to foot the bill for all those undergraduate students to attend four year (or longer) programs?
*** Doing away with ADN programs simply isn't going to happen. For the reason you list and others. There is no hope of ever doing away with them. Nor would that be desirable. The obvious solution is to keep them as they are, or maybe add another 12-24 of general education and simply declare them to be BSN programs. The other solution, one that is already being widely implemented around the country, is for community colleges to partner with 4 year colleges and universities. Something like that would HAVE to happen.
The biggest problem with that solution is that it doesn't accomplish the goal of adequately punishing, and putting them into their place, those who are already ADN RNs.
Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.
While I agree a BSN should get paid more, there isn't necessarily more experience implied with a BSN. I know there have been many studies that indicate that a BSN is better at critical thinking, etc.
*** Of course people like to say the BSN results in better / more critical thinking. Critical thinking is pretty difficult (maybe impossible) to measure. That makes it easy to claim one group has more than another.
The biggest problem with that solution is that it doesn't accomplish the goal of adequately punishing, and putting them into their place, those who are already ADN RNs.
And this is why the conversation never goes anywhere. Instead of seeing it as future oriented, let's increase the level of entry in the future, and in doing that, we could grandfather in those already an RN, it's seen as a personal affront to those who currently are RNs that don't have a BSN.
Future RNs will be better with more education does NOT equal current RNs are incompetent and certainly doesn't mean a particular RN is incompetent.
The argument that liberal arts education improves critical thinking (itself) is empty at worst and simply academic at best, without any true bearing on nursing.
Outcomes studies are the only thing that matters on a global scale. If critical thinking is important it will be demonstrated in outcomes not just abstract studies.
Again apologies for my err in assumption, I don't tend to assume any nurses are ignorant to the issue being discussed.
/QUOTE]
You still haven't provided a link to the study you consider to be most relevant that provides evidence that an acute care staff with a greater proportion of BSN trained nurses results in better patient outcomes. Provide the link and then we can all evaluate the evidence here.
You still haven't provided a link to the study you consider to be most relevant that provides evidence that an acute care staff with a greater proportion of BSN trained nurses results in better patient outcomes. Provide the link and then we can evaluate the evidence here.
*** Doing away with ADN programs simply isn't going to happen. For the reason you list and others. There is no hope of ever doing away with them. Nor would that be desirable. The obvious solution is to keep them as they are, or maybe add another 12-24 of general education and simply declare them to be BSN programs. The other solution, one that is already being widely implemented around the country, is for community colleges to partner with 4 year colleges and universities. Something like that would HAVE to happen.
The biggest problem with that solution is that it doesn't accomplish the goal of adequately punishing, and putting them into their place, those who are already ADN RNs.
There are community colleges implementing their own BSN programs (with funding windfalls and State grants, of course). Please note this is NOT an agreement with a four year institution. Happening right here in my state. Our local CC is trying to implement their own BSN program by the end of 2014. They have warned potential students that all of them will be required to take pre-reqs in accordance with their BSN curriculum.
That means the nursing student will attain their BSN from the community college alone.
DoGoodThenGo
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For what it is worth: Registered Nurse Starting Salary, BSN Salary & Average 2013 Salaries for Nurses | Drexel.com