Is the RN--->BSN push a clever way to get older nurses out of the way

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As in certain "Baby Boomers" who wont retire? Wont we NEED a faster RN producing mechanism (hello again, ADN programs!) in order to provide enough nurses to care for this huge group of people due to retire soon?? Just wondering...

ok going back to the discussion about ap physics, chemistry, anthropology, etc. I failed to realize that these were taken in HIGH SCHOOL. As part of a regular curriculum, not specific to nursing.

Do you want to know why I didn't make that connection? Because I took those classes over 30 years ago!!

So, most people who are ADN,Diploma, etc. are being told they need BSN for "better pt outcomes".

Hmm, what age group does that put most of us in who are ADNS, etc. Yep, the older adult group.

Of course the BSN thing is a great push for getting older adults out. I imagine the hospitals are banking on it. I'm sure ( anecdotally so, no study that I'm aware of done) that a certain percentage of older/second career ADNs will be out of jobs because 1) no return on the investment , and 2) who wants to go back to school AGAIN after age 40 or so.

Ageism- bank on it.

No, I said the physics course was AP Physics in high school. All the rest of my courses listed were in college (university, BS c nursing major), and I did say that explicitly. Do try to keep up.

And I did it a looong time ago, so I fail to see how it's part of some global conspiracy to push older nurses out. I'm older'n dirt.

No ageism here. Just ... I dunno what. Same old, same old, I guess.

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Specializes in Critical Care.
Do you think it's more about ageism or more about bringing in lower tier pay nurses to replace the nurses maxed out at the top?

And the last data I saw showed a pretty similar median ages between BSNs and ADNs.

Usually I here this discussed as the median age at graduation, which is actually much different for ADNs than BSNs. I don't think there's a conspiracy, but there certainly would be an effect on nursing grad demographics that should be considered before we do away with the ADN.

This data is a little outdated, and my understanding is that the number of "second career" ADN grads has increased significantly with the recession, although you can see that even before the recession there was a pretty big difference.

(scroll down to figure 2 on page 180).

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Anecdotal, but the BSN's with 2 years experience make the same as someone with 10 years experience where I am, so I am not so much on board with it being about pay.

Funny, none of the new nurses are particularly unattractive or gray haired. Even the guys. I still think it's for public perception.( not the ONLY reason, but a reason)

And they need to be bubbly. BUB-BULL-LEEEE! Almost like the facility wants a cheerleading team as opposed to a nursing team.....

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Specializes in Behavioral health.

If the goal is for higher educated nurses, why must the BSN be only acceptable degree for Associate degree nurses (besides that fact that hospitals say so)? After browsing hundreds for RN-BSN programs, I've found Health Assessment, Nursing Theory, Community Health and Nursing Research are the only four courses are that were standard requirements across institutions. Everything else varied therefore BSN holders will have different areas of knowledge.

I say to Magnet hospitals and ANCC if earning a ADN, passing NCLEX and receiving a RN license doesn't make one a nurse then what does? If you really want higher educated nurses vs. higher degreed nurses then you need to rethink this asinine fixation on a degree title and concentrate on the education and knowledge behind it. A nurse can develop these from continuing education, certificates or a majoring in other related areas such as social science, biological science, or humanities.

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Specializes in Adult Internal Medicine.
If the goal is for higher educated nurses, why must the BSN be only acceptable degree for Associate degree nurses (besides that fact that hospitals say so)? .

Personally, I feel that bachelor-prepared is the "goal" to shoot for for entry with a pathway from prior bachelors to RN, prior diploma/ADN to RN, accelerated RN, and traditional 4-year RN.

For me it is absolutely about the education not the title, but I feel the title should reflect the education, don't you? If a nurse has completed the education of a BSN than they should, in my opinion, have the title of BSN.

That being said, I can't say there is data to support it because the studies only distinguished between BSN and non-BSN. We need more research on that.

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Specializes in Behavioral health.

BostonFNP. It's somewhat difficult to put my thoughts and feeling into words. I don't have a problem with requiring nurses to have a 4 year education. I have a problem with requiring an Associate degree nurses who are licensed as nurses and qualified to practice to specifically earn a BSN and a BSN only or else they are unemployable.

Having several nursing certifications that require self study and a final assessment such as a closed book exam or portfolio at the end doesn't matter. Earning a degree in a related field such as public health or psychology doesn't matter even if you took upper level courses in nursing science.

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Specializes in Critical Care.
...

For me it is absolutely about the education not the title, but I feel the title should reflect the education, don't you? If a nurse has completed the education of a BSN than they should, in my opinion, have the title of BSN. ...

So long as they have received the education that produces optimal nurses, regardless of title, I'm not sure why we should take away their choice of whether or not they want to pay more for a different title. I don't think it's as though they can't be trusted with that decision and so it has to be taken away from them.

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So long as they have received the education that produces optimal nurses, regardless of title, I'm not sure why we should take away their choice of whether or not they want to pay more for a different title. I don't think it's as though they can't be trusted with that decision and so it has to be taken away from them.

Exactly.

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Specializes in Adult Internal Medicine.
So long as they have received the education that produces optimal nurses, regardless of title, I'm not sure why we should take away their choice of whether or not they want to pay more for a different title. I don't think it's as though they can't be trusted with that decision and so it has to be taken away from them.

I am not sure I follow: who can't be trusted? Perspective students? On a profession level, no I don't think perspective students can be trusted to make the "right" decision, as not only do they not have the knowledge to make the decision, but many look for the cheapest, fastest, and easiest option.

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Specializes in Critical Care.
I am not sure I follow: who can't be trusted? Perspective students? On a profession level, no I don't think perspective students can be trusted to make the "right" decision, as not only do they not have the knowledge to make the decision, but many look for the cheapest, fastest, and easiest option.

If your argument is that given two equal products only a person with poor decision making abilities would chose the cheaper of the two then I'm not sure it's prospective students who can't be trusted to be wise consumers.

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Specializes in Adult Internal Medicine.
If your argument is that given two equal products only a person with poor decision making abilities would chose the cheaper of the two then I'm not sure it's prospective students who can't be trusted to be wise consumers.

We are not taking about two equal products. If we were there would be only one entry.

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Specializes in Critical Care.
We are not taking about two equal products. If we were there would be only one entry.

What are you thinking would be different, other than the name?

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