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

Nursing Students ADN/BSN

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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...

Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.
Find it hard to believe that expensive ABsn programs are putting out the numbers that the inexpensive community colleges are. At least they have a BSN at the end and are more competitive in a stiff market.

If they really cared for the nursing profession as a whole, they would be lobbying hard to transition current ADN programs to BSN. We've had extensive discussion on this board about the actual differences in the programs. It appears that the differences from one program to another are much more than the differences between ADN and BSN programs as a whole. Instead, they are essentially preferring non-nurses over current ADN-RNs and all of those of more modest means who avail themselves of community college programs.

When the AACN was developing the DNP degree, they did extensive study of then-current MSN programs with an eye toward tweaking the curriculum just enough to elevate it to a doctoral program. Why are they not doing the same with current ADN programs?

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Institute of Medicine gets grants from the federal government. Look at where the taxpayers money is being funneled, and look at a "who's who" in the IOM, related academic institutions and professional nursing associations.

When you follow the money, it's hard to see how their diversity talk is anything but talk.

To be fair, there are some people promoting the idea of 2-year 4-year seamless partnerships, etc. but so few most people aren't aware of them.

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Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.
I would have to say that my opinion is that before the advent of the internet and online RN to BSN programs, I would have had more sympathy for those displaced by the BSN push. Now that you can just seemingly zip your way through a BSN program through the use of a computer, I see no excuse for people not playing education catch-up, if that is what they feel they must do to stay relevant in the employment game. It is also why I always advise prospective nursing students to get the BSN starting from Day One. Save time, money, and effort at the beginning of the career, then it is over and done with.

This view is guaranteed to greatly delay the day when a BSN becomes the standard for entry to practice. It's the view taken by many in nursing. I can't imagine why nursing, among all the professions, holds the view that those who entered practice under the old standard should be made to go back and acquire the new standard. Physical therapy didn't requires all the masters prepared PTs to get their doctorate to continue to practice. Pharmacy didn't require all current pharmacists to go back for the PharmD. Even the one APN field that will require a doctorate, CRNAs (by 2025), are not going to require all the existing CRNAs to go back for a doctorate to continue to practice.

Given nursing very unique view on this, and the normal expected backlash that is entirely predictable, I find it VERY difficult to believe that the motivation is anything more than sour grapes on the part of the pro BSN crowd. It's apparent to me that the REAL motivation is to punish all those who had the gall to make RN wages with only an inexpensive community college degree. Probably quite a bit on envy as well, envy of the ADNs who don't have $500/month student loan payments to make.

If those were not the real motivation then nursing would follow the well trod path taken by other professions and simply grandfather is all ADN RNs and set a date after which a BSN will be required. Doing so would just about eliminate opposition to BSN as entry to practice.

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Find it hard to believe that expensive ABsn programs are putting out the numbers that the inexpensive community colleges are. At least they have a BSN at the end and are more competitive in a stiff market.

I learned a few moths ago that ABSN grads have a bad reputation in some markets.

I also believe that may ABSN programs are churning out plenty of new grads.

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It is also why I always advise prospective nursing students to get the BSN starting from Day One. Save time, money, and effort at the beginning of the career, then it is over and done with.

Money does limit those of us who are paying for it out of pocket.

If my employer was paying for me to get the Bsn i would not have a problem with it.

For the students interested in becoming nurses,I say the same thing too.

Get it out if the way before having kids,buying a home,etc.

Many people want to get an Lpn or ADN and then go on for the Bsn.

I notice many have this idea that their employers are going to pay for their extra schooling.

What they do not seem to think about is that they might not get a job in the first place,because many employers want a Bsn.

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. As we debate this, they are already scheming on how they're going to start to push the Master's Degree.

I kind of figured that is what they REALLY want.

I think if that happens many people would think twice before becoming nurses.

That could also mean hospitals would try to push to get low skilled UAP's to be able to do our jobs.

Pricing ourselves right out of a job i guess.

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I would have to say that my opinion is that before the advent of the internet and online RN to BSN programs, I would have had more sympathy for those displaced by the BSN push. Now that you can just seemingly zip your way through a BSN program through the use of a computer, I see no excuse for people not playing education catch-up.

That statement rubbed me the wrong way.

I really do not feel like being rude,but i do find that ironic coming from an LPN.

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Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.

What no one seems to be considering is that sometimes the old nurse already has a BSN. Got mine in the 70's.

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Specializes in CRNA, Finally retired.

A belief that something exists isn't worthy of discussing. Show me the numbers. Are there more unemployed absn's (proportionately) than there are adn's? How many nurses constitute churning? That would be more helpful in deciding whether employers are shunning absn grads.

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Just got an email today that by 2020 our hospital wants 85% BSN nurses. They are offering incentives (small tuition assistance) to return and get BSN. The push is due to the hospital wanting to maintain magnet status.

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Specializes in Nurse Scientist-Research.
Just got an email today that by 2020 our hospital wants 85% BSN nurses. They are offering incentives (small tuition assistance) to return and get BSN. The push is due to the hospital wanting to maintain magnet status.

There are definitely things posted previously that smack of hospitals trying to move out higher-paid older workers however does not at least on the surface. Even going slowly and stretching out those tuition reimbursement funds, most nurses could be done in 5 years and if they chose a reasonable university, they may have little out of pocket.

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Specializes in Adult ICU/PICU/NICU.
That is the point.

I have met many over educated idiots in my time. I have worked with some complete and utter donkeys that can't fight their way out of a paper bag.

I am an ADN grad with 35 years critical care/emergency experience...I am highly skilled and educated although not highly degreed. My BSN added NOTHING to my clinical practice.

If your family member is very critically ill I am an excellent choice to have at the bedside.

But to have leaders in the field making these comments with these unsubstantiated biases is just wrong.

I simply can not like this post enough!

I wish I was clever enough to have written it myself except I would have to add that I'm an LPN who nearly finished her BSN....about a thousand years ago now it seems. I learned a thing or two from my BSN studies, but it certainly didn't change the way I did critical care nursing. You don't learn that in school! I'm retired from critical care now and the old grey mare ain't what she used to be, but in my day I was the one who you wanted caring for your very sick loved one...despite being "only" an LPN.

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Specializes in Adult Internal Medicine.
A belief that something exists isn't worthy of discussing. Show me the numbers. Are there more unemployed absn's (proportionately) than there are adn's? How many nurses constitute churning? That would be more helpful in deciding whether employers are shunning absn grads.

Auerbach, D. I., Buerhaus, P. I., & Staiger, D. O. (2015). Do Associate Degree Registered Nurses Fare Differently in the Nurse Labor Market Compared to Baccalaureate-Prepared RNs?. Nursing, 33(8).

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