Is it true that a BSN will be mandatory soon?

[szccdw]

An instructor of mine (I'm in another state) stated that she recently went to a national educators conference and that they were saying that within the next several years in NY it would be mandatory to have your BSN. Does anyone know anything about this? Thanks

[Clipping]

There is not a nursing shortage in terms of people who are educated in the field of nursing. There IS a nursing shortage in terms of people practicing. One of these factors is stagnant wages. One way to fix that is to make it mandatory that an RN have a BSN and possibly leave diploma and associate programs to cover LPNs and such. The wages for LPNs would not drop and the wages for RNs would raise considerably. I think its a great idea for a myriad of reasons... one being that studies have shown there is a difference in care, which should be everyones concern. Now dont get your panties in a wad. Ofcourse this doesnt mean every BSN is better than every ASN. But we do like evidenced based practice no? That goes on trends and is dictated by large data sets not individuals.

It may not have to be mandated though... if you look at the trends since the 1980s the shift has already begun. Over 1/2 of nurses in 1980 were diploma prepared. By 1996 it had dropped to 24%. To the contrary in 1980 22% held a BSN and by 1996 31% did... associates degrees increased the most which makes sense. ASN went from 18% to 36%.

Here is what the AACN has to say about it for what its worth....

"A recent report by the National Advisory Council on Nurse Education and Practice, an advisory body to the federal Division of Nursing, urged that at least two-thirds of the basic registered nurse workforce hold baccalaureate or higher degrees in nursing by 2010. 4 Presently, only about 40 percent do."

and this nuggett of information may be useful as well....

"Many hospitals not already requiring the Bachelor's of Science degree in nursing have established "BSN-preferred" policies for new hires. For example, the Veteran's Administration, the nation's largest employer of registered nurses, has established the baccalaureate degree as the minimum preparation its nurses must have for promotion beyond entry-level beginning in 2005, and has committed $50 million over the next five years to help VA nurses obtain baccalaureate or higher nursing degrees"

[woody62, RN]

Whew! Thanks for all the replies. I was told this information like it was already a cold, hard fact. While I certainly love continuing my education, and dream of going on to my BSN after completing the ADN program, I was just overwhelmed with the idea that I HAD TO do it by a certain date.

It isn't a requirement yet. The VA may require a BSN but only as long as they can get them. I may be wrong but even the military is accepting AD graduates, as long as they get their BSN in a specific period of time.

Woody:balloons:

[CraigB-RN, MSN, RN]

Do you really think that a pay raise is the issue? We are treated by physicians, hospital administerators, LTC administrators as second class citizens, entitled to second rate pay, because they view our education as second rate. And they may have a point, since we are one of the few 'professions' that have three levels of education, sitting for the same licensing exam.

But what do I know? I am only a nurse with a B.S.N., who did get paid what she was worth based on her education, knowledge and experience.

Woody:balloons:

Having been a DON and Assistant Hosp Administrator, it's not the education the makes us second class citizens. It's the fact that the 3rd party payers include us in the room rate. It has nothing to do with education. Well maybe it is a little bit. The vast majority of MD's, patients and their families have no clue what our education level is.

[jamonit]

The American Nurses Association wrote a position paper on this back in the late 1970s, however, with the shortage and lack of nursing faculty, this is hardly the most important issue for the ANA to address.

I think if this were to be true, they would have to spend a lot of money grandfathering all of us ADNs into the BSN title. I really don't think that there's the money, time or need to do this when the nursing shortage is already so mind boggling.

[lsyorke, RN]

I was told about a month ago by a nurse educator (who I do respect) that the some New Jersey nursing organization has passed a law requiring all RN's to have their BSN's by a certain deadline

First, nursing organizations can't make law and there is no state legislation like this is on the table in NJ.

[zenurse]

The NJ State Nurses Association has published their position supporting the BSN in 10 proposition, but I have no idea whether or not the state is actively considering this. I'm in an ADN program right now, and I support the idea. People who already hold a license would not be affected; no one would earn a BSN with the stroke of a pen.

But in an environment of increasing technological complexity and politicization of health care, I feel a BSN is a step toward preparing people to practice. There's nothing wrong with more education, as long as the board and the legislators consider how practicing nurses will find the time and money to get it done.

I already hold a masters degree in a non-science discipline, and I strongly believe in formal, academic training as an important part of the art of nursing.

Why have we been talking about it since the 70s? Is is because there may be merit to the idea?

And I'm curious, other than cost, why are people opposed to it?

[woody62, RN]

Having been a DON and Assistant Hosp Administrator, it's not the education the makes us second class citizens. It's the fact that the 3rd party payers include us in the room rate. It has nothing to do with education. Well maybe it is a little bit. The vast majority of MD's, patients and their families have no clue what our education level is.

I was an Administrative Assistant, for two years, at Downstate Medical Center Brooklyn. I hate to tell you this but it was the DON that held you to a second class position. They have always allowed staff to be counted as partt of the bedpans. And while it is true, in the past, nurses were considered part of the woodwork, a good many patient's and families know exactly what we do. They may sometimes get confused by the number of people who call themselves 'nurse' but they rarely get the wool pulled over their eyes.

If you do not consider education as a reason for us being treated as second class, perhaps you can explain why Pjysical Therapist, who require a Master's, are not treated the same way? Or even Occupational Therapists? They may have P.T. assistants but no one ever calls them a Physical Therapist by mistake. No one would dare, the Physical Therapists would never stand for it.

Woody:balloons:

[teeituptom, BSN, RN]

not happening while Im alive hahahaha

[RNsRWe, ASN, RN]

T... I think its a great idea for a myriad of reasons... one being that studies have shown there is a difference in care, which should be everyones concern.

Would you be referring to the flawed and therefore soundly discredited Akins study, the one that claimed that hospitals having a higher number of BSN nurses had better outcomes than ones that had predominantly ADN nurses?

If so, more research is necessary before referencing it.

[Bala Shark]

To get into an ADN program, a person would have to spend about 1.5 years doing the requirments in getting in the ADN program..Then the ADN program is for 2 years with only nursing courses, full time..So actually the ADN program is 3.5 years....BSN is 4 years..

[woody62, RN]

Would you be referring to the flawed and therefore soundly discredited Akins study, the one that claimed that hospitals having a higher number of BSN nurses had better outcomes than ones that had predominantly ADN nurses?

If so, more research is necessary before referencing it.

I'm not. There was a hospital, in Boston, that hired only B.S.N.'s. They found that they had fewer repeat admissions, fewer medication errors and better patient outcomes. That is, until they merged with another Boston hospital, that didn't require a B.S.N. as part of their hiring policy. The influx of AD nurses into their hospital, bought about more medication errors, less patient education and poorer patient outcomes. Deaconess was one of the hospitals. And I have forgotten the name of the other. But I did read a study that proved the benefi9ts of hiring only B.S.N.'s.

Woody:balloons:

[avatar78]

What are the extra courses in a BSN? More medical courses, or more management and business? Looking at my local university, one extra course is on ethics, but I can't tell what the other subjects are.