Is it true that a BSN will be mandatory soon?

Published

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

Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

70 percent of all RNs in the United States are educated at the associates degree level. There's no way to conjure up enough BSN programs to support the nursing needs of this country in 2 short years.

I have 4 words to say regarding this issue: It ain't gonna happen!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in OB, M/S, HH, Medical Imaging RN.

I've been a nurse since 1975 and I have heard that same song and dance every other year or so and nothing has happened and nothing is going to happen. If the ASN's working now didn't have their BSN's there would be one h*** of a nursing shortage. They wouldn't be able to scape up a decent skeleton crew at best. Don't worry, be happy, study hard!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I've been a nurse since 1975 and I have heard that same song and dance every other year or so and nothing has happened and nothing is going to happen. If the ASN's working now didn't have their BSN's there would be one h*** of a nursing shortage. They wouldn't be able to scape up a decent skeleton crew at best. Don't worry, be happy, study hard!

This sort of rumor seems to pop up in the various health professions, mostly Nursing and EMS. Many years ago, when I first earned my Advanced EMT-Critical Care, there were those who insisted the "CC" would be done away with and there would be only Basic EMT's ("who would do nothing") and Paramedics. Being a firm believer in the concept of "Paramedics save lives - EMT's save Paramedics", that rumor did not bother me. Almost twenty years later, I am stil an EMT-CC, as well as being n instructor. Apparently, there would never be enough Paramedics if the Intermediate and Critical Care EMT's were done away with. By the way, most of the care provided on an EMS call is done at the Basic level; without that, the ALS stuff would not matter.

Back to Nursing..... I am at a point where I am considering an online BSN "upgrade", and have to decide if it is worthwhile for me - it's a "bang for the buck" sort of thing as I am in my mid-50's and work in an administrative position. I could probably do it in a year or so and have a BSN at 57 years old, then retire 5-8 years later. There would be little or no financial benefit for me. I could handle the studying, etc (despite being an 'old faht'), but am still trying to decide.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

People have also proclaimed the onset of Armageddon, and that hasn't happened either. ;)

I think if you have the option, BSN is the way to go because it will serve you well in the future and give you more options should you ever wish to work in settings such as schools or public health. That said, you have to consider the reality of your life. ADN programs are often closer to home and much less expensive, and those are fair things to consider.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care.

The FIRST requirement was 1965. Then, every few years or so, the date moves.

I bet you, sometime in the distant future, some student here on allnurses will worriedly ask, "Is it true we will have to have BSN by 2050?!?"

~faith,

Timothy.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

I agree with everyone else. It's not going to happen.

However, I would urge you to plan on getting your BSN in the long run if you are interested in being a nurse for several years. A BSN will give you more job options to choose from -- and every indication is that the trend for preferring a BSN for any type of positions of leadership, education, autonomous practice, etc. will continue. So, I do urge you to get it eventually ... but it's not as urgent as you have come to believe.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.

hi, rachinq, and welcome to alnurses! :welcome:

ha! ha! ha! they were telling us that back in 1973 when i was in nursing school back in california. and, if any place was going to pass a law like that it would be california. this is the american (or your state) nursing association dues at work trying to impress their bsn members. it's horse pucky. don't worry. it will be years before this kind of legislation gets passed anywhere. there's already a shortage of nurses. and, if it does get passed they would most likely grandfather in the nurses who already have adns or give them a long time to get bsns. where are they going to get them and what schools are going to accommodate a rush for bsn degrees anyway? these goofballs who think up this stuff never think about that. the legislators who enact these laws, however, do. if there is a bill before your state legislature it will be on their state legislative website.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I am with you, I became an LPN in 1984 and there were rumors of being grandfathered into the ADN/ASN... never happened. The university in my state rid themselves of the ASN program ( to BSN only) 5 years ago or so and guess what. Yes, they have started it all over again and are now doing the bridge program LPN- ASN. So the nursing shortage will not stop ASN and to say that by 2010 it will be a BSN necesity, I will beleive it when I see it.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I've been a nurse since 1975 and I have heard that same song and dance every other year or so and nothing has happened and nothing is going to happen. If the ASN's working now didn't have their BSN's there would be one h*** of a nursing shortage. They wouldn't be able to scape up a decent skeleton crew at best. Don't worry, be happy, study hard!

Good point. I have literally been hearing that we are "going to make all nurses have bachelors" since I was a child and I was born in 1974. I can't remember ever NOT hearing this one from nurses I was raised around.

Its sort of like the all of America will be on the metric system song and dance that has been said since like the 50's ........still waiting for that full conversion as well.....hahaha

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med-Surg.

Intereesting that some of you have heard it for years. I've never heard that there was a push to require nurses to be BSNs. I live in FL, so I guess it's just not talked about here. I didn't hear this kind of talk in NC either when I lived there.

I have heard that some in acedemia and the ANA are advocating that requirement, but the Florida BON doesn't seem to be interested in that. (They are more interested in the 33% high in fees they are getting beginning this year.)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in clinical rotations.

You may want to keep on top of inquiring about this. Even though it hasn't happenned yet, and the veterans are agreeing that it's going to take some doing, there are still instances (more and more) of hospitals and medical facilities converting to Magnate status which have stipulations including LPN's as history. ADN involvement may not be right around the corner but use yor wits. It's only a matter of time before things progress in that direction even if there is a shortage. Things have a way of compenstaing so why wait? Besides, there's not a whole lot of harm that can come from advancing and continuing your education. Who knows, it may even help you to become a better nurse than you could have expected. And if your young better yet. I'm 52. I'll be graduating (hopefully) this May from my ADN program. Don't wait. My options may not be completely limited but my energy level sure is. Congrats on your interests and best of luck.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I lived in NY growing up and thats where I heard it back when I was a kid.

I have also lived in Greensboro NC (never heard it there but the ones I know there already have BSN's and don't talk about anything that doesn't directly pertain to them)

My cousin is going for her BSN in Winston Salem and she said she was told to shoot for that right off the bat from her counselors even though she originally was going for the ASN.

I am in Tampa now and I have heard rumors only but nothing from a legitimate source, just student rumors. I know several nurses at the VA with ASN's and and a few at TGH they aren't worried but they heard the same thing but again they heard it from people they don't feel are legitimate sources.

My friend in Orange Park has heard the same thing in North Florida but she said it was BS and I don't mean the degree. She has an ASN and she is not the least bit concerned with it, she knows her hospital needs every nurse in the place. They are too busy in Orange Park trying to keep their nurses from running off to go work in Jacksonville or Gainsville to start counting who has what degree.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion