Is it true that a BSN will be mandatory soon?

twotrees2 · Apr 4, 2008

I am currently in the process of graduating-LPN to RN- and we have been told to go directly into a BSN program. As of 2010 all will be required-new hires- to have BSN. If you are already in a facility, you "should" be grandfathered in. It will be up to that facility. I really don't feel, that by that time, the USA could afford to force any medical people to do anything-they are already desperate!! hey-FL has a docotor shortage! We actually had to "close down" a level one trauma center-just recently-because we had no neuro one call! The malpractice and sueing issues aren't worth it- plus patients have "discovered" the internet and can find, afforable, adequate, care in other countries now. Don't worry- the world will always need a good nurse!:redbeathe

yeah they said that about the lpns too - that is why instead of going for lpn ( couldnt even book in a class they were so sure they weregetting rid of em) i had to do the adn. it will never happen. go where you want. :)

traumahawk99 · Apr 6, 2008

the idea that the bsn will be a required for entry level in the profession of floor nursing is simply profoundly ignorant.

i say this as i'm getting ready to work overtime tonite for $63 an hour. my employer has never said zip about my degree.. they're only elated that i'm willing to come in and take a shift tonight.

Home Health Columnist / Guide · Apr 6, 2008

70% of rns in the us have an aas degree.

actually, nurses educated at as/adn level for initial licensure is 42%

moving to a higher education standard will benefit the profession as a whole as it has done for other healthcare professions: pt/ot/ st/pharmacy.

students have been choosing the bsn route reflecting in the increased #'s education at this level:

us government: health and human services, health resources and services administration (hrsa)report:

the registered nurse population: findings from the 2004 national sample survey of registered nurses

highlights

number of licensed registered nurses (rns) in the united states grew by almost 8 percent between 2000 and 2004 to a new high of 2.9 million
average age of rns climbed to 46.8 years, the highest average age since the first comparable report was published in 1980.
- just over 41 percent of rns were 50 years of age or older (33 percent in 2000 and 25 percent in 1980).
- only 8 percent of rns were under the age of 30, compared with 25 percent in 1980.
[*]average annual earnings for rns were $57,785.
[*]real earnings (comparable dollars over time) have grown almost 14 percent since 2000, the first significant increase in more than a decade.
[*]employment in nursing rose to more than 83 percent of rns with active licenses, the highest since 1980.
[*]rns with master's or doctorate degrees rose to 376,901, an increase of 37 percent from 2000.

between 1980 and 2004 initial rn educational level changes were

diploma: decreased from 53.2% to 25.2%

associate: increased from 18.6% to 42.2%

baccalaureate: increased from 17.4% percent to 31.0% percent

between 1996 and 2000, however, there had been a reversal of the trend, when the percentage of nurses educated in baccalaureate-and-higher degree programs increased at a rate faster than those who received their initial nursing education in associate degree programs (increases of 17.3 percent and 12.7 percent respectively....
from 2000 to 2004, the percentage of rns whose highest nursing or nursing-related educational preparation was a baccalaureate degree increased from 32.7 percent to 34.2 percent (the number increased from 880,997 in 2000 to 994,276 in 2004). overall, this is a 170 percent increase in baccalaureate education for rns since 367,816 rns in 1980. many rns initially educated in associate degree programs eventually receive their baccalaureate degree. in 2004, nearly 21 percent (20.9 percent) of rns initially educated in associate degree programs received baccalaureate degrees and higher. this estimate represents an increase from 2000, when 15.5 percent of rns initially educated in associate degree programs received baccalaureate degrees or higher.

when one looks at the highest level of educational preparation, findings are:

diploma: 17.5 %

associates: 33.7%

baccalaureate: 34.2%

masters/doctoral: 13.0%

nursing facts: today's registered nurse - numbers and demographics

salaries are not commensurate with the responsibilities of the nursing profession. when a profession requires a higher educational degree as entrance level commensurate with newer responsibilities profession has due to healthcare advances, salaries accordingly rise.

allied health salary reports: 2005 report: what's your worth?

from sloan career center:

[color=#111111]pharmacist

[color=#111111]the median annual of wage-and-salary pharmacists is $94,520

[color=#111111]physical therapist

[color=#111111]the median annual earnings of physical therapists is about $66,200

[color=#111111]both of these levels have moved to a practice doctorate level for initial licensure and income's risen. shortage areas exist for both professions too, especially in philadelphia area. but they are not pumping out rates of new grands some nursing programs are because they view quality over quantity. nursing has been working on nursing quality indicators for the past 10 years: going forward with higher initial educational level commensurate with increased knowledge due to higher patient acuity and knowledge base needed is best for our profession.

Valerie Salva, BSN, RN · Apr 7, 2008

Karen,

I've continued to look into this and am finding different numbers from every source I check.

Home Health Columnist / Guide · Apr 7, 2008

Info is from US Gov: Dept Health and Human Services HRSA Division, used in all govement reports ANA, AACN, Sigma Theta Tau, and most nursing organizations etc.

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) is the key Federal agency responsible for nursing workforce analysis and development in the United States. The Bureau of Health Professions (BHPr) within HRSA provides national leadership to assure an adequate supply and distribution of qualified nursing personnel to meet the health needs of the Nation. This responsibility includes examination of the supply, composition, and distribution of nurses on the national and State levels in order to assure an adequate supply of qualified nursing personnel against requirements.

Home Health Columnist / Guide · Apr 7, 2008

I guess they plan to "import" foreign BSNs for less money.

Federal employment laws prohibit hiring from abroad for lower wage for SAME WORK with equal skills.

Miss Mab · Apr 7, 2008

Thanks, Karen, for such concrete stats and background info.

Perhaps this might appeal to more visual learners, and make what seems to a lot of people to be such a clear trend for the good of all, more easily understood.

Now where can I find the pretty pictured chart that proves IT's NOT ABOUT PUTTING DOWN ADN/DIPLOMAS or WHO IS THE "BETTER" Nurse? :banghead:

Don't even get me started on "well, at MY school or in MY program."

Ok, I'm asking too much I know.

Dare to dream....

I am beginning to wonder, though, if the basic theory of 'cause and effect' is investigated and understood in the same manner at each preparatory level.

:yawn:

cathmarm · Apr 7, 2008

:nono:Unfortunately, by remaining divided on the issue, we dilute the power that nurses could have on any issue relevant to us. We are not considered a profession as it is, because the educational standard, the minimum requirement to be considered an RN varies so greatly. As nurses, we will continue to serve as handmaidens unless we unite and at least meet the same requirements that "third world" countries have for nurses. Of course, in fighting is so much easier than taking action; I agree with Lindarn.

We cannot demand respect from others while we disrespect each other. The argument is not which nurse is better, the argument should be, what we need in order for nurses to achieve a professional status. We need to stop thinking of ourselves and start thinking of furthering the profession. We need to grow up otherwise nothing will change. We will still be here years from now grumbling about this same issue. :banghead:

ann945n, RN · Apr 7, 2008

Its important to remember that if requirements to sit for the NCLEX-RN change to BSN all those who already hold a RN license will be grandfathered in so no one will be loosing a job or be forced back to school. I 100 percent support a push to make BSN the minimum level of education for a RN. To demand respect as a professional one must walk the walk. I believe that means go get a bachelor degree like the rest of the professional world. As well united RN's under one degree will only strengthen our negotiations. I also believe that if such a change took place most ADN programs would change to BSN by getting endorsments from 4 year insitiutions. Most CC I know of do offer Bachelor degrees on campus with support from a 4 year school. Nursing then would be no different.

cloudchaser · Apr 8, 2008

What about those who obtained a non-nursing degree in a 4-year institution and obtained their AA in Nursing?

chestrockwell · Apr 8, 2008

What about those who obtained a non-nursing degree in a 4-year institution and obtained their AA in Nursing?

Exactly. I have a previous bachelors and am almost finished with my AA in nursing. Are the proponents for a mandatory BSN suggesting I go back to school for yet another degree? And if so, should I then demand more respect and salary for the extra education I have over someone with only a BSN education?

Miss Mab · Apr 8, 2008

Exactly. I have a previous bachelors and am almost finished with my AA in nursing. Are the proponents for a mandatory BSN suggesting I go back to school for yet another degree? And if so, should I then demand more respect and salary for the extra education I have over someone with only a BSN education?

Well, presuming this is the case, then yeah, I would absolutelt suggest that.

Seriously, you presumably finished all of the GE during first undergrad and you're just now completing the core nursing component.

OMG! This really is the mythic 'just a couple of more classes' difference to the BSN. Why wouldn't you take less than a handful of classes that would add community health and leadership and whatever else, if anything more else, to your already expanding nurse "toolkit."

As for the second part of the question, I don't know, are you expecting, sorry, demanding any of those things over your current ADN classmates now because you do already have an unrelated bachelor's degree?

i wouldn't think so but there's a connection ythere you are able to make.

Interesting....

Well, I know my two bachelor's trump yours......but some high -n-mighty MBA is just bound to come by any second.

Why don't we just stick to the relevant accolades....