Is it true that a BSN will be mandatory soon?

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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

I agree with hpcat, if you want to get away from bedside nursing(which has a shortage related to the baby boomer generation) then get your BSN but not everyone can be charge nurses or managers.

Getting a BSN isn't even about becoming a charge nurse or manager. The charge nurse role is often just a rotated routine role filled at times by all unit nurses. Unit managers generally deal with staffing and budgeting. These are not topics necessarily covered in a BSN program. A few BSNs may get into hospital administration, but there are very few such roles out there at that level. And I'd think an MBA plus RN experience would be a lot more useful.

So where do BSNs go that don't stay at the bedside? A small number go into public health nursing, school nursing, etc. BSN education address those areas of nursing a bit more than most RN program. But those positions make up a very small percentage of nursing jobs out there.

Of course, many BSNs plan to go on to advanced practice, either immediately or within a few years after graduation. Not all follow through on that plan, though.

Many BSNs DO stay at the bedside.

Still, sooner or later, it's more likely for a BSN to leave the bedside. Unlike RNs without a bachelor's degree, the BSN (or RN with a bachelor's degree) has more opportunity to find a different job with middle income pay. Which in my opinion is why a change to BSN for entry as things currently stand would make the 'nursing shortage' worse.

BSNs have more opportunity to land a job in case management, phone triage, and other insurance company related roles. Such companies usually prefer if not require a bachelor's degree. Why? Because any employee at that pay level is required to have a bachelor's degree! Since those positions are usually easy to fill compared to bedside jobs, they can ask for the added education, whether or not it's absolutely necessary to functioning in the job.

BSNs are also qualified for any job that requires a bachelor's degree so they also have more opportunities for non-nursing jobs. Having a background in health care AND a bachelor's degree of any type, opens many more doors.

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I think you are right, the universities are pushing to get more money for their instiutions. Where are they going to find nurses who can teach other nurses, when they are not willing to pay the instructors?

Here's a problem I have - RN to BSN programs I am looking into:

BSN Program #1 - University of Pittsburgh, one of the top 10 nursing schools in the USA - I can get my BSN after about 19 credits then proceed into my MSN program & specialize. Expensive school. I think they have clinical courses, not sure how many. No on-line program.

BSN Program #2 - local state university, cheaper tuition - part time would take about 5 years because they make up their $ for their cheaper tuition by adding more theoretical courses. Can apply to MSN program (general, no specialty) - same number of credits. Can do online but need to do four clinicals.

BSN Program #3 - Local "easy" BSN according to my current professors. 3 years part time, one night a week, no clinical courses. No online, classroom only. Costs 2x the state school.

BSN Program #4 - on-line school with allegedly good reputation. Never set foot in a classroom. Outrageously expensive.

All of these programs get me a BSN.

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Here's a problem I have - RN to BSN programs I am looking into:

BSN Program #1 - University of Pittsburgh, one of the top 10 nursing schools in the USA - I can get my BSN after about 19 credits then proceed into my MSN program & specialize. Expensive school. I think they have clinical courses, not sure how many. No on-line program.

BSN Program #2 - local state university, cheaper tuition - part time would take about 5 years because they make up their $ for their cheaper tuition by adding more theoretical courses. Can apply to MSN program (general, no specialty) - same number of credits. Can do online but need to do four clinicals.

BSN Program #3 - Local "easy" BSN according to my current professors. 3 years part time, one night a week, no clinical courses. No online, classroom only. Costs 2x the state school.

BSN Program #4 - on-line school with allegedly good reputation. Never set foot in a classroom. Outrageously expensive.

All of these programs get me a BSN.

Kinda crazy, huh? It would be one thing if the more expensive schools had the exact same content, but just more conveniently available (thus more expensive). But when the content is different even while the degree is the same, something's wrong!

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Kinda crazy, huh? It would be one thing if the more expensive schools had the exact same content, but just more conveniently available (thus more expensive). But when the content is different even while the degree is the same, something's wrong!

That's exactly it - it's crazy that there's so much variety in programs.

My work ethic tells me to pick the meatier, harder programs. My desire to have a life tells me to take the easy way out. :D

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Specializes in CVICU, Obs/Gyn, Derm, NICU.
OK, but I'm telling you that one large hospital is already absolutely requiring it, no exceptions. And they don't have many openings, either.

Am not surprised this hospital has good retention.

I would consider working in such an environment where I would no longer have to spend anymore energy dealing with this division. This is the most useless, stupid and pointless division that has been a root cause of our problems ( low pay relative to other professions, low status, decreased control in the workplace, de-skilling of staff nurse role from 'professional' to ' highly skilled' and so on).

Why do so many RN's vehemently argue against further education?

We, as a group, have served as our own enemy

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Am not surprised this hospital has good retention.

I would consider working in such an environment where I would no longer have to spend anymore energy dealing with this division. This is the most useless, stupid and pointless division that has been a root cause of our problems ( low pay relative to other professions, low status, decreased control in the workplace, de-skilling of staff nurse role from 'professional' to ' highly skilled' and so on).

Why do so many RN's vehemently argue against further education?

We, as a group, have served as our own enemy

Just one question to everyone. I have nothing against further education so lets get that out of the way. But having an RN and almost completing my BSN, also get that out of the way too.

I don't know what anyone means when they talk about low pay. I've been making $100,000 or more in a hospital as a staff RN so I don't understand why so many people are complaining about their pay???? Someone please explain????? Is it the state you live in or work???? And respect, I've earned it and I get it!!!!!!!!!!!:nurse:

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Specializes in CVICU, Obs/Gyn, Derm, NICU.
But is bedside nursing your ultimate career goal? That's my question - is the average BSN looking for a career path that takes them away from the bedside?

A BSN provides more opportunity, and therefore choice.

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Just one question to everyone. I have nothing against further education so lets get that out of the way. But having an RN and almost completing my BSN, also get that out of the way too.

I don't know what anyone means when they talk about low pay. I've been making $100,000 or more in a hospital as a staff RN so I don't understand why so many people are complaining about their pay???? Someone please explain????? Is it the state you live in or work???? And respect, I've earned it and I get it!!!!!!!!!!!:nurse:

exactly. i've never had a problem getting work/hours. this year, i'll net 100k after taxes. people generally treat me with with plenty of respect. the ones that don't are just what they are. dealing with the public is far different than dealing with a peer group.

no amount of pontificating from the top (and requiring a bsn) is going to change the nature of this work. people are sick, and you're going to see them at their worst. i am trying to make the best of it. the idea that we somehow "have to all stick together" and things will change is ridiculous.

sure, crazy things happen, and of course i grumble about them like everyone else. but that is just part and parcel of the business.

there are lots of people who can't find work.

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A BSN provides more opportunity, and therefore choice.

But that's just it, some nurses are not looking for more opportunity because their personal lives are very full (family, interests, etc.) So do they need a BSN too?

I'm in favor of more education, but I think it should be a choice, depending on your career goals.

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anytime you're talking about a high paying job off the floor, the competition is going to be high. the reason there are so many bsn's not working as managers, etc.. is because there simply aren't enough slots at that position. manager jobs are not going to be given to 23 year olds when there are so many with years of experience wanting those same jobs.

as a night traveler, i make more $$ than most managers, with none of the headaches regarding who is the don, who is the ceo, etc.... easier for me to duck the politics completely and just do the next shift. a bsn wouldn't be worth anything to me. when i was on staff, they paid me the same differential they paid the bsn's because i had a bachelor's degree in another discipline.

let's say you've got an asn and a b.s. in business.... that would merit at least the same consideration for managerial jobs. there are many ways to skin a cat.

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when i was on staff, they paid me the same differential they paid the bsn's because i had a bachelor's degree in another discipline.

let's say you've got an asn and a b.s. in business.... that would merit at least the same consideration for managerial jobs. there are many ways to skin a cat.

I'm glad to hear that, I have a BA in social/behavioral sciences, and I want to go into psych nursing. I would hope that my BA counts for something since I have much more psychology/sociology education than a BSN!

:yeah:

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I'm glad to hear that, I have a BA in social/behavioral sciences, and I want to go into psych nursing. I would hope that my BA counts for something since I have much more psychology/sociology education than a BSN!

:yeah:

what will probably help you more than anything else at this point is some sort of professional certification. for example, let's say you work as a psych nurse for 2 years, then probably there is some sort of certifcation you can get for this after you get the experience. that's the direction i'd look. for you, i'd have to say a bsn would also have no addtional value. you could go directly to a master's program at some level if you really want to do more education.

i'm flirting with the idea of getting an mba, though i'm also looking at the idea of starting a healthcare related business, after i get together an extra 100k or so for a war chest.

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