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

I saw a new program somewhere. its not in my state so I sorta brushed it off but if Nursing ED was structured this way it might satisfy many WITHOUT excluding many potential nurses by burdening them with four years of unpaid education time. It WAS a four year program but it was tiered. After 2 months students could test for their CNA which would give the average college aged person a nice pay raise AND a realistic look at their chosen field. At the end of year one you could sit the NCLEX PN giving you another boost in pay and status. After the second year the NCLEX RN would be given and the ASN would be awarded. After you continued through you would receive your BSN. You could choose to take any/all of the three tests as you saw fit but it wouldnt bar some students financially. I wanted my RN in the beginning but I simply could not afford to work for 6-7 dollars an hour for 4 years while I did it. They did offer the cna after 2 months of my PN program and about 85% of us took the test and moved into that to earn more and get into the field. I may get flamed for this last part but the best supervisors and managers I have ever encountered moved up the nursing ladder and had a REALISTIC idea of what the job was like. Not some ivory towered straight through to my MSN and now Im deciding how you should do your job when I don't even know how to do your job. Nursing is one of very few professions where you can manage a position that you have never held. Go figure.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

My teacher just informed us that coming in latter years; in order for you to become a RN the only way is to achieve a BSN.

and LPN's is through a 2 yr degree.

of course nurses who are already RN's and LPN' will be grandfathered in.

Did any one heard of this trend?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Home Care, Hospice, OB.

this is the rumor that will not die!!!!!:banghead:

check the current thread about this....

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I have heard about it, but didn't know whether or not it was passed. I do agree that it should be a 4 year degree.

Please don't get mad at me for saying that.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in school nursing, ortho, trauma.

It would put an awful lot of diploma programs out of business. I have an easier time believing that RN will be required to have a 2 yr degree - though i don't believe any of it is true at this point.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

It's hard to call an ADN a two year degree. Our nursing program is 21 months long by itself, nevermind the prereq's and basketweaving classes.

After a year of RN experience, I do plan to start on a BSN. There are many paths.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency & Trauma/Adult ICU.

In what state is this supposedly happening? Nurses are licensed by the individual states/territories.

OP, if this were true it would be BIG NEWS and references to the applicable state legislation would be easy to find.

Check your state's Board of Nursing website.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency & Trauma/Adult ICU.

BSN by 2010: A California Initiative.

Articles

Journal of Nursing Administration. 31(3):141-144, March 2001.

Barter, Marjorie EdD, RN; McFarland, Patricia Lenihan MSN, RN

Abstract:

The Association of California Nurse Leaders has developed an initiative to require the baccalaureate in nursing as the credential for entry into practice as a registered nurse by the year 2010 in the state of California. When nursing is compared to other health-care professions, such as pharmacy, physical therapy, and occupational therapy, it becomes obvious that educational requirements for nurses must be updated. Nursing leaders have developed a 10-year action plan to change the entry-level educational requirements for California nurses.

Thanks for the link. Without debating here the merits of the idea, please recognize that your instructor has, from what you've stated here, taken a journal article describing an "initiative" by the California Nurses' Association and presented it as a "fait accompli" scheduled to be implemented in 2010. The article was written in 2001. We are now 7-8 years into the 10-year action plan ... and I can find no reference to any legislation pending before the CA legislature that would get this action plan implemented by 2010.

Hmm. That's all I have to say about that.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.
BSN by 2010: A California Initiative.

Articles

Thanks for the link. Without debating here the merits of the idea, please recognize that your instructor has, from what you've stated here, taken a journal article describing an "initiative" by the California Nurses' Association and presented it as a "fait accompli" scheduled to be implemented in 2010.

Hmm. That's all I have to say about that.

It may also be that the student misunderstood what the instructor said. We don't know exactly where the error occurred. Let's be fair to all involved. It may be that the instructor was talking about the initiative (and/or other, similar efforts in other states) and the students interpreted her remarks incorrectly to mean that it had been passed and actually put into law.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

The Senator who introduced this to the Senate in my state has a high school diploma listed as the highest level of education. :wink2:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med-Surg.
The Senator who introduced this to the Senate in my state has a high school diploma listed as the highest level of education. :wink2:

Not to be witchy, but someone without a high level of education is still capable of understanding the value of education. Maybe more capable than those they do have it.

Maybe you didn't mean to do so, but your comment sounds quite condesending.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion