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

Specializes in Med/Surg, Progressive Tele.

first of np is part of a msn, here is the link to explain it all, and if yuo need more help just ask. but spend time at thier web page lots of info..

http://nurseweb.ucsf.edu/www/ps-em.htm

all i see on this page is several options to get your msn and doctorate but none of them with a np option ..please correct me if i am wrong...
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Specializes in Telemetry/Med Surg.
Now I';m sure I'm going to get some heat for this, but have you ever watched a PTA work? they work right next to the PT, they work as a team. The PTA learns as they go, and I would hope this what the other poster was meaning. My example of my model for the new nursing training would be the same, but not called an assisstant, but a Nurse Intern, in which the ADN would work with a BSN for a year while the ADN nurse was going back and finishing the BSN portion. The NEW ADN nurse would get a year of training before going off and being let loose on patients themselves. Just like the PTA, the ADN nurse would be allowed to do certain things to the patient like the PTA can do. Its all about training in my model...

:stone:eek::no:

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Progressive Tele.

i find it sad to get responses like this it means that you haven't read what i have written as well as others. first off, the subject has been, should there be a single entry point into nursing. many people agree with this and many people do not. but the powers to be in the nursing workd agree that there should be a signle entery point into nursing. the problem we have is, this subject is missunderstood by many (the post below is a prime example of this.) no one (even myself) is saying that once you have your bsn, the bsn nurse is all god.... some think the entry point is a msn .... but _i_ think there should be a single entry point into nusing. now txspdequeen921 think about this, why would a lpn be for this? have you thought about that? i dont think you so. instead of telling me how horrible i am, why not ask me why do i think this. but i'll tell you... even tho i have posted this in many times and again people miss it, here it is again. nursing isn't taken as a true profession, its looked at more as a vocation. now i'm sure this isn't what you want to hear, but there have been many studies done in this. please don't tell me how wrong i am, but again the studies that other nureses have done show this. this is slowly changing, studies have shown this too. many other profression like pt, ot and even engineers have changed the entry point into thier profression. now again, please don't flame me for those remarks, i am just writting what i have read as well as the research i have had to do for my bsn. yes, i'm currently in a lpn to bsn program myself. this program has opened my eyes and got me think outside the box about nursing. but much of my idea's come from my pervious work expereience as well as undergrad degree. now do i think there is a place for lpns, yes and no. but i think currently the biggest problem we as nuses have is the state boards of nursing who dictate our scopes of pratice. i would like one national board over all nurses ini all 50 states and us territory's. you want to cut errors out in nurses, standardize nursing care, stop having differen scope of pratice in all 50 states, allow nurses to work in all 50 states with one single licesne... but that is whole different soapbox of mine..

you keep acting on this thread like the bsn nurse has all the answers and is some form of "nursing god"...you need to get over that issue... if you think that bsn nurses are so cometent and adn nurses are not then you need to hang up your hat right now since you are a lvn....
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Specializes in Med/Surg, Progressive Tele.

Legislative action as in State or Federal ? This subject has nothing to do with the government at all.

I stopped reading this conversation due to a lack of real objective material pertinent to the question.

There is no documentation regarding legislative action in any state? That is hard to believe. Is this topic in any agenda for legislative action? That is the real question and there are no answers. .....

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Specializes in Telemetry/Med Surg.
I would like one national board over all nurses ini all 50 states and US territory's. Y

That would be the NCSBN

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Progressive Tele.

The National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc. (NCSBN) is a not-for-profit organization whose membership comprises the boards of nursing in the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and four United States territories-American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, and the Virgin Islands.

The purpose of NCSBN is to provide an organization through which boards of nursing act and counsel together on matters of common interest and concern affecting the public health, safety and welfare, including the development of licensing examinations in nursing.

Yes, BUT, what I'm more looking for is the NCSBN be the ONLY regulators for nursing. Granted thee would have to be a office in each state, but not to allow each state determin what a nurse can and can not do. Since we all at the same test, then the scope of practice should be the same in all 50 states....

That would be the NCSBN
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I have been watching/reading this debate with great interest, as I have nearly finished my pre-req's and will be applying to nursing school this fall (hopefully admitted for fall 2009).

I have decided to enter an ASN (Associate of Applied Science in Nursing) program for many reasons. First and foremost, I have children to consider and a family that needs me. Secondly is the cost. I am able to attend a community college; I am unable at this time to uproot my family and move to an area with a university that offers a BSN program AND pay for said program.

My point is, that "requiring" all those entering the nursing field closes the door on many people. I notice that many (though not all) people advocating a BSN requirement are young and probably childless. They probably already don't have a huge student loan debt, either. A BSN is a great option for them. But it is not a great option for everyone, especially in terms of entry level into the field. I hope to get into the workforce and gain experience. Then, perhaps, I will return to school later, at a more appropriate time, and earn my BSN, maybe even my MSN.....who knows? But for me, a BSN is really not practical at the moment, and I'll bet I'm not the only one here who feels this way.

I understand what people are saying. Of course education is a valuable asset. However, I do not feel that I am "uneducated" because I will hold an Associates Degree. As a matter of fact, in terms of actual nursing knowledge/experience there is very little difference between an ASN and a BSN program.....at least in my state.

I think we need to stop the petty name-calling and finger-pointing. It accomplishes nothing and is not what these forums are about. In fact, it's not very "professional" at all.

Just my :twocents:.

P.S. And the notion that Associate Degree level nurses should be "demoted" to nurse's assistants is preposterous and insulting.

Being young and childless has nothing to do with advocating for a BSN-entry level requirement for nursing. I sympathesize with your (and many others) situation and I applaude you for taking the steps to better your life and pursue a career in nursing.

But why should the profession of nursing lower its standards just so people who have a family, other responsibilites, or are unable to attend a four-year university can still enter the profession??? I certainly don't see any other health care profession doing this! This is simply not a solid argument to keep the current entry level as it is. There are a lot of people out there that wish to further their education in order to provide a better life for their families. I believe that one purpose of having educational standards is to ensure that the individuals that make it through are truly motivated to succeed. Someone can have a family, finanical concerns, numerous responsibilities, but if they really wanted to become a nurse (and the standard was a BSN-entry level), he/she would find a way to do it. People who enter other professions that have higher standards do it all the time. As it currently is in nursing, I completely understand why you have chosen the ADN route. But if a BSN was required, would you still want to be a nurse?

Would having the BSN required for entry level "close" opportunities for people who perceive that they can't attend a 4-year university? It probably would for those who don't have the drive or motivation to make it happen. I know that this is probably going to offend people, but I am a big believer of "If there is a will, there is a way". And regardless, I don't see why nursing should be the "option B" for people who don't want to spend the time or money getting a 4-year degree. And as far as the money is concerned, there are a lot of state universities with relatively affordable tuition that aren't much more (if at all) than a community college. Growing up, my family lived in poverty and I put myself through a 4-year university by achieving good grades and earning scholarships and taking out student loans.

Also, the argument of "But I already have a 4-year degree and don't want another one", does not hold strong. Again, if one didn't want to pursue another 4-year degree, he/she must not really, really want to be a nurse and could purse another profession.

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Being young and childless has nothing to do with advocating for a BSN-entry level requirement for nursing. I sympathesize with your (and many others) situation and I applaude you for taking the steps to better your life and pursue a career in nursing.......

But why should the profession of nursing lower its standards just so people who have a family, other responsibilites, or are unable to attend a four-year university can still enter the profession??? .......

But if a BSN was required, would you still want to be a nurse?.......

Would having the BSN required for entry level "close" opportunities for people who perceive that they can't attend a 4-year university?

My comment about the "young and childless" was only an observation. And I did acknowledge that there were certainly those who did NOT fit that criteria who felt that entry to nursing should be at the BSN level. Like I said, it was just a minor observation.

I understand what you are saying, but we, in the U.S. would really have to change the structure of our higher education system before mandating that a BSN be required to enter the field. Besides cost (and, frankly, there are no universities that offer a nursing degree for anywhere near the same price per credit as community colleges---not in my area, at least), it's location. The closest university that offers a BSN is 60 miles away from where I live. The next closest is 100 miles away. How would I get to school? If the university in my city offered a nursing degree, I may consider going for the BSN straight away. Maybe if we want more RN, BSN's there should be more programs. The way I see it, it's way easier to enter a RN-BSN program.

It's funny that you mention the nursing profession "lowering its standards" to accommodate those who want to pursue ASN programs, considering that throughout nursing history, BSN programs are a relatively newer thing (....anyone remember hospital diploma programs....?)

And, yes, if a BSN were required I would still want to be a nurse. Unfortunately for me, it would probably mean deferring my plans until my kids are much, much older and possibly commuting or moving.

This is why I say that requiring a BSN is limiting to some people. I don't "percieve" that I can't attend a 4-year university at the moment. I can't. Unless, of course, I can magically uproot one that offers a BSN and move it me. But that's just wishful thinking, I suppose.

I do feel that higher education in nursing is a good thing; but we need to re-vamp our educational system before that can become a reality.

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I have decided to enter an ASN (Associate of Applied Science in Nursing) program for many reasons. First and foremost, I have children to consider and a family that needs me. Secondly is the cost. I am able to attend a community college; I am unable at this time to uproot my family and move to an area with a university that offers a BSN program AND pay for said program.

Once again, the nursing profession doesn't need to be a dumping ground for all those people who have kids and/or can't afford a college degree, etc. I WAS RAISING 3 CHILDREN when I went through a BSN program. I made substantial sacrifices to get a college degree and I expect the same of everyone else who is given the same job title as me.

I had to wait YEARS before going back to school to get my MSN and practice as a nurse practitioner, because I had financial obligations to meet. There wasn't some little fast track "back door" into the NP profession, you either get a MSN or you can't become certified as a NP...PERIOD!

Have you ever seen a school teacher with an associates degree? How about an engineer, physical/occupational therapist, etc? There isn't some alternative "fast track" associates program that's going to get them certified in their profession. Did you ever think that any of those professionals had financial obligations and child care issues? I can assure you, many of them DID!

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I understand what you are saying, but we, in the U.S. would really have to change the structure of our higher education system before mandating that a BSN be required to enter the field. Besides cost (and, frankly, there are no universities that offer a nursing degree for anywhere near the same price per credit as community colleges---not in my area, at least), it's location. The closest university that offers a BSN is 60 miles away from where I live. The next closest is 100 miles away. How would I get to school? And, yes, if a BSN were required I would still want to be a nurse. Unfortunately for me, it would probably mean deferring my plans until my kids are much, much older and possibly commuting or moving.

Why should we lower our educational standards just because it's inconvenient for people to get their college degree? I had to spend $$$ to fly back and forth to Nashville AND pay for a hotel AND pay for a rental car in order to get my MSN degree because there wasn't a MSN program where I lived! I spent years saving up the money for those expenses!

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Specializes in Telemetry/Med Surg.

Nursing is certainly not a dumping ground for those who do not have their BSN degrees. Please don't start dissing people again. What worked for you, worked for you...very good...enjoy your career but please don't put down others and expect them to take the same route to become an RN as you did.

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Nursing is certainly not a dumping ground for those who do not have their BSN degrees. Please don't start dissing people again. What worked for you, worked for you...very good...enjoy your career but please don't put down others and expect them to take the same route to become an RN as you did.

I'm not putting people down, I just want our educational standards raised...end of story!

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