Is it true that a BSN will be mandatory soon?

Conqueror+, BSN, RN · Jul 15, 2008

I understand the varying points of view. I dont appreciate the way that SOME BSN MSN etc nurses look down upon non BSN nurses. I went fron CNA to LPN to RN and it has benefited me more than I could have imagined. There are prejudices of all kinds that i have seen from every angle and I firmly believe in my heart that if we start this then the next thing will be WHERE did you go to school ? and What certifications do you have ? IT WILL NOT STOP. People talk about other profession such as doctors. We will absolutely become like them with all of the snobbery, seperatism, and elitism that they have as an integral part of their profession. We used to be a close knit sisterhood and later brotherhood. Now I think that many of us are striving to move us toward a homogenized reflection of what we see as greener grass. The grass is greener where you water and fertilize it.

PMFB-RN, RN · Jul 16, 2008

But it is not like that in areas where there are BSN programs.

*** There are several BSN programs in the area, including on at the hospital. It replaced the diploma program.

It is a must to have at least a BSN for a management position.

*** DO people get management jobs with just a BSN? AT other hospitals I have worked managers seemed to have MSNs mostly.

I remember the hospital where I graduated from and worked after graduation. It was the same thing. All of the managers and head nurses were graduates of the diploma program and they ran it like the Mafia. It was awful. They has no management experience and it showed.

*** I think out unit managers do a good job but they do run it like the mafia. I think those above them in the department head jobs do not do a good job. IMO

It will change in your hospital as more and more nurses are hired that have BSNs and they go after the management positons.

*** Currently BSN prepared nurse outnumber associates and diploma RNs in my hospital about 3 to 1 according to the Magnet meeting I went to recently. In my SICU nurses with MSNs (9 out or 54) out number associates degree RNs (7 out of 54). Still a few diploma RNs with the rest being BSNs.

don't disagree with you that a bachelors degree should be required of RNs. I just don't think it should HAVE to be a BSN but rather a BSN or one of the more useful and applicable 4 year degrees should meet the requirement.

jjjoy, LPN · Jul 17, 2008

In my ideal world, getting professional nursing license would be similar to becoming a CPA or teacher. A bachelor's degree AND certification/licensure coursework.

All nursing programs would require a bachelor's degree and specific pre-nursing coursework such as A&P, microbio, psych, etc. A pre-nursing major, like a pre-med major, would complete all pre-reqs as part of their undergrad degree.

Nursing school itself would also be different. One year would qualify a person as a level-1 professional nurse (medication administration, nursing assessment, common disease processes, common medications, health maintenance, life cycle health issues). Clinicals would be in long term care (geriatrics) and community health (children, lifestyle issues). For those planning to work in acute care though, an additional year of school would focus solely on hospital nursing - Level 2 nursing (or some other special designation). Well, these are just thoughts.

But I realize that my ideal world doesn't exist. If something like that actually took off, I imagine hospitals would lobby for the right to replace nurses with techs who didn't require all that education and wouldn't demand as high of wages. And nurses who think that requiring a bachelor's degree for nursing is overkill and would unnecessarily restrict too many potential nurses from entering the field would also be against such an idea.

NexLvlDad · Jul 17, 2008

If an individual can pass the NCLEX and perform adequately, who cares if the individual holds a BSN, ADN or a diploma. I don't think nursing is such the disenfranchised profession in healthcare because the perception is that a nurse brings 1 year of school preparation. To help the profession there has to be more pragmatic challenges to tackle that will actually result in improved conditions, treatment and respect of nurses throughout healthcare. What's interesting is how difficult it is to enter and endure law school to become a lawyer and yet any one without a law degree or any other educational preparation can sit for the bar exam and if passed can practice law.

kjetski · Jul 17, 2008

I am seeing a theme here and it is business as usual.

Who is funding the junkets/seminars for our legislatures? For profit schools. Follow the money.

OrionQuiltsRN · Jul 21, 2008

If my research is correct, North Dakota already requires a BSN to practice. My nursing instructors informed us this week that in 2012, Washington State will require BSN degrees to practice. A grandfather clause will be in effect. Personally, if we wanted to become a "profession" this is what has to happen. Nurses have wanted to be recognized for the professionals that we are. I don't know if this is the best first step, but it is happening. I will complete my ADN soon. I would be grandfathered in, but I want my BSN for personal reasons. Hang on, it's going to be a bumpy ride!

emtb2rn, BSN, RN, EMT-B · Jul 21, 2008

If my research is correct, North Dakota already requires a BSN to practice. My nursing instructors informed us this week that in 2012, Washington State will require BSN degrees to practice.

Nope, ND does not require a BSN to practice. The ND BON lists both bachelors and associates programs as approved to practice in the state.

I cannot find anything about a mandatory BSN in Washington by 2012. I searched the Washington BON, the state legislative website and the Washington State Nurses Association. Nothing. I would suggest asking your instructors where they got that information. Ya know, cite the source....

OrionQuiltsRN · Jul 21, 2008

I suspect it has just come down the pipe. The Director of Nursing in our program was informing our class just last week. There has been movement afoot for years about the issue. In my area having your BSN makes a difference in your salary, and allows for more lateral and upward mobility. My hospital will pay me to get my BSN, and then increase my salary, so it's a win-win. I don't think having your BSN makes you a better nurse than an ADN nurse. Only your passion and your heart can do that.:heartbeat

emtb2rn, BSN, RN, EMT-B · Jul 21, 2008

"I suspect it has just come down the pipe. The Director of Nursing in our program was informing our class just last week. There has been movement afoot for years about the issue."

So, your director informed you about legislation that was going to become law that isn't yet on the table in the legislature? Might be a long wait...

Here in NJ, this topic has been an undercurrent for years. Apparently, ever since the BSN programs really took hold. Hasn't gone anywhere. Yet.

Altra, BSN, RN · Jul 22, 2008

If my research is correct, North Dakota already requires a BSN to practice. My nursing instructors informed us this week that in 2012, Washington State will require BSN degrees to practice. A grandfather clause will be in effect. Personally, if we wanted to become a "profession" this is what has to happen. Nurses have wanted to be recognized for the professionals that we are. I don't know if this is the best first step, but it is happening. I will complete my ADN soon. I would be grandfathered in, but I want my BSN for personal reasons. Hang on, it's going to be a bumpy ride!

North Dakota implemented its BSN requirement for RNs in 1987 but repealed it in 2003.

Can you provide a source for the supposed changes in Washington state? I can find no reference to it within the Washington Administrative Code Chapter 246-840 which deals with practical and registered nursing.

http://apps.leg.wa.gov/WAC/default.aspx?cite=246-840

Nor can I find any reference to such a change in a listing of recent legislation passed this spring. http://www.leg.wa.gov/documents/lic/Documents/Statistical%20Reports/cutoff.pdf

OrionQuiltsRN · Jul 22, 2008

I knew I had read about ND. Okay, the information from Washington comes from the Washington Center for Nursing. It is not 2012, but 2020, which is a ways down the road. www.WACenterforNursing.org.

In the Latest News link, you can read Washington State's Master Plan. But a brief synopsis goes like this: "We recommend that beginning in 2020, all newly licensed RN's in Washington State have or acquire a Bachelor's degree in Nursing within 10 years of licensure. This recommendation does not affect nurses currently practicing at that time."

In the Master Plan, 2012 is the year that ADN programs should have agreements in place with BSN programs to allow RN's to easily slip into RN to BSN programs. I got this emailed to me from an instructor tonight. They got the years incorrect, and it is NOT yet mandatory. They are going to have to pay nursing instructors more money before they can require nurses to have their BSNs. Sad fact is that as an acure care nurse I can make more money than my instructors with all their years of experience. When instructors make a living wage, the colleges will be able to graduate more nurses. Hope this helps.

ann945n, RN · Jul 22, 2008

I for one support entry level RN's being BSN. I went from CNA to LPN to RN ADN and now almost an RN BSN. Having gone through every level of nursing so far I can see the benefits to all my levels of education. I think uniting all RN's under one degree will only further unify the profession and give us more ground to advance our practice but also there is a lot I have noticed that was missing in my ADN program that my BSN program is now filling in. I think all ADN programs should be allowed to have some sort of time frame to allow them to partner with 4 year university to offer their programs as BSN programs so we dont loose critical nursing school programs. Hopefully that will happen in Washington state but like anything change is hard!