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.

Ok I think before continuing on with this subject you got back and read the real subject at hand. We are getting off track.

In Nursing there are many "entry" points to be a nurse, LPN/LVN, RN, and BSN. The talk, for a while with the powers to be has been to have just one entry point into nursing and that would be the BSN (there has been some talk that the min to work beside would be MSN, but that wont go far.) This subject is a very emotional subject for many people. Some people beleive that if that was true, then the current RN's wouldn't be allowed to practice any longer, that is NOT true. I'm sure they would be grandfathered in without problem. I am one of the people who think that a BSN should be the entry point to bedside nursing. My reason is simple, nursing is looked at as a vocation, not a profression. Yes, there are many nurses who would disagree with my statement, BUT, Joe public is one who thinks this. Many professions in the healthcare field require a BS to work, many require a Masters (Speech, OT and PT.)

OK with yuo, I'm sure if you would have gone to your local University and talked to thier counselor you would have seen things differently regarding your low GPA.

Now your comment about BSN and Management.... First off I know many nurses who do not have thier BSNs who are in management, but things are slowly moving away from that. Granted when people come right out of school they only know Theory, not mch practial, but that changes with time. So the new grad BSN may not know everything, after a year on the floor they would be a different person. Just mark my words, BSN will be the Min degree to work bedside within the next 10 yrs.

I'm sure there are other programs out there, but my point remains the same - my gpa from when I was a kid in college is lower than what accelerated BSN & grad programs want. So, if ADN and diploma programs were not available, I would not be starting my nursing career.

Plus, having a BSN qualifies you for management???? Please. I can't tell you how many fresh MBAs I saw in the corporate world that couldn't manage their way out of a paper bag. Not all, but more than a few.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Progressive Tele.

There are many business degress out there, ,myself I have a BA is Business Management, and yes, my thoery work in school was braod which allowed me to be able to go in many different directions.

In the last 10-15 yrs, nursing has really changed, nurses today not only work beisde nursing, but they are market Reps, UR nurses, Product reps, educators and so on. Well the class's in the BSN programs change in the future, YES... I'm sure there will be some "track" one can take in the future to give the theory that the BSN student wants. Whether its, clinical track or a business track. Nursing is trying to keep up with the changes that are happening, but the changes are changing so fast that its tough...

Nursing seems to be one of the few professions that doesn't recognize skills well, but seems to have some tunnel vision on the DEGREE. For example, you can get a business degree and go into a TON of fields (marketing, public relations, management, finance, etc.) for which you may not have specialized training. However, your degree gave you the SKILLS you needed to succeed in that particular field. I personally went into public relations with a Communication degree and zero training in PR -- I had the skills I needed to succeed, though, and I was quickly promoted to management.

I think nursing should also recognize SKILLS instead of just focusing on the specific degree. Does my Communication degree relate to nursing directly? No. Will the critical thinking, research, management, communication, business, ethics and all the other skills gained through a very extensive core curriculum help me to be a better nurse? Absolutely. Taken all together, my total curriculum will be almost identical to the curriculum for a BSN (I've researched this).

With the vast number of BA or BS (non-BSN) RNs out there, I think it's important to remember that the BSN vs. diploma/ADN discussion isn't about a 4-year degree and a 2-year degree. I'll have had 8 years of college and accrued over 200 credits when I become an RN. I think that education is worth a lot.

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Specializes in Emergency.
OK with yuo, I'm sure if you would have gone to your local University and talked to thier counselor you would have seen things differently regarding your low GPA.

I did. The local Accelerated BSN program spelled it out quite clearly for me. They want a minimum of 3.0 and are in reality only accepting 3.75 and above. This is also reflected in other posts. So, for someone in my position in the future, a mandatory BSN is a major roadblock to entering nursing.

I still don't understand the difference between a BSN and a BS/BA RN...

Just mark my words, BSN will be the Min degree to work bedside within the next 10 yrs.

I think we simply need to agree to disagree on this one.

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Specializes in Nursing Ed, Ob/GYN, AD, LTC, Rehab.
This is simple there are many bridge programs out there that allow folks with other undergrad degress to get thier BSN as well as MSN's in the same amount of time as getting their ADN. Look at www.UCSf.EDU for more info on this. They are the leader in this type of program.

Couldnt have said it better myself!

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Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.

I am one of the people who think that a BSN should be the entry point to bedside nursing. My reason is simple, nursing is looked at as a vocation, not a profression.

*** IMO punching a time clock (rather than billing for service) does far more to religate RNs to vocation status rather than entry to practice point.

Yes, there are many nurses who would disagree with my statement, BUT, Joe public is one who thinks this. Many professions in the healthcare field require a BS to work, many require a Masters (Speech, OT and PT.)

*** Yes, professions who can bill directly for their service. How many of the profession that get paid by the hour (usually) require a 4 year degree for entry? Very few.

I think one thing that MUST be addressed before requiring a BSN for entry into practice is RN working condition and pay. Sure RN pay is OK for a community college degree grad. Not, IMO for a person who forked out for a full 4 year degree. Same for working conditions.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Progressive Tele.

Check on line schools, I'm willing to bet you will find a school that will take you with no problems.

There has to be a set standard, Engineers did this 20 yrs ago to be a Professional Engineer you MUST have a undgrad in Engineering to sit for thier boards... Many other professions as well.

I did. The local accelerated BSN program spelled it out quite clearly for me. They want a minimum of 3.0 and are in reality only accepting 3.75 and above. This is also reflected in other posts. So, for someone in my position in the future, a mandatory BSN is a major roadblock to entering nursing.

I still don't understand the difference between a BSN and a BS/BA RN...

I think we simply need to agree to disagree on this one.

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Specializes in Emergency.
Check on line schools, I'm willing to bet you will find a school that will take you with no problems.

I think you misunderstand what I'm trying to say here.

I have no interest in obtaining a BSN. I'm an diploma RN with a BS in another field. When I continue with my education, it'll be a the masters level, not gaining another bachelors.

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Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.
I think you misunderstand what I'm trying to say here.

I have no interest in obtaining a BSN. I'm an diploma RN with a BS in another field. When I continue with my education, it'll be a the masters level, not gaining another bachelors.

*** I agree, what purpose would a BSN serve you and the many nurses in similar situations? Now that there are a fair number of direct RN to MSN programs that neither require a BSN for admission, nor grant one in the process of earning an MSN the BSN is starting to look a little tired to me.

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Specializes in Emergency & Trauma/Adult ICU.
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.

You have mistaken a non-profit advocacy group for an actual regulatory body. Here's the mission statement of the Washington Center for Nursing.

http://www.wacenterfornursing.org/html/mission/index.htm

It is not a regulatory or legislative body. I'm sure this group is politically active and lobbies for changes in the licensure of RNs in Washington, but they have no authority to actually enact change -- that would have to come from the Washington state legislature.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Progressive Tele.

Nope I didn't misunderstand at all.

BUT, I think you are looking at the problem with blinders on.. First, you stated that your GPA for your first undergrad was 2.75, too low to get into a MSN program. But if you go back and get your BSN and get a 3.0 or higher then a MSN is within reach. I learned a while back that you might have to go backwards to go forwards. So suck it up, get your BSN with a better GPA then apply for your MSN.. Now if that wont work for you, then I don't know what to tell you..

I think you misunderstand what I'm trying to say here.

I have no interest in obtaining a BSN. I'm an diploma RN with a BS in another field. When I continue with my education, it'll be a the masters level, not gaining another bachelors.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Progressive Tele.

Well if you read all of the guys postings, his first understands GPA is too low to get into a bridge MSN program...

*** I agree, what purpose would a BSN serve you and the many nurses in similar situations? Now that there are a fair number of direct RN to MSN programs that neither require a BSN for admission, nor grant one in the process of earning an MSN the BSN is starting to look a little tired to me.
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Specializes in Emergency.
Well if you read all of the guys postings, his first understands GPA is too low to get into a bridge MSN program...

Well, you also said "Check on line schools, I'm willing to bet you will find a school that will take you with no problems." So, I'll try that route down the road. No rush to get an MSN at this point.

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