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 Day program consultant DD/MR.

I received a brochure of sorts from TCN stating that the RN with a BSN makes over $20,000 more a year than that of an "RN" ( they do not state diploma or ADN). I know some places pay a little more for the BSN but from most post in this thread as well as other on AN I know it not a significant amount and can't imagine that it is $20,000 yr difference. I want to send this back to them with " FALSE ADVERTISMENT" writen in sharpie on it.....lol

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Specializes in Neurovascular, Ortho, Community Health.

It's not about the pay if your aspiration is to be a hospital nurse, then you will be paid the going rate. However, many autonomous positions (such as an office nurse), managerial positions, etc., DO require more than an associate's, logically.

The push for a B.S.N. requirement is not about clinical skills at all. It is to legitimize nurses as respectable professionals and not just skilled workers or a technical trade. There are not many positions in other fields in which you can be considered a "professional" unless you have a bachelor's degree. Why does nursing settle for less?

Also, the push for the B.S.N. aims to standardize nursing. This is another major step in changing the image of nursing to that of professionals. Nurses with A.A.'s, diplomas, B.S.N.'s....nursing education is a jumble that really does need to be sorted out. We wonder why often times we don't get the respect we deserve. I think the B.S.N. push is a positive step towards garnering that respect.

I'm not knocking those with A.A.'s or anything like that, but, you do get what you pay for. And I'm not just talking about your hourly rate.

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Specializes in Med-Surg.
I received a brochure of sorts from TCN stating that the RN with a BSN makes over $20,000 more a year than that of an "RN" ( they do not state diploma or ADN). I know some places pay a little more for the BSN but from most post in this thread as well as other on AN I know it not a significant amount and can't imagine that it is $20,000 yr difference. I want to send this back to them with " FALSE ADVERTISMENT" writen in sharpie on it.....lol

They probably aren't talking about starting salary for new grad BSNs, but are factoring in people like Directors, VPs, professors, people with positions of influence and experience.

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I received a brochure of sorts from TCN stating that the RN with a BSN makes over $20,000 more a year than that of an "RN" ( they do not state diploma or ADN). I know some places pay a little more for the BSN but from most post in this thread as well as other on AN I know it not a significant amount and can't imagine that it is $20,000 yr difference. I want to send this back to them with " FALSE ADVERTISMENT" writen in sharpie on it.....lol

I worked from Texas/Oklahoma to NYC as a RN and the most I made was $1.00 more per hour than an ADN. They are obviously including nurse managers or some upper management positions in their pay differentials.

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Specializes in Day program consultant DD/MR.

There is a little asterisk at the botton that says it is for " less than 10 years experience" so maybe you are right. But if they are sending it to LVN's and they do not see the little asterisk they might be misled to believing that off the bat if they go the BSN route they will automatically make more than the ADN nurse, even for bedside nursing.

I am not knocking the BSN as this is what I plan on obtaining becuase I want to ultmatley get into QA or UR.

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I read an article that said in the next ten years nurses with a certificate or an Asscociate degree must obtain a BSN. Is this in written in STONE ? I know knowledge is power, but I dont wish to go back to school. I have been 35years old for the last 10yrs, I am thinking of slowing down from my busy med-surg unit, going back to school is not in the cards for me right now. my job is forcing me to learn oncology,advance computer,etc. I dont mind its very helpful, but seating in a classroom or online. not now:crying2:. Does anyone feel the same way or is it just me.:redlight:

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Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.
I read an article that said in the next ten years nurses with a certificate or an Asscociate degree must obtain a BSN. Is this in written in STONE ?

*** Not only is it not written in stone, it's not even true. Whoever told you that is either lying or badly misinformed.

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I don't know that it will be a requirment to have a BSN but it sure seems to be leaning in that direction. My supervisors at work recently got their BSN and lord and be hold since then all they have hired were BSN when before they did not consider the degree as much as they did the experience. I asked one of them about it, the one that wouldn't hold it against me, and she told me that times were just changing.

That is interesting....our night clinical supervisor is working on her BSN also and would NOT have received her position without making that commitment. We have a considerable nursing shortage in Arizona but our floor according to our manager (which also has a high turnover rate due to the demands of the specialty) has 80% BSN rate. That is really high. I am working on mine as are several of my peers. But I think the high ratio of BSN RN's is partly due to the encouragement of management and tuition reimbursement. Not sure I would do it otherwise as much as I would like to. Even so I am constantly butting heads with my husband about the need to finish my BSN. But our hospital also has a ladder program that rewards nurses who complete their BSN, join committees, being certified in our specialty etc...so there are multiple incentives. I have definitely seen its value as I apply to practice what I am learning along the way. Probably learning a lot more than nurses who got their BSN prior to clinical practice. Certainly am taking a lot more nursing courses doing it step by step for sure.

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I hold a BA, MA and a JD, but my nursing degree - which is my most recent degree - is an ADN. I feel that I received a great nursing education and I was shocked to find out that the BSNs in my orientation class NEVER did rhythm strips in school. We spent a good portion of our final semester reading different strips. So, are those BSNs really any better than me and my fellow ADNs? And not for nothing, but my mom has a nursing diploma and she can run circles around any nurse. Those who have a BSN have definitely made quite an accomplishment - and I think it is great to encourage further education - but to mandate a BSN would be a shame.

On our floor anyone with a bachelors degree is respected every bit as much as a BSN. And yes practically speaking I think the focus in a ADN program is so different than a BSN program that you couldn't begin to compare them. I am glad I got my ADN first and now am building on my knowledge with evidence based practice in my post RN to BSN program. I have learned a lot.

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Specializes in Med-Surg.
*** Not only is it not written in stone, it's not even true. Whoever told you that is either lying or badly misinformed.

What's interesting is the persistance of the rumor. The OP to this thread posted in 2004........the person you are responding to posted the same rumor today. :banghead:

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
I read an article that said in the next ten years nurses with a certificate or an Asscociate degree must obtain a BSN. Is this in written in STONE ? I know knowledge is power, but I dont wish to go back to school. I have been 35years old for the last 10yrs, I am thinking of slowing down from my busy med-surg unit, going back to school is not in the cards for me right now. my job is forcing me to learn oncology,advance computer,etc. I dont mind its very helpful, but seating in a classroom or online. not now:crying2:. Does anyone feel the same way or is it just me.:redlight:

I doubt if one letter in this is true in actuality, but I know that they have been speaking about this for many years...

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Specializes in Emergency & Trauma/Adult ICU.
I read an article that said in the next ten years nurses with a certificate or an Asscociate degree must obtain a BSN. Is this in written in STONE ?

Please cite the article and also let us know in which one of the 50 states this is happening. ;):banghead:

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