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Discussion

mandatory bsn??

Hi, i'm a 15 year LPN about to enter 4th semester RN school, projected grad date in May, '10. I have noticed multiple posts regarding advancing education to BSN. Our instructors have now given us new info regarding proposed legislation which would make it mandatory that ADN's progress to BSN within 10 years of obtaining licensure or lose your RN license. My problem with this is due to my age (41) and locale (rural SW oklahoma), I really have no desire to continue to 4yr program. I really don't see myself in administration, and in this area, the pay scale for BSN is no different than that of ADN. It's not that I have a problem with continuing ed, and kudos to those who have pursued thiers. However, what I do have a problem with is having my choices taken away by legislation. Any thoughts/info on this?

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    BSN requirements are based mostly on the Atkins study which was about pt to nurse ratios not pt to BSN ratios. Here in New Mexico this comes up and nurses with research behind them and the local papers have so far been able to table it. I have been at hearings where numbers don't add up and the Board gave up. No programs with enough openings, no increased pay, and nurses saying BSN and I leave. Some states resended BSN mandates because of nurse leaving the state. Work together, research, and the local newspapers. Good Luck

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    That's more or less how I felt about it.. if they think there is a shortage now, wait until this goes thru. I just hope I graduate soon enough to be grandfathered in..otherwise a rural mailman sounds like a cush job:) Thanks for the heads up on the Atkins thing..will certainly research it.

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    People and organizations within nursing have been talking about making the BSN the minimum requirement for RN licensure for some 30 years now, and it's no closer to happening now than it was 30 years ago. At any given moment, one state or another is considering legislation to make the BSN mandatory, but the idea rarely goes anywhere. Only one state in the US has ever actually passed such legislation, North Dakota, and they rescinded the requirement several years later, after it proved unworkable.

    Even if a state BON is committed to this, they have to get the state legislature to pass a law stating this, and the legislature gets lobbied by all the interested parties in the state (and beyond) who wouldn't want to see such a requirement passed -- the BON is just one voice of many at that point. I wouldn't worry too much about seeing this happen in your state ...

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    I've heard this, too, but I have never seen anything to make me think it's anything but a rumor. I can't find any source that states there is any pending legislation in Oklahoma regarding mandatory BSN.

    Just where do people advocating this think they are going to find enough Masters prepared nursing instructors to teach all these RN to BSN classes? Can you imagine how many there would have to be if EVERY ADN nurse in the state had to start taking these classes?

    There are good reasons to get a BSN, but I'm not too worried about it being mandatory. The most I can see them doing is eventually phasing out ADN programs.

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    Thanks guys, it really set my mind to ease to know this is not a new proprosal. Makes me wondering if it's a marketing strategy for additional funding??

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    thanks guys for putting my mind at ease; alot of my fellow students have already checked into it and if those are their aspirations, great, i wish them all the luck in the world. It just doesn't sound like it is something i would be interested in pursuring. Glad to hear it's not a new rumor...

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    • Experts
    Thanks guys, it really set my mind to ease to know this is not a new proprosal. Makes me wondering if it's a marketing strategy for additional funding??

    thanks guys for putting my mind at ease; alot of my fellow students have already checked into it and if those are their aspirations, great, i wish them all the luck in the world. It just doesn't sound like it is something i would be interested in pursuring. Glad to hear it's not a new rumor...

    It's a rumor that never goes away ... Seriously, though, there are a lot of people within nursing who sincerely believe this would be the best thing for nursing (making the BSN the minimum for RN licensure), and I'm not saying I necessarily disagree with them (although I have serious doubts about the current model of RN education most BSN programs are using), but the reality is they just don't have enough support in the larger community to make this happen.

    (As for not being interested in it for yourself, many, many nurses started out thinking that basic RN licensure and bedside nursing is all they're ever going to want, but, after they spend a while in nursing, they start to notice all the additional professional opportunities and career paths they would have with a BSN, and they start to feel differently. Fortunately, there are many BSN-completion programs "out there," many completely on line, and they are comparatively inexpensive (if you shop around) and painless to complete (compared to "basic" nursing school! :)))

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    • Experts

    I agree with the above posts: it's not going to happen any time soon.

    However, an increasing number of specific jobs are requiring a BSN -- and those jobs are not just "management" jobs. Anyone choosing to get an ADN and never continue on to get the BSN should make note of the fact that their job opportunities may narrow significantly in the future. Their job choices may be much more limited than they are now -- and they might not be happy with those limited choices.

    Finally, even though a license and a job may not require a BSN, there will be some jobs that will be popular -- and that will have lots of people interested in them. The BSN's may have an advantage getting those popular jobs even though their BSN's are not required.

    If you are prepared for that and OK with it ... then you have no problem.

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    • Author

    You know, I had never really thought about it that way..looking back, I swore once I get my LPN license, that was as far as I wanted to go with it, but am now an RN to be. I tend to get a little defensive whenever I hear the word "mandatory". ( although I grew out of most of it, I am still a little rebellious;)

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    ..looking back, I swore once I get my LPN license, that was as far as I wanted to go with it, but am now an RN to be.

    Exactly ... You may find that you have the same experience as an RN (deciding that you need or want a BSN, or even education beyond that), a ways down the road.

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