New laws requiring LPNs and RNs to become BSN by 2016

[Vocationofalifetime]

Hello,

I'm an LPN (since 1993), and have recently learned that LPNs and 3-year/or diploma RNs are required to become BSNs before 2016 in order to keep their jobs. The change is apparently due to the new medicare laws and 'Obamacare'. Does anyone know if this is true?

Last Summer, incidentally, I decided to pursue my BSN degree as I would like to increase knowledge and develop my skills as a hands on nurse in the field of pediatrics. Thus, I had already started down this road on my own. Interestingly, my nursing supervisor (Master's level) informed me shortly after I had enrolled in a LPN-BSN program, that it would be required by law by 2016 for all LPNs and RNs without a BSN to obtain a BSN in order to practice nursing in the future.

I haven't heard any news released about this requirement, and if it's actually true, why isn't this knowledge to all nurses (LPNs and RNs) working out in the field? I'm posting this thread to create a dialogue about this issue. Does anyone know anything about this?

Thanks!

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

on Nurse.com, i did a c.e.u that was on this topic. BSN WILL BE THE MINIMUM LEVEL OF ENTRY INTO NURSING.

Nurse.com is not the expert authority on anything. Just because one of their articles mentions something, it does not necessarily mean it's the truth. The skill of critically evaluating the sources from which you obtain your information for legitimacy will prove valuable in the future.

by 2016 we will know what min. level, entry is for nursing.

Let me whip out my crystal ball and predict what will occur in 2016...

1. I predict that the minimum level of entry for practical nursing (LPN) in the US will continue to be a 12-month certificate or diploma. Ambitious students shall choose to earn the associate of applied science (AAS) degree in practical nursing, as always. LPNs will not be phased out in 2016.

2. I predict that the minimum level of entry for professional registered nursing (RN) in the US will continue to consist of four options:

• three-year diploma in nursing

• associate of science degree in nursing (ASN)

• baccalaureate degree in nursing (BSN)

• direct-entry master of science degree in nursing (MSN)

RNs with diplomas and/or ASN degrees will not be phased out in 2016. I guarantee that my predictions will be 100 percent accurate. :)

[kbrn2002, ADN, RN]

Wow, way to bring a year and a half old thread back to life! Funny though, I did read back the old posts, and although they are well over a year old, it's really not outdated. Same now as then; while many employers are using BSN-RN as the entry level, no states are and none are likely to.

[sistasoul]

My hospital is pushing really hard to get all the ADN's to get their BSN and only hiring BSNs. I had to get my BSN. I can truthfully say the knowledge I received has very minimally helped me as a nurse and has not helped me at all at the bedside. All good information but not essential. Just my humble opinion.

[xoemmylouox, ASN, RN]

It's not going to happen in the next 2 years. M-a-y-b-e in 2040 or 2050, but I doubt it. They have said that LPNs will be phased out for how many years now? Hasn't happened. Now it is unlikely to get an inpatient position as an LPN, but some hospitals have started hiring them for certain inpatient positions. I do see a continued push to get all nurses to obtain a BSN (with little financial gain for the nurse of course), but that may slow down as well.

[RNsRWe, ASN, RN]

This thread is a good example of why all threads should be locked after one year of inactivity.

Outdated info begetting more outdated info!

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

I honestly cannot see BSN requirement becoming law.

In 1987 North Dakota had a law which had mandated that all RNs be educated at the baccalaureate (BSN) degree level and that all LPNs be educated at the associate of applied science (AAS) degree level in practical nursing.

The law had to be repealed in 2003 because it could not be enforced adequately, especially in a sporificely populated upper Midwestern state that could not afford to turn away any nurses.

[elkpark]

Iowa IS doing this. As of 2015 (April), if you have not already taken RN Boards, you will be getting a BSN. They are doing this by licensing restrictions. The first renewal is at 2 years, so at that time you must be ENROLLED in a BSN program. By the next renewal (3 years) you must have GRADUATED that program. If these requirements are not met, you will not be granted your license. RN's that take their Boards before then are obviously grandfathered in but a lot of the hospitals (even rural) are just flat out not hiring ADN grads anymore. It's a tough situation.

I realize this is an old thread and old post. However, I recently saw another posting here about how Iowa is requiring this starting in 2015. I have searched the Internet for some other mention of this, and the closest I've come is some articles from 2012 about how a group called the RN-BSN Articulation Task Force is pushing this proposal, and that this would take effect IF the BON got new administrative rules passed through the legislature. Now, I've found an article in the IA BON newsletter (May/June/July 2013 issue) on this topic that includes the following statements:

"During the September, 2012 meeting, Mary Tarbox, RN, EdD, Co-Chair of the RN to BSN Task Force of the Regional Action Coalition presented an update of the task force's work and a proposal for the board's consideration. The task force proposes a rule change in the Iowa Administrative Code for a RN to BSN licensure renewal requirement. During the October, 2012 conference call the board appointed members to the Education Standards of Practice committee and appointed Clyde Bradley, consumer, as committee chair. The committee met November 13, 2012 and December 13, 2012. The committee did not draft any rules for a RN to BSN licensure renewal requirement. ...

The Iowa Board of Nursing will continue to support increasing the number of BSN pre- pared nurses in Iowa. Currently there are not any draft rules relating to the BSN educational requirement for licensure renewal. " (Emphasis mine)

nursingald.com/uploads/publication/pdf/806/IBN5_13.pdf

This sounds to me like it's the same as the national discussion (and mandatory-DNP-for-advanced-practice discussion), the educational people in the state are pushing for it but the BON isn't biting. Does anyone else have any different or more current info? I do try to keep up with these things.

Thanks v. much!

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

In 1987 North Dakota had a law which had mandated that all RNs be educated at the baccalaureate (BSN) degree level and that all LPNs be educated at the associate of applied science (AAS) degree level in practical nursing.

The law had to be repealed in 2003 because it could not be enforced adequately, especially in a sporificely populated upper Midwestern state that could not afford to turn away any nurses.

Which just proves that a law requiring a BSN would backfire and be impractical.

[jadelpn, LPN, EMT-B]

And just as an aside, there's more than one nurse manager who will start talks of "BSN in 10", wrap it up as a "law" or a "mandate" and sell it to not only upper management (who are usually not nurses, therefore, really are taking word over proof) but to the nurses as well (you need to be/get your BSN or you will not have a job).

They can then hire new BSN's at a great deal less of a cost, work their way to "magnet" or to make the patient "feel better" or some other feather on their cap, and as a pp pointed out--current nurses who believe they are required to have a BSN and get it---are paid very, very little in addition to their current salary. (most around 25 cents more an hour).

I don't know what the answer is, other than as of late, a bachelors in customer service is probably more helpful at bedside...

[cje1015]

Yea it is so competitive to get into a bsn program nowadays.

[lovinglife2015]

Who is your source? This is exactly how misinformation spreads.

[LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN]

Here we go...