Nurses being forced to go back to school

firstinfamily, RN · Sep 10, 2014

hrtnsol, I feel your pain. I put myself through ADN college in 1981 only to come out with my state representatives deciding that any nurse that did not have their BSN would be considered a "technical" nurse and would have to take their state boards again unless they had their BSN in a certain time. I continued to get my BSN. I was the only RN in my class. I could test out of a few nursing classes, but it was ridiculous, I was not allowed to test out of nursing 101 taking vital signs when I was an ICU nurse!!! I sucked it up and finished it 4 years later. I truly have not gotten a lot of benefits from my BSN, it fulfilled my needs, but financially it really did not make a difference. I was ready to work in the hospital with my ADN training, and I am sure those who had RN diplomas received better clinical training than I did. However,the world in which we live today requires higher education, even for the burger joints. Your facility should have some form of tuition reimbursement especially if they are requiring you to get your BSN. There are a lot of financial aid packages out there. I agree that anyone older than 50 should be exempt from this requirement, talk to your managers!! IS this due to your facility trying to achieve Magnet status??

APRN., DNP, RN, APRN, NP · Sep 10, 2014

You seemed to suggest a correlation:

There shouldn’t be a correlation. ADN’s should be taught statistical analysis and EBP research to provide for better patient outcomes. I don’t make up the curriculum of schools. I only see the evidence that points to EBP as providing for better patient outcomes BECAUSE OF experienced nurses who share their knowledge. I am not personally aware of mainstream ADN curriculum that routinely incorporates statistical analysis and EBP and nursing research methods. I am only aware of BSN and graduate degree programs that provide this education. There ARE ADN’s who are knowledgable of statistical analysis and EBP and nursing research, but current research does not put them anywhere near the majority; not even close.

Hospitals shouldn’t be threatening current nursing staff with their jobs for not having their BSN’s or graduate degrees, instead, they should invest in and provide education for their nurses (even BNS’s) who do not understand EBP.

MunoRN, RN · Sep 10, 2014

...There ARE ADN’s who are knowledgable of statistical analysis and EBP and nursing research, but current research does not put them anywhere near the majority; not even close...

What research are you referring to?

APRN., DNP, RN, APRN, NP · Sep 10, 2014

What research are you referring to?

"....To date, minimal literature has addressed strategies to prepare AD students to assist in the research process. Inquiries with two professors associated with an AD nursing program yielded no leads regarding literature related to teaching about research in AD nursing programs. In addition, the university librarian was unable to locate journal articles or books addressing research in AD programs."

Ayers, D., & Coeling, H. (2005). Educational innovations. Incorporating research into associate degree nursing curricula. Journal Of Nursing Education, 44(11), 515-518.

Roberts, D. (2013). What's the Problem with EBP?. Med-Surg Matters, 22(5), 279.

[TABLE=class: titles-row-linkspage inhibit-add-to-mp]

[TR]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD][/TD]

[TD=class: titles-checkbox][/TD]

[TD=class: titles-record][/TD]

[TD=class: titles-links][/TD]

[/TR]

[/TABLE]

Smutko, Thorpe. (1998). Introducing ADN students to nursing research. Nurse Educator. 23(4):13-5, 1998 Jul-Aug.

Vanhook, P., (2009). Overcoming the barriers to EBP. Nursing Management. 40(8):9-11, 2009 August, ISSN 0744-6314

The future of nursing: the institute of medicine (IOM) issues report. The future of nursing: leading change, advancing health. (2011). Nursing News, 35(1),

Stalirris · Sep 10, 2014

Keeping abreast of current literature, in my field of specialty, and going to Critical Care/Trauma conferences is the practice of following/learning best EBP. Why else waste my time doing it? I have done it all my career because I want to provide the best care for my patients and luckily, for me, find the scientific process fascinating. I love to learn and be challenged, which is why I work Critical Care. Learning a new skill, while providing safe, appropriate care is why I love nursing.

The BSN classes are too general for much benefit to me at the bedside. Sure I enjoyed Global Health and Issues in Aging, but I enjoy learning and like the instant gratification of carrying a 3.9 GPA.

subee, MSN, CRNA · Sep 12, 2014

To the OP: Graduated with BSN in 1975. Writing was on the wall then. If you thought you were going to be able to finish a career with ADN in a crowded market, you were living in la-la land. Yes, many people made it to retirement, but as you are learning, your personal price for not continuing your education is that you have to do it later in life when obstacles seem so much larger:). You never know how long you may have to work, or whether you will retire as in ICU nurse.

NicuGal, MSN, RN · Sep 12, 2014

Graduated with a diploma in 1984 and we were always assured then, and for many years after, we would be grandfathered in. Not the case. It really isn't far fetched to think ADN programs will be phased out, it happened with diploma programs.

I tell my kids' friends to just go for the BSN, I even tell my friends this. I went for my BSN and MSN because I was offered a management job that I really wanted and those were the terms, but many of my friends have not gone back and are now worried that when we retire in the next 2 years, they will not be eligible for rehire into the retired PRN pool. 30 years of experience is trumped by a piece of paper. It makes me sad because these are girls that can come back and walk into any assignment/charge/situation and function better than a new person or float.

elkpark · Sep 12, 2014

Graduated with a diploma in 1984 and we were always assured then, and for many years after, we would be grandfathered in. Not the case. It really isn't far fetched to think ADN programs will be phased out, it happened with diploma programs.

I graduated from a diploma program in 1984, and we were told repeatedly throughout our program that we should plan on returning to school to complete a BSN in the future (at our convenience) -- that the diploma we were earning was an entry into nursing practice, not a terminal degree. My school even had (by the time I was there, 1981-1984) an agreement with a local college with a BSN program that my school's graduates were guaranteed acceptance into the college's BSN program, and could complete a BSN in one calendar year of study (it was a private (nonprofit) college and quite expensive, so I didn't pursue that option; I completed a BSN at a state university several years later).

NicuGal, MSN, RN · Sep 12, 2014

It must have been regional. All the diploma schools in our area were told the same thing. The hospital where our school was located, and even the one I hired into, which had its own school, were all told the same thing. The point is...why be willing to blow off 30 years experience?

elkpark · Sep 13, 2014

The point is...why be willing to blow off 30 years experience?

Because times, and expectations, change. People used to be able to get a good-paying job, have a successful career, support a family, and have a comfortable, middle-class life with just a high-school diploma, but that's not really possible any more. Those days are gone, and they're not coming back. I don't hear a lot of people complaining about how unfair and unreasonable that is.

brandy1017, ASN, RN · Sep 15, 2014

Because times, and expectations, change. People used to be able to get a good-paying job, have a successful career, support a family, and have a comfortable, middle-class life with just a high-school diploma, but that's not really possible any more. Those days are gone, and they're not coming back. I don't hear a lot of people complaining about how unfair and unreasonable that is.

I think people have been talking about this and whether college is worth it. Recently I saw a report that said 47% of college grads are underemployed working in a job where a degree wasn't necessary and obviously low paid! But the media blindly keeps saying college is still worth it. This is not always the case as it is obvious to anyone with eyes to see! Many have gone into nursing with a prior college degree because they couldn't get a decent job. Unfortunately for them, even though they have a Bachelors if they chose an ADN, they may too be forced to go back to college and take out more student loans for the almighty BSN! Even though I live in a large city with many colleges I only know of one acellerated BSN program and that was discontinued so I'm sure there are many RN's that already have a college degree, but not the coveted BSN.

If you are forced to get a BSN to keep your job all you can do is look for the lowest cost program you can find and keep student loans to a minimum.

subee, MSN, CRNA · Sep 15, 2014

Is is worth it to have a college education in order to get or keep a job?