NY State may require nurses to obtain 4-year degrees

[Brian]

But some worry that an already severe shortage will become worse.

New York is mulling over a requirement that would force all RNs to earn a bachelor's degree in order to keep their RN certification-a step that critics worry could serve as a body blow to a profession already facing a severe shortage.

Under the state Board of Nursing proposal, RNs with associate's degrees would have to earn bachelor's degrees within 10 years, or their RN certifications would be downgraded to that of licensed practical nurse. That would make nursing somewhat like teaching in New York state; certified K-12 teachers need master's degrees or must obtain one within three years of starting a job. It would also add years and thousands of dollars to the difficulty of becoming an RN...

Full Article: http://www.rochesterdandc.com/news/0413BA3TIOG_news.shtml

[BJNurse]

Same fight different day. I don't usually even look at ADN vs BSN threads anymore because I just can't stand to see nurses bickering back and forth about who's better, more qualified, etc. I was however intrigued by the state actually mandating a BSN. Personally, I think whoever is proposing this in the middle of a huge nursing shortage either has huge kahunas or is a few cards short of deck, or maybe both. I personally am an ADN grad. I have been in nursing for 7 years and my career has taken me from med/surg to SICU to the cardiac cath lab. I feel that I am a highly skilled nurse and I am no better or worse than a BSN prepared nurse with the same resume. I have considered going back for my BSN but right now unless someone "shows me the money" I am happy with my degree. I am not prepared to pay for the BSN degree to go back to my same position for the same pay. If I worked in NY, I would go back if they made me but I would definatley make sure the powers that be know how displeased I was. But more importantly why do we as nurses allow things like this to divide us? United we are a huge lobbying group who could affect great changes in our political system, improve our public image and increase our status in the workplace. I have always believed in picking your battles, I sincerely hope the ADN vs BSN battle isn't the one we choose.

[subee, MSN, CRNA]

It will not come to pass. BSN programs are lacking in hands on. They center on menagement.....We have enough of them already.....

And they concentrate too much on spelling.

[PennyLane, RN]

And they concentrate too much on spelling.

Ouch! :uhoh21:

[Alnamvet]

The good thing, though, is that any bachelor's will do..for those with bachelors in other fields, no problem. Some may want the opportunity to pursue a bachelors in psych, for example, where this major would have more to do with psych nursing than a generic bsn. Social work would be another area for those inclined towards case management. Speaking of management, for those future office weenies, why not a bachelors in business or accounting? Interested in epidimeology? heck, a bachelors in the biological sciences is perfect. Want to be a forensic nurse examiner? Go to John J College of Criminal Justice, and get a bachelors in criminology. As long as it's a bchelors degree that you can use in your practice, I don't think 10 years to obtain it is a burden. Now if you don't plan on staying in NY, your ADN is no different than a bsn...they both accomplish the same thing, except for the addition of community health and an assessment course. Personally, I don't think it will fly, atleast not any time soon. North Dakota just got rid of that requirement.

[Sheri257]

As long as they don't make it an immediate requirement, it wouldn't be so bad. If they tried to do that in California, it would be a disaster. California has 70 ADN programs versus 20 BSNs. Talk about a nursing shortage.

I'm not sure why any bachelor's would do. The study they cited examined BSNs, so that would seem to thwart the primary justification for all of this.

Just about every state university in California has either implemented an online ADN-BSN program or has plans to do so. So, given a 10 year time frame, that hopefully wouldn't be too bad since you have to do continuing education anyway. Those progams are cheaper too, and most employers pay for them.

I tend to agree with this somewhat, but I think it should probably be a BSN requirement, not any bachelors. Hell, I could go get a bachelor's in home ecomonics and that would supposedly make me a better nurse?

[Alnamvet]

As long as they don't make it an immediate requirement, it wouldn't be so bad. If they tried to do that in California, it would be a disaster. California has 70 ADN programs versus 20 BSNs. Talk about a nursing shortage.

I'm not sure why any bachelor's would do. The study they cited examined BSNs, so that would seem to thwart the primary justification for all of this.

Just about every state university in California has either implemented an online ADN-BSN program or has plans to do so. So, given a 10 year time frame, that hopefully wouldn't be too bad since you have to do continuing education anyway. Those progams are cheaper too, and most employers pay for them.

I tend to agree with this somewhat, but I think it should probably be a BSN requirement, not any bachelors. Hell, I could go get a bachelor's in home ecomonics and that would supposedly make me a better nurse?

[/

It might help if you aspire to being a diabetes educator, or a home health nurse. BTW, it is any bachelors...all graduate nursing schools in NYS require a bachelors degree, and if not a bsn, they ask that you have a course in health assessment and community health, both waiverable through testing out or experience. New York is not so anal as to think that the bsn is the only valid preparation for graduate nursing studies. :)

[Sheri257]

New York is not so anal as to think that the bsn is the only valid preparation for graduate nursing studies. :)

Yes, but the study they cite in the article concerned BSNs. I read it. Isn't that the reason for this requirement?

It seems contradictory, to say the least, to allow some other bachelor's degree, when the primary justification is a study based on BSNs.

Not to mention, the whole argument has always been about ADN versus BSN, not ADN and some other bachelor's degree.

[pama]

Just another attempt to eliminate the ADN program. In all the recommendations for BSN as the entry level they fail to inform the public and legislators the ADN program is the only one based on research. The research behind the implementation of the ADN is the reason the programs have been extremely successful for 50+ years and will continue to be successful!

I will be surprised if this occurs in NY. Especially since ND no longer requires the BSN as entry.

[kathc]

Another one that thinks this is a bad idea. Right now I'm attending LPN school in NY, but I plan on getting my RN in the next few years. I agree that it will only hurt the nursing shortage. From the article I read they based looking at this due to a study that many feel is flawed. This type of requirement will really make a lot of people think twice about getting their RN - especially those looking at nursing as a new career after working for 10 or 20 years.

I figure by the time the state gets around to looking at it and maybe implementing it, I will hopefully have my RN. At that point I can work on the extra two years they require.

[trent]

Nurses in the province on Ontario now have only the choice of BSN to obtain their RN licence. The major reasons that have been cited for this change are:

1. professionalism (Other professionals have Bachelor degrees and if nurses want to be treated as professional equals it makes sense that they should too)

2. keeping pace with the technological side of nursing (nurses need to know more now than ever before, so they should understand what they are doing and why)

3. there was a study done (I don't know where or by who, it just keeps being mentioned at school) that found that patients had fewer complications if they were treated by BSN RNs

4. critical thinking skills are emphasized more at the university level.

There are not MY reasons, these are the reasons cited by the Ontario government and the faculty in my program. I'd be interested to hear your opinions.

trent

Edited to add: If you got your RN licence before June 2004 you don't NEED to do the RN-BSN classes, although it is recommended. You can't lose your job for not having a BSN.

[OC_An Khe]

I think it is a good idea and about time. It should have no impact on the shortage and in fact may help releive the shortage in the long run.

[beth07]

It will not come to pass. BSN programs are lacking in hands on. They center on menagement.....We have enough of them already.....

Hi everyone, i'm a first time user here and I'd just like to give my opinion on this. I know this is a common misconception among a lot of individuals, and it really at times, gets on my nerves. We have one management class yes, but we also have a lot more clinical time required than other nursing degrees. Right now, I'm in my last semester and I have 24-32 hours of clinical a week and they have ranged from critical care to going along and doing medical assessments on CPS cases. A good BSN program is NOT lacking in hands on. We actually have more clinical hours than other programs. I'm not at all trying to put down people who have worked hard for their degree, but two more years is nothing to sneeze at. It is hard work. Glad to be here!:)