One Voice

Brownms46 · Oct 5, 2003

norinradd, would that we could. Nice thought though:)

SmilingBluEyes · Oct 5, 2003

I agree single-point entry into RN practice IS desireable. I have no problem w/this concept, even though I hold an ADN myself.

But making it REALITY will take a lot more than pipe-dreaming and rhetoric. You have to make it ACCESSIBLE for the people to come. Right now, 60% of us are ADN-prepared RN's in the USA. Changing that to all-BSN is a monumental undertaking. That is a whole lot of people and resources we are talking about.

norinradd · Oct 5, 2003

It would be a hugh change from how we are now. Remember though, how many seats (real or virtual) in ADN programs are filled with LPNs and how many seats in BSRN by ADN. Even with some increases in programs we are not meeting the demand for nurses.

Most nurses are still female. How do you encourage your daughter to go into this area as things stand. Historicaly women were expected to be housewives, teachers or nurses and after WWII, factory workers. But now with a degree they have so many options with better pay, respect and satisfaction. Of course nursing can offer all of those things but they aren't on a wide scale. Yet!

I am afraid if we don't start offering our own ideas, when the shortage gets even worse there will be a push for warm bodies. Less screening and less education and with so many experienced nurses leaving, not much mentoring.

teeituptom, BSN, RN · Oct 5, 2003

Will never happen

Tweety, BSN, RN · Oct 5, 2003

Agree with Deb, and what you say. It would be very desirable, but an awesome undertaking. Taking a lot of commitment from a lot of people.

Also what norinradd says. All of us having one degree and one title probably wouldn't help with the nursing shortage. There are other issues to address besides the title one holds.

NurseJacqui · Oct 5, 2003

Where I work, we have RNS educated at all different levels and there is no pissing contest about who has an ADN or a BSN. We are all RNS. Some of the best nurses I know are diploma nurses. But as for there being no difference between an RN and an LPN? I don't think so. The difference is HUGE. I know because I WAS an LPN who became an RN. The training is COMPLETELY different.

bagladyrn, RN · Oct 6, 2003

I could see this standard exacerbating the nursing shortage, as a commitment to 4 years of full time studies is impossible for many who go into nursing, especially later in life, with children and other responsibilities and the necessity of earning a living. As one who went up the ladder fromCNA,to LPN to ADN while working full time and raising a toddler as a single parent, I would never have considered nursing if a BSN were required for entry level.

live4today, RN · Oct 6, 2003

If there is a BSN program as good or better than the ADN program that I went through 16 years ago, then it would be worth the trade off, but since I've YET to hear of or see a BSN grad who received as good a nursing education as my ADN program offered me (and still offers today), then I could not simply just say "okay do this thing" across the board because the BEST nurses come from the Diploma and ADN programs.

Why should we change to a BSN? Why not make ADN an across the board requirement for nurses, THEN one can advance their nursing education based on where they hope to advance their career in the nursing field. This sounds like the BEST plan in my opinion.

I have a daughter who is a nurse. She is a LPN taking online courses towards her RN. I applaud her every step of the way. She's reaching her goals the best way she can as a single mom with a son to raise, and I'm damn proud of her for not being ashamed to take steps in her education while she supports herself. She's also paying for her own education with the help of her father, and she is determined to become a RN and then some. Now, those are HER goals for HER. What someone else may want to aspire to is their own choice, and those choices should be available for the individuals who need to take their nursing career in steps instead of BOOM...this way or the highway mentality. :)

ohioln, RN · Oct 6, 2003

What we could do is have a new title - Registered Care Provider which would be a 2 yr program. Any add'l education would be for specialized work or office work such as DON. Basic pay would be the same for LCP with those with more experience getting more to start. LPNs could take courses part or full time to get to the same page. Student loans should be available for this if you're not working, but employers should reimburse for this if you are. I have my BSN but don't make any more than any RN with an Associate Degree except for having expecience. What does anyone think of this? )

SmilingBluEyes · Oct 6, 2003

ohio, do you have more responsibility than the ADN's who work side by side with you?

gwenith, BSN, RN · Oct 6, 2003

The Australian experience and some thoughts from across the pacific.

We do have a single entry into EN (LPN) and RN. The Enrolled nurses do 18 months at TAFE (TAFE does all apprenticeship training i.e. motor mechanic). This is then equivalent to the !st year of a BSN (It varies a bit between universities). RN is University only 3 years across the board throughout Australia. Early on a distinction was made between hospital trained RNs and University trained RN's and one year "bridging" ptograms were set up. Now they no longer exist and RN with years of experience is accepted as degree equivalent and you can go straight through to post graduate certificates and degrees.

Victoria has decided to drop the title Enrolled Nurse and now all nurses are Registered Nurses but classified as either division 1 or division 2.

We have national competency requirements for registered and Enrolled nursed that define our scope of practice.

Do I think it is ideal - no! To attend university it is subsidized by the Federal Goverment but only to an extent and you can either pay the HEX upfront or delay it over years and pay through your tax.

To be honest with you I think we were idiots trying to do away with student nurses. I think we would have been better off if we had made Registered Nurse a 4 year "sandwhich" program with 6 months in class and 6 months working as a student AND BEING PAID FOR IT!!!

A scheme like this would be a headache to administer and would have it's drawbacks but would it not give you the best of both worlds???