2020 BSN law

Nursing Students ADN/BSN

Published

It is my understanding that by 2020 all nurses are to have a BSN. My question is this. Are those for nurses that ONLY have an ADN and no other higher education degrees, or for people like myself that have ALREADY a BBA in health services administration are not required to have the bachelors because I already have one. I'm just trying to figure out if the BON or whoever is making this into effect just wants those nurses who have ADN's to go for the BSN because they are already nurses and want them to have that higher education or since I'm already a nurse with already a bachelors it wouldn't be mandatory for me. Does anyone understand what I'm asking?

Interesting topic. I also had not heard this. In my area there are facilities that prefer BSN over ADN but my understanding was that it had to due with them maintaining "magnet" status or some other recognition not legislature. As a person with a previous bachelor's degree(biology) about to begin an ADN program I earnestly hope this isn't the case and that more definitive information is appropriately distributed in a timely manner if it will have an effect on the industry overall.

0 Votes

If they are requiring a bsn by 2020 then it is most likely only for those people who start nursing school after 2020. All those people who already got their license before 2020 will be most likely grandfathered in.

I really hope they will make it mandatory to get a bsn to sit for the nclex sometime in the next couple years. This would really help the job market.

0 Votes
Specializes in ICU.

@Zoija: You might consider getting the BSN from the start, since you already have a degree in biology. There are precious few places an ADN can work in Birmingham, Alabama, simply because almost all of the hospitals require the BSN. Actually, the nursing classes are basically the same, and you could get the BSN in about the same length of time. I would hate for you to go the ADN route, and be unemployed simply because you didn't get the BSN.

0 Votes
Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.
If they are requiring a bsn by 2020 then it is most likely only for those people who start nursing school after 2020. All those people who already got their license before 2020 will be most likely grandfathered in.

There is, at this time, no law requiring a BSN. However, the IOM has recommended an 80% BSN workforce by 2020. In order to meet this recommendation, many facilities are requiring current staff to get a BSN or on such and such date, they will no longer meet the conditions of employment and be terminated. Don't bet that there will be grandfathering in. My facility is reserving the so-called 20% for new hires because currently, there are no BSN schools in the county (including the school affiliated with the hospital). Many nurses at my facility who will be retiring very shortly after "that day" are up in arms because they won't be permitted to be part of the 20% and instead will be required to return to school to rack up debt right before retirement or lose their job. One nurse I work with is planning to take early retirement instead of returning to school.

0 Votes
Specializes in LTC, Education, Management, QAPI.

For those of you who already have a BA or BS in something else, many schools have a "second bachelors" accelerated program. Make sure that you do some research to your education, because in some instances (as in mine), the second bachelors in nursing accelerated was less time and money than an ADN..

0 Votes

This will be me. I do not plan to rack up a lot of debt at 60 years of age. When I worked in the ER, they let us know they would require us to return to school or not longer have a job. 8 Nurses left the ER at one time causing a shortage as they were unable to hire contract nurses fast enough to keep staff levels were they needed to be. They quickly had to change course as most of their seasoned nurses were leaving and Physicians started complaining as well as patients. They grandfathered some of the nurses with service in. Did not affect me as I had already left the ER. Education is great but experience should count for something. It is nice when you have both.

0 Votes
Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

Since this speculative thread has been resurrected after a slumber of several years, I will reiterate that no state has presently laws mandating a BSN degree by 2020.

0 Votes
What would they do if you get a MSN instead of a BSN?

Did anyone 'officially' answer this elsewhere? Looks like some of you in the South can't get jobs as an MSN w/o a BSN. I'm looking to go this route so I'd love to know if that is a problem on the West Coast as well before paying $100k for the degree! (Yes I understand I could pay the same and go to school longer for a BSN but I'd prefer to go only 3 years instead for an Entry Level MSN IF it means a higher paying or more satisfying job at the end of it all.)

0 Votes
Here's what I did; ASN, BM (music), MSN. The MSN trumps the BSN. As far as I know, no one has questioned my credentials. I teach at two universities.

New here, couldn't figure out how to PM you so sorry about the public shout out. I was wondering how you like it from your path? I myself have a BM and an MM and am looking at Entry Level MSN's in my area as my next career path. :D I'd love to chat with you about it if you can PM me and have time!

0 Votes

Its crazy to think that a nurse should only be required to have an ADN. Its about time that they require nurses to have a BSN. With the responisibility, contacting doctors etc, they should of required it long ago.

0 Votes
+ Add a Comment