NY State may require nurses to obtain 4-year degrees

Nursing Students ADN/BSN

Published

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

For twenty years I have heard this debat and it is primarily the reason I got my BSN was because I was going to need it in the future. Every nurse has an opinion about this topic and it is influenced mostly by the degree they hold therefore leaving the profession itself devided. The profession either needs to come together on this thing or quit moaning about it. We pay to practice (or do our jobs), we support our states BON, we have PACS at legislative level and still nothing happens on this issue..other than we kill each other. How does that old saying go ..Give me the courage to change the things I can change and accept the things that I can not and the wisdom to know the difference.

(Sorry for the spelling error , it is late and I amvery tired and can't sleep)

Every nurse has an opinion about this topic and it is influenced mostly by the degree they hold therefore leaving the profession itself devided.

Or by the degree they plan on obtaining at some point.

This is so very true and for me, it has been the biggest part of what has soured me on the idea.

The whole idea just seems totally invalidated from my perspective (ADN RN) when the majority of supporters of this idea are already BSN or higher.

Although I applaud and often sit in awe of nurses who go on to obtain advanced degrees, higher level of licensure, and/or simply work their way up through the ranks one way or another, it's the "Average Joe" staff nurse IMHO that this idea really needs to be sold on because it is these nurses, who make up the vast majority of nursing positions, that I believe really do know what's best for this profession.

Thankfully this IS a dead issue for New York State. We don't have enough RNs employed now as it is, regardless of eductional level, and it's not getting better. It's getting worse, actually.

While any hospital around here will "encourage" you to get a BSN if you don't have it (many look toward magnet status and dream), they'll snatch you up in a heartbeat if you have a valid RN license and are willing to work some shifts. An strong, regular pulse is a plus. ;)

Specializes in Geriatrics, Med-Surg..

I am from Canada, here in Ontario, a BSN is now required for licensure. It is creating a huge shortage, yet many BSN graduates and can't find full time work. I do agree that increased education is a good thing but I also think that more education does not always make better nurses. I think that our govt is trying to fool the public into thinking that because nurses have a degree they will get better care but degrees don't help nursing shortages which are even made worse by BSN grads who don't intend to work at the bedside. I too am working on my BSN but that does not mean I agree with it, it's just that here in Canada, it's the minimum requirement. I don't think that our system could possibly be any more of a mess.:o

Specializes in ICU-Stepdown.

Ugh. And y'all are in an entirely different category (mess wise) with the nationalized healthcare bit. The few Canadian nurses I know (who work contract over here for so many months each year) say the same thing -that the mess isn't any better across the border.

Nightmarish.

Well, as I've said before, I do intend to go back and get my BSN (and it won't end there, I'll climb higher) but the 'bedside care' won't be benefitting much from it -at least not directly. I'll be looking toward managerial positions, or positions outside of the hospital/bedside environment. After all, I don't want to be killing myself by doing bedside care forever.

Specializes in LTC, Rehab.
haven't they done this in some midwestern state? does anyone know how it has worked out? is the shortage more severe in that area? has pay gone up? job satisfaction? just wondering about this.....Also any canadians who have been working under the new BSN only statute what are your thoughts?

America is looking less and less desireable..I wander bout Canada is that the new America?

Specializes in LTC, Rehab.
Ugh. And y'all are in an entirely different category (mess wise) with the nationalized healthcare bit. The few Canadian nurses I know (who work contract over here for so many months each year) say the same thing -that the mess isn't any better across the border.

Nightmarish.

Well, as I've said before, I do intend to go back and get my BSN (and it won't end there, I'll climb higher) but the 'bedside care' won't be benefitting much from it -at least not directly. I'll be looking toward managerial positions, or positions outside of the hospital/bedside environment. After all, I don't want to be killing myself by doing bedside care forever.

Maybe the Canadians are so spoiled they dont know they have a good thing, you nnkow how spoil kids act...I hope this were true i would be across the border in a jiffy cause America is trying to make us feel as needy as immigrants from 3rd world countries, not sayin canadian is 3rd world,it aint happenin with me.

Specializes in CRNA, Finally retired.
Maybe the Canadians are so spoiled they dont know they have a good thing, you nnkow how spoil kids act...I hope this were true i would be across the border in a jiffy cause America is trying to make us feel as needy as immigrants from 3rd world countries, not sayin canadian is 3rd world,it aint happenin with me.

Would you stay at the bedside if you had good working conditions. Plenty of BSN's work at bedside. The problems of nursing have nothing in Canada have nothing to do with requiring BSN but rather, poor working conditioins. The results of requiring BSN may not be seen for years - we have no idea what the long-term effects will be (I believe they will be favorable as we become a harder-to-find commodity). However, even though I believe BSN should be minimum, ADN should stay as a stepping-stone degree for people who can't afford, or are not ready to commit to a four year program. AND, as a stepping-stone interim degree, that program would seam into BSN with on-line courses and clinicals arranged at the student's convenience. 10 years was a perfectly reasonable time to obtain another 60 credits (SIX credits every 12 months is so difficult?). Make the job attractive and the people will come. But until nurses get acquainted with the political process

and make change happen, we will continue to whine and deflect when the problem is really US more than THEM.

Specializes in ICU-Stepdown.

Oh I'd NEVER claim the Canadian nurses are spoiled -far from it. I've heard enough horror-stories from 'em to know better than that. But with only one exception (and even that one later recanted) they have told me that we are nuts if we go over to their style of healthcare. Personally, I agree. The more 'the people' perceive something as 'free' (which lets face it, most of the folks who are on the government dole perceive it as a 'freebie' -regardless of the fact that only higher taxes by those of us who work our tails off are paying for it -the government does NOT earn money, it taxes it from those who do -make no mistake about that. Its not politics, its fact. ) the more they will take advantage of, and abuse the system.

I'm told that not all of Canada works the same way (they evidently have different rules for different districts, but I confess that I really don't understand all of that) but the nurses that I know, that work in the US for several months out of the year, tell me that their (Canadian) facilities shut down after they reach the end of their budget, so the (out of work at that point) nurses come here to continue working, then go back when the new budget year begins (and their facilities open back up). I can't speak for others, but to me, this sounds nightmarish.

Specializes in LTC,Psych,M/S,HH,brief Peds.

I only began subscribing to allnurses.com a few weeks ago, and see the message regarding NY ( the NYBON for god'sake ) considering RNs be required to obtain a bachelor's degree. This may be an old enough message to be closed for replies.

But 3 points come to mind -- someone who is the only support for a family ; it seems that I read some time back that NY is short several thousand nurses JUST in the state system ; and ND tried this a few years ago , what is the status of that now that ND is a Compact state ?

One more -- what planet do those NYBON members live on ?

Thanks , T .

Specializes in all general nursing/elder care.

well i hope we don't follow suit in the uk. what a load of nonsense! since we started university courses for our nurse training it has not been a good move. students do not know what basic care is! i ake first year students to hopefully give them a taste of general nursing, holistic care, and all the annoying paperwork that goes with it.

you need people who want to do the job,

Specializes in Critical Care.
This may be an old enough message to be closed for replies. . . what planet do those NYBON members live on ?

So long as the debate remains civil, I doubt this thread will close. This is a very divisive issue among nurses generally and here at allnurses as well. The mods have decided, for reasons I can understand, to keep this debate contained to just a few threads, this being one of them.

As far as what the NYBON was thinking, they were thinking the SAME thing that has caused this issue to be so divisive in the first place: to attempt to institute a controversial reform by fiat instead of consensus.

Until those that want BSN minimum entry decide that reaching across to their peers and justifying why such a move will benefit all nurses and seek a true consensus, this issue will be just as divisive in the next 40 yrs as it has been in the past 40 yrs.

There are just too many power players at the table that WANT nurses to remain divided for this issue to ever get a reasonable legislative hearing absent a true consensus of all nurses. The only time it was tried, in N. Dakota, that very lack of consensus directly lead to its repeal.

As result, this issue cannot advance, and due to the stakes involved, it also cannot be dropped. The result: needless animosity. No amount of anecdotal 'ADN nurses have more clinical time', 'ADNs function better' or 'BSN nurses have so much more prep that only they deserve to wear the title RN', 'BSN functions better' can undo this.

In short, the preconceptions completely deadlock this issue. Absent nurses coming to the table and mutually deciding a new way forward, nothing will change.

~faith,

Timothy.

+ Add a Comment