rn vs. bsn - preping for bsn while completing asn with no interest in administrative?

llg, PhD, RN · Jan 15, 2011

The idea that the BSN is just about "administrative stuff" is hogwash -- hogwash that has been perpetuated by people who have some sort of disdain or resentment towards those with higher education.

Like most persistent myths, it was built on a few facts -- but it is a myth nonetheless. The purpose of most of the BSN curriculum is to enrich the practice of nurses in ALL roles, not just those in administrative positions. In the past, in some communities, the only people who went from ADN to BSN were those interested in career advancement in roles that were away from the bedside. That's what their interest was, so that's what the local schools emphasized in their curricula. However, not all RN-BSN programs did that, are like that, etc. There is more to it and more possibilities.

The bedside nurse has much to gain by the more advanced knowledge available in a good RN-BSN program (and I admit there are bad schools as well as good ones). For example: Every professional nurse should be able to read the nursing literature, understand what they read, review it critically, and interpret it wisely for application to their practice. To do that, you need a foundation of knowledge about nursing research and theroy -- usually only taught in BSN programs. That knowledge and skill should not be possessed by the "administration" only. The nurse at the bedside benefits from that knowledge.

The vision of the Magnet program is that the bedside staff nurses actively participate in the decision-making about practice policies, the design of systems and processes used in the workplace to deliver care, etc. Bedside staff nurses whose education includes an introduction to the nursing literature, management, education, leadership, etc. are better able to participate as bedside caregivers in these decision-making processes. They aren't just token members of the committee, they are key members who influence the work and outcomes of such committees. Such nurses will also have a stronger foundation to strengthen their performance as staff nurse leaders -- mentors to less experienced nurses, preceptors, charge nurses, etc.

If staff nurses want to have a strong, meaningful voice in the running of their own work environment and how they care for patients, they need a knowledge of the organization, how it works, how to effect change, etc. The introductory content of such knowledge and skill is the type of "administrative" content found in most BSN programs. It's "administration" at the staff nurse and unit level only -- content which should be of interest to a bedside nurse who wants a say in his/her own practice.

And note that I said "introduction" in the above paragraph. An introduction is all that BSN students get. They get an introduction that qualifies them only to move up slightly on the career ladder. A Master's Degree is preferred for most really advanced roles.

Then there is also the expanded perspective that comes with greater education -- greater understanding of the world and its people that comes from some of the social science and humanities courses ... the stronger and more varied intellectual skills that should develop with the study of different disciplines ... and the broader perspective of health, illness, health care, etc. that comes through the study of community health.

In summary, the added education gives staff nurses more tools to use, a stronger voice, and ultimately more influence within the health care system -- influence we hope they will use to make improvements in their work environments and the patient care they deliver.

That's the drive behind the move to upgrade nursing education. It's just plain wrong to think of a BSN as only preparation for management roles. Look closely at the backgrounds and biases of people who tell you that it is only about administrative roles. Those people are either woefully mis-informed or have an axe to grind.

Tweety, BSN, RN · Jan 15, 2011

Awesome post llg!

I don't think it's a requirement of Magnet hospitals that they have all BSN staff. I worked for a magnet facility with my ADN.

Tampa General being the large facility is has can't meet it's needs with just BSN nurses, although USF is nearby. They will advertise "BSN preferred". Jobs are kind of tight in the area and new grads without experience are having a hard time finding jobs, but they do eventually with perserverence. So if a new grad BSN applies at the same time an ADN does, then all things being equal, they will take the BSN. But they have a huge staff of ADN nurses.

Getting your ADN is a good idea and it what works for you, but don't rule out getting your BSN. I got my BSN at 47 just so I have more options in the future as I age. If you're like me and have to work until 67 to 70 then having a BSN for other jobs will be helpful. I too have no interest whatsoever in management.

All the best.

UVA Grad Nursing · Jan 15, 2011

Wonderful post, llg.

One of the important criteria used in evaluating Magnet hospitals is the percentage of RNs with BSN and MSN degrees. The percentage needs to increase for each subsequent Magnet reapplication. So if a staff is suppoed to be 50% at the time of Application 1, then it needs to be 55% for the first re-certification for Magnet, then 60% for the second recertification, etc Note: these are not the official Magnet numbers, but are used to illustrate the point.

There are two ways to increase the percentage of BSN-prepared nurses. One is to encourage a large number of present staff to go for their BSN degrees. The easier way is to emphasize hiring BSN nurses for new staff. There are two magnet hospitals in my city (as well as one BSN school and one ADN school). Hospital 1 hired 80 new grads this year (of which only 7 were ADN-prepared). Hospital 2 also hired a majority of BSN-prepared nurses (a 2:1 ratio). The ADN nurses at Hospital 2 pledged to have their BSN within 5 years. I know of other Magnet hospitals in the area are not hiring any ADN grads. Because there are still a number of 2009 and 2010 ADN grads still looking for jobs, several of the community college programs are reducing their enrollment this fall.

Not every state is like Virginia. But as I travel nationally to nursing conferences, I hear the same story from nurse recruiters at Level I and II trauma centers.

So if you have the option to pursue your BSN, go for it!

studenthealthworker · Jan 16, 2011

Thank You for the information