Scrubs magazine article/BSN in 10?

[funfunfun550]

It looks like Scrubsmagazine is validating what many of us are feeling/experiencing out there in Nursing Land. BSN for entry level and some states are mandating BSN in 10 after your entry(other entry level) education. Thoughts? Anyone experiencing this in your state/do you feel the pangs of upward mobility has stopped because new BSN grads are at times being considered over experienced nurses with no BSN??(I know that is happening where I wohttp://scrubsmag.com/what-changes-does-2013-hold-for-nurses/rk).

[chuckster, ADN, BSN, RN, EMT-B]

The situation described by DoGoodThenGo for NYC is very similar to that in the Philadelphia area.

In 2008, the BLS data showed 42,740 RNs employed in the greater Philadelphia area, rising to 42,820 in 2009, a net increase of 80 nursing jobs. In 2009, there were 2,142 nursing graduates of the 24 programs in the immediate Phila area who passed the NCLEX. Of this number, 1,177 were from BSN programs, 698 associate degree programs and 278 diploma programs (who by the way, have by far the best first-time NCLEX pass rate).

While it is probably too simplistic to say that this means there are nearly 27 new nurses competing for every new available RN position (2142/80), it does paint a picture of a very tight job market. It is worth considering though that the numbers I've presented almost certainly understate the magnitude of the problem in the Phila area: The RN numbers above do not include all the nursing schools in the overall Phila SMSA (only those in the city and adjacent PA counties) while the BLS data includes the much larger metro area.

Given the nursing oversupply that the numbers above suggest, it should be no surprise that new grad ADNs are finding it extremely difficult to find jobs - all new grads are finding it tough. It should also be no surprise that in the tight job market, new grad BSNs are strongly preferred. It is not an exaggeration to say that the BSN has now become the de facto minimum educational credential for new nurses in the Phila region, and likely NYC, Boston, DC, LA, PHX and other simlar areas as well.

So, after nearly two decades of advocating for the BSN as the standard for nurses, the ANA has finally seen their vision effectively realized. Unfortunately, this also virtually guarantees some very hard times for ADN and diploma nurses from this point forward.