I met a PT the other day who told me that the entry into their profession was a masters degree, and yet, I kind of think of an RN as a more direct care provider. I mean, PTs don't even administer medications.
Should RNs have the masters degree as the minimum entry requirement into the profession?
I'm not talking about ADN vs BSN. I'm talking about why does it seem that RNs have way more responsibility in terms of care coordination, education, med administration, supervision, procedures, etc.; we're considered a "learned profession" and yet social workers, PTs, and speech therapists have to have masters degrees.
Our feild does have a terminal doctorate degree, the D.NSc., but in reality the terminal degree for clinical nursing is the MSN. Why do we start out with only an ADN? And if that's all we need to enter the profession, why would a PT or social worker ever even need to go to college?
And that would make the nursing shortage even worse.
I have just finished my BSN ( took me two years and I worked full time while doing the degree full time) and I am in a MN program. What I can tell you for sure is this..... never, ever, I mean never is education a bad thing. Never think it is not needed or not worth it. It is invaluable, no matter who you are. No one can ever hold you back, take it away and you will always have choices.
Not everyone needs or wants an advanced nursing degree....but for those who have the passion, I can tell you it is worth it...every minute and every penny of it.
Specializes in Happily semi-retired; excited for the whole whammy.
That's interesting. I know a couple practicing PTs who don't have Master's degrees. I didn't even realize it was the standard. I certainly don't think nurses should be required to have them. I just don't think it is necessary, unless of course, you choose an area of practice that requires more advanced education.
I'm not saying that education IS a bad thing, but to raise the requirement to be an MSN would make problems that exist worse, and to go back to school is sometimes unrealistic for some people.
While I've come to the conclusion that ADN nurses kill more patients than BSN...then BSN's kill more than MSN's and ADN"s kill WAY more than MSNs. Thats a lot of dead patients.
But wait a minute, most MSN nurses don't do beside nursing...but thats still NO EXCUSE!!
While I've come to the conclusion that ADN nurses kill more patients than BSN...then BSN's kill more than MSN's and ADN"s kill WAY more than MSNs. Thats a lot of dead patients.
But wait a minute, most MSN nurses don't do beside nursing...but thats still NO EXCUSE!!
I'm not saying that education IS a bad thing, but to raise the requirement to be an MSN would make problems that exist worse, and to go back to school is sometimes unrealistic for some people.
I think in some cases, too much education IS a bad thing, Marie. I mean, look at all the do-nothing talking heads of the ANA.
I know--heresy.
But still. Have you ever known an MSN with a grain of common sense?
And, how is ripping on MSN nurses any different than ripping on ADNs? There is no difference. It's wrong on both counts and it serves to undermine one another which is precisely the argument I hear from ADNs towards BSNs.
Personally, I think a BSN should be the entry into professional nursing and an MSN for advanced practice. I honestly don't think requiring a BSN would make the shortage worse; I think it would seem like that initially, but over time I think it would benefit the profession. That is my opinion.
And how much time would it take for that benefit to kick in? What is the solution UNTIL the benefit would kick in? How many people (pts., facilities, nurses, etc.) would suffer as a result??
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JMP
487 Posts
I have just finished my BSN ( took me two years and I worked full time while doing the degree full time) and I am in a MN program. What I can tell you for sure is this..... never, ever, I mean never is education a bad thing. Never think it is not needed or not worth it. It is invaluable, no matter who you are. No one can ever hold you back, take it away and you will always have choices.
Not everyone needs or wants an advanced nursing degree....but for those who have the passion, I can tell you it is worth it...every minute and every penny of it.
JMP RN BSN CNCC