Should Nurses be required to obtain a bachelors degree?

[kristen3g3tp8]

Should Nurses be required to obtain a bachelors degree?

A question posed in one of my nursing classes today... of course, my instructors, and my fellow classmates are biased since I am attending a 4 year University, but it is a heated topic regardless.

Personally, I believe that it is experience that creates what we all know was the "nursing professional," but I also believe that there should be some standardization in the level of nursing training. I would not be opposed to upping the ante on Nursing education, weather this meant a Master's degree, of even a doctorate... however, at the same time I understand that there is still a shortage of nurses in the field as well as educators to prepare students to enter the field.

So, my opinion remains divided... What do you all think???

[PANurseRN1]

Can we please have this thread shut down before the inevitable?

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

:deadhorse We're beating a dead horse here.

This issue has been discussed quite extensively on this site and, usually, the threads disintegrate into bitter mud-slingling debates. There are many other threads on this issue, and most of them are very recent. Take care and good luck with finding an answer that isn't tinged with hostility.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

at the same time I understand that there is still a shortage of nurses in the field as well as educators to prepare students to enter the field.

There are 2,500,000 registered nurses in America, but about 25 percent are no longer working due to burnout and other issues. We do not have a shortage of nurses in America; rather, there's a shortage of nurses who are actively in practice.

If all the unemployed-by-choice nurses returned to the floor, the supposed 'nursing shortage' would, in all likelihood, turn into a surplus.

[realnursealso/LPN, LPN]

:deadhorse PLEASEEEEEEEEE NOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Stop this before it starts. There are many threads with the same topic:eek: :eek:

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

of course, my instructors, and my fellow classmates are biased since I am attending a 4 year University, but it is a heated topic regardless.

Two-thirds of the RNs in the U.S. are ADNs/ASNs. The majority of the people who post here are ADNs and, in all probability, will be biased toward the ADN educational track. A heated topic like this one will do nothing but alienate the majority of the ranks.

:deadhorse

[kristen3g3tp8]

Wow... I've never really thought of it that way, hmmmmmmmmm you think they would do more Psychiatric counseling…. What causes most nurses to burnout??

[PANurseRN1]

It's not a failing on the nurses' part, and they certainly do not need psychiatric counseling.

There are also innumerable threads about why nurses leave the profession. If you utilize the search function you will find an abundance of answers to both of your questions.

[P_RN, ADN, RN]

Kristen are you changing topics? As we said we have an extensive search here.

https://allnurses.com/forums/f118/adn-vs-bsn-entry-level-nursing-151423.html#post1590293

The ADN/BSN debate goes on and you can find some very good points made for each side. IF you'd like to start another thread about burnout we can do that too.