Across Ohio, and the nation, the drive is on to require a BSN to secure...or continue...employment in acute and critical care settings. While the research data shows improved outcomes in these settings with a high level of BSN staffing, there are problems with this push. Some systems are giving experienced ADN's as few as two years to secure their BSN, yet these healthcare systems are failing to meet the commitment expected of these ADN's with a commitment to these experienced ADN's in securing their BSN. Tuition reimbursement plans consistently fail to meet the cost currently incurred in returning to school.
I saw the hand-writing on the wall, and secured my BSN before it became mandated. But my employers tuition reimbursement plan at work covered, at best, half the cost of one semester. This lack financial commitment to the educational advancement of experienced ADN's leaves these nurses angry and upset..feeling hospital administration are trying to get something for nothing, perhaps in order to let attrition thin the ranks of ADN's in acute and critical care settings. This attrition will, in turn, allow healthcare systems to hire in new grad BSN's at a lower starting salary than the experienced ADN's they will be replacing.
Until nurses stop being doormats, start acting like the professionals we are, and demanding the respect and benefits that derive from that professional status...nothing will change.
IMO, the "professional" thing to do is take responsibility for furthering one's own education and career without expecting an employer to pay for it. I don't really get where this expectation comes from in nursing that it is the employer's responsibility to pay for people to go back to school, and, if they don't, we're getting mistreated and ripped off.
I think because if the hospital system is 'requiring' the education, they have to provide a means to obtain it whether it's through inservices, reimbursement, or classes provided free of charge to employees. I'm required to have ACLS, PALS, NRP or ENPC, MICN if I want to answer the radio, TNCC since we handle trauma... those classes are expensive and my employer does both: provides class dates and instructors and has a contract with a local consortium where I provide my employee number and I take the classes for free.
So if they don't want to pay for a bridge program, they need to grandfather in those who don't wish to take the schooling for whatever reason: close to retirement, can't afford it, childcare issues, etc. JMO.
Yeah, but, what about those of us who just wish to remain lowly staff peon RN's at this point..... :)
If you don't keep up with the educational standards of the rprofession in your area, you will find yourself going down the career ladder to a position of lower prestige, pay, perks, etc.. While you might not lose your job, be prepared to for your status to decline in relation to those who DO choose to keep up with current standards.
Just like the friend described in my post, you will have fewer career choices as you age -- fewer options in the event that you need to change jobs because of illness, injury, family relocation, etc. Be prepared to accept the consequences of your decision to not keep up with the standards. It is your choice. As long as you make your decision with eyes open and are prepared to take responsibility for the consequences, I see nothing wrong with that.
Specializes in Clinical Research, Outpt Women's Health.
llg,
Not concerned about that for the most part.
I am actually pursuing national certification in my (non-hospital) specialty which at my age I think is a better use of my dollars & time as it is more meaningful for what I do. Only so many dollars and must use them wisely. At age 51 I HAVE to make funding my retirement my priority.
I am actually pursuing national certification in my (non-hospital) specialty which at my age I think is a better use of my dollars & time as it is more meaningful for what I do. Only so many dollars and must use them wisely. At age 51 I HAVE to make funding my retirement my priority.
I wish you all the best ... really I do.
Unfortunately, my friend thought that she had her bases covered, but she really didn't. The husband she thought would support her forever died -- and she was left with VERY few retirement funds because she had never really thought about that much. (They didn't talk about money in her family.) Her kids live in another state, and she would like to move there to be close to her family ... but without her BSN, she is unlikely to get a decent job there. And she is not strong enough physically to go back to the bedside even if she could get a staff nurse job, having been away from the bedside so long.
Unfortunately, my friend thought that she had her bases covered, but she really didn't. The husband she thought would support her forever died -- and she was left with VERY few retirement funds because she had never really thought about that much. (They didn't talk about money in her family.) Her kids live in another state, and she would like to move there to be close to her family ... but without her BSN, she is unlikely to get a decent job there. And she is not strong enough physically to go back to the bedside even if she could get a staff nurse job, having been away from the bedside so long.
The truth is even if she had her BSN she might not be able to get another job in admin. She would be dealing with age discrimination and fierce competition from many younger Rn's with a MSN. She could have her BSN and even MSN and then find herself unable to work, unable to get a job, injured or ill and struggling to qualify for disability without insurance and with student loans to pay back! A couple top supervisors fired took a year to get another job and even involved moving to a rural area to get a job!
Medicare doesn't start till 2 years after you have been declared disabled. So unless you are poor enough to qualify for medicaid or willing to put your house and assets on the line you will not have health insurance, let alone money to pay off student loans. Many people disabled and retired on social security are finding their disability and social security garnished! Student loans are the worst debt out there and this country is putting millions of people into debt servitude for their whole lives for the chance to get a degree that might lead to a job, or might not!
Part of the reason our economy is in such a mess is because of the millions with student loans that can't afford to buy a car, let alone a house and there are not enough jobs for all the people going back to school, let the loans have to be repaid.
It is sickening how brainwashed nurses have become. It is our personal responsibility to go back to school and in debt ourselves to prove we are professionals! Hogwash!
The only reason a person should go back to school is they want to, it will lead to a better job and last they can afford it. I think it is very irresponsible to take out thousands in student loans to prove to yourself, your peers, or employer that you are professional!
People really need to get some personal financial education before they take out thousands of student loans. I'm still paying off student loans, but it will soon be over. I have no intention of taking any more out for any reason!
If I'm going to spend thousands of dollars it is going to be for something that matters to me such as home improvement or a vacation, not for a piece of paper that isn't going to do one thing for me!
I have many coworkers who have tens of thousands to $100,000 student loans. They will spend most of their lives paying it off, unable to buy a house, or save for retirement. If they are lucky they will pay it off and still be able to get married, have children, own a home. If not they will find their tax return, income or social security or disability garnished till they die!
I think grandfathering most RNs who may be at the top of their practice is a start; however, llg's posts have been pretty much spot on; knowing the professional history, and how there was a definition after 50 years is coming to fruition.
At this point, having a gateway of talented nurses who are "older" in terms of nursing years should be an option; although there are plenty programs that are VERY reasonable; in many specialities, losing knowledgable nurses due to their educational background may have a detrimental trickle down effect-especially if their experience can help shape new generation nurses; having those peers with longevity could positively effect their peers immensely.
I think "younger" nurses, in terms of nursing age should really think about the unexpected; my option of getting a BSN had a percentage of doing so due to my own issues I face with my mortality and morbidity; I also want to ensure that I can contribute to my profession long when my body can't do much as it can do now, even as I have recovered, and I more cognizant of that more than ever-life happens, one has to have a choice to somewhat prepare for it, even careerwise.
Y'all know that there are online state schools that don't charge an arm and a leg right? You don't have to get student loans for them. My plan is to take the year and save enough to pay my old school fees and tuition for the RN to BSN completion after reimbursement. That way there are no new loans.
Y'all know that there are online state schools that don't charge an arm and a leg right? You don't have to get student loans for them. My plan is to take the year and save enough to pay my old school fees and tuition for the RN to BSN completion after reimbursement. That way there are no new loans.
Yes there are, but many of us are waiting for the development of programs that aren't exercises in ridiculous paper writing.
Neverrrrrr gonna happen. My mother has literally written over 250 papers in her baccalaureate and masters programs for marriage and family therapy. Mind you, upon certification she won't be doing any research but she still needs to know how.
Every time this conversation happens, all the people who are opposed to returning to school keep harping about how unreasonable it is to expect people to take on the "great deal of debt" and "severe financial strain" involved in completing a BSN. I went back to school of my own free will and with no employer tuition assistance (or pressure to return to school), because there were things I wanted to do in my career that would require a BSN. Also, faculty at the excellent hospital-based diploma program I originally attended encouraged us from Day One to consider the diploma an entry level credential, not a terminal degree, and to plan on returning to school for a BSN (at least). I went to a program at a reputable state uni near my home, which had a BSN completion program designed for working RNs. The "full-time" curriculum consisted of one day and one evening a week. I don't recall what I paid for it, but I do recall that the cost was reasonable enough that I was able to easily pay out of pocket as I went, while continuing to work full-time. No crushing student debt, no financial hardship.
I just don't see what the big deal is.
It is not a big deal if one chooses to go back to school. If one would like to obtain a BSN to be able to do what they would like to in their career. It is a much different story if the same job you are doing you now need to be a BSN, that it is a requirement, not a choice--and there is absolutely no reasoning behind it. Today you are a top nurse, with wonderful reviews and the like--and in the course of a day or two all of a sudden plans change.
IF there was a convenient way to complete a BSN that took into consideration full time employment, that to keep a roof, food and bills you could still pay for it "out of pocket" and lets face it, for a number of us--myself included, my parents couldn't AFFORD to send me to college. So I needed to go to work. When I could afford to, I went on in my career. That I was absolutely 200% happy in. That they were happy to have me, I was well regarded, good at what I did, took pride in what I did. Then in the course of one month, this "BSN in 10" rumor began--and now is a requirement. To do the same job that I, and many like me have been doing for years.
Interestingly, a number of my co-workers are all doing the same thing--saying "forget it" and go onto a RN to MSN, and becoming NP's in their own practice.
I am older, do NOT want to take on any more debt, and I am sure I am not the only one. To do the same thing that last month, I was doing just fine at.
CrunchRN, ADN, RN
4,556 Posts
Yeah, but, what about those of us who just wish to remain lowly staff peon RN's at this point..... :)