Will a mandate requring RN's to obtain BSN's contribute to a shortage?

I think your information about Canada having a shortage of nurses is out of date, we currently require a degree to enter practice and we do not have a shortage, we have a surplus of nurses. The economic climate has a much greater influence on nursing surpluses and shortages than education requirement does.

Canada faces nurse shortage

Disagree, Nursing employment always proves to be little effected by the economy except that maybe more people are enticed to go for nursing if they can do it, but that still leaves a shortage. I cant remember if Canada or the US has ever been able to use surplus and nursing in the same sentence. Like I said, how many people would turn away from Nursing as an option if it takes 4 years vs 2 years

If you believe nursing employment is not affected by the economy, you are in for a harsh wake up when you are competing in the job market.

We currently have a surplus of nurses. If we limit our entry routes perhaps we could control our ranks more, decrease the surplus and use that as leverage to better the working conditions for nurses. Right now there are just too many nurses vying for one spot and employers know this. If one nurse will not work in the unsafe environment then they can get rid of him/her and find a replacement in a second. We need to take back the power in our profession.

will a mandate requring rn's to obtain bsn's contribute to a shortage?

*** your question is based on a false presupposition. the so called nursing shortage is false and cynical propaganda put out by those who stand to gain financially from a glut of nurses.

canada requires bs for nurses and their nursing shortage per patient is close to twice as big as ours,

*** uh, like the usa there is a surplus of nurses in canada. one thing to remember is that most countries that require a bsn have 3 year bsn programs. most us associates degree programs are actually 3 year programs rather than 2.

me personally, i understand the rationale for wanting to up the education for nurses, as it is beneficial for the patient and the nurse, and there is real correlation between patient death rates and lesser education levels.

*** do you have any credible sources for your claim?

I am going to share my two cents on this subject. I think that it is very important for nurses to have BSN degrees. We are a group of professionals and I think that in order to be seen and respected as professionals we must have the level of education to reflect that. Furthermore, as you posted there is a proven correlation between death rates and education levels. With that said I think the design of nursing school should be altered. Nurses should be admitted to ADN programs, graduate, sit their boards, and begin working. From there each RN has 5 years to successfully complete their BSN. That is more than a sufficient amount of time even if you only go part time. If you don't finish the degree your license is suspended. This way all nurses have a BSN but they also gain experience. I did something similar to this but I finished my BSN as a full time student and also worked full time. It was difficult at times but not un-doable.

First, I don't think anyone lately has actually taken 2 years to complete and ADN program. With all the pre-reqs and difficulty getting into programs, many have attended for 2 or more years while waiting to get in. In my class, there are many second degree people, many with bachelor and grad degrees in other areas. I think that should count for something.

I do believe in getting a BSN, you can't have too much education. (coming from a true schoolaholic :) ) But I think experience is just as important. I am in my last semester of an ADN program and I have had more clinical experience than some of the BSN students finishing now that I know. I am hoping to get a job and I will go on. I may be able to go straight into an MSN program with a BS and and a Masters in other areas (Biology and Teaching). I need experience before I will be ready for that.

I realize this is going to sound biased, but the only way "BSN only" could work would be a return to team nursing and to bring back LPNs into the hospitals. If RNs really want to be seen more as professionals they must be prepared to delegate most of their "routine" or "tasky" functions (med administration, drsg changes, catheters, suctioning) to practical nurses. This is what "professionals" in healthcare do. It's not pharmacists who dispense most medications, it's pharm techs. physical therapists aren't the ones ambulating pts in the rehab room, it's PT assistants. Similar delegation of responsibility between physicians and mid-levels. Why should it be different for nursing?

Furthermore, as you posted there is a proven correlation between death rates and education levels.

*** I would very much like to see this proof of your claim. I know of some biased and poorly conceived studies done on this subject but have yet to see any credible data. Please share your proof.

brandon

That is not the way it works here in Canada, the education requirements for a registered nurse to enter practice is a 4 year degree and the requirements for a practical nurse to enter practice is a 2 year diploma. The curriculum for the 2 year practical nurse program is essentially the old diploma nursing program. The practical nurses in Canada are well prepared to function independently and do not need a RN to delegate to them. In many places in Canada, the registered nurse and the practical nurse take separate patient assignments and the only distinction is the practical nurse is assigned the more stable patients.