The question of whether or not nurses should be required to obtain a bachelor’s degree in nursing (BSN) to work has become a very big and controversial topic. As with any great debate, this situation comes with many advantages and disadvantages. Although some statistics may lead you to believe that the good outweighs the bad, when making the decision of whether or not obtaining a BSN should be mandated there are a great deal of barriers that have to be taken into consideration. Obtaining a BSN requires more schooling and for those who are already nurses, it means having to go back to school. This requires a lot of money, time, and motivation to balance family work and school. Nurses should not be required to obtain a BSN to work. Obtaining a BSN requires a great deal of time and for many people that is a barrier. Nurses who have been working for several years and those that are new to the field may consider time as being a challenge for them. For the nurses that have been already working for several years would have to go back to school to obtain a BSN along with working. The work schedules of their job and classes may conflict and can cause a great deal of stress which will result in them either no longer working or postponing obtaining a BSN until another time (Megginson, 2008). Nursing is already a demanding career so including more schooling in addition to working can be very overwhelming to people. The people that are new at obtaining a degree in nursing may find it better to get an associate’s degree in nursing (ADN) rather than a BSN, as well, because it takes less time. According to David L. Taylor the price of tuition for an ADN program versus a BSN is drastically different and it also takes a great deal less time ... ... middle of paper ... ...SN should not be a requirement to work as a nurse. For some people, it may not be as hard to obtain but for others, especially those who have already been working as nurses, it may present a bigger challenge. It is not necessary for people who are new to the nursing field or those that have been practicing as a nurse for many years to return to school to obtain a higher degree. Obtaining a BSN degree should be a choice rather than a requirement. Works Cited Haverkamp, J.J., & Ball, K. (2013). BSN in 10: What Is Your Opinion?. AORN Journal, 98(2), 144-152. doi: 10.1016/j.aorn.2013.06.006 Megginson, L. (2008). RN-BSN education: 21st century barriers and incentives. Journal Of Nursing Management, 16(1), 47-55. Taylor, D. (2008). Should the entry into nursing practice be the baccalaureate degree?. AORN Journal, 87(3), 611-620. doi: 10.1016/j.aorn.2007.07.006
The national shortage of Registered Nurses (RNs) has helped generate formidable interest in the nursing profession among people entering the workforce and those pursuing a career change. According to a report issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service in 2002, the national population is continuing to grow and age and medical services continue to advance, so the need for nurses will continue to increase. They report from 2000 to 2020 the predicted shortage of nurses is expected to grow to 29 percent, compared to a 6 percent shortage in 2000. With the projected supply, demand, and shortage of registered nurses and nursing salaries ever-increasing, the nursing profession can offer countless opportunities. But first one must determine which educational path to pursue, Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) or Associate Degree in nursing (ADN). Most will initially be educated at the associate degree level, even though the American Organization of Nursing Executives (AONE) has recommended a baccalaureate level as a minimal for entry-level nurses. With the expanding number of RN to BSN programs available there is always the option to further one’s education at a later date. The benefits for acquiring a BSN over an ADN include a better knowledge for evidence-based practice, an increased advantage for promotion, and the necessary gateway for higher education.
The topic of "ADN versus BSN" is one that has plagued the nursing profession for decades. Does a nurse’s level of education really matter? Can ADN nursing graduates perform their duties as well as BSN graduates? These are the types of questions that continue to be debated by policymakers, educational organizations and associations, and the general public. This may be because nurses are now one of the least educated health care roles when compared to other health care professions that are now requiring bachelor degrees or higher for entry. A more likely reason is undoubtedly due to the growing body of evidence suggesting that BSN graduates are more prepared when entering the workforce than their ASN counterparts. These findings have made some hospitals decide to only hire BSN prepared graduates or higher. Linda Aiken, director of the center for health outcomes and research at Penn State, recently stated "the evidence base is growing, and a number of hospitals are acting on it” (Burling, 2010). If employers prefer BSN prepared nurses, why don’t more of them offer pay differentials or other incentives to return to school? The answer to that question is still unknown. The Veterans Administration (VA) is one exception. The VA leads the country in employing the most registered nurses according to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN, 2011). The VA made the decision a decade ago to establish the BSN as a requirement for new hires. The VA devoted $50 million in approximately five-years to help
Taylor, D. L. (2008). Should the Entry Into Nursing Practice be the Baccalaureate Degree? AORN Journal, 87(3), 611-619.
For the past few decades, there have been ongoing discussions involving the preferred educational level for nurses entering the field of healthcare. Two routes can be taken to entering the field: one can finish a two-year program and obtain their associate or add two years and get their baccalaureate instead. There are differences, albeit minor ones, between nurses prepared at the associate degree level versus those prepared at the baccalaureate level. However, an increase in technological advances in nursing field, and a higher demand for patient care has recently sparked the discussion of whether or not it is beneficial for nurses to further their education and obtain a baccalaureate degree or even a master’s degree as the case may be.
A nurse with only a two year college experience is not going to nearly have as much experience and knowledge as a nurse who has gone through two extra years of schooling and training. Also, in today’s society, nurses are required to have a BSN rather than only a two year degree due to all of the medical advances that have taken place. It is overall, in my opinion, more beneficial to have a BSN along with a RN for more job opportunities and also to have the extra training and experience acquired to work successfully in the field of
The white paper entitled, The Doctor of Nursing Practice: Current Issues and Clarifying Recommendations was written and published by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN). The AACN Board of Directors formed a task force to review and clarify the evolution of the doctorate in nursing practice as outlined in the Essentials of Doctoral Education for Advanced Nursing Practice (DNP Essentials). This paper highlights the recommendations to describe and clarify the characteristics of the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) graduate scholarship, the DNP project, efficient use of resources, program length, curriculum considerations, practice experiences, and guidelines for collaborative partnerships. In 2004, the AACN issued a Position Statement on the Practice Doctorate in Nursing that changed the trajectory of nursing education by recommending that advanced nursing practice education be moved to a doctoral level. DNP practice scholarships are validated when the principles of nursing scholarship are combined with the eight DNP Essentials to prepare a graduate capable of improving health and care outcomes.
The need for a BSN is for entry into nursing practice is widely supported dating back to 1965 when the American Nurses Association (ANA) published a paper stating the BSN to be the minimal level of education for entry in to practice (Taylor, 2008, p. 611). In the opinion of this author, in order to move the practice of nursing from a technical job to a professional career it is vital to have a minimal education of a BSN. Having a BSN helps to level the ...
There has been great debate in the nursing community for years regarding what should be the educational requirements for a practicing nurse. There are currently many options for men and women to enter the field through LPN, ADN, and BSN programs. More recently, programs have been popping up allowing accelerated BSN obtainment through second degree programs. The debate stems from the conflicting ideas of whether nursing as a whole is a trade, requiring an associate’s degree, or should be considered a profession, often requiring a Baccalaureate degree. In this paper this author will use past nursing history, current medical demands and advancements, and clinical patient outcomes to argue that the minimum education for a nurse should be a Baccalaureate degree.
Both the ADN and the BSN take the same licensing exam, receive the same credentials and often have little pay and benefit distinction (Hess, 1996). What appears to have little difference superficially actually has significant implications on the health of our nation, efficiency of practice, and role nursing plays in the healthcare community. The impact that this difference in degrees has is why the bachelor’s degree in Nursing is the absolute minimum requirement for entry into practice. This can ensure that the field of nursing is a field that is professional, scientifically based, and culturally aware.
The shortage of registered nurses (RNs) in the United States has been a cyclical topic dating back to the 1960s. Only recently have employers in certain regions of the nation stated a decline in the demand for RNs. Consequently, according to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing’s (American Association of Colleges of Nursing [AACN], 2014) report on 2012-2013 Enrollment and Graduations in Baccalaureate and Graduate Programs in Nursing, American nursing schools denied admission to 79,659 qualified applicants from baccalaureate and graduate nursing programs in 2012. The reported decrease in job availability and rejected admissions has left many individuals to question if the nursing shortage still exists. On the other hand, some experts project that the United States will be short more than one million RNs by 2020 (Dolan, 2011). Although some parts of the country are in less of a demand than others, it is undeniable that there is a national shortage of RNs.
Jacobs, L. A., DiMattio, M. J. K., Bishop, T. L., & Fields, S. D. (1998). The baccalaureate degree in nursing as an entry-level requirement for professional nursing practice. Journal of Professional Nursing, 14(4), 225-233.
The BSN program helps the nurses in many ways including utilizing the process to the full scale and it will encourage nurses to use their skills like educating the patient as we’ll as creating new nurses. Because of the new health care reform, the BSN program will also aid in filling the gap from the influx of patients. The baccalaureate degrees and BSN program helps prepare students for the significant part they are going to play in reinforcing the new healthcare reform. At present, I utilize and develop nursing care plans in the nursing process, even though it needs some corrections due to the nature of my work. The highest standards of nursing can only be achieved through better research and advanced training.
Last year, Lebron James gained about a lifetime worth of money on the scale of an average nurse’s salary in a year. Professional athletes are making a ton more money than people who have difficult or life-saving jobs. In addition, nurses and doctors who save lives, teachers who educate us, and the president who makes difficult choices for the good of our country, don’t make half as much money as skilled athletes who play sports. Are they any less talented?
Challenges with making a mandatory education system might stem from the diversity of the nursing profession and the continuing education. One example of the diversity in nursing would be the needs of a Urology nurse might be drastically different from the needs of a school nurse. Another problem may be seen with difficulty accessing proper education or insufficient continuing education. Mandatory continuing education could be challenging for those nurses whom are between jobs and having to pay for continuing education out of pocket, or are unsure of which continuing education they should obtain when between jobs. Finally, a disadvantage of
The school is adequately preparing me and teaching me what I need to know to become an excellent nurse. I will be equipped to work in many areas and will keep the door open to different opportunities. In fact, I specifically chose a school where I would earn a BSN degree so I can have the option to become a nurse practitioner if I decide I want to. Another way a BSN degree in nursing is helpful is if I were to ever decide to become a teacher, I could go back to school and get my master’s degree quicker than I could without a BSN degree. Having multiple options with this degree is both helpful and comforting. Simply as a nursing student, my role is to be the best student I can. By preparing my best and utilizing my resources, I know that I am pleasing God in my studies, no matter the test score. As a nursing student and then as a nurse, I will have to work my absolute hardest so I can achieve excellence. In the end, my hard work will pay off and please