Requirements for Entry-Level Nursing
opinion Essay
1077 words
An ongoing debate for the requirements to become a Registered Nurse (RN) has been unsettled. Several different educational pathways lead to an RN licensure; however, the minimum educational requirements must be standardized at the baccalaureate level for several reasons. Spetz and Bates (2013) published that a growing number of hospitals prefer hiring nurses with a Bachelor Science in Nursing (BSN) as this increases the status of the nursing profession (p. 1). Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN), as well as a certificate on-the-job training Diploma are two other educational pathways to become an RN, which can be disadvantageous to the nursing profession in several ways (Tollick 2013; Spetz and Bates 2013). If entry-level nurses continue to practice without the BSN degree, then the deficit of highly educated nurses will be very detrimental to the nursing profession for years to come (Tollick, 2013).
The nursing profession has been disrupted by nursing shortages throughout the 20th century. Indiana University was the first official school of nursing which had its intentions to institutionalize the baccalaureate degree as its entry to nursing in 1909 (Jacobs 1998). Afterwards, shortages of nurses have led to hospital-based programs that provided a nursing diploma as well as community colleges providing an associate degree in nursing to close the shortage gap (Hess 1996). The intention for these diploma and associate degree programs were to designate these nurses as “technical” nurses who were supposed to work under the nurse; however, that was not the case due to the pressures of the nursing shortage (Hess, 1996). Nurses with a diploma or ADN can only be regarded as “semiprofessionals” as these nurses need to know much m...
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Works Cited
Hess, J. D. (1996). Education for entry into practice: An ethical perspective. Journal of Professional Nursing,12(5), 289-296.
Taylor, D. L. (2008). Should the entry into nursing practice be the baccalaureate degree?. Aorn Journal, 87(3), 611-620.
Blaney, D. R. (1986). An historical review of positions in baccalaureate education in nursing as basic preparation for professional nursing practice 1960-1984. Journal of Nursing Education, 25(5), 182-185.
Jacobs, L. A., & Bishop, T. (1998). The baccalaureate degree in nursing as an entry requirement for professional nursing practice. Journal of Professional Nursing, 14(4), 225-233.
Spetz, J., & Timothy, B. (2013). Is a baccalaureate in nursing worth it? the return to education, 2000-2008 . Health Services Research, 1-20.
Tollick, K. (2013). Bsn required. New Hampshire Nursing News, 4-5.
In this essay, the author
- Opines that the educational requirements to become a registered nurse (rn) must be standardized at the baccalaureate level for several reasons.
- Explains that the nursing profession has been disrupted by nursing shortages throughout the 20th century. nurses with a diploma or adn can only be regarded as semiprofessionals.
- Opines that nursing is an evolving profession where they must be able to utilize their critical thinking skills in order to deliver evidence-based care.
- Explains that hospitals consider nurses with a bsn to be more professional than those with an adn.
- Opines that adn nurses are negatively contributing to the nursing profession, as there is a gap between the two-year degree and an advanced degree.
- Explains that hospitals are taking action to require a bsn for entry-level nurses, and states are working on similar bills that propose advancing the entry into nursing practice at the bachelor’s level.
- Argues that a higher education standard would increase the status of the nursing profession and thus alleviate nurse shortages.
- Explains that baccalaureate education in nursing as basic preparation for professional nursing practice is an ethical perspective.
Related
- opinion
- explanatory
- analytical
- Creating the Professional Nurseopinion essayBoth 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.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes the reasons why the bsn standard hasn't been adopted as a national standard.
- Opines that nurses must be able to utilize advanced sciences to allow for a science-based practice. culturally appropriate care is the united states standard of care, formed in liberal arts courses.
- Explains that nursing encompasses several levels of education and licensure. the bachelor's degree in nursing is the absolute minimum requirement for entry into practice.
- Explains that the use of the same national licensing exam and credentials on two different levels of education causes discontinuity in the type of nurse that is titled as a registered nurse.
- Opines that the extra education received by a bachelors educated nurse is important to the quality of care that is provided to patients.
- Explains that the baccalaureate degree in nursing is an entry-level requirement for professional nursing practice.
867 wordsRead More - Importance Of Education For Nurses Essayexplanatory essayThe concern over having a BSN into the entry level of nursing has been debated for many years. Since the American Nurses Association has proposed the change, the controversy as to what is the difference has between having an associate’s degree in nursing rather than a bachelor’s degree in nursing has sparked a fire in the health field. The education of a nurse is highly important, because the lives of others are in the hands of a nurse. Nurses tend to spend more time with patients than doctors. Their ability to respond, treat, and communicate is imperative to the health field and overall, the patient’s life. Nurses should be able to understand the definition of what a nurse is, what is expected of a nurse, and the education requirements and options that are available. Going through an associate’s degree program prepares the nurse for a broader and more basic care of patients. BSN programs infiltrate a better understand of nursing as a leader, the health field, and educates the nurse in more detail on the care of patients. There are also more hospitals requiring BSN as an entry level, like Magnet hospitals. These hospitals are shown to provide better care and lower statistics, like in death hospitals.
In this essay, the author
- Explains the controversy over having a bsn into the entry level of nursing, since the american nurses association has proposed the change.
- Explains florence nightingale's goal of putting the patient in the best condition for nature to act upon him. maslow’s hierarchy of human needs is continuously used throughout nursing.
- Explains that nurses with a bsn have more emphasized knowledge on critical thinking, leadership, case management, and health promotion.
- Explains the difference between a magnet hospital and non-magnet hospitals, and the importance of making changes in the health care field.
- Cites smith, t., "a policy perspective on the entry into practice issue" in ojin: the online journal of issues in nursing.
- Explains that nursing education can be obtained by attending a hospital-based school of nursing and obtaining an associate degree in nursing from an undergraduate college. basic nursing programs cost $3,000 per semester.
- Argues that nurses with a bsn have higher starting wages than those with an asn. opposing arguments focus on the lack of evidence that implies the need for change of future nurses.
- Opines that nurses working in magnet facilities should expect a positive environment focused on empowerment and warrants nurses to make innovative changes.
- Explains that potter, perry, stockert, and hall, a.m. (2013). fundamentals of nursing. smeltzer, c.s., bare, b.g.
- Explains that magnet hospitals are attracted to the bsn but what’s in it for nurses.
3000 wordsRead More - Education of Nursesexplanatory essayMcEwen, M., Pullis, B. R., White, M. J., & Krawtz, S. (2013). Eighty Percent by 2020: The Present and Future of RN-to-BSN Education. The Journal of nursing education, 1-9.
In this essay, the author
- Explains the importance of nursing education in the healthcare setting. the writer believes that a highly clinical and critical thinking bachelor's program is the best educational preparation for an entry level nurse.
- States that a passing score on the national council licensure examination-registered nurse is mandatory for nurses to practice in the united states. only 10% of hospitals feel that their new graduate hires are fully equipped to offer secure care.
- Describes the novice nurse leadership institute (nnli) as a transitional program for recent associate and baccalaureate degree nurses.
- Explains that performance-based development system (pbds) is a critical thinking assessment tool for nurses.
- Explains that new york legislation has proposed that all nurses obtain a baccalaureate degree in nursing within 10 years of completing their associate program.
- Explains that most traditional nursing programs incorporate clinical experience throughout the entire program. this can cause students to arrive at a clinical site without adequate knowledge to truly absorb what is going on in the clinical atmosphere.
- Concludes that obtaining a baccalaureate degree in nursing would be the best educational preparation.
- Explains that the baccalaureate degree in nursing is an entry-level requirement for professional nursing practice.
- Describes mcewen, pullis, white, and krawtz's perspectives on rn-to-bsn education.
909 wordsRead More - Should A Nurse Should Be A Baccalaureate Degreeanalytical essayA Drastic Need for Nursing to Shift to Baccalaureate Degrees 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.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that bedside nursing in its current state is often viewed as a trade, rather than profession, since trades have required associates degrees.
- Opines that medical school is not creating enough new physicians to fill the doctor shortage in the next ten years of up to 90,000 physicians. it is imperative that nursing, the largest medical profession, increases its educational level.
- Argues that the minimum education for a practicing nurse should be the baccalaureate degree based on past nursing history, current medical demands, and clinical patient outcomes.
- Argues that the minimum education for nurses should be a baccalaureate degree to meet the institute of medicines goal of 80% of nurses having bsns by 2020.
858 wordsRead More - Nursing Degree In Nursinganalytical essayRecently there has been a strong push toward a strict standard in nursing education and the importance of doing away with the ADN and making the BSN the entry-level requirement for becoming a nurse (Hess, 1996). Many employers, such as the US military, Veterans Administration, and Public Health Service employers, are beginning to side with the ANA’s position and are refusing to hire nurses with less than a BSN (Taylor, 2008).
In this essay, the author
- States that the american nurses’ association (ana) stated their position on the nursing education dilemma in the 1960s. they stated that a baccalaureate degree in nursing, not an associate’s degree, should be the requirement for an entry-level nurse.
- Explains that nursing degree titles and requirements have been changed since the 1960's. many employers are refusing to hire nurses with less than a bsn.
- Explains that complications in degree differentiation, differences in the quality of patient care, and maintaining nursing’s professional reputation have all resulted in a widely spread opinion that the bsn is the more efficient route to becoming an professional nurse.
- Argues that the conflict between the bsn and adn degrees negatively affects the reputation of nursing as a profession. both degrees are eligible to sit for the nclex and become recognized as an rn.
- Explains that the ana proposed in 1985 that nurses with an adn be titled a technical nurse. however, if this were implemented, it would lose support from many state nursing associations.
- Argues that without a clear standard for entry to practice into the nursing field, nursing loses some credibility. by making the bsn the educational requirement for practicing, patients can be reassured that every nurse is equally capable of providing quality healthcare.
- Opines that nurses need to be prepared to care for patients with a vast array of illnesses and be sufficiently equipped to keep up with the ever-changing and advancing technology of the medical field.
- Analyzes how the differing education levels affect patient care and the patient's view of their nurse. in a 1999 poll, 92 percent of the public trusts their nurses and 76 percent think nurses should obtain at least four years of nursing education.
- Explains that many people may not realize the differences in education that nurses can receive and how this could affect their healthcare. the lack of distinction between nurses with these degrees makes it difficult for patients and even hospitals to separate the skills and capabilities of the nurses.
- Explains that the ana, the aorn, and the general public believe that nurses should carry at least a baccalaureate degree in nursing in order to practice.
- Explains that many employers are now hiring based on the rn title and are not concerned with previous academics even though they prefer nurses with higher degrees. linda jacobs proposes a probable solution that could make it easier and more affordable to obtain an bsn.
- Suggests that community colleges and nearby universities can collaborate and create programs for students to complete a baccalaureate in nursing in four years.
- Argues that requiring a bsn degree would improve nursing's reputation, earn better rapport with patients and deliver better care, and end the confusion of nursing education standards.
899 wordsRead More - Nurses Should Become A Registered Nurseanalytical essayUltimately, the leaders in the nursing community must decide what they want before actually implementing any standards and regulations in regards to entry-level requirements as a Registered Nurse. There must be a consensus and plan to make a bachelor’s level education the minimum requirement to practice as a nurse. The amount of knowledge, clinical experience, background in philosophical and ethical ideals entailed in a bachelor’s program is what is necessary to create a critically thinking, competent nurse. Setting a bachelor’s standard will also help maintain the public’s trust in the nursing profession as well as within the health care community.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the field of medicine is not a stagnant one; new discoveries in terms of illnesses, treatments, medications, and human physiology are revealed every day.
- Analyzes how taylor iii (2008) states that nurses are the least educated of the interdisciplinary health care team they collaborate with.
- Explains that the majority of the public believes nurses should have four years of education or more. the general public trusts nurses more than teachers and even physicians.
- Recommends a bachelor's program where the prerequisites, didactic and clinical requirements are much more extensive than that of an associate program.
- Explains that the nursing occupation covers a wide range of tasks, from simple nurturing to complex responsibilities and critical decision-making activities. the commission, as cited in blaney (1986), found that patient care needs may already be advancing.
- Argues that nursing's problems are a result of its inability to set standards. if nursing does not meet the standards instilled by the public, credibility will decrease and the profession will lack respect from outside the nursing community.
- Argues that the current system of nursing education is due to unplanned and directed evolution, timidity and lost opportunity. it is time for egos to be set aside and leaders to see the overall benefit for all future nurses to have baccalaureate education.
- Opines that the nursing community must decide what they want before implementing any standards and regulations in regards to entry-level requirements as a registered nurse. a bachelor's degree education is necessary to create an critically thinking, competent nurse.
794 wordsRead More - Future Of Nursingexplanatory essayThe second key message focused on the recommendation that registered nurses receive greater levels of training and education. This message emphasized the need for nurses to enter the work force with a baccalaureate degree, or obtain it shortly afterwards. It also stressed the need more graduate nurses, specifically “nurse faculty and researchers at the doctoral level” (IOM, 2011, p. 164). Innovative solutions were devised to speak to nursing school capacity and curriculum in order to attain the IOM recommended goal of 80 percent of nurses holding a BSN by the year 2020.
In this essay, the author
- Summarizes the goals of the robert wood johnson foundation (rwjf) and the institute of medicine (iom) in their two-year movement to "assess and transform the nursing profession."
- Explains that rwjf approached the iom to address the issues of nursing in response to the changing face of health care.
- Analyzes the key messages in the iom report, including nurses practicing to the level they were educated to perform, achieving a higher level of education in an enhanced education system, and proceeding as full associates in reshaping health care.
- Explains that the initiative recognized that nurses have the opportunity to change health care, as we know it, and transform it to meet the needs of the aca.
- Explains that the second message focused on the recommendation that registered nurses receive greater levels of training and education. innovative solutions were devised to speak to nursing school capacity and curriculum in order to attain the iom recommended goal of 80 percent of nurses holding a bsn by 2020.
- Opines that the iom calls for a new leadership style that is collaborative and based on mutual respect, citing improved patient care and outcomes.
- Explains that aarp and rwjf joined together to create the "future of nursing: campaign for action," which uses seven proposals from the iom report to measure its success.
- Explains that action coalitions in each state carry out the work of the campaign, which provides funding, assistance with academic strategies, leadership development, research programs, and recognition.
- Explains the colorado action coalition (cac) is made up of nurses and other health care related leaders seeking long-term sustainable change to healthcare in colorado.
- Explains the colorado coalition for the future of nursing's proposed incentives for continued education, including higher pay for higher degrees, scholarships, grants, tax breaks, and loan forgiveness.
- Explains that colorado has initiatives that focus on young leaders and older nurses, such as "40 under 40" and "50 over 50".
- Explains that the nursing practice was inspected, dissected, and examined to its deepest core. recommendations based on the findings were made to improve the care that is given to patients and meet the requests of the aca.
1270 wordsRead More - The Nursing Career, Past And Future Of Nursingexplanatory essayNursing is continuously changing and expanding. According to John Hopkins the future of nursing centers around four themes; “improving and increasing nursing education, supporting nurses in practicing to the fullest extent of their education and training, creating a culture and systems in which nurses act as full partners with other healthcare professionals, and collecting better nursing workforce data” (Brooks, 2011). Over the years, collaboration has become much more prevalent and results with fewer errors and redundancies. As years progress, it will continue to grow. Furthermore, education is becoming a very important aspect of nursing. Most workplaces require a bachelor’s degree to be hired, whereas in the past it didn’t matter. Personally, I know I will pursue my Bachelors of Science in Nursing and hopefully continue on to my
In this essay, the author
- Explains that they have gained more knowledge on what it truly means to become a professional registered nurse. nurses play critical roles as caregivers, educators, listeners, and advocates.
- Explains that they realized the importance of therapeutic communication and how to use it properly. they also learned critical thinking and adaptability.
- Explains that they have grown immensely since writing the professional nursing paper in the beginning of the semester. they are now more knowledgeable about what it truly means to be a professional registered nurse.
- Explains that the field of nursing is constantly evolving which results in lifelong learning. as a student nurse, they need to attend class and clinical, as well as actively participate.
- Opines that they have become more in touch with their own values, which will benefit them greatly in nursing.
- Explains that they cared for a group of children from ages 5-8, who were vulnerable due to lack of resources and their age. culturally competent care is an important topic and allows nurses to understand diversity.
- Explains that they had preconceived biases about low-income students and their home life, and tried to incorporate culturally competent care to the students.
- Explains that they have integrated spirituality into every situation possible while providing care to patients.
- Opines that nursing has changed since the 1700s, and that the future of nursing centers around four themes: improving and increasing nursing education, supporting nurses in practicing to the full extent of their education and training, creating a culture and systems in which nurses act as full partners with other healthcare professionals.
1951 wordsRead More - Professionalism In Nursing Educationexplanatory essayIn 1965, the American Nurses Association shared its vision for the future of nursing education. A primary goal in its message was that a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) becomes the minimum requirement for entry into nursing practice (Nelson, 2002). Fifty years later, debates on this issue continue. In its report, The Future of Nursing: Leading Change and Advancing Healthcare, the Institute of Medicine shared its recommendation that 80% of nurses possess a bachelor’s degree by the year 2020. A significant number of health care facilities have adopted the practice of hiring nurses with BSN over those with two year Associate’s Degree of Nursing (ADN) or a three-year hospital based diploma program. Stakeholders in the Registered Nurse (RN)
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the american nurses association's vision for the future of nursing education was that a bachelor of science in nursing (bsn) became the minimum requirement for entry into nursing practice.
- Explains that the rn to bsn policy issue has implications beyond the workplace and college classroom.
- Explains how the american nurses credentialing center designated hospitals magnet® institutions based on certain criteria.
- Opines that the rn to bsn policy is a positive move in the field of nursing.
1719 wordsRead More - Comprehensive Health Assignment Analysisexplanatory essayThe essential of baccalaureate education for professional nursing practice provides the guidelines all professional nurses should follow to achieve the desired outcomes for the degree. Nurses need to have strong skills, knowledge, education for a better practice. In addition, it is essential for nurses to use their critical thinking while collecting and analyzing their assessments.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that baccalaureate education provides the guidelines all professional nurses should follow to achieve the desired outcomes for the degree. nurses need strong skills, knowledge, and education for a better practice.
- Explains that they chose the comprehensive health assessment assignment for nursing 401 class because nurses do patients' assessment everyday throughout the shift. it is important to master nursing health assessments of all body systems and cultural and spiritual assessments to provide adequate care for patients and families.
- Explains that nursing assessment is the first stage of the nursing process after establishing a rapport with the patient.
272 wordsRead More