The BSN-trained nurse: The new RN?
Time was, the typical entry-level nurse went to nursing school for two years (or less), completed a certificate or associate’s-degree program, passed a licensing exam, and walked right into professional nursing positions. While the Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree has existed for a long time, it was rare for entry-level nurses to hold it until relatively recently. Not only that, it was rare for entry-level nursing jobs to require a BSN degree. But that is changing rapidly.
“Many years ago, as an ADN (Associate Diploma of Nursing) graduate, I did not believe that it was necessary for an RN to have a BSN in order to practice,” says Glenda Tali, RN, BSN, MSN, Campus College Chair for Nursing/Health Administration at the University of Phoenix Hawaii Campus, as well as a current doctoral candidate in the College of Nursing. “Today, however, it is imperative that we as a profession implement the standard of the BSN as the default entry into practice.”
Why should a paradigm shift from RN-only to BSN become the industry standard? According to Tali, it comes down to both patient care and lowering health care costs. “Research studies indicate better patient outcomes and cost-savings in those institutions that employ higher percentages of BSN-trained nurses,” she says. “Bottom-line, it’s all about quality patient care and optimal patient outcomes.”
Janeen Dahn, MSN, FNP-C and Assistant Dean of the University of Phoenix College of Nursing, agrees. “Many hospitals and health care organizations are now requiring nurses to have a BSN, because this degree provides the framework to build critical thinking skills and the knowledge to perform nursing skills at the level of community and family nursing, as well as leadership positions,” she says. In other words, with higher levels of education come higher levels of critical and analytical thinking, which in turn leads to better patient care.
Glenda Tali is quick to point out that obtaining the BSN has basically become a necessity in today’s job market, regardless of where a nurse might be on her career path. “In my own experience, and also considering recent economic realities (and those on the horizon with the advent of health care reform), both ADN and diploma RNs are at a distinct disadvantage in today’s job market,” she says. “Employers now recognize that a nurse with a BSN will improve patient outcomes, which will improve cost-effectiveness and the overall bottom line.”
And Tali also makes it clear that the BSN requirement is here to stay. “Cost-effectiveness and the bottom line is particularly important with today’s shrinking reimbursements and complex care,” she says. “We must raise the standard of our profession to meet these needs and also improve our credibility.”
While most current traditional nursing schools offer BSN programs, what can current nurses who are working with only an ADN or RN diploma do to obtain their BSN degrees? “RNs who hold either diplomas or ADN degrees can enroll in RN-BSN programs,” says Tali. “Many universities also recognize the need for higher education for nurses and are working to develop programs to help working nurses earn their BSN or MSN.”
One of those universities is University of Phoenix. “Most universities offer an RN-to-BSN program that can be completed in two years,” says Janeen Dahn. “University of Phoenix offers a unique opportunity for that full-time nurse to attend school four hours a night, one day a week, online or on-campus, providing the working learner with the necessary education to function in higher-skilled nursing positions.”
And what kinds of jobs can BSN-trained nurses expect to obtain? “There are several areas of nursing that now require a BSN degree,” says Glenda Tali. “For example, the U.S. military requires a BSN for all its nurses. Many case management companies now require a BSN at a minimum. And one major hospital here in Honolulu no longer hires RNs who do not have a BSN degree.”
Janeen Dahn emphasizes that even where it is not required for hiring, BSN degrees provide greater opportunities for nursing career advancement. “Obtaining a BSN opens the doors for opportunities as a clinical instructor, hospital nurse (including ER and ICU positions), community and family nurses as well as case-manager positions,” she says.
Wherever you are in your nursing career, the BSN degree has become essential. And now there are more and better options for working nurses to obtain it than ever before. “University of Phoenix’s College of Nursing recognizes the need for ongoing education for nurses, and they have provided numerous resources for nursing programs across the United States,” Glenda Tali says.
