Recently, I read an article about nursing degrees. Some people say that a bachelor’s degree is a must. Some say that an associate’s degree is just as good as a bachelor’s degree. Some say graduate study programs are good because the new nurse gets more hands-on training. What do you think? What does your institution require? What do you think about all of this? This subject usually prompts long discussions among nurses.
I went to an associate’s program, worked for more than ten years, and then got my bachelor’s degree. Did earning my bachelor’s degree make me a better nurse? I think it definitely added to my knowledge base. Did it change the way I nurse my patients? I don’t think so. I think it may have helped me write a better paper or article to educate others. It also taught me how to evaluate my patients’ learning styles and how to educate them. I had more pathophysiology classes, but I think I learned more critical thinking in my actual practice than I did in school.
Over the span of my career, I have worked with all types of nurses with all types of degrees, and I don’t think the degree makes a better nurse. Nursing is not about book work, it is about people. I can read in a book what superior vena cava syndrome is, but until I see the patient suffering from it and treat them, do I really know what it looks like when my patient walks in for treatment. Some will disagree with me saying that the book alerted me to the symptoms and treatments of the syndrome, but as a novice oncology nurse, would you know what this was?
What if a surgical patient with open abdominal surgery starts to have shortness of breath three days after surgery? I have been a surgical nurse for many years and would immediately get oxygen on the patient and call the doctor to get a chest film to check for pulmonary embolism. Would it matter at that point which degree you had behind your name? No, it would not. Did I know this from my experience or education as an associate’s prepared nurse? Or was it my bachelor’s education that alerted me to this condition? I honestly can’t say. What I do know is that the patient who I am caring for, as long as I am taking care of them and know what to do to help them, would not care about the initials behind my name.
In each area of nursing education—graduate, bachelor’s, or associate’s degree—we are given the knowledge to care for our patients. What we choose to do with it after that is what makes us a good or not so good nurse.
Becky McClelland, BSN, RN, has been a nurse for 15 years, and almost 13 of those years have been in oncology. She loves every aspect of oncology nursing and has worked in inpatient and outpatient medical and surgical oncology, although surgical oncology is her niche. Her passion is teaching patients about the cancer process, from surgery to chemotherapy, radiation, and recovery. Becky and her husband of 25 years have twins who are married and have families of their own. Becky says that her grandchildren are the joy of her life, and most of her free time is spent traveling to see them.
Thanks for bringing up this topic, Becky. As a nurse with an associate’s degree in nursing, but also holding a Ph.D. in a non-nursing discipline, and having been on both sides of the academic podium– both as a student and a professor, I have a healthy skepticism of policies requiring a Bachelor’s in Nursing across the board. I wish I could make up the knowledge deficit without having to go through a BSN program, but so far there is no institution out there who will allow me to do this without enrolling in a full blown academic program. I am almost 50, and at this point I could never recoup the expense of another degree.
I think education is too expensive and there are far too many people struggling on a nurse’s salary, without adequate education benefits, as well as the age of so many nurses, to justify the time and expense of going through a degree program. For younger nurses, it would be worth it. But given the fact that so many of us are older, it seems like such policies penalize experiened nurses.
That said, I think the education is valuable, not that it makes the nurse, but I would love to be able to take the 3 or 4 classes that would bridge the gap for me, that I would get in a BSN program. The fact that no school will let me do that makes me suspect it is more about schools bringing in revenue than about educating nurses.
My only recourse would be to go into an RN to MSN program, which would allow me to take those classes. But I have no need for a masters in nursing, it is pointless for me to do that unless I wanted a job that specifically required it.
I wish there were some schools out there who would recognize this and help to meet the unique education needs of older nurses, and if you’ve heard of any, I’d love to know about them.
I agree with Alene. I am a nurse of 45 years, a graduate of a Diploma program in Florida in 1965, and very proud of that. I attempted to return to school on several occasions, and due to family responsibilities, could not continue. I did get my credentials in IV nursing, and am now OCN and CBCN credentialed. I hear that some hospitals are requiring the BSN for all their nurses, and frankly feel this is unfair to those nurses who are older, raising families, or are the only breadwinner. In theory requiring the BSN may be good, but is it really practical, and will the nursing be any better??
I think nursing needs to set a standard across the board. As a career changer, I went back and got a second bachelors degree because it is the only way to get into the competitive market in Boston. Hospitals here require at least a BSN for all new hires. Current RN’s who have an associates degree are highly encouraged to go back for their BSN. Associate nurses in this area are limited to lower paying and/or less desirable nursing jobs. People from elsewhere in the country cannot believe that myself and my cohort had difficulty getting hospital jobs after graduation. Do I think that having my BSN makes me a better nurse? Probably not, experience makes you better, but it in a tough market your resume doesn’t get a second look without it.
I rmemeber each stage of my development from ADN to MSN and each level offered new insights and information. . .as did each year of experience. I believe that Nursing needs to begin to set standards that are clear. Through the years as information has grown so has the information new nurses must incorporate. Research is clear that BSN trained nurses offer patients an increased level of protection. I do wonder though if all were new grads if that would be affect the scores. We have argued the fact for over a half of a century. I honestly believe that we are now at a point where much more needs to be required. . .OOPS?! I believe in progressive licensure and limits of scope on entry to practice. . .I believe in strong mentorships. I believe that ADN given those cicumstances gives capable caring individuals who otherwise would not be able to join our ranks the ability to begin a career with an income while they move to the next important level. It is time to look at the profession and not our own insular demands and the concepts. I have to be honest, I did resist. Each change required a little nudge, but I believe the BSN did make me a better nurse –perhaps not in the tasky areas but it did in my conceptual understanding and hosestly. . .my MSN transformed me. . .although as i said before I got it. . .I make less money. . .but my professional life is rich.
lol would that I proofed that. . .
I do not believe having a BSN necessarily makes you a better nurse, however I believe having a BSN may give the nursing profession as a whole, a little more respect. I have an Associates in nursing, but my first degree is a Bachelor’s of Education. I am actually discriminated against in our clinical ladder program at our hospital because I only have an Associates. I cannot go beyond the first level because I do not have a BSN. I work just as diligently in my work as my colleagues but I’m not considered to be their equal. I went to the local college to check into getting my BSN and I would have to quit my job just to take the classes. There needs to be a much easier way to transition to a BSN when you have worked as an RN for 12 years. Nursing programs need to focus more on pathophysiology, patient advocacy, and performing clinical skills correctly and safely for our patients.
Thank you for all your response and issues in this area. Clearly we have hit a hot topic here. I have to say as above I think diploma nurse can do patient care just as good some times even better than a nurse with a higher degree. I am partial though; my sister graduated as a diploma nurse 16 years ago and is a very intellegant and capable ICU nurse.
I think as a professional organisation we need to once and for all make a decision either one way or another. I think all this back and forth is not good for our profession.
I have no problem with making a requirement to have a BSN if the educational institutions and employers would support RNs with the cost. The cost of education is outrageous these days and it would be a loss for the profession to lose experienced nurses because they have difficulty putting out the money to get an expensive degree. My biggest issue with the BSN requirement is the cost– which means both time and money for a lot of people who have little of both. Furthermore, if nurses are going to be held to higher standards, they should also get paid accordingly after they get their degrees. I don’t see that happening.
There are two ways to view this question: at an individual level, experience may trump further education or deem it not cost effective. At a profession-wide level, even allowing Associate Degree level RNs costs the rest of us credibility and prestige — imagine, an MD requires a Bschelor’s and 4 more years, and OTs, PTs,and SWs all have Bachelors Degrees or more. Lowering the bar makes it easier but cheaper to get in the guild, and the bar determines the value of membership. It’s all a matter of what matters more — easier entry or mor value once in. You can try to have it both ways, but you will surely fail — our society will not forgive obvious short cuts.
I graduated 1978 and have been working since then hospital and VNA. I work full time in oncology and per deim at VNA. The hospital I am employed at recently obtained Magnet Status which requires 80% of the RN’s to have BS degrees. I am trying to put my daughter thur college. There is not enough money to pay for both of us to go. I feel that forcing RN’s who are 50+ to return to school or be fired after 20 years of service is age discrimination. Would I like to go back sure, but I don’t think it is necessary to provide good care.In our profession you cannot have all chiefs and no one to do the work.