Should Nurses Be Required to Have a BSN?
Fri, 01/15/2010 - 12:28 — wbessette
Suggestion that all nursing employees have BSNs prompts reaction among educators, professionals
By Meghan Wons
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Wisconsin Public Radio/Web
All prospective workers wanting to go into the nursing field should have a bachelor's degree, recommends a new study. That suggestion is causing mixed reactions.
The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching released the study, which recommends a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree (BSN) be the standard for nursing professionals.
The American Association of Colleges of Nursing applauds the recommendation, saying advanced education is in the best interest of patients.
Kay Grotelueschen is co-director of Madison Area Technical College’s Associate Nursing Program. She says their nursing graduates are well prepared to provide patient care and often do go on for advanced degrees, after earning their Associate Degree in Nursing. She says no matter the education level, nurses have the same licensing exam and must all meet minimum standards.
Grotelueschen says requiring a Bachelor degree might prevent some people from pursuing nursing at all, which could add to a looming shortage of health care workers.
Grotelueschen says she has seen a trend of more nursing students pursuing advanced degrees. In 2008, 24-percent of MATC’s nursing graduates were pursuing a BSN, up from 19-percent in 2006.