ECPI University CAP480 Project

1. BSN as Entry Level
into Practice
Carrie Leighann Guntherberg, RN
ECPI University

2. Objectives
• Current entry level
• Why BSN?
• Change

3. Current Entry Level
• Diploma Degree
• Associated Degree
• BSN
• Nursing is one of the few fields in healthcare where a
minimum level into practice is not established
• Nurses are the least educated among all major health care
professionals

4. Why BSN?
• Institute of Medicine; Future of Nursing
• Establishes a minimum for entry level into
practice
• Promotes nursing as a profession
• Promotes leadership
• Education includes focus on research and
evidence-based practices

5. Why BSN?
• Statistics show BSN prepared nurses
– Decrease the mortality and failure to save rates
(ANA, 2014)

6. Why BSN
• Better prepares RNs to collaborate on
multidisciplinary teams (IOM, 2011)
• Stronger sense of belonging
• Increased communication skills
• Increased sense of awareness for healthcare
systems and policy (IOM, 2011)
• Stronger sense of promoting nursing as a profession

7. Institute of Medicine
• The Future of Nursing
– Established goals for nursing and nursing education
– Goals to be met by 2020
• 80% of RNs with BSN
• Change educational programs
• Establish minimum entry into practice

8. BSN Education Focus
• Education focus
– Nursing theory
– Leadership/Management Level
– Interdisciplinary team approach
– Research
– Issues and trends in nursing

9. BSN vs Associate and Diploma
• BSN = bedside nursing,
leadership, critical thinking,
management level
• Associate = bedside
nursing, critical thinking
and minimum leadership
• Diploma = excellent
bedside nursing

10. Change
• IOM- nursing needs to
restructure educational
programs
– 80% RNs with BSN
– Current education does not
meet the needs of society
– Move away from task-based and
toward decision-based, applying
critical thinking

11. Implementing Change
• National Scale
– Legislature needs to be passed
– Support local and state programs (state boards of
nursing)
• Include timeline (start and end dates)
• Grandfathering of seasoned nurses
– Example, expect to retire in 3 years = will not be required to meet
the educational change, BUT will not be eligible for renewal of
licensure
• Education assistance
– Compliance from facilities, professional organizations

12. Resources
• AACN (2014). Nursing faculty shortage fact sheet. Retrieved from
http://www.aacn.nche.edu/media-relations/FacultyShortageFS.pdf
• American Nurses Association (2014). Higher number of nurses with baccalaureate degrees: Linked
to lower rates of mortality. Nursingworld.org. Retrieved from
http://nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/ThePracticeofProfessionalNursing/Improving-Your-
Practice/One-Strong-Voice-Clinically-Speaking/Higher-Number-of-Nurses-with-Baccalaureate-
Degrees-Linked-to-Lower-Rates-of-Mortality.html
• BattiÉ, R. N. (2013). Perioperative nursing and education: What the IOM future of nursing report
tells us. AORN Journal, 98(3), 249-259. doi:10.1016/j.aorn.2013.07.004
• FutureofNursing (2014). Campaign for nursing: Campaign progress. Retrieved from
campaignforaction.org/dashboard
• HRSA (2013). The u.s. nursing workforce: Trends supply and education. Retrieved from
http://bhpr.hrsa.gov/healthworkforce/reports/nursingworkforce/nursingworkforcefullreport.pdf
• Schroeder, R. T. (2013). AORN efforts to support the IOM report on the future of nursing. AORN
Journal, 98(3), 209-213. doi:10.1016/j.aorn.2013.07.010
• Starr, S., & Edwards, L. (2010). Why should I get a BSN?. Tar Heel Nurse, 72(3), 10-12. Retrieved
from https://libproxy.ecpi.edu:2323/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=25&sid=245eca46-6e76-
4597-8626-e75a81ac9763%40sessionmgr198&hid=126