This document discusses the push for a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) as the minimum educational requirement for entry into nursing practice. It outlines the recommendations of organizations like the Institute of Medicine to increase the percentage of nurses holding a BSN to 80% by 2020 in order to promote nursing as a true healthcare profession. Earning a BSN better prepares nurses for leadership roles and focusing on evidence-based practices, research, and interdisciplinary collaboration compared to associate's degrees or diploma programs. Widespread changes to nursing education across the national, state, and institutional levels will be required to implement this new BSN minimum standard.

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