Comments on: Apparently it is the silly season in nursing education

By: Mike Offerman

Mike Offerman — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 18:33:36 +0000

Thanks to all of you who added comments and questions. Each of you added good thoughts and perspectives.

Mike

By: Scot Reeves

Scot Reeves — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 21:49:27 +0000

We seem to have an interesting situation here; on as complicated and multi faceted as a diamonds surface. My opinion lies in the political and lobbying world; follow the money. Who pays the colleges; 4 year program enrollment is down, 2 year and community enrollment is up; this is due to the recent economy; how best to get more money than to legislate the need for nurses to be a 4 year program. If I just lost my job, I would enroll in a 2 year program, get out into the working world quicker, and start earning the money quicker. There are huge waiting lists for ADN programs; I teach as an adjunct for the prerequisite CNA program in Iowa; we fill the classes every semester. They have to come in with their algebra, anatomy, basic biology and chemistry before they can start as well as the CNA classes. This used to be the first semester for some ADN programs, so they are getting more competitive and more education than they used to. I would bet the requests to change is like a wave graph and follows the economy quite closely.

Scot Reeves, RN, MS-Disaster Management

By: Patrick

Patrick — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 03:02:30 +0000

There are so many opinions on this subject and nurses, the nursing profession, other health care professions, and the public have debated this issue for many, many years. When I was first in nursing school (back in 1983), this discussion was a topic on the minds of many different nursing leaders, educators and policy makers. Yet, despite all the talk, 25 years later – we are all just talking about it.

Today, as nurses continue to debate entry level education for RN practice, the profession of pharmacy now requires a doctorate for entry level. The profession of physical therapy is moving to doctorate education as entry level. And, the list goes on and on.

How can nursing, as a credible, amazing and needed profession ever be recognized for the contribution the profession makes if entry level into practice is the at the lowest academic preparation of all health care professions? The answer? It can’t! Nurses will never have a true collaborative relationship with medicine if we do not recognize that today’s modern day nurse needs to be educated to meet the complex and ever changing needs of our patients, better manage technology and develop critical thinking skills that will ultimately improve patient care.

While I can support the ADN level of entry, because we need nurses, I also support the BSN in 10 initiative that promotes the central idea that nurses need more education for our profession to survive, meet the ever changing needs of our patients and improve our collaborative opportunities with medicine. I know there are those in our noble profession that may not agree with this stand or approach, but there comes a time when the discussions have to end and nursing has to put some actions into its collective mouth and begin to make a wider difference for the patient and for the profession.

By: College of Nursing & Health Sciences – Grand Canyon University

College of Nursing & Health Sciences – Grand Canyon University — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 18:31:52 +0000

It is a shame to hear that some nursing programs are not preparing individuals for the real world

By: Ken Tagawa

Ken Tagawa — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 20:54:29 +0000

Here is the link to the NCLEX Examination Pass Rates since 1994.

https://www.ncsbn.org/1237.htm

By: Carmen Coyle

Carmen Coyle — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 00:16:14 +0000

Whether you graduate with an ADN or BSN, you take the same nursing board exam. Many community college scores are equal to or higher than a four year program. If community colleges are failing to prepare nurses for the workforce, their exam scores should reflect that failure. Do they?

By: Susan Moreland

Susan Moreland — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 22:40:59 +0000

What other healthcare “profession” only provides 2 years of education? You don’t hear the medical schools saying they need to get people out earlier to support their families! Pharmacists and Physical Therapists are moving toward the PhD as a requirement. Why do we short-change nursing?

By: Barbara Daiker

Barbara Daiker — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 21:26:14 +0000

Thank you for the interesting comment regarding the state of nursing education. I am a nurse educated through an associate degree, bachelor degree completion, master’s degree, and now working on a Ph.D. My view is through this lens. The battle between ASN and BSN is not new, it was occurring when I was a young nurse, and likely not ending soon. Is a nurse not professional if she/he doesn’t have a bachelor’s degree? Is her/his ability to deliver high quality care compromised? I doubt it. Higher education can lead to higher order thinking; it is possible but not guaranteed. How much higher order thinking is needed at the bedside? Some is needed, but not all the time. Sometimes a nurse just has to be quick, organized, and helpful. Nursing education needs to stop the in-fighting and work together. What is to be gained by level of education battles? Confusion is guaranteed.