BSN degree: Entry into practice- why BSN should be the minimum

Despite the fact that the 21 century has achieved greater levels of development and social awareness, the area of clinical and nursing is still crippled with shortage of enough and competent specialized nurses to provide better services to the increasing numbers of patients. Even amidst these challenges, the field of nursing does not require any compromise on the level of skills and expertise its professionals should posses. Returning or allowing diploma, ASN, and BSN in the field of nursing has received some criticism on the quality and competence of the people to carry out functions related to nursing.

According to Lucy (2008), the BSN should be the minimum qualifications for a person to practice nursing due to a number of factors. First is that this will enable creation of a credible professional identity. The field of nursing will be respected and will be associated with high level of professionalism and therefore clients will have confidence in the professionals when they prescribe certain drugs during their ailments. Furthermore, the field will earn respect and accolade from the public as they will perceive the field or the profession in a positive manner.

Second, is that this will ensure that aging and retiring nursing and academicians and leaders are replaced with more dynamic and innovative human capital to carry on the mantle of transforming the health sector. People with the qualification of BSN are mostly optimistic and eager to learn and explore more things in life. Therefore, it will provide an opportunity for exit of the old professionals and bring in new energetic professionals who have the passion and energy to execute their services. This will therefore help to bring or improve the services provided in various health facilities around the globe.

By setting the minimum to BSN, it will enhance production of independent people who are able to think in critical and professional manner. New developments will be realized with the advancement of technology and changes in the social systems. The current professionals are well equipped with the skill and knowledge that best address the needs of these changing ways of life and therefore are well equipped with skills to solve and manage current health issues that the society is going through. Hence, the need for making BSN to be minimum qualifications for a person to venture into any nursing or health care services provisions.

Last is that the nurses with qualification of BSN have the capability of providing safe, and quality patient care service as opposed to those without such educational qualification. In studies conducted, it was established that nurses with multi –level educational systems produce varied patience outcomes. It is further noted that in those hospitals which have more than 10% of their staffs who hold BSN degrees, the rate or risks of patience death decreased and cases of failure to ensure that patients are out of danger are averaged to 5%. (Lucy, 2008, p. 4). This, therefore, shows the essence and the end of having highly qualified health professionals in hospitals to ensure that high quality health services are provided to the patients.

In demonstrating the importance that governments are placing on the nursing an provision of health care, American Association of College of Nursing (AACN) has emphasized on the Baccalaureate of Science in Nursing (BSN) to be the minimum requirements of any professional nursing practice (Janine, 2007, p. 307). According to Janine (2008), a number of benefits come with people studying and attaining BSN. This degree helps to prepare the graduates by equipping them with broader knowledge base that is helpful in providing holistic health care to their clients. In the training, individuals, train on areas of research, community health, theory, and even on leadership content. The course also equips the candidates with wider scope of general educational courses such as languages, multicultural studies, sociology, ethics women’s studies, and communication just to name but a few. It therefore provides a wider spectrum of the general understanding and socialization of the profession by providing wider experiences that allows the nurses to adapt to different and ever changing environments in health care systems. Therefore, it equips the nurses with requisite expertise and experience that aids them to deliver and perform their duties with professionalism and humidity hence satisfying the needs of diverse patients.

Those nurses with BSN qualification understand broader view and alternatives in understanding the needs and behaviors of their patience. They have an understanding of the cultural diversities, and also have developed good communication skills that help to promote positive patient doctor relationships (David, 2008. p. 23). Therefore, such nurses with the qualification of BSN are in a better positing to provide first class services to their patience’s than those without such qualifications. Therefore, the minimum qualification for an individual to practicing nursing should be limited to BSN to ensure that the health sector is organized and equipped with people with skills, competent and professional personnel’s that will offer better services to their clients.

Therefore, it is imperative that reforms in curricula are instituted to ensure that graduates who hold BSN are well equipped with skills and knowledge to ensure that they provide better patience care. Collaboration between different sectors and programs geared at uplifting individuals career goals should be encouraged to ensure that better services are provided. BSN is important and the set thresholds should not be compromised so that high standards and professionalism is achieved in the health care system.

References

David, T., (2008). Should the Entry into Nursing Practice Be the Baccalaureate Degree?

Janine, S. (2008). Increasing RN-BSN enrollments: facilitating articulation through curriculum reform. The Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing. 39 (7).307-313

Lucy, A.M. (2008). RN-BNS education: 21^st century barriers and incentives, Journal of Nursing Management, 16, 47-55.