I want to talk to you about something that inflames more passion for nursing future than just about anything I can think of - the educational requirements for initial entry into nursing practice.
This subject has been bandied about for many years. When I first entered nursing school, a two-year associate nursing degree program, people were predicting the end of the associate degree programs. Rumor had it that a two-year graduate would become a technical nurse while the four year or BSN nurses would retain the title of professional nurse. That was over forty years ago.
Many things in life have progressed since that time back in 1971. The discussion about the entry education into our profession has not.
Nursing, as a profession, has made the decision to avoid making a decision on this subject. We, as a profession, are on the verge of becoming what others envision us to be. We are about to be told by 50 different state legislatures what our entry to practice requirements are to be. We are abdicating one of our basic roles as a profession to a group of people totally outside of nursing.
Many other healthcare professions have taken it upon themselves to advance their educational requirements for entry into practice without harming the ability of their established practitioners to practice. You only have to look to such groups as pharmacists, physical therapists, and audiologist for examples of this progress.
I’m not degrading or belittling those nurses who are currently practicing with diplomas or an associate degree. My educational background is an associate degree in nursing and a diploma in nurse anesthesia. What I am talking about is the future of nursing.
When we look at many of the complaints from nurses today, lack of respect or not being accepted as a peer, I can’t help but to think about the educational disparity between almost 50% of practicing nurses and those other professions we work with. If we are to become the dominant healthcare force that we are capable of being, we must, as a profession, change the entry level for practice into nursing. Start thinking beyond today; start thinking of the future of our nursing profession.
About the Author: Donald Wood ARNP, CRNA has administered all types of anesthesia to patients from three days to 104 years old. For seventeen years, Donald was the lead CRNA in a busy labor and delivery unit. During this time he administered over 10,000 spinal and epidural anesthetics and delivered one baby. He has also served 15 years as a member of the U.S. Air Force, attaining the rank of Lt. Colonel. Most of his work centered on disaster relief and rescue operations.
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