Subject:Baccaluareate as a minimum educational requirement
Date:Sun,9,Nov, 2003
From: Lakeeya Brown [log in to unmask]
To: Nurse-Ed Listserv
Hello list members, I am an RN to BSN student at the University of Buffalo
in New York State. My question is in regards to the value of higher
education to nursing professionalism. Many research studies over the past
few decades have supported the bachelor's degree as the minimum
educational requirement for registered nurses in order to promote
professionalism. In fact, there was a recent study done by Dr. Linda Aiken
and her colleagues at the University of Pennsylvania that found that the
baccalaureate degree has a direct, positive impact on patient outcomes as
well. Aiken's study showed how patients had a higher survival rate when
being treated in a hospital with more percentages of baccaluareate-
prepared nurses.
My question that I pose is this: In lieu of the nursing shortage,
would this be detrimental to the nursing profession if a law was passed
stating that the baccalaureate degree will now be a minimum educational
requirement for future registered nurses?
Ref: Aiken,L.H.,Clarke,S.P.,Cheung,R.B. Sloane,D.M & Silber,J.H. (2003).
Educational levels of hospital nurses and surgical patient mortality.
JAMA, 290(12):1617-1623, retrieved November 7, 2003, from MEDLINE database.
Lakeeya Brown
University at Buffalo
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