Nursing Leadership and Management

Peer response: Karen Jimenez 

The proposal to make the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) as the entry-level requirement for the nursing profession will increase the advancement of the profession. BSN imparts registered nurses with crucial leadership skills that allows them to execute their management and supervisor roles in healthcare settings. Similarly, a four-year BSN program provides a comprehensive education which enhances nurses’ clinical practice advanced health assessment, and health promotion capabilities (Carlton, 2024). Moreover, making BSN mandatory in nursing helps in improving patient outcomes. Zittel et al. (2016) claim that increasing the number of BSN-prepared nurses by 10% is likely to reduce patient death by 5%. As such, I believe that the proposal is essential in advancing the nursing profession. 

Grandfathering is a conducive approach for realizing the goal of making BSN an entry-level requirement in nursing. The grandfather clause involves applying old rules to the existing situation while developing new rules for future cases (Wester et al., 2021). In this case, grandfathering would allow the retention of experienced nurses with diploma and associate degree in nursing and prevents nurse shortages. The approach will also enable smooth transition and avoid disruption in healthcare delivery. Therefore, I would support both proposals as they ensure continuity of care. 

Although there is a long-standing internal dissension among nurses on the proposal making BSN mandatory, it does not affect the status of nursing as a profession. It allows individuals and teams to freely express their opinions, ensuring a consensus in decision-making. Notably, policymakers and the general public have a limited understanding of this issue. This can be addressed through advocacy and education by highlighting the relationship between nursing education and patient outcomes.