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ADVANCE Perspective: Nurses

Using Your Voice

Published December 11, 2007 3:14 PM by Gail Guterl

We at ADVANCE have been invited several times to speak before nursing groups on how to get published. To preface each of these presentations, we discuss nursing's representation in the press and nursing's responsibility to express their views to the public. After all, nursing is the largest healthcare profession. Additionally, it's one of the most important healthcare professions because, as I have said before, you don't go to the hospital for physician's care, you go for nursing care.

So I was delighted to read a Regional Commentary in the Philadelphia Inquirer by Linda Gural, president of the New Jersey State Nurses Association. Gural explained the proposed legislation in NJ requiring registered nurses to earn a bachelors degree in nursing within 10 years of their initial licensing. The bill affects already licensed RNs.

In simple, clear language, Gural explained the bill should not change the way nurses enter the workforce, saying community colleges and hospitals can still be the main educators of nurses.

In simple, clear language, Gural explained the bill should not change the way nurses enter the workforce, saying community colleges and hospitals can still be the main educators of nurses.

Citing studies that have shown outcomes are improved when care is delivered in a facility with more RNs with bachelor's degrees, Gural stated she believes the RN plus 10 proposal is the best way to ensure better-educated nurses in NJ.

Kudos to Linda Gural! You had something on your mind and you took the time to educate the public about this important issue.

posted by Gail Guterl
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1 comments
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At first glance this sounds wonderful-especially given the repeated research that demonstrates having a BSN prepared nurse reduces mortality statistics significantly.  Also, it sparks the idea of conformity across the nation.  Suppose we had one national licensing board with these same requirements?%0d%0aHowever, as you really look at this proposal more closely, several things come to mind.  If you feel that it should effect "already licensed Rn's", then what do you do about the staff that are within 10-15 yrs of retirement?  What about staff who really have no way financially or emotionally/physically within the family structure to go back to school?  What about the financial burden on facilities with salary increases or hiring requirements?  What do you do about traveling nurses or agency nurses who cross state lines to work?%0d%0aI really feel there is more to this issues than meets the eye.
Martha langdon, critical care/education - rn ccrn, carlisle regional medical center December 28, 2007 10:10 AM
carlisle PA

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