BSN in 10: what is your opinion?

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Healthcare Policy
• Workforce Development

Background:

• The BSN-in-10 initiative mandates that registered nurses (RNs) obtain a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) within 10 years.
• This legislation aims to increase the number of BSN-prepared nurses, which is linked to improved patient outcomes.
• Understanding nurses' perspectives on this initiative is vital for successful policy implementation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To gauge the opinions of AORN of Central Ohio members concerning Ohio's BSN-in-10 initiative.
• To determine if there is a perceived need for legislating a BSN within 10 years for newly licensed RNs in Ohio.
• To identify knowledge gaps among RNs regarding the BSN-in-10 mandate.

Main Methods:

• A qualitative focus group methodology was employed.
• Participants were members of AORN of Central Ohio.
• The study explored nurses' awareness of the BSN-in-10 initiative, its implications, and available support.

Main Results:

• Participants expressed support for higher education in nursing.
• Nurses were largely uninformed about the necessity of BSN-prepared nurses.
• Awareness was low regarding the professional and financial effects of obtaining a BSN, available resources, and advocacy group involvement.

Conclusions:

• Healthcare policy advocates must develop alternative communication strategies to effectively inform RNs about the BSN-in-10 initiative.
• Addressing knowledge deficits is essential for gaining buy-in and facilitating compliance with nursing education legislation.
• Further research could explore barriers to BSN attainment and effective support mechanisms for RNs.