I haven’t blogged in a while, have had so much going on in our lives, and have been working so much. But I really could not let today go by without making a comment on another turning of the tides in healthcare.
The Institutes for Health, the Joint Commission, and the federal government have all decided that in order for hospitals to receive a certain level of reimbursement, they must have at least 80% of Registered Nurses with a BSN or higher (among other dictates). The very large TEACHING hospital where I work has jumped on the bandwagon lock, stock, and barrel. You will notice I capitalized TEACHING. And there lies the heart of my anger and frustration.
I have an Associates Degree in Nursing, which now makes me not good enough. Despite nearly 26 years in the trenches so to speak, and nearly 12 years on the same cardiovascular unit, I am the unwashed. I am one of the “seasoned” nurses that answers the questions and provides the tips and advice to the younger nurses on a day to day basis. I have always loved that they do come to me, and I hope it will continue. It lifts me up when they return to me and say “hey, that really worked”, or some other comment. But according to the dictates I can not precept or mentor a nursing student in a BSN program. I asked someone very high up in our organization “so you would rather have a BSN with 6 months experience as a nurse teaching a student?” The answer, sadly, was yes.
Now to the point. The extra 2 years of a 4 year degree does not deal with caring for patients per say. Most nursing schools do mix up the courses so that it appears all four years are dealing with patient care. The truth is the patient care aspect CAN and IS completed in 2 years. The remaining upper level courses scattered throughout the curriculum deal with theory and research and leadership and management. When a patient is in crisis, none of that matters. What matters is does the nurse have the skills and knowledge to save that patient’s life. Period.
I am in no way disrespecting the nurses who chose to complete a 4 years degree. They worked hard and spent much additional money for their degree. I work with many talented and caring young nurses, and I love their freshness to the profession. I am proud to be a nurse, I never wanted to be anything but, and it saddens me that my contributions to my profession are no longer enough for those who write and make policy, but would not know a heart attack from indigestion if their lives depended on it.
And it all comes back to the god of money and reimbursement. Somewhere lost in the mix are the patients, without whom the issue of reimbursement would be moot anyway.
So yes, I am angry…but resigned. I do not plan to go back to school to study theory and leadership since for 26 years my education has served me well. We’ll see if I still have a job in 2016.
Be blessed,
Crystal
Ups and Downs and All Arounds 