Answer both Parts I and II in your initial response.

Part I: Do you believe that the number of pathways (LPN, ASN, BSN) to entry into the practice of professional nursing is confusing? Is this feature an asset or liability to the profession? Provide the rationale(s) for your answers.

Part II: Do you agree with the key findings and recommendations of the IOM and the Tri-Council for Nursing that entry into nursing practice should be at the baccalaureate level and that there is a need for nurses to advance their education? Support your rationale.

Many countries such as Canada, England, and Australia have moved entry into professional nursing practice to the baccalaureate level. In the United States (May 2010), the Tri-Council for Nursing, a coalition of four steering organizations for the nursing profession (AACN, ANA, AONE, and NLN), issued a consensus statement calling for all RNs to advance their education in the interest of enhancing quality and safety across healthcare settings. In the statement titled Education Advancement of Registered Nurses, the Tri-Council organizations present a united view that a more highly educated nursing workforce is critical to meeting the nations nursing needs and delivering safe, effective patient care. In the policy statement, the Tri-Council finds that without a more educated nursing workforce, the nation’s health will be further at risk. 

In October 2010, The Tri-Council released an additional statement supporting the work of the Institute of Medicine (IOM and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation) entitled The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health.

Click on the links below to view the statements and IOM Report: 

Tri-Council for Nursing Issues New Consensus Policy Statement on the Educational Advancement of Registered Nurses http://www.aacn.nche.edu/Education-resources/TricouncilEdStatement.pdf

Tri-Council for Nursing Calls for Collaborative Action in Support of the IOMs Future of Nursing Report http://www.nln.org/newsroom/news-releases/news-release/2010/10/14/tri-council-for-nursing-calls-for-collaborative-action-in-support-of-the-iom-s-future-of-nursing-report

Institute of Medicine (IOM) Report: http://www.thefutureofnursing.org/IOM-Report

Read the following Highlights of the book, Benner, P., Sutphen, M., Leonard, V., & Day, L. (2009). Educating nurses: A call for radical transformation. Jossey-Bass Publications.  Article Benner et al 2010 Highlights Educating Nurses A Call for Radical Transformation.pdf Click for more options

Article Benner et al 2010 Highlights Educating Nurses A Call for Radical Transformation.pdf