Huh? There have been multiple levels of nursing for many decades, probably longer than you've been alive. At the lowest level a CNA or LPN doesn't even need an Associate's Degree.
In the 1980s 55% of registered nurses were working with diploma. It is down to 6% today. Bachelors or greater was 27% and is now over 70% today.
As your link points out, many states are continually raising the bar and many have already moved to a BSN minimum.
I'm probably dating myself, but there was a time when people started working occupational nursing programs while in high school and were licensed a few years later.
