[msdobson]

Originally Posted by stevielynn

I too would have gone the BSN route - If I had been directly out of high school. I did go that route for a Social Work degree right out of high school.

I, for one, am pathetically happy that there ARE so many ways into the nursing profession. I spent many years straight out of high school working to support myself and my daughter (no mother in the picture). I spent many more years (part-time) attaining a degree in English Literature. Then more years working. NOW, I have the time to pursue a second career (so-to-speak) but DO NOT want to sit through four (or more) years of school to get my BSN. I'm happy that I can do an 11-month accelerated LPN program, then a one year RN bridge program. Do I want a BSN?

Nope.

[msdobson]

Originally Posted by kstec

I always enjoy reading the hierarchy of nursing forums. When I started my pre-reqs 6 years ago (one class at a time) when my youngest was 9 months old, I was so excited about going for my LPN. I know some of you are reading this saying "Well you do realize that your are at the bottom of the food chain". Well at the time I started LPN's were still in the hospitals and were tentatively going to be faded out. Well as time went on and money was short, I fulfilled my dream of becoming a nurse (LPN), we'll what used to be considered a nurse. Now from reading all of these forums I've come to the conclusion that alot of nurses tend to not be very nice and forget that not all of us had or have the opportunity to get our Bachelors or Masters, but are content with the fact that we went to school to help people. No I am not a RN, nor to I claim to be one, but I do have something to contribute to the healthcare field. I do believe in each tier there should be a pay difference, considering cost and knowledge, but to think that just because you have more letters behind your letter that you are better than me (LPN), you're not. Instead of having that mentality why don't RN's let LPN's assist and you mentor us instead of constantly belittling us. As for anyone who has a higher degree of education, I think it is wonderful and you deserve it for the sacrifices you made or didn't make, but for me the bottom of the food chain LPN, it just isn't presently in the cards and hasn't been in the past, so I will continue to be proud of my accomplishments and you be proud of yours (BSN, MSN).

[DutchgirlRN]

I would like to get my BSN (I'm 51 y/o) not to make more money but to fufilll a personal goal. Who knows I may continue onto NP after BSN!
After all as my favorite saying goes:

[msdobson]

Originally Posted by DutchgirlRN

After all as my favorite saying goes:

My Dad taught me my favorite say; therefore it is not safe to print here.

[Kim O'Therapy]

Originally Posted by southernatheart

I think every nursing student should be required to work as an aid for a semester, or over the summer before nursing school starts. I've worked as an aid for 3 years and just graduated Friday with my ADN. Aids always say that you can tell the RNs who were aids from the ones who weren't because the ones who WEREN'T will take 5 minutes to find you to tell you your pt needs to get on the bedpan..the ones who WERE will just PUT THEM ON THE BEDPAN Seriously, I swear that I will never do that. I know that as an RN I will not always have the time to do stuff the aid can do, but I also see those tasks as giving me extra time to evaluate my pt. As far as education...in my area BSNs do not make any more $ than ADNs. My thinking is this; for someone just out of HS, they're young, probably not a lot of life experience...the BSN classes will make them a well-rounded nurse. For someone my age, who's been around the block a couple times...lol....I don't think it's as necessary. Not for a pt care position, anyway.

I agree with you. I have been a CNA for six years and am currently working on my BSN. So far, wherever I have done clinicals, the aides ask me if I was ever an aide. When I ask why, they tell me, "Because you're one of the few students that will help us move and change patients." I think that is sad.

[Kim O'Therapy]

Originally Posted by Suesquatch

I'm just a lowly LPN and I know that.

I don't think one can ever be "too educated." One can, however, be too stuck up.

Well said!

[Nursememom]

llg.

You are so right. Debating doesn't make it better for our profession.
It is all in the personality and work ethic of the nurse.
If she truly cares about her patients she will do whatever it takes to help them, sometimes it means doing it yourself and at other times, you need the aid or the LPN because you are tied up with thingd the RN cannot delegate to someone else.

I love being a nurse and showing my patients how they are all important. I am not a youngster but I am young in the world of nursing,,,an RN nurse for almost 5 years and have decided to go fro my BSN>MSN now and then teach nursing while doing perhaps some hospice nursing and school nursing,
Let's move on and talk about getting more males and females interested in nursing!

What are doing to promote nursing?
;-))
nursememom

[puggymae]

In my experience education is like seniority - it is only overated to those who do not have it.

[Reno1978]

I'm in a BSN program, and the attitude of the faculty is that we're getting a more well rounded education with the research, community health, and leadership/management curriculum that's included. So, there definitely is an attitude of superiority of the BSN here where I live.

In the hospital, I have never heard a BSN say they were better than an ADN. Nor have I heard my classmates make comments like this.

Personally, I choose my program because both the ADN and BSN program here are 4 semesters long once you've completed nearly identical prerequisites (which take ~2 years to complete), so I figured I could take a few extra core classes and get a 4 year degree in 4 years. I know it's different in other areas, but here both an ADN and a BSN is 4 years of schooling minimum. I've worked with great RNs - ADN, BSN, and diploma graduates alike!

[butch228]

hi everyone..
this is well known debate that eveyone gets tired because there are so many nurses out there..dipolma, ADN, BSN grads that everyone takes this argument personally...anyways..my point is that if the health care profession wants to take nurses as seriously ...professionals..as opposed to "angels that care"..we need the education to back it up...the reason..why diploma nurses and ADN graduates cont to work as nurses..is because the demand is huge....so thats why non BSN graduates cont to get hired..even in big teaching hospitals..if youlook at other professions...Teachers...require masters degrees..physical therapists..are soon requiring doctorates...this has nothing to do with the competency of diploma or ADN nurses........I'm actually an ADN nurse....who went back to school as a second career...because the demand is high..I knew that I didnt need a BSN to get a RN job