"Just" a 2-year degree

Nurses General Nursing

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Stopped at local pharmacy to pick up prescription. Asked pharm tech how her daughter was (she's a traveling nurse); she said great, we briefly discussed how she's deciding between staying and moving on, compensations etc. I said that I heard that travelers out her way made some really good money.....and the pharm tech said "well, you guys here make really good money with just a two year degree." JUST. Said in such a way as to make me think she equated my educational experience with a humanities major. Hey: poetry, history, nursing, all the same stuff, right?

I said you'd be hard-pressed to find someone who finishes an RN program in only 2 years nowadays. She shrugged, said her daughter "blew through" it (ten years ago or so). She didn't want to hear that things have changed a TAD since then.

Sigh. I think I'll take up basket-weaving. Appears I'm qualified.

This is going to offend some people, but she is "JUST" a pharm TECH. I do not see her getting a higher degree :nono: . Some people are ignorant:madface: , and jealous:uhoh21: . I have much empathy for you. :monkeydance:

You should have said, "and you make how much money?" Then you should have said,"I guess it takes a pretty bright person to realize it is better to spend two years in school instead of four to make the same amount of money."

People kill me. I remember my high school chemistry teacher making fun of people who went to Devri (sp?) Electronic Institute. Well, I was a little offended at the time because my brother-in-law graduated from there(even though I don't like my bro-in-law much) Of course, I didn't relate things in terms of money then, but I realize now what a monkey my chemistry teacher was/is. My brother-in-law has a job with Texas Instruments and makes a six figure income, while that teacher is making what he makes.

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Specializes in 2nd Year RN Student.
So I think alot of people think that must be nursing, too, if it's "just" a two year degree! Can't blame them: until a THREE-YEAR degree for nursing can be established, it's gonna happen.

I don't get this very much, but I HATE the fact that our 2 year ADN program is really a 4 year degree. The program is so competitive that you've got to have all of your prereq's done and if you get a C in any of them then retake it because you're not getting in. I'm on my last year of the RN and taking BSN classes at the same time. Those classes are 10x easier than my RN core! IMO, RN itself should count for more than an AS degree... Most BS degrees are easier and take the same amount of time.

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I'm am on my 15th semester in a row. This is because I could only take one or two pre-req classes at night because of my full-time day job. When I was accepted into the nursing program I quit my job and went full time. Our school has two semesters, skip summer and then two more semesters. But I am in the expidited track which is 4 semester straight in a row. Intense, but worth it. That means I have been going to school since Jan 2002. Sad, huh? This, my opinion does not fall into a two-year degree. On paper it looks like it, but in reality it isn't. This is just my story, I'm sure there are a lot of people who were able to do full-time with pre-req's and got through it quicker.

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There will always be people out there like that. I have some pretty wealthy relatives who live a distance from us. We went there to a wedding shower for my cousin and my aunt made a comment about how she was hoping that her daughter would've done better, "after all, he's JUST a doctor."

(Not only is her now husband a doctor, he's an orthopedic surgeon. LOL!)

So, don't let others offend you. They don't always realize what they are saying.

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Oho, am I all over this one!

Recently, some ignorant person told me that his daughter was starting nursing school at a "real four-year college" so that "her degree would mean something." This SOB said this with a straight face to a person he knows (me), who works in a Level I Neuro Trauma ICU who just happened to go to a lesser, meaningless ADN institution.

I don't want to open the ugly can of BSN vs. ADN worms, but what that man said is fightin' words where I come from. Now, I don't have a four-year degree, I don't have a bazillion years' experience (I have just over one), and I will gladly tell you that I don't know everything -- never have, never will. But when the brown stuff hits the fan, and his family member has a Grade 4 SAH, and the RNs and neurosurgeon taking care of his family member are working their b@lls off to save their loved one, will he give a cr@p what degree said nurse has?

Just my two cents worth. My name is Conky Tonker, and I'm a proud Neuro Nurse.

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Had to add my two cents...after a career in technology I was downsized and my position in management eliminated....what a shock!!! After a brief feeling sorry for myself session I decided to enroll in the local community college for nursing-only two years and I could be doing something I had thought about 20+years ago. Well, my 2 years turned to 3. The admissions people were very amused that I thought I would gain entry right away! The prereqs were hard, the core classes were hard and our program's graduates are more sought after than any in BSN programs from the area. We have solid professors who are still working nurses unlike many of the 4 year colleges. I currently work in an ER of a large hospital system. My schooling prepared me for many of the skills and what ifs that cross my path daily. Prior to becoming a nurse I worked in this same department as a technician. I have had the opportunity to work with nurses from diploma, 2 year and 4 year programs during "real" nursing. I can honestly say I will take a "hands on" diploma or 2 year nurse anyday if I was a patient. It seems many of the 4 year programs clinicals are based on hypothetical actions like "this is a foley-this is what you are supposed to do with it" as opposed to actually lab demo, patient demo with professor and doing it till you get it right. Academically, the only difference is the amount of other classes. Clinical rotations semesters are the same, we take the same NCLEX, and all share the title of Rn

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I know! I will have my BSN in April, but the ASN was much more difficult to get through! I dont like hearing that "just a two year" crap. Nursing school to me was more like boot camp! The ones that refer to that as "just a two year" degree obviously have not been through it

Just wanted to point out that getting up in the wee hours of the morning in the ASN were difficult for me. Not like that in the BSN program I am currently in.

Who ever said you dont have to get up a wee hours to earn your BSN. Earning a BSN is very difficult. Probably the hardest thing I have ever done. ADN nurses will never ever ever understand how difficult a BSN program is to go through. Its funny how ADN nurses always try and compare BSN degree to a ADN. If a BSN program is sooooooooo much easier why isnt everyone a BSN? And why dont BSN go back to school and get there ADN. There is no comparison. BSN nurses took that extra step in there education and made it more than just a 2 year degree.

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2 year and 4 year RN's take the same test, that should say something for the 2 year RN's. I am a 2 year RN and am in upper management. 4 year programs touch more on administration and public health, that is the only plus I see.:nurse:

How would you know if you only have tour ADN?

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a little more patho, a little more pharm, some research, more in depth asssessment as well as those community health and leadership courses. Taking an RN to BSN, I get just a little defensive when I hear "it's just a couple more courses".....how about 16 more for me. LOL

But I agree, they both can pass NCLEX and not much difference in beginning bedside nurses.

I'm also impressed with those with ADNs that advance far beyond the bedside such as yourself. In my class there are several managers, directors, house supervisors, educators etc. etc. Where I work those jobs are shut out to me, but it's not like that everywhere, where the persons experience and skills count more than "a few courses" (smile).

Please inform these people. This is why nurses never shake that image of handmaidens to doctors. Its because nurses are like crabs in a barrel. Nurses respect doctors, physical therapist, resp. therapist, occupationat therapist, speech therapist but when it come to a BSN, respect just flys out the window. I think ADN on this board should applaud BSN for taking there commitment a step further. The hate that ADN'S on this board have is overwhelming and disgusting. ADN nurses dont respect BSN nurses at least the majority on this board. A little more patho, a little more pharm, some research, more indepth assesment, and community is an understatement. We take the same pharmacy classes as pharmacy students, we take the same patho and health assesment as pre med students. It gets really annoying when ADN nurses equate there degree to a BSN. We as nurses need to respect others for there achievments. My sis has her ADN nad the day she graduated she started planning to get her BSN now she is in her last semester for her BSN. My mom started off as an LPN, then got her ADN, then BSN, then MA, now she is getting her PhD. ADN are meant to get there BSN and advance.

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Who ever said you dont have to get up a wee hours to earn your BSN. Earning a BSN is very difficult. Probably the hardest thing I have ever done. ADN nurses will never ever ever understand how difficult a BSN program is to go through. Its funny how ADN nurses always try and compare BSN degree to a ADN. If a BSN program is sooooooooo much easier why isnt everyone a BSN? And why dont BSN go back to school and get there ADN. There is no comparison. BSN nurses took that extra step in there education and made it more than just a 2 year degree.

Excuse me, but I really don't want to see this turn into yet another ADN vs BSN debacle. It's far too easy to get petty, and the post I'm quoting sets it up for a fight. Let's not go there, shall we?

I can add to this thread now, actually....ran into an old school friend, we caught each other up quickly on where we were and what we were doing, and he said his wife had looked into nursing but had gotten turned off because of how much education was required, time committment, etc. He asked where I had gone to school, and I told him the name of the CC: the one where the joke in the 80's was that all you needed was a pencil to get in :uhoh21: I had to clarify that by telling him that the NURSING program was one of the hardest in the State, one of the VERY best by reputation, and I was proud to have made it in and then through :) . However, he then said "you could go all the way through School X for nursing?" "Yes....?" "Oh, I thought School X was JUST for two year degrees...." !!! ACK!!! I know he was thinking that one could ONLY get to an RN via a 4-yr degree, so I told him that well, it DID take 3.5 even with our lil' community college:rolleyes: .

There you go. General public.

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Please inform these people. This is why nurses never shake that image of handmaidens to doctors. Its because nurses are like crabs in a barrel. Nurses respect doctors, physical therapist, resp. therapist, occupationat therapist, speech therapist but when it come to a BSN, respect just flys out the window. I think ADN on this board should applaud BSN for taking there commitment a step further. The hate that ADN'S on this board have is overwhelming and disgusting. ADN nurses dont respect BSN nurses at least the majority on this board. A little more patho, a little more pharm, some research, more indepth assesment, and community is an understatement. We take the same pharmacy classes as pharmacy students, we take the same patho and health assesment as pre med students. It gets really annoying when ADN nurses equate there degree to a BSN. We as nurses need to respect others for there achievments. My sis has her ADN nad the day she graduated she started planning to get her BSN now she is in her last semester for her BSN. My mom started off as an LPN, then got her ADN, then BSN, then MA, now she is getting her PhD. ADN are meant to get there BSN and advance.

Please stop. Save this ire for a different thread?

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Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.
Who ever said you dont have to get up a wee hours to earn your BSN. Earning a BSN is very difficult. Probably the hardest thing I have ever done. ADN nurses will never ever ever understand how difficult a BSN program is to go through. Its funny how ADN nurses always try and compare BSN degree to a ADN. If a BSN program is sooooooooo much easier why isnt everyone a BSN? And why dont BSN go back to school and get there ADN. There is no comparison. BSN nurses took that extra step in there education and made it more than just a 2 year degree.

The poster you are refering to was referencing the BSN program that she is "currently in", not all of them.

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