Hey all.
Many of the student nurses have already heard this, but for those who were not online when I got home, I will explain.
Many ADNs have taken a few of my posts as condescending. I didnt outward say exactly what I thought, but their conclusions may have been right.
I did think that a BSN nurse was better than an ADN nurse. But I didnt have all the facts. Logically, I could not understand why anyone who dispute this "fact". Unfortunately, for my pride anyways", it is not always a fact.
In theory, my thoughts were "if I have been doing assessments for 4 years, and you ADNs have been doing it for 2, have on earth can you say that I would not be better at it than you?" But, I had the wrong "facts".
After going home this weekend to play golf, i talked to a few of my friends from highschool that have gone into nursing at different universities. They were a year behind me in school, and they are juniors in their BSN programs now. They were talking about "just starting assessments". I asked "havent you been doing that for a while now?" I was shocked to learn that they hadnt done ANYTHING related to nursing in the past 2 years. They were just starting.
You see, in my nursing program, we start doing assessments as Freshmen, during our first semester. So I assumed that all nursing programs did that if they offered BSNs. I learned that this is NOT the case. From what I gathered, my program is an exception, not a rule. Many dont even accept students into the nursing major until 60 credit hours have been completed, and they have junior status. If this is the case, then BSN nurses who have attended those programs have no more "nursing" education than those who have an ADN, and have gone for 2 years also.
I cried when I found out. I learned that I was SOOO wrong! I thought that since my physical assessments, and clinical skills started when I was a freshman, that all other programs were the same way. I will have had 4 years of assessment technique when I graduate with my BSN, but not all BSNs have that. Many started out when clinicals started in the JR year, not before. SO they really do only have 2 years of "nursing", and 2 years of gen eds. Same experience level, same length of nursing education...
Not all programs are like mine, and not all programs are just for the JR/SR years... but learning this has really changed my opinion on a lot of issues.
I honestly dont "think" I meant to be condescending in my posts, but in all likelyhood, I probably was. I am a student, 21 years old, and I often jump to a side before I have all the facts. I am still young, and still learning... but I can promise you all this. From now on I will look much more closely at the "quality" of the education, not the quantity".
I am still very proud of my BSN education, which really is nursing for the full 4 years here, but I guess I am "more" proud of my nursing program than I actually am of my degree. I'll still wear it on my name badge, and I will still sign it once I pass my NLCEX, but i will think about it differently now. It doesnt quiet hold the same "status" symbol for me that if did before this weekend. All programs are not created equally, and all nurses are not created equally, but the degree that you hold says very little about who you are, and what you do. I always felt that I would be a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree holder first, a nurse second... I feel like I will be a Registered nurse, who happens to have a Bachelors Degree. Quite a turn around for my stubborn brain. Yeah, im still damned proud, but not of my degree as much as what I have learned, and what kind of a nurse I hope to be, and what I can do for other nurses and my patients.
So... here is the apology part of my post. Tricia, Anne, LeAnn, and any other ADN nurses that I have offended, or have been condescending to, rather purposefully, or subconsciencely, I am truely sorry. But I can promise you this... My way of thinking has changed. Qualtily is better than quantity, experience always outranks education, and this chick KNOWS that she has a lot to learn. And I thank you for helping me learn this valuable lesson. I am sure I will be a better nurse because of what I have learned from all of you.
Thanks for Reading,
BrandyBSN
