Help!!!!

BrandyBSN · Oct 19, 2001

The hardest thing for me is the constant stress. As soon as you get something done, there are 5 million other things that require immediate attention. Sleeping maybe 5 hours, on a good night. The tests are hard. One answer is obviously wrong, and 3 are right, and you have to pick the "best" answer. The lack of time for family. Losing touch with friends because you never have time to see them.

The best things for me are actually seeing one of my interventions make a difference in one of my patients. Being the first one called when a family member is sick, or on a new medication. Having my family ask me for advice, and then TAKE it, because they recognize that I know what I am doing. Personal satisfaction that I am attending the only highly selective university in the midwest and i am MAKING IT!

The BSN/ADN decision is sticky, and many people do either for their own personal reasons. Personally, I recommend the BSN, but that is because I personally think that every professional nurse should have a 4 year education. Its not needed-you can do the same thing with a 2 year degree, but in my opinion, the profession is not going to have much authority until we can all stand together, and there is only one way to become an RN. Having different paths just adds to controversy, and leaves others with hard feelings. If physical therapist are required to have a bachelor's degree, most even require masters degrees, and we have 2 year degrees, how can we make a valid argument about monetary compensation for education? I believe there is more public respect for ANY profession that requires a 4 year degree, and I hope that in the future, nursing will require a 4 year degree too. But then again, it is just my personal opinion, and many others feel differently, and they have valid arguements as well. Ultimately, it is a personal decision, and you have to do whatever you feel is right for you and your situation. We both take the same test, we are both professional nurses. You have to follow your heart, and decide which path is right for you.

I wish you the best of luck!

BrandyBSN - 7 months from today, I graduate!