I'm not going to lie... - Page 6

There are a lot of absolute true things here: there are same awful for-profit (and non for-profit) BSN programs out there, however, there are equally as many awful ADN programs. The bad ones of both need to go.

Nursing needs to (in my opinion) standardize nursing curricula nationally and this can't be done effectively with continued multiple entries.

I don't feel this way about ADNs. I feel this way about nursing as a profession (at any degree level). I have many ADN colleagues I would trust my life to. I worry that if nurses are to continue being the most trusted and most essential members of the healthcare team, they need the education to support it in a changing base level of education in the general and medical population.

You feel the same as me: education elevates the profession. Shouldn't there then be some manner of standardization in education?

If you agree one may be more prepared for patient care and practicing to the full scope of practice, then that highlights the need to make a standardized entry point at the highest preparedness for the scope.

.......

Reply to BostonFNP who wrote: You feel the same as me: education elevates the profession. Shouldn't there then be some manner of standardization in education?

If you agree one may be more prepared for patient care and practicing to the full scope of practice, then that highlights the need to make a standardized entry point at the highest preparedness for the scope.


There is a standardization, but it is different in each state and the BON's have not established a national standard as of yet. I think we all get the point that your opinion stated in your posts, is that you think we should have a national BSN entry level for all nursing programs across the board, but many of us do not agree. I also do not think the current climate of nursing with the shortages and projected ones for the next 5-7 years here in the US, supports such a change or is really feasible right now. To have the attitude that a BSN or MSN makes you more prepared to be a nurse is misguided and simply puts people off. Large nationally recognized big 12 universities in my state offer full online ADN to BSN and BSN to MSN degrees, so there is no way that can possibly prepare anyone to be a better nurse just because they have a BSN or MSN behind their name, when they can sit at home in their pajamas and write reports with the aid of the internet. Most only do it because it is expected of them or because of pressure from their current employer. I have also spoke with many ADN's on the floor who said they have no plans on getting their BSN because it is simply not doable for them for a multitude of different reasons. Everyone must choose their own path that is right for them.

#) To clarify, I do not have any attitude with the degree someone holds, I am simply talking about the future of the profession as a whole. It sounds like maybe you have an attitude with my pint of view, but honestly, I don't take any of this personally.

#) I don't love online programs, but they do provide education. You can learn a lot sitting at home or library reading a textbook. Do you feel you have adequate experience to so strongly say what it "takes" to prepare a nurse for practice?

#) I 100% agree that everyone needs to take their own path. My own path is not a "traditional"
nursing path; I get that.

You sound like you're trying to defend your decision to go to a community college. Why do you feel the need to defend it if you see nothing wrong with it? Nobody said anything negative about getting an ADN, and I surf these boards every day! If someone did say something, let me know. I have been known to be wrong at times.

I think the whole BSN vs ADN thing is silly.

I suppose I do sound a little defensive and that was not my intention. I do however grow weary of nurses asking me what degree I am getting and when I'm tell them I"m graduating with my ADN, the first reply is are you going to get your BSN soon? Or begin telling my why I need to continue on for my BSN. It is rather frustrating to constantly be defending your choices when you actually feel quite proud of your accomplishment and all you want to hear is way to go from your fellow nurse. In one of the posts in this thread someone even went as far to say it was easier to get an ADN because it is faster, which is absolutely false. But we all know the saying about everyone having opinions among other things LOL, so point taken. I need to remember to lighten up

Why did you chose ADN over BSN? What do you tell people when they ask?

A whole host of reasons, but mainly because I have 2 children in college that we support, so it is not financially feasible.

I started out at a public university. My first year I didn't know what I wanted to do and got mostly Cs. Then I switched to nursing. I took all the pre reqs needed for the BSN program (including nursing research, a cultural nursing class, and a healthcare systems class) didn't get into the program. They only let in 24 a year and while my GPA had approved, I still had those grades from my first year holding me down. The only other BSN programs in the area were over 10,000 a semester and required another year of their own seperate pre reqs (which is why I can kind of agree with you about having a standardized curriculum. How silly is it that my classes from a state uni aren't good enough for another college....) I was able to get into clinicals at my ADN program, and after I graduate I only need 6-7 classes for my BSN through my previous university, ill have a BSN at the same time I would've had I gone and taken another year of pre reqs and for a lotttt less money. That's what I tell people when they ask too. However, where I live most of the nurses seem to have ADNs... So I don't really run into the "why aren't you getting a BSN?" thing.