Any ADN-BSN programs without ridiculous papers?

Music in My Heart · Mar 15, 2013

I have mixed feelings about this topic.

My MSN program was laden with papers and I often found it frustrating. I entered nursing expecting to invest the bulk of my time on hard-science topics and was disappointed when I realized that nursing education is primarily a social science rather than a physical/natural science.

The professional development classes I take, however, are much more clinical and hard-science based.

Nursing is something of a hybrid - neither purely a hard-science nor purely a social science. The challenge for educators is to find an appropriate blend of the two.

Of interest to me is the oft-repeated comparison made herein between nursing and other programs, considering nursing to be much more rigorous, time-intensive, and challenging than other majors. When such are made, they seem primarily made against liberal arts and social science programs... having been through BS programs in engineering and chemistry, with open-ended problems and NO MULTIPLE CHOICE exams, I can state that I found nursing to be quite the easiest course of study that I pursued - in large part *because* it was so dependent on writing social-science papers and multiple-choice tests.

While I think it would be a mistake to abandon all of the intellectual exercise of papers such as the one described by the OP, I do think that the soft assignments are in excess and should be better balanced by more math and hard science.

I could envision parallel baccalaureate pathways: BA vs BS with the former being more what it presently seen in BSN programs while the latter incorporated more foundational science such as that found in traditional hard-science programs.

I'm personally of the opinion that a graduate of a BSN program should have completed the basic prerequisites of medical school.

chevyv, BSN, RN · Mar 15, 2013

For me, it's not just the one paper; it's the 3 papers plus 2 projects! In an 8wk course! I have no idea how so many do it. Between work, family, and the amount of coursework, I'm burning out! I hate it more and more every time I sign up to take another BSN completion course. Why oh why do I have to take Womens Health? Why Physical Assessment? I've been doing physical assessments since day one at my job and also throughout the ADN program (which we had to take a similar class then as well) before passing the nclex and landing that job.

bebbercorn · Mar 15, 2013

Starting your paper is the hardest part. Sorry it's not your favorite topic, you can make it through, half of what we do in nursing school is not exactly helping prepare for the workforce... nursing dx? Seriously?

MotherRN · Mar 15, 2013

I didn't have to do anything like this for my B.S. or MBA.
I find no educational value in writing a 6-8 page paper on a word.
The number 1 reason ADN students say they resist ADN-BSN is the papers, so I'm not alone. My spouse is in room now and read assignment and just said it's the dumbest assignment she's ever seen.

Think of it as a 'creative writing' exercise. Not to date myself or anything...but 'get jiggy with it'...you know, loosen up. Define the word from it's dictionary definition; say what it means in different cultures; mention how it's used in literature and pop culture; find first hand quotes from famous people on what it means; etc, etc, and apply it all back to nursing. That should fill some pages. Elaborate. Yeah, it's stupid, but think of it as writing practice. If you can't, then maybe a different program is needed for you, but don't give up on the RN-BSN. I will be right there with you this fall! Best wishes!

macawake, MSN · Mar 15, 2013

Taking my 1st ADN-BSN class. Thinking of dropping it with only 1 week left.
1st class and already a 6 to 8 page paper. A concept analysis of 1 of the following 4 words: Caring, Hope, Trust, or Fear.
This is absolutely ridiculous. I have absolutely no idea what to say.
The structure of these programs MUST change.
I don't want to write papers every 5 weeks. I want to read a book and take a test.

Some subjects like for example anatomy are ideal for rote learning/memorization and reading a book and taking a test is how it's often done.

Hope, trust and fear are feelings that human beings experience and they have an impact on a person's health and they affect quality of life. Understanding these concepts is more of a process and involves critical thinking and active learning.

I think that as nurses we need both the hard scientific knowledge but also an understanding of how human beings react and cope.

You say that you have absolutely no idea what to say. I think you probably know a lot about the subject but that perhaps you're not used to writing papers. If medical school would be a breeze then I know you have the intellectual acuity needed for this assignment.

Fear. The fear of debilitating disease. The fear of a cured disease returning. Fear preventing a person from living a quality life. Fear causing stress/depression/anxiety that affects physical health. Fear of a treatment or medication side effects causing non-compliance. Fear of not being attractive to a partner after losing a body part or function. Fear of not finding a job or keeping it because of a medical condition. Fear of dying. Fear of pain. Fear for a sick loved one.

We as nurses encounter fear in every way, shape and form. Same with hope and trust. Caring/nursing is part of what we do. There's tons of research out there on these topics. I'm convinced that you can write what actually amounts to a relatively short paper on these huge topics.

Good luck!

Wrench Party · Mar 15, 2013

Putting the BS into BSN! :yes:

Music in My Heart · Mar 15, 2013

Why oh why do I have to take Womens Health?

I imagine that many a med student and resident could make the same statement. The answer, I suppose, is that those topics are considered foundational to basic practice.

Many a mechanical engineering student made similar complaints when we took electronics classes with the EL folks or modern physics with the physics students.

The answer was the same... there is overlap between specialties and cross-training enhances the communication and understanding required of collaborative fields as well as continuing to hone critical-thinking skills.

Why Physical Assessment? I've been doing physical assessments since day one at my job and also throughout the ADN program (which we had to take a similar class then as well) before passing the nclex and landing that job.

There is substantial redundancy between associate studies and baccalaureate studies... that is one reason why I generally dissuade people aspiring to baccalaureate degrees (in any field) from using an associate degree as a stepping stone.

The good news is, the physical assessment class should be a slam-dunk easy A with a minimum of effort.

Music in My Heart · Mar 15, 2013

A concept analysis of... Caring, Hope, Trust, or Fear.
This is absolutely ridiculous. I have absolutely no idea what to say.

The fact that you have "absolutely no idea what to say" on one of these topics suggests to me that this is a perfect assignment for you.

If you could sit down and whip out a quality paper with little thought would indicate that this was a ridiculous assignment for you.

The point of education is to get you to think and examine.

Susie2310 · Mar 15, 2013

For me, it's not just the one paper; it's the 3 papers plus 2 projects! In an 8wk course! I have no idea how so many do it. Between work, family, and the amount of coursework, I'm burning out! I hate it more and more every time I sign up to take another BSN completion course. Why oh why do I have to take Womens Health? Why Physical Assessment? I've been doing physical assessments since day one at my job and also throughout the ADN program (which we had to take a similar class then as well) before passing the nclex and landing that job.

I don't know about the physical assessment class your program requires, but the school I attended required a class in 'advanced physical assessment' for bridge students that really did teach good quality, useful, new information. It is a long time since I took it now, but I remember learning how to do a comprehensive eye exam with an opthalmoscope, and learning how to assess hearing and various other in depth assessments that we had either not covered or not covered as thoroughly in my ADN program. It certainly wasn't redundant information. Perhaps you will learn something new in your physical assessment class.

jsiegel13 · Mar 15, 2013

The assignment might sound silly but all of those words are so important to nursing. It is a first assignment most likely for the teacher to see your writing skills and see how you feel about one of the important aspects of nursing and medical field. Also, as a nurse you have to write a lot when you are in the field so I guess if this is too much for you or has no interest to you, you might want to choose a different profession. Earning your BSN should not be easy, you should work for it because in the end, not everyone has one and an RN with their bachelors gets paid more....

BrandonLPN, LPN · Mar 15, 2013

If the assignment were to write a research paper about a particular issue in nursing, such as increasing HIPAA regulations or the changing nature of acute care stays, I would say the assignment has considerable value.

But to assign a six page paper on "what trust means to you" or "a cocept analysis of love" or whatever sounds like new-age feel goodery and fluff. It seems like the kind of silly drivel one might assign a high school student, not a student nurse in a university.

hudabelle · Mar 15, 2013

In boot camp I had to hand write a 3000 word essay on the word "tact". This isn't a usual boot camp occurance but I got hurt and they couldn't exercise my attitude out of me at the time, I was hurt and stagnating at boot camp so I was a bit snarky with the drill instructors). :writing: So they exercised my hand to muscle failure hehehe.