"Completing a BSN" ...or, "The Great Revenue-Generator."

[Guttercat]

I looked to see if this would fit in another forum... not really. (no ADN--->BSN forum).

How many of my fellow aged-ADN's are in the process of, or thinking about completing their BSN?

What has been shocking to me, is that even after perusing many different programs, are the amount of classes I am having to take, and some of them seem so silly. A full year of "pre-req's" (including FT summer classes), then the actual "RN--->BSN" program through the university...which means another full year including summer.

I did a full year of "pre-req's" the first time around (an ADN is really three years, not two), but even though my college accepts my old credits, it seems academia has tacked on many more classes and required credits since the 90's.

Many of the classes (that I've tried unsuccessfully to get out of) seem to be nothing more than revenue-generators.

In that light, I wonder how many ADN's > ten years out are going to be surprised at the amount of coursework they have to do?

Is it worth it? I worry about my "experienced" colleagues that are having to try and complete BSN's while working full time. I am not having to work FT while doing this, and it's STILL a mountain of energy and time commitments.

To my "newer" colleagues (those with ADN's

[MunoRN, RN]

(If you didn't like "completing projects, writing papers, and researching" in your BSN completion program, you'll really hate grad school -- more of the same. That's what higher education is.)

The common complaint of RN-BSN programs is not just they they include papers and other projects, but that the papers are projects are things they have already done and at a level they have already done them at; it's redundant, that's not what higher education is.

Higher education builds on your previous education knowledge and moves you forward, for many RN-BSN students it's just doing the last year of their program all over again.

[mmc51264, BSN, MSN, RN]

I am starting my BSN next month. I work at a magnet and for clinical ladder, we need that. I already have a BS in biology, so I am considered a bachelor's educated RN for classification status in a magnet. i WILL not get a Masters. I over educated myself out of a job in education and I do not want to be an NP so I don't see the need. I can finish my BSN in less than a year because of the prev. BS. If I want to teach, I can be a clinical instructor with a BSN and a MA in teaching.

I am going to get the specialty cert for the floor I work and maybe on other that I feel is important and that is it.

[Guttercat, ASN, RN]

elek,

That is why I am pursuing the BSN...to keep moving toward grad school. If I did not have that in mind, at my age (46), I wouldn't have considered it.

[Guttercat, ASN, RN]

PMFB,

I looked into RN---> MSN routes. I think that's not a bad choice. However, I am trying to keep options open (including the PA route, or even a different masters altogether).

What bugs me, are silly courses, like "Life & Personal Wellness" that are geared toward the teen-set, but completely useless for those of us with prior life experience/college degrees.

[PMFB-RN, RN]

I think it is the biggest scam and rip off. Getting fleeced and for what, a credential. Going back into student loan debt when you should be saving for retirement. So we can work even longer to pay off our student loans or find our social security garnished after we are losing our pensions as well. I am so tired of how everyone is brainwashed that college is the answer to everything. Go to school get a degree if you want a secure future. Now they are requiring BA degrees for secretaries, just because they can. There are plenty of people that regret going back to school and our drowning in debt they can never repay, just to have that shiny credential. The price of college is simply outrageous and unaffordable these days unless your rich or plan to spend decades paying off your student loans. Look how many people with BA/BS in other fields couldn't get a decent paying job so now they are going back to school to be an RN. It's a never ending cycle of student loan debt! I don't want any part of that! I want to be able to retire sooner, not later and to have my house paid off.

*** Agree but getting my degree was free for me and I even got to do quite a bit of my school work on paid time.

I would NOT go into debt for a degree in nursing at this stage in my career.

[mmc51264, BSN, MSN, RN]

I can get a BSN here for

[MunoRN, RN]

This brings up an interesting point: If BSN curriculum that is taught at a Community college isn't up to par with BSN curriculum taught at a University, then why would we accept that a BSN who got a transfers degree at a CC is the same as any other BSN. Shouldn't we be requiring that a BSN who started out at a CC go back to the beginning just like other CC students?

[elkpark]

Just to clarify, community colleges and "technical/vocational" schools are actually two very different things. The 2 years of general college education that supposedly separates an associates degree from a bachelor's degree is actually done at community colleges by a significant number of bachelors graduates.

I didn't mean to suggest that community colleges are "technical/vocational" programs -- I've taught in ADN programs. I was referring to someone else's comment about taking classes that aren't specifically nursing content. If people want to take only training that is specifically about the technical skill/practice they are interested in, without any general education, those people would be more interested in technical/vocational programs. College programs, whether via a community college or a four-year college/university, include some amount of general education as well. That was my point -- I wasn't trying to smear CC programs. :)

[U2BCool]

I actually came here today to vent. I have a BA degree in a non nursing area and an ADN degree. I am going back to school through Western Governors University (good program). I am almost done and I am furious I had to spend the money on a BSN degree instead of going into an MSN program. I know several MSN programs take ADNs, but they give you very little credit for having a degree already. Hindsight I should of gone straight into a MSN program.

There are programs for non nurses to become RNs with a MSN in 18 months in Minnesota!!! I do not understand why they make it so hard for RNs with ADNs with BA/BS degrees in other fields to go back to school.

Thanks for the vent!

[PMFB-RN, RN]

I actually came here today to vent. I have a BA degree in a non nursing area and an ADN degree. I am going back to school through Western Governors University (good program). I am almost done and I am furious I had to spend the money on a BSN degree instead of going into an MSN program!

*** There was no reason for you to get a BSN. There are plenty of MSN programs for ADNs with degrees in other fields.