Diploma School vs. BSN

[Ms Kylee]

When I was interviewed for my job, the HR Dept. told me "You WILL go on for your RN". I'm 7 months in to my LPN program, with 16 more to go (part time program). They've been pushing me to make a decision as to which RN school I will attend.

I love the idea of diploma school since you get more clinical experience, but if I do that, will I be forced to go on for a BSN? Or is BSN the best way to go?

I really am confused and don't seem to know the advantages/disadvantages of both. I do know that I do not want to get into any type of management position or work in Critical Care.

Thanking all in advance for their experiences/suggestions/opinions.

[vandermom]

The reality is no one should expect a student to learn all of the hands on stuff in nursing school. That is learned on the job, as it should be. No one comes out of nursing school knowing it all. It's a bit irrating when nurses judge new grads with the "didn't they teach you anything in nursing school" judgement.

I'm sorry if that came off sounding like they should know it all. Not at all what I meant. I'm talking basics like catheters, Z track, Q and IM, the very basic. There is no way that any school could teach it all, I just wih they had a few week on each rotation not just a few days. They have no chance of even getting a good taste of the the different departments. How do you choose a specialty with this kind of experience?

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

I'm sorry if that came off sounding like they should know it all. Not at all what I meant. I'm talking basics like catheters, Z track, Q and IM, the very basic. There is no way that any school could teach it all, I just wih they had a few week on each rotation not just a few days. They have no chance of even getting a good taste of the the different departments. How do you choose a specialty with this kind of experience?

Diploma programs are vastly superior to ADN and BSN programs in clinicals. End of discussion. Anyone that disrespects it for being "just a diploma program" doesn't know what they are talking about.

It depends on where the school is located, what kind of experiences and departments they have. Most NLN programs require certain things like peds, ob, psych and of course med-surg.

BSN and ADN programs do teach the basic stuff and then some, but to actually get experience in doing them is not possible, and dumb luck sometimes place a part in what you get to do in clinicals and what you don't. I was lucky to get out of nursing school starting one IV, doing one foley, but did a ton of wet to dry dressings. Never got to insert an NG, central line care or even do trach care or suctioning. But I learned the basics in school.

In the best possible worlds the clinical time would equal that of diploma programs because diploma programs are superior in that area for sure.

[second career nurse]

I agree with suzy 253. I will be 50 soon. I am in my first semester of an ASN program. I have no desire to be a supervisor.

I love to hear about "more mature" students.

[nursemary9, BSN, RN]

i graduated from a diploma school, and wouldn't have it any other way.

my training was truly superior.

upon starting a new job as an rn, i was able to hit the ground running with relatively few fall-outs.

with that said, if i were starting school today, i would definitely go directly for the bsn.

believe me, you will be much more marketable upon graduating.

there's a trend throughout the country, that is desiring bsn grads.

and this trend will not reverse.

go for it, and do not look back.

you'll be very happy you did.

best of everything.:balloons:

leslie

I agree 100% with what leslie says here!!

[lvnandmomx3]

While in lpn school It was much like Tweety said. I got to do one condom cath, lots of IM injections, would care, G-tube and trach care. I did not get to do a foley or straight cath, in ca you do your iv separate so did not get that and I did not get to do ng. I hope when I do clinincals with ISU I will get the hands on stuff, from what I understand 495 hours of clinicals will have to be completed. So depending on how its broken down (depends on student as well as preceptor) it can either be 12 weeks of 40hrs a week, or 41 twelve hour shifts. So it will be 3-6 months straight clinical(I think I read somewhere that you had up to a yr to complete clinics, I may be wrong though). I think I will get a tone more clinical in the bsn program than I did in the lpn. My current job is not really hands on so I will not get the experience in by the time I get to the clinical portion of ISU, unless I switch jobs between now and then.