Frustrated in BSN program

Nursing Students ADN/BSN

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So I am tired of getting treated like an ignorant, useless nurse because I only have an ADN and denied employment everywhere because I'm not a BSN. I get into a BSN program and start taking EXPENSIVE classes, on my own dime, and spending all my free time on these classes. I haven't learned one single thing in the program besides how to do citations for a paper which helps me 0% in my job. I won't get a raise when I have a BSN either. So what is the point? I want to stop taking these classes after this course, but I want a bachelor's if only for my own pride. However, it is costing me so much money (thousands, every class has hundreds in books and fees and then they want you to buy case studies and other crazy things weekly) and all of my free time. I am so stressed doing these busywork assignments (and that's all they are, they don't teach me anything I don't already know and almost none of it is applicable in the real world because there's no time for me to evaluate patient's emotional roadblocks to learning when I barely have time to take their vitals)and I am so tired that at work daily.. and have no time with friends or family. Any advice? Sorry for the rambling but I am too tired to edit.

Specializes in Critical Care.
"Clinical applications of anatomy and physiology" sure, it's not called "pathophysiology," but there is a significant period of time dedicated to what's basically the same thing.

Again, any degree is PRACTICALLY (in every sense of the word) useless if you can't get a job. If you can't get the job you want (like...oh...a job in the hospital) then it's just a step above.

Like I said to begin with....if the OP is happy in her current job then she should quit the program. However, if she wants to work elsewhere then she's going to run into the same problem that sent her back to school to begin with.

I should've known here on allnurses.com that pointing out what should be a simple, harmless comment like, "pathophysiology should be useful to a hospital nurse" would open up a door.

Are you under the impression that there are RNs who don't have pathophysiology included in their curriculum?

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This was one of the top ranked Nursing programs in the nation which considered the difference between an ASN and a BSN to be essentially a 4 page homework assignment, not exactly a significant difference.

I don't like semantics games. Plus, it's misleading to all the people who read this site looking for advice. Anyone reading that post would assume that what you were saying is that a person with an associate's degree in nursing could write an essay and apply to the MSN program. Sure, they can....IF they already have a bachelor's in another field...which is an important point to mention.

I think there IS a significant difference in someone who already has a bachelor's degree AND is an RN applying to a MSN program vs. someone who has an associate's degree period applying to a MSN program.

The real difference is a boat load of college credits in addition to that "4 page homework assignment."

So, did you ever tell the OP if you think they should quit the program or keep going?

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Are you under the impression that there are RNs who don't have pathophysiology included in their curriculum?

Where do you come up with this?

I'm under the impression that diet and nutrition is "included in the curriculum" for any type of nurse and even nursing assistants. That doesn't mean that they couldn't learn something by taking a course devoted to nutrition.

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Specializes in Critical Care.
I don't like semantics games. Plus, it's misleading to all the people who read this site looking for advice. Anyone reading that post would assume that what you were saying is that a person with an associate's degree in nursing could write an essay and apply to the MSN program. Sure, they can....IF they already have a bachelor's in another field...which is an important point to mention.

I think there IS a significant difference in someone who already has a bachelor's degree AND is an RN applying to a MSN program vs. someone who has an associate's degree period applying to a MSN program.

The real difference is a boat load of college credits in addition to that "4 page homework assignment."

So, did you ever tell the OP if you think they should quit the program or keep going?

An ASN consists of about 45 credits of pre-reqs and 2 years of Nursing program. A BSN consists of 45 credits of pre-reqs, 2 years of Nursing program, and about 45 credits of electives. For me, those 45 credits of electives (the only substantial difference between an ASN and BSN) consisted mainly of geography, PE (sailing, running) and classical lit. I really don't think that "boatload" of extra college credits which mainly involved reading Homer and sailing made any measurable difference in my Nursing skills. If UW saw any significant difference in my Nursing education and that of a ADN then they'd probably want to see those requirements fulfilled, but as it turns out, they don't.

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Specializes in Critical Care.
Where do you come up with this?

I'm under the impression that diet and nutrition is "included in the curriculum" for any type of nurse and even nursing assistants. That doesn't mean that they couldn't learn something by taking a course devoted to nutrition.

Where I came up with this:

Are you taking pathophysiology yet? I don't see how learning the disease process wouldn't help a hospital nurse.

Pathophysiology is not part of an ASN to BSN program, why? Because it's an integral part of any ASN or BSN curriculum, ASN students do not lack pathophysiology knowledge any more than a BSN does. It's exactly this sort of ignorance regarding ASN curriculum that leads to an unfounded bias towards ASN nurses among BSN prepared Nurses.

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An ASN consists of about 45 credits of pre-reqs and 2 years of Nursing program. A BSN consists of 45 credits of pre-reqs, 2 years of Nursing program, and about 45 credits of electives. For me, those 45 credits of electives (the only substantial difference between an ASN and BSN) consisted mainly of geography, PE (sailing, running) and classical lit. I really don't think that "boatload" of extra college credits which mainly involved reading Homer and sailing made any measurable difference in my Nursing skills. If UW saw any significant difference in my Nursing education and that of a ADN then they'd probably want to see those requirements fulfilled, but as it turns out, they don't.

Obviously they DO want to see those requirements fulfilled because they do require an ADN graduate to also have a bachelor's degree. What's the difference in a bachelor's degree in social work and a bachelor's degree in nursing? Well, it would be those 45 credits that you claim no one cares about, yet they still require to even consider an applicant.

Anyway, if I wanted to debate ADN vs BSN then I'd go back to that thread. You're obsessed with the topic to the point that you refute all logic and bypass unrelated questions.

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Where I came up with this:

Pathophysiology is not part of an ASN to BSN program, why? Because it's an integral part of any ASN or BSN curriculum, ASN students do not lack pathophysiology knowledge any more than a BSN does. It's exactly this sort of ignorance regarding ASN curriculum that leads to an unfounded bias towards ASN nurses among BSN prepared Nurses.

The only "bias" I see that the OP is facing is in trying to get a job at a hospital. If you'll go back to the original topic (I know, it's difficult) then you'll see she said that she was treated as a "useless nurse" or something of that sort. Then, I...finding it hard to believe that co-workers or anyone else would do that since it typically only happens on this forum...asked who is treating her that way. She responded that the HOSPITALS won't consider her for an interview. You want to make everything a personal issue when one doesn't exist.

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I never wanted to go back after my RN degree. But hubby mentioned it one day and I thought what the heck, why not? I was accepted and all set to begin a BSN program next spring. I was almost 2 months into taking statistics and after much annoyance from that useless crap, I dropped out. NOT because of that class but because I busted my butt for 3 years to become an RN, took much time away from my family, spent countless hours reading, studying, doing online quizzes and tests. Why do it all again for another title? It's not worth it to me. I feel 100% confident with my decision and have such a weight lifted since I quit a month ago. :) Only you know what's best for you and your situation. Good luck!

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Well, a diploma is minimal...

a diploma and a degree are two different things:dead:

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Specializes in Critical Care.
Obviously they DO want to see those requirements fulfilled because they do require an ADN graduate to also have a bachelor's degree. What's the difference in a bachelor's degree in social work and a bachelor's degree in nursing? Well, it would be those 45 credits that you claim no one cares about, yet they still require to even consider an applicant.

Anyway, if I wanted to debate ADN vs BSN then I'd go back to that thread. You're obsessed with the topic to the point that you refute all logic and bypass unrelated questions.

No those can be the same 45 credits of elective with either degree. Again, are you under the impression that ADN programs do not teach pathophysiology?

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An ASN consists of about 45 credits of pre-reqs and 2 years of Nursing program. A BSN consists of 45 credits of pre-reqs, 2 years of Nursing program, and about 45 credits of electives. For me, those 45 credits of electives (the only substantial difference between an ASN and BSN) consisted mainly of geography, PE (sailing, running) and classical lit. I really don't think that "boatload" of extra college credits which mainly involved reading Homer and sailing made any measurable difference in my Nursing skills. If UW saw any significant difference in my Nursing education and that of a ADN then they'd probably want to see those requirements fulfilled, but as it turns out, they don't.

Oh...my...G.E.D! (joke)

You said: "I really don't think that "boatload" of extra college credits which mainly involved reading Homer and sailing made any measurable difference in my Nursing skills. If UW saw any significant difference in my Nursing education and that of a ADN then they'd probably want to see those requirements fulfilled, but as it turns out, they don't."

So, yes, the "electives" in a social work degree and BSN can be the same, but those electives that you say "UW doesn't want to see fulfilled" ARE required to apply to the MSN program! The ONLY difference between a person with an ADN and a person with an ADN and a bachelor's in social work are those "45 useless credits," so how can you say they don't care about those?

That's not even a matter of opinion. It's just a simple fact.

I think that ADN graduates learn what their program offers and requires. Since most programs do NOT offer nor require a class devoted to pathophysiology, I think ANYONE who hasn't taken a class on pathophysiology can learn something from it. I also think a master chef can learn something by taking a cooking class.

What's with this creepy obsession? Did someone force you to get a BSN?

In the end, it doesn't matter if hospitals are hiring BSN over ADN graduates for the simple fact that they pre-ordered tons of name badges that say "BSN" and want to use them up. The fact still remains that hospitals prefer (if not have an unspoken/unpublished requirement) for BSN grads. So, in the end, it doesn't matter what anyone's thoughts/feelings/theories or whatever else are....because anyone can come here and chat about those all day long when they take a break from applying for jobs that nobody will give them an interview for.

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a diploma and a degree are two different things:dead:

They were referring to a diploma nursing program. You can google it. They are almost unheard of now, but there are still RNs who did that type of program, and programs that still exist.

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