Guess what RN's, you didn't need that college degree!!

[welnet66]

This Sunday's Parade Magazine featured their annual report "What People Earn." Always very interesting but...if you look on page 4, there is a colorful box listing jobs that do not require a college degree. Here's the list: Sales Representatives, Translators, Dental Hygienists, Registered Nurses, Insurance Adjusters, Transportation Workers, Athletic Trainers, Auto Technicians, and Legal Secretaries. Shocking to say the least. I hope I won't be the only one writing to this magazine to correct this terrible misconception.:angryfire

[reesern63, RN]

That is correct! If you choose the diploma route, you may use the diploma only in the state you obtained it. This means those private schools you go to and pay big bucks for, because the waiting list at the college is 3-4 years long.

That's not true. Where did you get your info? I graduated from a diploma program and have not been restricted to only the state where I was licensed.

[tictac]

You can also get a technical degree in dental hygiene, but strictly speaking you're not called a dental hygienist (that's the four year folks; there's some part of the title that those folks cannot designate themselves as); I'm not sure of their title. The equivalent for us, I think, would be the difference in an RN and an LPN. (Those folks do work their butts off to get that BS, and around here they make more right out of school than an RN - but you couldn't pay me ENOUGH to look in nasty mouths all day. Ick.)

But even knowing all that, if I were a 4 year prepared DH, I'd be ANNOYED by that!

Actually, most hygienists have Associate of Science degrees because that's what the majority of dental hygiene schools offer. Some schools are called certificate programs, but I believe it's the exact same course work and prerequisites as an Associates degree. To work clinically as a hygienist, you need minimum an Associate's degree (or the equivalent certificate). Associate and Bachelor Degree hygienists have the same title, Registered Dental Hygienist. It's just like nursing in that regard. There is no difference in the clinical portion of the curriculum. Both must take the written National Dental Hygiene Board Examination AND a clinical state licensing examination (an absolute nerve wrecking nightmare) to be able to work in a state. There are, however, a couple states that are allowing preceptor-trained hygienists to work. They are, for the most part, trained on the job to become hygienists. I don't remember if they can use the title RDH or not. It's a huge step backward for the profession, but I won't get into that.

As a current RDH and third semester BSN student, I'm doubly offended by the article! I guess technically it's correct, but I've spent too many hours in class and clinicals of all sorts for people to think I didn't need to go to college for my job!

[Haunted]

California doesn't even require that you actually graduate from an nursing program (RN) to take the NCLEX-RN and work as an RN. There was recently a thread from someone who is moving to Tennessee who is upset because they won't accept her California RN license as is. She has to go back and finish school first.

Though I agree that the article is a bit misleading unless they explain the situation a little more fully.

That would be me. As it turns out, I need to take a Psych 100 class and a Humanities course, all available here online thru a great community college. Get your ADN, ASN or Diploma even if you take the boards, get licensed and are working. You never know where you will end up and every State is different.

I will need a few nursing focused courses I can take online after I finish my "music appreciation" class and submit for my BSN, one step at a time.

[Haunted]

Guess what? Go on, I double dog dare ya! I'm the nurse from CA who moved to TN and had a fright of a time getting licensed. Seems in my younger days I frittered away my community college experience taking Biology, looking into Veterinary pre reqs and taking the occaional "fluff" course just to stay current.

I did complete a battery of pre reqs for entry into 4 different nursing schools in Orange County, California and was on several waiting lists for a spot. The first one to contact me was Santa Ana College who was having an orientation that day. Would you say, "Uh, no I still have a humanities course to complete, I don't feel like I'm ready to begin learning how to think, act, function as an RN, give my spot to someone else who happens to pick up the phone and can be there in an hour", or would you say "I'll be there right away" ?

Well , ponder that all you want, here's what I did... I showed up, obtained all the materials, the uniforms, completed the CPR, background checks, got the immunizations and the rest is a blur of nursing boot camp. I completed the course, took my boards and went right to work.

I apologize that the other thread was shut down. It was very informative in light of how scope of practice based on knowledge base and education can impact the future of nursing, degree or not. I am also not going to seek sympathy over my situation here in Tennessee over they denial of my license.

This State requires a diploma or a degree based on the science of nursing. OK so I have to take a basic Psychology course and a humanities, most likely music appreciation or modern dance thru the menopause years but it will complete my degree, I can take them online (trust me, no one wants to see a menopause induced woman in spandex) and get my basic ASN degree.

I can fast track into a BSN, MSN or even a Doctorate program from here. It won't change the nurse that I am . I am still the kind, caring, compassionate person in rumpled scrubs who pulls up a chair at the bedside with your chart in hand and explains what is going on, set's some goals for your day, explains your medication and has the time to answer your questions, check on you every hour and make sure your goals are met.

I never had a charge nurse, patient or even MD inquire about my past education, or past job experience for that matter. What the heck, I used to be a Los Angeles based private investigator for many years closing deals on the rich and famous, now I'm a Registered Nurse in a small southern town learning to transition into a new life, give the Board what they want and try not to upset the neighbors with my scandal and naughty behavior. Can you believe the mailman actually HAND DELIVERED my Victoria Secret catalogue to my front door today? I really should stay on topic but it's late at I am just moved in to this house near the lake, maybe the quiet is keeping me up.

OK....discuss

[carolinapooh, BSN, RN]

Guess what? Go on, I double dog dare ya! I'm the nurse from CA who moved to TN and had a fright of a time getting licensed. Seems in my younger days I frittered away my community college experience taking Biology, looking into Veterinary pre reqs and taking the occaional "fluff" course just to stay current.

I did complete a battery of pre reqs for entry into 4 different nursing schools in Orange County, California and was on several waiting lists for a spot. The first one to contact me was Santa Ana College who was having an orientation that day. Would you say, "Uh, no I still have a humanities course to complete, I don't feel like I'm ready to begin learning how to think, act, function as an RN, give my spot to someone else who happens to pick up the phone and can be there in an hour", or would you say "I'll be there right away" ?

Well , ponder that all you want, here's what I did... I showed up, obtained all the materials, the uniforms, completed the CPR, background checks, got the immunizations and the rest is a blur of nursing boot camp. I completed the course, took my boards and went right to work.

I apologize that the other thread was shut down. It was very informative in light of how scope of practice based on knowledge base and education can impact the future of nursing, degree or not. I am also not going to seek sympathy over my situation here in Tennessee over they denial of my license.

This State requires a diploma or a degree based on the science of nursing. OK so I have to take a basic Psychology course and a humanities, most likely music appreciation or modern dance thru the menopause years but it will complete my degree, I can take them online (trust me, no one wants to see a menopause induced woman in spandex) and get my basic ASN degree.

I can fast track into a BSN, MSN or even a Doctorate program from here. It won't change the nurse that I am . I am still the kind, caring, compassionate person in rumpled scrubs who pulls up a chair at the bedside with your chart in hand and explains what is going on, set's some goals for your day, explains your medication and has the time to answer your questions, check on you every hour and make sure your goals are met.

I never had a charge nurse, patient or even MD inquire about my past education, or past job experience for that matter. What the heck, I used to be a Los Angeles based private investigator for many years closing deals on the rich and famous, now I'm a Registered Nurse in a small southern town learning to transition into a new life, give the Board what they want and try not to upset the neighbors with my scandal and naughty behavior. Can you believe the mailman actually HAND DELIVERED my Victoria Secret catalogue to my front door today? I really should stay on topic but it's late at I am just moved in to this house near the lake, maybe the quiet is keeping me up.

OK....discuss

Oh my Lord, your post is a riot. HAND DELIVERED your VS? Are they SERIOUS?? I think I'd mow my lawn in a bathing suit just to make them nervous, menopause and all....

I think you should order SI's swimsuit issue and see if it's actually hand delivered - sorry to hijack the thread but I'll bet it's not...

I cannot BELIEVE in this modern age you are having so much trouble - how ARCHAIC...seriously....

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

from ana news

parade magazine issues apology for including nurses in "no college degree requried" article

07/02/07

ana would like to express its appreciation for the nurses who contacted ana and parade magazine to express their outrage at the inclusion of nurses in the april 15th article, "the hottest jobs: no college degree required". due to the significant response from nurses everywhere, the editors of parade magazine were compelled to issue an apology and remove registered nurses from the piece. read press release...

[txspadequeenRN, BSN, RN]

not correct

that is correct! if you choose the diploma route, you may use the diploma only in the state you obtained it. this means those private schools you go to and pay big bucks for, because the waiting list at the college is 3-4 years long.

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

California BON is only state that permits one to take NCLEX examination upon completion of nursing courses, prior to completing graduation requirments for the nursing program. Other states require GRADUATION from nursing program, hence quandry Haunted is in.

If one graduates from a nursing Diploma program with national or regional accreditation, passes NCLEX, should have no problem obtaining/endorsing license to other states.

[Haunted]

California BON is only state that permits one to take NCLEX examination upon completion of nursing courses, prior to completing graduation requirments for the nursing program. Other states require GRADUATION from nursing program, hence quandry Haunted is in.

If one graduates from a nursing Diploma program with national or regional accreditation, passes NCLEX, should have no problem obtaining/endorsing license to other states.

That about sums it up. Right now I am balls to the wall into the most BORING, IRRELEVANT Psych 101 class that ever circulated the internet. But, I'm playing by the rules and advancing to fill in those gaps to get either my degree or diploma.

[antiguanspice]

hi every one haven't posted in a while any ways i would like to know what you guys think about nursing being liatsed as an unskilled profession .i felt nauseated .i think that generally nursing its given the respect it sholud even in the caribben where i live.i think its up to us to try and make a diffrence in our profession.any suggestions

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

Merged antiguanspice comment with current discussion.

[lynaheat]

I am a diploma R N also straight from Holmes Community college