ADN/BSN Debate on the Floors?

Published

Well, I see it here all the time but didn't think it happened in daily life until....

I'm a student but began working in a hospital to get my feet wet. The other nurses have been fabulous but the nurse managers who are ADN with MPH or other type of Masters told me that BSNs aren't as prepared as ADN, not enough clinical - you know the rest of the monologue! They also treat me different than they treat the ADN students. Does this happen everywhere? This is ridiculous!

Please, someone make me feel better quickly - it's going to be miserable to go thru clinicals with this management attitude.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Wow...I really hate that you have been treated in such a manner...it is totally uncalled for IMO. Does that mean that when I get my ADN and then my BSN that I will be a "fully" trained RN????:roll

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Corrections, Psych, Med-Surg.

"Please, someone make me feel better quickly - it's going to be miserable to go thru clinicals with this management attitude."

Most likely, when you are in school you will be so busy with all the course requirements that you will have little time and energy to be focused on and worried about things like this. They will be WAY in the background.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

This is just more of that "my education makes me a better Nurse than you" crap that divides us a profession. I don't see why we must belittle other nurses to make ourselves feel superior in some way. Sorry you've got to put up with so early in your career. Remember this feeling, so that you are never tempted to treat another Nurse the way you have been treated.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

These nurse managers, who were initially ADN prepared, had to eventually get their Bachelors degrees in order to pursue their Masters degrees. Most Management positions in nursing require a BSN or higher. So, I don't really get where these nurse managers are coming from?

I would talk to your nursing Professors and ask them how to best handle this. The fact that you are working at a hospital to "get your feet wet" will surely enrich your clinical experiences as a BSN student.

Hang in there!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I'm in BSN school. Some of the ADN nurses we get paired up with seem reluctant to working with us. Our teacher even warned us about this. ADN vs BSN is a hot topic as I've seen in these forums. People become so bitter and defensive. Its pretty stupid. Just remember that anybody can learn a task. Critical thinking and relating theory to each patient is something not everybody has. If an ADN asks you what you learned different than them, compare classes and see what the differences really are. One may observe what I do as a task, but she cannot judge the thorough assessment and thinking that is going on in my head...

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I hate when nurses do that. We have enough stress and troubles as it is without being divisive! The bottom line is: when you pass your boards you're an RN. Same as the ADN RN! Nursing programs today, whether they be BSN, ADN or whatever, all have one thing in common: they cram as much stuff into your head in as short a time as possible! No one, I don't care what program you've gone through, is going to get enough clinical experience to feel assured, like a "real nurse." That's what the first year on the job is for! Although at times I felt like my head would break open with all the things my instructors kept trying to get me to retain, it still didn't compare to what I learned the first year I worked as an RN. Keep your head up and just let all that crap roll off your back - BSN or ADN....as a GN or new RN you're all gonna make the same $$!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I'm in BSN school. Some of the ADN nurses we get paired up with seem reluctant to working with us. Our teacher even warned us about this. ADN vs BSN is a hot topic as I've seen in these forums. People become so bitter and defensive. Its pretty stupid. Just remember that anybody can learn a task. Critical thinking and relating theory to each patient is something not everybody has. If an ADN asks you what you learned different than them, compare classes and see what the differences really are. One may observe what I do as a task, but she cannot judge the thorough assessment and thinking that is going on in my head...

This is a perfect example of the "I'm superior because I'm going to be a BSN" attitude. Critical thinking and superior assessment skills are not the sole domain of the BSN.

You might want to wait until you've actually graduated and passed your boards before you start thinking you're above your fellow nurses who chose a different educational path. :(

(And no, not just anyone can learn a task. I went to school with plenty of booksmart classmates who were impressive academically, and downright terrifying when it came time to perfom a procedure.)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

SJSU_Mami

I agree with fab4fan..good luck to you and I am so happy that you (a student) has put me in place..I mean as a lowly ADN with no real thought process going on (since I was not trained to think) I must be putting patients in jeopardy. I find your post very offensive..period!! I wish you the best of luck since with that attitude you are sure to make many friends. As far as the reluctance of the ADNs percepting the BSNs...if you display this much arrogance while at clinical I can see where the problem lies. If I had to precept you in the ER, I might display a little reluctance as well...:) You don't have enough experience to have either a thorough thought process or true critical thinking skills..it takes a little thing called experience, something that you do not have yet!! Erin

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LDRP; Education.
Originally posted by fab4fan

This is a perfect example of the "I'm superior because I'm going to be a BSN" attitude. Critical thinking and superior assessment skills are not the sole domain of the BSN.

I agree Fab, although I think this is a symptom of the BSN constantly feeling like she has to justify her education to the ADN. I've seen it numerous times myself: BSN education is worthless, not pertinent, and BSNs are unskilled. The argument goes 'round and 'round.

Which is why I think there should be one entry to professional nursing, but that's a whole 'nother topic. ;)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

As someone who just enrolled in college to begin my BSN training, all this bickering is very confusing. I am wondering if I should just start applying to an ADN school and go that route. When I started doing my research about the nursing career, all the other websites I went on encouraged students to go for the BSN, if they could afford it. Now I get on this website, and get some very conflicting information. Now I am wondering if I ade the right choice going into a BSN program at all.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

The problem isn't the program it is the attitude. If you are in the BSN program, stay in it. If you ever decide to go for your masters you are closer. Just please please please do not discredit those of us who did the ADN and have been practicing for a long time. In nursing many times how far you go and where you go is not about the degree it is about you as an individual..My mom who is a diploma RN before retirement was the vice pres of clinical services of a large east coast managed care corp (5 states) which brought with it the large salary as well. I myself, have been in two positions where I was the supervisor over both BSN and ADNs and I am an ADN. The only time I wished that I had the BSN was when I decided to go into pharm sales and I was unable to due to the fact that I did not have a bachelors.(I am glad now!!) There are some many educational advancement opps for the RN..I am a certified legal nurse consultant (CLNC) and am currently working on my certification in life care planning,( CLCP) once done with that I will be doing my (CCM )certification in case management. BSNs do I understand get more management instruction and maybe a boader education (although with all of the prereqs in the ADN that may be a close one) ?? ADNs usually get more clinical focus. Neither the ADN or the BSN right out of school knows much about the real world of nursing..nothing could prepare one for that!! Just rememebr we are all on the same team out there. If I had the opp I would have went through a BSN program but at the time it did not make financial sense nor would it have worked logistically. This has nothing to dow ith the fact that I would have been a "better" RN when I got out, rather it would have made more sense..your average ADN goes to school about as long as a BSN...I graduated my ADN with 110 credits of college..so actually it wouldn't take much for me to get the BSN..but at this point if I were to go back to school, I would do my bachelors in something different all together, not to leave nursing but I have pretty much been there and done that so I may pursue something "fun" like transpersonal psych or health promotion...Erin

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion