Almost done with RN-to-BSN. Very disappointed.

[Kosmonavt]

I'm in a third and final semester of RN-to-BSN program. Today I had another class of "Community health nursing". It was so boring that most students were falling asleep. I don't understand what is a purpose of BSN degree if the only difference from ADN is that you have to take a whole bunch of useless classes that have nothing to do with the art of medicine. So far I took six so-called nursing classes and did not have to open a book to get through. All the used book at the campus bookstore look like new which means other students did not touch them either.

I will list classes that are required for BSN degree at my university:

First semester:

1. Professional nursing.

2. Health assessment.

3. Transcultural nursing.

Second semester:

1. Issues facing profession.

2. Nursing research.

3. Leadership and management.

Third semester (currently taking)

1. RN-BSN seminar.

2. Community health nursing.

3. Community health (practicum).

I can't say much about community health practicum so far, but I'm telling you the other classes (except for the health assessment and research classes) is a waste of time and money. The majority of my classmates have the same opinion.

Yes, I will have BSN after my name, and I will be able to get international experience in other Westen countries (which I'm looking for), but it does not give me any advantage teaching me new skills or giving the knowledge that is valuable in clinical settings.

I would like to hear opinions of others currently enrolled in RN-to-BSN program or who have already graduated.

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

Interesting.

I graduated last year with an RN to BSN.

I don't think the idea of an RN to BSN is to teach "the art of medicine" or to even teach you to be a clinical nurse. I took many of those same courses and I found they enhanced my understanding of the nursing profession and even helped me clinically on the floor since it has been about 16 years since I took any nurses courses. I didn't feel it was a waste of time at all.

Granted what I learned wasn't earth shattering and didn't necessarily make me a better nurse, but I can't say I didn't learn a thing or that it was a waste of time.

Keep your eye on your goals for the future and you will find the "purpose" of a BSN.

[Nurse Salt]

The main difference between having a BSN and an ADN is that BSNs are given a more theorhetical outlook on nursing. This is not designed to prepare the nurse for additional clinical skills (that would be more like NP) but rather to prepare him/her for the more "professional" side of nursing (management, administration, etc). I don't think those classes are a waste at all, but I don't believe any education is a waste...

[llg, PhD, RN]

Maybe you should be going to a better quality school. Let's face it, some schools are of excellent quality and some are not. Some are just places where you pay money and jump through a few hoops to purchase a degree. Others are high-quality educational institutions that teach you valuable things.

Just because you are going to a school that is not doing a very good job doesn't make the whole BSN degree a useless degree. Other people in other programs are learning lots of valuable lessons.

If this were your 1st semester, I would suggest switching schools. But since you are so far along, I can only suggest that you go beyond what your school is providing. Use the little that your school is providing as a springboard to explore further and learn on your own.

[Farmer Jane]

I'm almost finished with my BSN at a well-respected university. I thoroughly enjoy the general education and value all bachelor's degrees for the well rounded education they confer.

That said, I've yet to learn anything valuable from the nursing courses. I find them ridiculously easy, generally expanding upon no more than common sense, and the homework is tedious busy work at best.

Honestly, I find myself realizing why other science professions do not respect our degree. The difficulty pales in comparison to say, biology or chemistry. It's embarrassing.

There is no reason we cannot raise the bar for our profession.

[SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN]

It really, really depends upon the program. Some are extremely clinical and throw in one "leadership in nursing" course while the others are, IMO, a lot of fluff.

The one I will be entering is a cross between the two.

[chambalam]

Just curious, which program did you attend?

[Farmer Jane]

Should it matter? If we're claiming that the BSN gives a professional edge shouldn't all programs be challenging and worthwhile?

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

Should it matter? If we're claiming that the BSN gives a professional edge shouldn't all programs be challenging and worthwhile?

Of course.

There are a lot of "shoulds and shouldn'ts" in Nursing.

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

Agree Tweety. When I decided to do the ADN to BSN I had been a nurse for 10 years. Just knew I had to do it in order to get ahead. So...off to school I went. Ugh...nursing theory classes, ugh....the dreaded careplans...and double ughh...community health nursing - none of which I had any interest in. However, happily since I got to pick my clinical sites and set my own goals, that helped me to improve my own personal goal-setting. So, for that, I'm grateful. However, I too feel that nursing theory and those ridiculous careplans should be outlawed! lol

[llg, PhD, RN]

Ugh...nursing theory classes, ugh.... lol

I like to think that you would change your mind about theory if you took the class that I teach! :chuckle Most of my students rate it highly in the course evals.

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

Agree Tweety. When I decided to do the ADN to BSN I had been a nurse for 10 years. Just knew I had to do it in order to get ahead. So...off to school I went. Ugh...nursing theory classes, ugh....the dreaded careplans...and double ughh...community health nursing - none of which I had any interest in. However, happily since I got to pick my clinical sites and set my own goals, that helped me to improve my own personal goal-setting. So, for that, I'm grateful. However, I too feel that nursing theory and those ridiculous careplans should be outlawed! lol

I hear ya! My RN to BSN didn't focus to much on theory, but there was one course. We didn't have any courses with care plans thank goodness, but our Assessment and Community Health courses did make us come up with a blasted Nursing Diagnosis. LOL

I think it's what you make of it. I would hate to take a serious of courses and come out of it think I've wasted my time and learning not one single solitary thing. Surely there's something somewhere somehow to be gained.