An RN with a Bachelors in Biology instead of BSN?

lifelearningrn, BSN, RN · Mar 20, 2011

I didn't intend on casting you in an uncaring role, please forgive me if I came across that way.

I understand addiction and actually understand exactly what you are talking about when you mention enabling behavior. My husband and I bailed my brother out of numerous situations over the years and actually did cut him off, many years ago and refuse to allow him to manipulate us in that manner. So I do understand codependency and trying very hard not to support it.

You may be right about my emotional connection to this story. My mother suffered severe depression and some bouts of alcoholism during my childhood. My older sister co-raised me and my brothers. She lived at home while going to nursing school, was home when we got home and took care of us while my parents were at work (or while my mom was institutionalized- which happened a couple of times over the years). Don't get me wrong- my mom was always bad, this came and went over the years with years where she was great and others not-so great. My older sister was there (even though sometime begrudgingly) when my mom wasn't. So yes, I guess I'm kind of viewing this from the position of the younger siblings.

newRNstudent02 · Mar 20, 2011

To the OP- you can get your BSN and still apply to medical school. In fact, I would think having a BSN would look better then a BS to most medical programs. I had a friend who majored in music theory and got into medical school. Just make sure to take the prereqs to apply. There are a ton of Bio majors that always apply and it's hard for them to stand out. A BSN is so much more impressive.

CuriousMe · Mar 20, 2011

I didn't intend on casting you in an uncaring role, please forgive me if I came across that way.
I understand addiction and actually understand exactly what you are talking about when you mention enabling behavior. My husband and I bailed my brother out of numerous situations over the years and actually did cut him off, many years ago and refuse to allow him to manipulate us in that manner. So I do understand codependency and trying very hard not to support it.
You may be right about my emotional connection to this story. My mother suffered severe depression and some bouts of alcoholism during my childhood. My older sister co-raised me and my brothers. She lived at home while going to nursing school, was home when we got home and took care of us while my parents were at work (or while my mom was institutionalized- which happened a couple of times over the years). Don't get me wrong- my mom was always bad, this came and went over the years with years where she was great and others not-so great. My older sister was there (even though sometime begrudgingly) when my mom wasn't. So yes, I guess I'm kind of viewing this from the position of the younger siblings.

Ok, so I'm breaking my own rule here....

First, I'm sorry that you had such a tough time of it. Looking back from an adult perspective....wouldn't it have been great to have had some kind of outside support so that your sister could have stayed as your sister instead of co-raising you when she was likely little more than a child/young adult herself? That would have given both of you a full childhood.

BrookeeLou_RN · Mar 20, 2011

I feel each poster has valid points and seem to be approaching this from many different levels. No one is totally right or totally wrong..Perhaps it is best to agree to disagree????

I am sure the OP know knows some feels she should be allowed her childhood and others are okay with her practically leading her family.. It is truly her decision. She has posted her new desire to work towards obtaining a NP degree. I think everyone has helped her in many many ways.

I hope she re-posts as she tackles school and her life and lets us know how it all turns out.

lifelearningrn, BSN, RN · Mar 20, 2011

Perhaps.. Reading back it sounds worse than it seemed at the time.. My dad was there so that helped and like I said it wasn't always like that.. Both my parents passed when I was in my early to mid 20s.. cancer.. I generally remember my childhood fondly choosing to remember the good over the bad as does my sister. Perhaps having lost them so young plays a role in that.. I don't know.. Like the OP I am who I am because of them- they were good people even if flawed... (aren't we all?) :)

Skylarslaughter · Mar 20, 2011

Mjmoon & CuriousMe : I just checked my thread and saw all these new posts and wow, I never meant to cause an argument over what I should do and my situation. I understand that everyone has their own perespectives on things and that everyone goes through a their own battles in life. I think you are both right, and I am taking both of you guy's advice.

Mjmoon, I really wouldn't be able to live with myself if I left my family and went out on my own. Yes, I believe I could do it and yes I have thought about it but I also know that I would feel lonely and broken without them. Family is a weird thing like that, they are the people who can cause you so much pain and distress and yet you would be lost without them. I don't plan to just up and leave all my problems behind, besides I could have it a lot worse. Maybe my mom has done some stupid things in life, but she has also been through a lot and while I don't view my mom as a role model of any sort...I see her as a human being that I love, and that has taught me a lot of things and although we have always fought and had our arguments and huge fights...I could never just leave. Sure it would be easier, I can easily just forget. But something would be missing. And my brother and sister? I can't just leave them either. Like most people have been saying. I am only 17, that is far too young and makes it far too easy for me to make a mistake such as leaving my family. It's not like I'm in the worst situation in the world. I should consider myself blessed that I even have the option to go to college and pursue a career while living with my family.

CuriousMe, your right about a lot of things. I am taking on a lot more responcibility than most girls my age. Sometimes I envy my best friend so much because she is a single child that can have whatever she wants, I watch as she gets new clothes and goes shopping all the time and gets her manicures and pedicures and here I am...unable to do or afford anything. But you know what? Once I start college, that will be the beginning of my independence. It will be my ultimate distraction, and if I can get my mom to start taking the prerequisites with me then it will be a way for us to repair our relationship. My mother isn't a monster lol. She is an apathetic, stubborn, narrowminded woman that is in a mode of depression. She's human. There's much worse people out there and I'm sure most would agree. Like I said, my mothers not exactly my role model....but she's my mother. Taken into consideration, when I think abou all the people around me...no one has really played a role model to me at all. I never had that luxury so I have to be my own role model.

Thanks for all the posts and advice! I really appreciate everyones concern and information.

I'm starting community college this summer to hopefully get started on my bachelors in nursing.

acceleratedbsn · Mar 21, 2011

Start a new thread...just sayin'. :nurse:

Can u help me. newbie here! I just searched whole page to click start a new thread. Any :idea: .

Skylarslaughter · Mar 21, 2011

Start a new thread...just sayin'.
Can u help me. newbie here! I just searched whole page to click start a new thread. Any .

Are you telling me to start a new thread? Lol, or asking how to? You click one of the tabs at the top [home, specialty, news, students, region, articles, blogs] and click the topic category under which your topic fits, and there should be a little button at the top that says 'start new thread'

Flare, ASN, BSN · Mar 21, 2011

ok - tl;dr most of prior answers and someone else probably already made this point, but you are 17. You say you only want to do bedside nursing now, but in a few years after you've been doing the job for a while you may be interested in a leaderdhip role. You may see things in the way your unit works that you feel you could improve or you may strive to make a little more money or one of many reasons.

I never imagined myself getting onto either school nursing or an administrative job - but I love both and am glad I went for the BSN.

Daredevildave · Aug 2, 2012

Would love to get into an RN vs BSN discussion. "The BSN was specifically designed to focus core science requirements as a background necessary for nurses to wield their craft." I have worked 12 years as a nurse and the last 6 in the ICU. I have worked with both BSN and ADN nurses. Many of my friends have gone back to get their BSN online. From what I have been told, science courses are few and far between on the curriculum for ADN to BSN degrees. They certainly should be a stronger focus. I will go back to get my BSN but begrudgingly. Hospitals are implementing evidence based practice more and more. A stronger science based BSN program would help us focus on EBP. It would be nice to see the BSN curriculum updated for this day and age. if ADN's take pharmocolgy then BSN's should take advanced pharmacolgy. And how about a stronger focus on nursing research? Instead I hear about courses in home health. I have no desire to work in someones home and many of the nurses I have worked with agree. The weak science basis of the BSN is why many nurses I know are reluctant to get this degree. I mean no disrespect to the nurses out there that got their 4 year degrees. But lets be honest, nursing is a never-ending learning process. Those that stop reading and learning get left behind.