Anyone else regret this?

Nursing Students ADN/BSN

Published

I seriously regret getting my BSN. Why you may ask....

a. I am now 65000 in debt.

b. I dont get paid more.

c. People still treat me like a pion as if I am a fast food worker.

d. I'm still doing bedside nursing anyway.

Anyone else feel like it was a waste??

Specializes in Psych & Gero psych.

ASN was about $500 a semester VS University where it's 5,000 a semester. No DEBT for my RN waiting till my employer can cover the cost of my BSN (in a year) so hopefully not too expensive.

I live in NC & our local university, Western Carolina University, has a RN-to-BSN program that is totally online & is quoted to cost $4210 all inclusive......not bad at all! It is sure alot cheaper than the recent quotes I have gotten from other online programs.... $24,000.......$18,000.....I don't think so!!!!!

I am so glad you posted this...I was very curious to know about how much it would cost. Thanks:)

Specializes in Cardiac, ER, Pediatrics, Corrections.

The only reason I regret it is I still feel dumb, I make horrible wage, and the LPNs I work with mock me for having a BSN and "not knowing all the answers." I am very bitter with nursing right now. :(

Specializes in Med/Surg, LTACH, LTC, Home Health.
The only reason I regret it is I still feel dumb, I make horrible wage, and the LPNs I work with mock me for having a BSN and "not knowing all the answers." I am very bitter with nursing right now. :(

In this economy, which do you feel is worse: having "all the answers" (which is utter BS!), or "not knowing all the answers" (which NOBODY does) and having the credentials that allows you to move on away from those know-it-alls?

People can spot your weakness and paraphrase it in the form of a question that they already know you have no answer to. That doesn't make you dumb; it makes them show just how immature they are and resentful of your accomplishments. Truly altruistic individuals build up their colleagues, not tear them down. Same token, there is nothing wrong with you showing that you value their opinions by saying, 'you know what, I don't have a lot of exposure to this...will you show me how this is done'. I struggle with rhythm strip interpretation, so I have no qualms about asking our secretary/PCT/paramedic to interpret the monitors for me whenever I'm thrown down in the ER. I can tell when the 'lightning bolts' have changed on the monitors, but being able to identify specifics escapes me. I understand the basics of tach, brady, ASYSTOLE, flutter, and V-tach, and PVCs. We educate and support each other. When that happens, we are a TEAM. Right now, you guys are divided. As the leader of the pack, you should take a proactive approach in pulling the team together.

Nursing changes. LPNs are not required to do research and keep up with evidenced-based practices. So for them, a lot of their answers are outdated. They are required to know what their scope of practice is, based on their BON admins performing the research in efforts to provide the latest recommendations for them.. Granted, there are some self-motivated LPNs out there, but the majority of the motivated ones are probably not your co-workers or subordinates, but are RNs with ASNs and/or BSNs or are in the process of obtaining one or the other. The other self-starters who are unable to move past the LPN for whatever reason, would not stoop so low as to belittle another nurse.

So chin up! Be proud of what you've accomplished! As a former LPN-turned-ASN-RN-turned-BSN-RN, I can say that no one will ever make me regret my decisions. Obviously, you know something because you're the one with the BSN.;)

Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.
In this economy, which do you feel is worse: having "all the answers" (which is utter BS!), or "not knowing all the answers" (which NOBODY does) and having the credentials that allows you to move on away from those know-it-alls?

People can spot your weakness and paraphrase it in the form of a question that they already know you have no answer to. That doesn't make you dumb; it makes them show just how immature they are and resentful of your accomplishments. Truly altruistic individuals build up their colleagues, not tear them down. Same token, there is nothing wrong with you showing that you value their opinions by saying, 'you know what, I don't have a lot of exposure to this...will you show me how this is done'. I struggle with rhythm strip interpretation, so I have no qualms about asking our secretary/PCT/paramedic to interpret the monitors for me whenever I'm thrown down in the ER. I can tell when the 'lightning bolts' have changed on the monitors, but being able to identify specifics escapes me. I understand the basics of tach, brady, ASYSTOLE, flutter, and V-tach, and PVCs. We educate and support each other. When that happens, we are a TEAM. Right now, you guys are divided. As the leader of the pack, you should take a proactive approach in pulling the team together.

Nursing changes. LPNs are not required to do research and keep up with evidenced-based practices. So for them, a lot of their answers are outdated. They are required to know what their scope of practice is, based on their BON admins performing the research in efforts to provide the latest recommendations for them.. Granted, there are some self-motivated LPNs out there, but the majority of the motivated ones are probably not your co-workers or subordinates, but are RNs with ASNs and/or BSNs or are in the process of obtaining one or the other. The other self-starters who are unable to move past the LPN for whatever reason, would not stoop so low as to belittle another nurse.

So chin up! Be proud of what you've accomplished! As a former LPN-turned-ASN-RN-turned-BSN-RN, I can say that no one will ever make me regret my decisions. Obviously, you know something because you're the one with the BSN.;)

Well said. :yes:

And congrats!!

Specializes in Cardiac, ER, Pediatrics, Corrections.

Thank you! Needed to hear this! :)

Specializes in Med/Surg, LTACH, LTC, Home Health.
Thank you! Needed to hear this! :)

You're most welcome! It's going to get better for you; it already has because you care about what others think. All you have to do now is use that to your advantage.

Specializes in CRNA, Finally retired.

To the OP: If you're not getting paid more for your BSN and you're being treated like a "pion" or a fast food worker, get ANOTHER job. It sounds like you have other issues that are bringing you down if you are allowing yourself to stay in an abusive job.

Specializes in Critical Care.

What is sad is this push for BSN is leaving people in student loan debt at a time when pensions are virtually extinct. Many people in their 40-50's going into debt when they don't have many years left to pay back the loan, yet alone save for retirement. Social security is not enough to live on. Even if you are lucky enough to have a pension no doubt it has been cut and is worth a lot less now than what you were originally promised. Medicare is not free and with the supplement you will need several hundreds a month just for health insurance, not counting prescription drugs and all the other out of pockets. Currently the govt is garnishing social security payments for past due loans on 140,000 seniors and counting! Many won't be free of student loans till they die!

Specializes in ED, Pedi Vasc access, Paramedic serving 6 towns.

I must agree with one poster who said there isn't a need to go into huge debt from college, it is all about making smart choices in life.

I graduated with 2 associate degrees 3 years apart and have been paying those loans for a while, about 10 years, they are now whittled down to 3500.00 total which I can pay off soon. I made the choice to take classes over a long period of time rather than jumping right into a 60,000.00 BSN program. I was about to jump into a BSN program in 2001, but my brain said, hey, this is going to cost you 60K, is it really worth that. I was smart and realized it wouldn't pay off in the end... I am so glad I made the choices I did, I am now enrolled in an RN-BSN program and paying as I go. I am making the same amount of the staff nurses who are BSN grads, even the ones that I hear complain daily about there high student loan amounts.

I was told by my high school guidance councilor that I needed to go to a four year college after high school, luckily I refused, I knew I wanted to work on an ambulance and be an EMT for a while, but had no idea what I really wanted to do for a career. In the end the reason I had the smarts to say hey, this loan amount isn't going to be worth it is because I was a bit older (24 to be exact) and had some life experience. We pressure high school kids to go right into a 4 year college without thinking twice about it, one of the biggest investments in life. We expect kids to know what they want to be when they grow up in a very short time, yet we take months to pick out what car we want to buy. Kids are dumb when they get out of high school, they have no idea what the real world is like, no idea what it will be like to work full time and support themselves etc. How about we stop telling kids they have to go to college right after high school and allow them to make that decision through living, I guarantee some of them with realize the importance when they are flipping burgers. How about we let kids flip burgers full time, while partially supporting themselves, while attending college full time or part time. Give them time to pick a career, slowly take courses that they may be able to pay for as they go, instead of saying you must go into a four year university make lots of debt for yourself, pick a career you may not even end up liking because you have to make the decision right now, and work to pay off debt for the next 30 years.

The problem with this country is that it cost a ridiculous amount of money to go to a four year college full time. Kids are not taught life skills in high school, things like money management, savings etc. They come out being wonderful at math problems and history lessons and understanding how important academics are and how important that ivy league college that will cost you 120,000.00 is, but they do not understand the future consequences of high debt. Until we offer more education on such things, youngsters will continue graduating with absurd amounts of loans that cause them to not be able to afford a home, a reliable car etc. END rant!

Just my two cents

HPRN

Specializes in CT, CCU, MICU, Trauma ICUs.

I am about to graduate from a RN-BSN online program. I was a LPN at the start, and then quickly matriculated into an ASN program at the local community college when I was in my 20s. I am in my mid-40s now, and my RN-BSN has been a slow process due to having children and making my life a priority over work.

I have a ton of opinions on the whole BSN controversy, mostly not very positive. I've been an ICU CCRN for over 16 years and, personally, do not think the "softer" courses of additional Community Health, Global Health, and the capstone class has helped me one bit in my practice at the bedside. Sure, some of it is interesting, and I honed my writing skills a whole bunch. I am not a full time employee so I was not able to receive any tuition reimbursement from my employer, but I did get a discount due to some collaboration between my school and work. I still have a bunch of loans to repay.

The only reason to get your BSN, if you are a Diploma RN or ASN, is to get away from the bedside. If your employer will totally pay for it, then sure, go for it, but otherwise, it's a loss unless you're using it simply as a step stone to something else. Slow boat it if your employer is Magnet crazy and is enforcing it as part of your employment. The only reason I went for my BSN was to leave the bedside after 23 years. I'm ready for a change, and more of a challenge, and have applied to CRNA School, and have 2 interviews set up. I realize I will have even more loans after school I complete CRNA School, but I can’t stand the direction bedside nursing is going. Employers want you degreed, and certified, but treat you like a delinquent school child. It’s suffocating. I’m confident that I will be able to pay the loans off when I get a full time job as a CRNA, while enjoying a different kind of nursing.

+ Add a Comment