BSN duties?

NO WAY! I definitely know that a BSN is really hard....I just wanted to know if it is easier compared to a BS in Biology or Chemistry.

It really depends. A bio or chem degree isn't going to be as time consuming as a BSN. First you have to be accepted into the program and then you will have clinicals which will be difficult and time consuming. Academically a Chem degree may be harder, (unless chemistry comes very easy to you.) but a BSN will require preparation for NCLEX testing after graduation if you want to actually have the option of practicing as a nurse, and it will be hard for you to concurrently take the other sciences that you will need for med school let alone study for the mcat. Most people who go this route have to do a post bac course of study to get the extras in and prepare for the mcat, this will obivously be a longer route for you to take, and there is the issue of taking a nursing school slot when you don't actually want to be a nurse. This could come up in interviews so you must have a great explanation for it. A BSN degree would be very useful, but it could also be probelmatic for the above reasons.

A BSN would have clinical obligations and time spent on careplanning----- (sometimes I was up til 2-3 a.m. and only got 3-4 hours sleep before I had to be at the hospital by 6 a.m. for my clinical shift)------these are commitments you won't have in pursuing another science degree such as chemistry or biology. Prepared to do 12-hour clinical shifts in hospitals/longterm care centers/hospice, etc? Cause that is what you face getting into nursing.

Really I would talk to someone you know who has been through nursing school, if you can. It's certainly NOT for everyone and as I said before, it's not necessary the right route to medical school/careers in medicine.

I think that getting the BSN would be harder than the BS in Biology or chemistry. And you'd be better prepped for med school if you had those classes. It gives you a good background. Yeah, sure there are russian majors who are going into med school.... But, from what I remember when I was doing pre-med, you're much more competitive in the application process with a BS in a field such as Biology, chemistry. Closely related stuff is ok though. However, if you do nursing you will be so far behind the 8-Ball that you'll really kick yourself. WHy would you want to go through nursing school... (its very hard) and then go and not use it when you go straight to med school. Here's my advice. Go get your BS in Biology. Take your MCATS. Apply to med school. Go if you get in. If you don't, and you feel like you still want to try nursing, then go for it.

so is it possible for BSN students to make 4.0 GPAs like students majoring in Biological sciences?

I was told by an instructor not to expect to keep my 4.0 in nursing school.

also was told that the 4.0ers are not necessarily their best clinical students.

We will see!

so its not very common to see 4.0s in BSN school ,eh?

In that case, working really hard isnt going to help make a 4.0....or will it?

But, from what I remember when I was doing pre-med, you're much more competitive in the application process with a BS in a field such as Biology, chemistry.

I believe medical schools actually look for students who are well rounded. Sure you can pursue a degree in Biology like every other Joe who applies to medical school; however, what if you complete a degree in Computer Science on top of all of your medical school pre-requisites? You'll stand out above all of the other candidates because you did something different and intriguing in the eyes of the admissions board.

I look at it this way, I'm going to continue working like I have in all my classes that I've made A's in, that way I know I've done my best and the grade I get is the grade I get. But at least I know I've done all that I could possibly do to retain the information given to me. Unless, I am not understanding the material I don't see why the outcome would not be the same.

I look at it this way, I'm going to continue working like I have in all my classes that I've made A's in, that way I know I've done my best and the grade I get is the grade I get. But at least I know I've done all that I could possibly do to retain the information given to me. Unless, I am not understanding the material I don't see why the outcome would not be the same.

Good attitude. There is no reason not to expect A's out of yourself if you've made A's prereqs. I didn't find nursing school any harder to get A's in than other hard classes like A&P.

There was a learning curve for me in the testing. They test NCLEX style and I wasn't used to that, and I did make one B.

The trick is not to be so hung up on grades that you sacrifice your life and your serenity and get all bent out of shape if you, gasp, make a B. There are far more important things in life than getting A's, but I'm sure you know that.

Go for the A's, expect A's, learn the stuff. Good luck to you.

I was told by an instructor not to expect to keep my 4.0 in nursing school.

also was told that the 4.0ers are not necessarily their best clinical students.

We will see!

Stereotypes are wrong. To say A students aren't the best clinicians isn't fair. Granted there are A students that aren't the best clinicians and some C students are great clinicians. But visa versa is just as true.

Don't believe stereotypes. :)

Stereotypes are wrong. To say A students aren't the best clinicians isn't fair. Granted there are A students that aren't the best clinicians and some C students are great clinicians. But visa versa is just as true.

Don't believe stereotypes. :)

you need to copy and post this reply to all the threads that where people try to apply stereotypes and box others in, Tweety.

Truer words never spoken yet on this site.

It bore repeating.

I live in a large medical community and I have heard many times from nurses and doctors that they prefer to work with and hire the nurses coming from our C.C. as ADN's then the nurses with BSN's from the local university. Apparently we our lucky to have a strong ADN program and the RN's coming out of it are well prepared.

I think that that "strength" they are referring to is the fact that diplome and Associates nurses have more actual hands on clinical training and are probably far better prepared clinically than the BSN grads.

I think a BSN is a great idea if you are planning to pursue a college degree anyway (do it all at once), but otherwise, the type of training has very little advantage otherwise. A BSN no longer makes it all that much easier to transition into a Masters program either.

I think that nursing had this big idea that to be "professional" it had to be an entry level BSN. I think that has backfired in everyone's faces!

I also remember the time when it was pretty much standard to have to have a BSN to work in homecare. Someplaces would take a BSN new grad with NO experience, but require a non-BSN to have several years at the bedside. The absolute LAST place any new grad should be is in homecare when they are in the home with no medical or nursing back-up. That concept struck me as folly right then!!