BSN is a joke

Published

I am a nurse at a major hospital where I have worked over a year after gaining my ASN. I have returned to get my BSN. What I'm not understanding is why there is such an ENORMOUS disconnect between what I do at work and the class work I need to do. It doesn'y apply at all. I have to take family care classes and informatics with very little practical application. I have to memorize all the rules of APA. My patients don't care if I can wrote a wonderful APA formatted paper. They just don't. It's like there is no appreciation in BSN education for what nursing is really about. At no time will I EVER do a CFIM on my patient or a PEEK readiness assessment. Get real. Where is the disconnect? Everyone I talk to say's the same thing about their BSN program, that it is completely useless. Who decided that nurses needed extensive training in social work and paper formatting?!?! I don't deal with social work. I have a team of social workers for that. At no time will I ever be in a patients home trying to improve the communication between family members ect. There are family counselors ect for that. It isn't my job! Yet here I am getting trained in areas I have no interest in, and will never ever use in my career. And for what? So I can say I have 3 letters behind my name and the school and hospital can make more money? Its a joke. I'm learning nothing of value. I would drop out and find a new school, but everyone I talk to has the same opinion about where ever they went. Basically healthcare has become obsessed with accolades, but forgot that those accolades were supposed to represent a level of expertise.

Why is there such an enormous disconnect between real life nursing and nursing education??!?!?

There is a program that will format your whole paper. It will even do your references. It costs around $34 for a lifetime membership. It updates itself and the staff are extremely helpful if you need them. It's called PERRLA.com I would pay $100 or more just for the peace of mind! Good luck!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I am currently a BSN student and other than APA being a huge pain I totally disagree with you. I have used 2 of my school projects as actual performance improvement projects in my current position as clinical compliance officer at our hospice.

Before I began the program I was much like yourself in thinking the BSN had little to no value but I have learned that the value in education is in what you place on it. If you think it is the social workers job to interact with the families then I say your inexperience is perhaps hindering your view of the value of learning how to deal with families in crisis. If you do not see the value of learning about informatics I wonder if you use an EMR at your employment. I understand the frustration of not being able to relate to some of the teachings as I have not been at the bedside for more than 10 years and assignments that address how to deal with bedside situations or what I would say to hospital staff is not my current practice. I recognize the value of learning it though because nursing is an awesome field full of diverse experiences and who knows maybe one day we may even find ourselves grateful for learning APA formatting if the opportunity to be published becomes available.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in School Nursing.
This I agree with but it isn't what I was talking about. Yes, not having a BSN definitely hampers the ability to move from the bedside and for those who want to move on they will have to suck it up and get those three extra letters. However, forcing the experienced nurse who has no intention of doing anything but the honorable job of a bedside nurse to get a BSN is an overreach.

I don't think there will ever be a force to BSN- at worst ADN will be eliminated and current ADNs will be grandfathered.. but I highly doubt that will ever happen either. There are way too many ADNs and ADN programs filling a vital need. The BSN entry will not happen unless there is a MASSIVE shift in healthcare in this country. I don't see it in our lifetime. I could be wrong.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

My BSN program did clinical and theoretical work. We also did a research proposal, using APA formatting, as preparation if we ever were involved in research. If you work in home health you WILL have some overlap with social services, in teaching and improving family support and understanding, as well as preparation for taking on the care of their loved one. If you ever decide to be a parish nurse, these skills will be precious. If you decide down the line to be a school nurse, an occupational nurse, a forensic nurse, a BSN will be required. Not all nursing is done in the hospital, and they are preparing you to work anywhere, at least at the entry level.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I don't think there will ever be a force to BSN- at worst ADN will be eliminated and current ADNs will be grandfathered.. but I highly doubt that will ever happen either. There are way too many ADNs and ADN programs filling a vital need. The BSN entry will not happen unless there is a MASSIVE shift in healthcare in this country. I don't see it in our lifetime. I could be wrong.

Au contraire my friend. There are many hospitals that are forcing their seasoned staff members to get their BSNs or be out of a job. In my hospital you cannot transfer positions unless you have your degree even if you've worked there for 30 years, served on committees and are considered the "go to" person on your unit.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

To me, the only real need for a BSN is if you have a burning desire to be administrative, sit at a desk and never do actual patient care again. You can see this in the expectations that come from these nurses. "Really, what makes you think that will work at the bedside?" If a BSN is so important to being a proper nurse then they really need to close every ASN program, move all those instructors to the BSN schools and have everyone graduate with the higher degree. Teaching doesn't have an intermediate degree, attorneys don't, why should we? I'm at an age where I will never go back to school, but I encourage all in nursing school now, don't stop with your ASN, not because we aren't awesome bedside nurses, but because hospitals are loosing their respect for the role we play in healthcare.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care.
Do you like apples?

I did not state, nor do I believe I insinuated, that the tools were the sole domain of of BSNs. I was only saying that the tools acquired by the BSN nurses make it easier for them. Some of those basic tools are common to every BSN nurse.

Not every diploma or ASN nurse has those tools. Good or bad, useful or not, that is the truth.

ASN and BSN program curriculum have become essentially identical, so I'm curious how you believe that despite being taught under the same curriculum that BSN students will learn different things than ASN students.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU.

From what I understand, 75% of nurses in managerial positions must hold a BSN.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Getting your BSN prepares you for leadership roles, administration, program development even government. It also makes you a better resource of knowledge for patients, families, and coworkers. If you don't want any of those things, then you're right, BSN has no purpose for you.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care.
Getting your BSN prepares you for leadership roles, administration, program development even government. It also makes you a better resource of knowledge for patients, families, and coworkers. If you don't want any of those things, then you're right, BSN has no purpose for you.

How does a BSN make someone a "better resource of knowledge"?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
How does a BSN make someone a "better resource of knowledge"?

Yes, I'm very interested in learning about this too.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

When you are in an RN to BSN program there is not going to be a focus on clinical education. You already learned that in your Associates program. The BSN program is going to focus on what you missed out on in your Associates program including Theory, informatics, and yes, Public Health and Social Work. I think it's a shame that you don't recognize how much Social Work you do do at the bedside every day. That's what helps you communicate with your patients, and assess their needs. And as far as the writing goes, what if you want to make changes in clinical practice, run a quality improvement project, approach your manager or director of nursing to appeal for staff increases, or write a grant? A broader education in writing, theory, communication, and social services will help you in all these areas. Informatics is the future of health care and improves the safety of your patients. I think you need to open your mind to the possibilities that the power of this education has, to help you make changes and improvements in the area you are so passionate about, bedside nursing.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion