BSN rant/inquire

[mw1179]

Are there BSN programs out there that don't require you to take two history and two government classes!? I think my jaw dropped when I saw a BSN course requirement list for a particular school. I was disgusted actually. Why on earth would you need to take multiple history and government classes for a BSN. What a way for them to just make more money!!!! It's ridiculous. *off my soapbox*

[Tenebrae, BSN, RN]

Possibly they want their graduates to have an idea about the formation of health policy given it impacts on how we practice as nurses.

I have taken sociology and psychology and I agree those are important to take because they both

have to do with the mind and the body. I just didn't see why government and history classes

were needed. Because I don't agree with it, doesn't make me narrow minded. Everyone is entitled

to their opinion.

[ComeTogether, LPN]

I am beginning to kind of understand why they want so many electives, I think.

It's to make you more well-rounded and to get you more experience with different aspects. That's how I look at it, anyway.

My religion class is hopefully going to give me some good insight for when I have patients of various religions, Psychology gave me a better understanding of a lot of mental illnesses, etc.

I don't like the cost of education, or the fact that there are so many I's to dot, but I feel like I'm going to be able to put a lot of the stuff I am learning to good use.

[TexasBlaze]

All bachelors degrees require a core set of requirements which are set in place by the association of colleges by which they are governed and accredited. This basic core is usually a set standard of 42 to 46 hours of courses in English, History, Government, Math, and Science. Any changes to a degree plan must go before a coordinating board before it can even be placed into the catalog for the college or university. Otherwise, schools and colleges would be altering their degree plans and not adhering to a set standard that is required of all other institutions.

Having previously worked in academic publications at a university, I can assure you that all accredited programs have a standard in their core requirements for a bachelor of science, whether in nursing or computer programming. What you can do is find out from your advisor if you can take online courses at a community college for your core requirements and transfer those courses into the program. You need to get those courses early in your degree plan as many colleges require your final hours be taken only at their institution. Oftentimes taking online courses at a community college allows you flexibility over attending a traditional classroom courses, and is far less expensive.

One final note? If you are wanting to graduate with Latin honors, find out how many hours you must take at your school in order to have those listed on your diploma. Many of us were Summa Cum in our nursing courses, but because we transferred in all of our core requirements, we were denied having Latin honors on our diplomas because we fell short of the 45 hours the university required we take at their campus. A disappointment, but calculating out the price per hour in tuition? I can live without the Summa Cum on my diploma for $6,600 saved.

[ThePrincessBride, MSN, RN, NP]

I have a BSN and I took a variety of classes, from psychology, sociology, theater, chemistry, biology, English, statistics, some language courses, classics, ancient history, neonatal care, and so much more. I am glad to have a well-rounded education. Heaven forbid one must learn something that isn't strictly nursing or clinical-related!

[Dream Catcher]

I am completing my RN to BSN through University of Michigan-Flint. It's an all online program. We do have general education requirements to meet. For example, I had to take a higher level English course, statistics in sociology, and computers in health care my first semester. Even though these were not strictly nursing courses, I was able to incorporate nursing into them and keep myself interested. For my research papers I chose to write about things I was interested in and passionate about. I did plenty of research on health promotion, vaccinations, and caring for people who are culturally different from myself. The professors know we (RN-BSN completion program students) are a nursing/health care focused group. They often incorporated assignments that were health care geared. It kept it very interesting. It was not bad at all. I have grown as a student, a nurse, and a person from taking these courses. All knowledge is transferable and there are always ways to apply things you know from other experiences into nursing.

When we earn a Bachelor degree it shows we are educated in a certain way and to a certain level of expectation. There are plenty of people who earn higher education degrees in one area only to work in a completely different field. My step brother in-law earned a Bachelor degree in golf course management. He has never worked on a golf course. He is the president of a bank. His wife, my step sister, earned a Bachelor degree in criminal justice and she is a manager at a bank too.When an employer sees that you have earned a Bachelor degree they expect that you have met all of the general education requirements and are generally a well rounded, well educated individual. Every general education requirement I have ever taken in my ADN or BSN programs has helped me incredibly and was directly useful in some way to nursing.

The BSN completion program I am taking is very realistic. I am taking full time credit hours fall and winter. In the spring I have to take one class. This upcoming fall I will take full time credit hours. I graduate in December of this year. I am finishing in one year. That is pretty good.

I do not think that the general education requirements are only all about the college or university making money. I have earned a full ride scholarship through University of Michigan-Flint. It covers every expense from books, to classes, to fees. There is money left over and they send me a check for the rest (I can use it for supplies). The University is paying for my education and I still have to take the general education requirements. All schools have general education requirements. All students have to meet the general education requirements set by the institution they attend to be awarded the degree. It is a standard of excellence.

[Fruit Sucker]

I had to take a couple of classes I thought were time wasters. I read a lot in my spare time, and felt that some of these classes were redundant and overly basic. It's an easy A- just try to get something out of it and be glad it's not an extra chemistry class. If it makes you feel better, think of it as a class that is required because not everyone seeks out this type of knowledge on their own, and you don't want a bunch of uneducated college graduates running around out there.

[VivaLaVespaGirl, BSN, MSN]

Those classes are basic, general education requirements and every student who earns a bachelor's degree must take them. It is not a way for universities to make more money. You require a specific number of credits to earn your degree, so they would get your money one way or the other, whether you are taking 6 credits of government and 6 credits of history, or 12 credits of underwater basket-weaving.

[BSNbeauty, BSN, RN]

I had to take a higher level english course, a communication course and a social responsibility course for my RN-BSN program. Was it a nuisance? Yes, but I did what I had to do to get my degree. I did enjoy each course but I really didn't think it was necessary.

[featherzRN, MSN]

As others have stated, those non-nursing courses are required for all bachelors degrees at regionally accredited schools. The exact classes may vary, but you are supposed to have a broad base in history, math, humanities, etc. My husband is doing a BS in IT and had to take biology - why? because that's part of the required core curriculum.

There ARE RN-BSN schools that do not require this, however they do not hold regional accreditation so you may run into problems if trying to obtain a higher degree -- and in some cases, employment. Aspen U, last I checked, would allow you to just pop in to the nursing courses - but they do not have regional accreditation and I really would not recommend a school without it.

[Wrench Party]

It's a pain in the tookus, but just consider those classes to be easy As for your GPA. I took classes like nutrition and psych online.

We had online busywork, discussion boards, and some short papers. I was able to get my schoolwork done at work, so that was nice!

Bonus: I found some then-pointless classes to come in handy much later in my life- foreign literature, environmental ethics and ag resource economics gave me an introduction to some very important current things in my life.

[imenid37]

My daughter is going through this now too. She has an ASN. Most schools she has checked out, will require her to take many gen eds. They are probably much easier than nursing. On the bright side, things have "improved" in the 25 years since I attended RN-BSN. I had to take about 300 hours of clinical in community health. Now many folks get credit for their "work" time. Not to mention, we were only able to attend in person and had to physically go to the library. I think we also walked 5 miles uphill each way to and from the university parking lot! I wish you all of the best. Hopefully, you will find a school that has courses which will allow you to pick what peaks your interest.

[brandy1017, ASN, RN]

I have taken sociology and psychology and I agree those are important to take because they both

have to do with the mind and the body. I just didn't see why government and history classes

were needed. Because I don't agree with it, doesn't make me narrow minded. Everyone is entitled

to their opinion.

I think history and govt are interesting and would be useful in their own right and just to be an informed citizen, although I have a jaundiced eye towards politics and politicians. There are even some govt politicians that were nurses and even a doctor or two so you never know some people are inspired to go into govt to try to improve things.