BSN rant/inquire

Nursing Students ADN/BSN

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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*

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

All programs differ, but my R.N.-B.S.N. requires multiple general electives of your choice, plus it requires a history class and a religious class (it is a catholic university). Also there are additional requirements for sociology and psychology. Good luck.

HPRN

Specializes in Certified Med/Surg tele, and other stuff.

Government is a great class to have. For nursing to improve their lot in life, going to the capital or writing letters to legislators is a must.

In my BSN class, we had to write a letter and follow a nursing legislature and nursing law in our state. Very interesting, actually. If we refuse to learn how our government truly works, we are at a disadvantage.

The history and government requirements have to do with getting a Bachelors Degree. It doesn't matter what your field of study is. Requirements are set by the state. Basically, it's like high school , you have a certain list of courses that are required for everyone.

Specializes in Critical Care.
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.

How did you qualify for a full ride scholarship?

Specializes in Rehab; Women's and Children's.

[How did you qualify for a full ride scholarship?]

Hello. At University of Michigan-Flint they have lots of scholarship opportunities. One opportunity is the University Scholar Award, which is what I was awarded. Any transfer student who is accepted has a chance to receive certain special scholarships. I believe the scholarship I have required a 3.8 GPA or higher (I had a 3.982). I also had to write an essay. I had to send in recommendation letters from previous professors. They also look at extracurricular activities and volunteer work (I did lots of various things throughout my ADN education).

"University of Michigan-Flint Merit Scholarships

All qualified students are considered for merit scholarships during the admissions process with consideration given to students whose applications for admission are received by the application deadline. Selection criteria include GPA, academic course load, rank in class, personal essays and letters of recommendation, extracurricular involvement as well as standardized test scores. If you would like more information on the following merit scholarships please contact the Admissions office."

"University Scholar Award

Two years of full-time tuition and fees awarded to entering transfer students with an associate's degree or significant number of transferring credits."

I hope that helps. Let me know if you have any more questions :)

I feel the same way. it is all about the school making as much money off of one individual as they possibly could. I have the same issue with my school making me take a statistics class after i finaly finished all of "electives"

Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.
I feel the same way. it is all about the school making as much money off of one individual as they possibly could. I have the same issue with my school making me take a statistics class after i finaly finished all of "electives"

Had you taken college level statistics before? If not, then no, it's not the same at all. A college level statistics class is VITAL for being prepared at a bachelor's level in nursing.

History and such are requirements for the degree, set by the school, not requirements for the nursing program.

Specializes in PACU.
I feel the same way. it is all about the school making as much money off of one individual as they possibly could. I have the same issue with my school making me take a statistics class after i finaly finished all of "electives"

Have you ever taken a stats class before this? Most BSN (if not all) require at least 1 stats class.

To be honest, in general, if you are unhappy with a school's or degree's requirement then don't go/get one. It's pretty simple. Otherwise, suck it up, and move on.

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