burned out

sbostonRN · Mar 30, 2014

I waited two years before starting back for my BSN and am happy with that decision. I was able to feel grounded in my new career before jumping head first into a new program. I live in the northeast which is very BSN heavy but I didn't have trouble finding a job with my ASN. most of the people in my BSN program now have been nurses for 3-15 years. There aren't any brand new grads. However, try not to enjoy life too much I learned to love my vacations and summers and now have to give them up for school (in the short term). But my program is 15 months and then I'll be free again!

toomuchbaloney · Mar 30, 2014

More education is always a good thing.

The evidence, however, does not support the notion that a BSN is required for one to function as a competent and capable professional nurse in most settings and situations.

It is true that many many hospitals will not consider an ADN for some positions away from direct patient care. The fixed wing transport companies here in Alaska require a BSN for hire. There continues to be traction in the all BSN movement for some facilities.

Yes, education is a good thing, by all means get as much as you can. I would not, however, suggest acquiring substantial debt without having a clear career plan in mind. Debt is debilitating to a person and a career, IMHO.

Caffeine_IV · Mar 30, 2014

I would keep going while in school mode. Life happens, excuses are made and things get put to the backburner.

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Mar 30, 2014

As far as getting your Bachelors... there's no difference between ADN/ASN/BSN-prepared nurses. I actually don't know if the Bachelor's degree should even be required for a nursing job and actually feel pretty stupid for spending the time and money on achieving it. As a BSN I don't make any more money, I don't provide any better care than my ADN and ASN counterparts, and I don't think I'm granted any special treatment or career opportunities with it. I believe in the past you used to be required to have a BSN to be a nurse manager or CNS of some kind, with Master's being reserved for the advanced practice roles of CRNA and NP. Well now it appears that educational requirements have been increased by a tier, and now MSNs are required for NM or CNS, and DNP is becoming the standard for CRNA and NP. If BSN is just going to land me in the same place as ADN- or ASN-prepared nurses then it's a meaningless degree to me. Besides, hospitals will pay for their nurses to get their BSN (sometimes through watered down online programs) while those of us entering the job right from BSN programs are the real dummies for spending our own money.
Please somebody disagree with my anti-BSN rant so I can feel like my degree has value lol

Be happy to!

The statements I quoted from you, above, are filled with many misconceptions....and some outright errors. While I would be surprised if anyone argued that BSN grads are better-prepared clinically than ASN grads (most of us, I believe, recognize that a new grad is a new grad is a new grad), the rest of your statements need much attention.

You said your BSN does not grant you any special career opportunities. You are absolutely incorrect. There are a good many jobs out there that START at BSN level; ADNs need not apply. Pretty clearly, your BSN grants you greater job opportunities than ADS in many areas. I'm not even talking geographic areas, I'm talking areas of nursing. And of course your geographic area does affect the minimum requirements; it would be a silly idea to suggest that someone needs no BSN because they live in XYZ City, X State. People move. And qualification requirements do change. I graduated with an ADN and found shortly after I started working that I really would need to have ACLS to compete for some of the things I wanted to do. Ok, I did that. Then over the years I have found that in order to continue in nursing, a BSN would be the next requirement to have. No, I'm not comparing a certification to a degree.....merely giving an example of "the times are a'changin'"!

You are correct that at one time, higher degrees weren't needed for management....but your own argument that the push for MSN, DNP, etc makes your original argument (that BSNs aren't worthwhile) moot.

At one time, physicians did not even go to college. That's right, get yourself a doctor mentor (assuming, of course, you were male) and learn the trade. College? That was wholly unnecessary. Then, after a time, a year of college was all that was required to produce a qualified physician. Surgery? Sure! Throw 'em down on the doc's table!

But, you see, times changed.....and I'm pretty sure we'd agree that a physician who has been taught by Old Doc Johnson for six months isn't going to be competitive with today's expectations, yes?

Nursing, too, has upgraded in expectations from the Civil War (where a "nurse" was any female who had two hands to clean a bedpan and could be taught to wrap bandages around a wound). And it will keep upgrading, as long as both the public wants it, and competition for employment in the nursing profession enables it.

Clovery · Mar 30, 2014

I started my BSN as soon as possible after finishing my ADN program. I ended up getting about 4 months off in between because I needed my RN license number to apply for the RN-BSN program. The program I'm in is entirely online and I'm taking one course per semester. I wanted to get started right away mostly because I had no nursing experience to speak of on my resume and I figured being able to say I was enrolled in an RN to BSN program would help my chances at jobs. One interview I went to required me to provide proof of enrollment.

My experience is that it's nothing like "nursing school" as I knew it during my ADN program. It's much more relaxed. In an RN to BSN program everyone is already a professional nurse, so there's none of that "tough love" to whip you into shape in preparation for the "real world" of nursing. The instructors understand everyone is an adult and most likely working full time while competing with family demands as well. In my program we don't even have tests, we do the required reading, participate in discussion forums and write about 5 papers per course. In the discussion forums we often apply what we are learning and relate it to our professional experiences, so it's interesting and not too far off from AN. I have about a year left and I've been enjoying school. I've found the course material helpful in my first year of nursing practice.

Neldavi · Mar 30, 2014

I took a year off and am glad I did. It let me focus on getting my bearings as a nurse. I didn't want to take too long off because I knew it would be hard to go back to school, but a year was just about right.

vintage_RN, BSN, RN · Mar 30, 2014

In Canada, you have to have a BSN to be an RN...so that's why I'm doing it. I just graduated as an RPN in December and the scope of practice here is very similar (I got a job on a busy surgical floor right away). But I want to work in critical care areas and have more of a leadership role one day...maybe teach...who knows. I'll have a 9 month "break" until I go back to school in September. I'd rather get it all done now while I have no kids and relatively little responsibility/expenses. You do what's best for you...but like an above poster said, I'm totally a "short term pain, long term gain" kind of person.

anon456, BSN, RN · Mar 31, 2014

If you are able to jump into the BSN I would do it. I jumped into a job and am still burned out with my fast-track ADN three years later. Every time I think about going back to school I get a sick feeling inside. So here I am not nearly as marketable as I could be should I wish to leave my job for greener pastures. I have strong work experience but no BSN. Go for it if you can. Maybe work part-time or per diem if you are able to, but not full time unless you have to.

iluvgusgus · Mar 31, 2014

It might be a good idea to get a job, orient for a few months, and then work for a year and then go back to school for BSN. You are going to learn so much more working in the next year than you did in nursing school and that may be enough excitement for you since you are feeling this way now. If you are unable to get a job and it's been 6 months, then maybe you could kill some time and get the BSN while looking for a job. Sadly, my hospital only pays 50 cents more an hour for a BSN, I dont have one and I dont think thats much motivation to go get one! Especially when getting certified in whatever area you work in which only costs $399 also gets you the same 50 cent raise. So it may not even be worth it to get yours unless you eventually want to get MSN.

FutureNurseK · Mar 31, 2014

I know what you mean...I started up for my bsn program in 2011 and what should've taken 2 YRS to complete the pre reqs turned into 4 YRS due to life problem but I NEVER stopped..I would take 2 classes per semester to ease the load and I'll be applying for bsn next yr..never stop because 1 yr will easily turn into 5 before you know it and it has helped my gpa

sbostonRN · Mar 31, 2014

As I said in my previous post, I just started back to school for my BSN (2.5 years as an RN). In one of my classes we're learning about barriers that nurses have in obtaining their BSN and one often cited is trauma from their ASN program! That surprised me because it's a feeling I had but was never able to articulate. I always blamed it on finances or time.

I will tell you that most BSN programs are vastly different than ASN programs. They are less competitive between students. I am in a classroom-online hybrid program and I go to class 1-2 times a week (in the evenings) and do a lot of work online. It works well but I wish I chose a totally online schedule since i work evening shift so I'm never home with my hubby. I don't feel as stressed as I did with my ASN program though. You can also start slowly and work on pre-reqs online one at a time, that way you can tell employers that you're working towards your BSN and that could help you get a job. (I did this as well, and I believe this is one of the reasons I got a job at a high-ranking Magnet hospital without my BSN).

NrsAmanda · Mar 31, 2014

That's great advice thank you.