So, tonight I was talking about the classes I'll be taking this fall at my local community college (one of which is chemistry which I'm a little nervous about since I've never had a chemistry class before) with my wonderful bachelor's degree holding partner who, in an attempt to ease my anxiety makes the comment "Well, it's just at a community college so the class should be pretty easy." Wrong thing to say honey...
It did however get me to thinking about the general attitudes that people have towards not only community colleges but also to vocational/trade schools. That those of us who go to such institutions are intellectually inadequate and wouldn't be able to handle the academic rigors of a 4 year college or university. This attitude is completely inaccurate, after all if my classes were so EASY then the 4 year colleges and universities in my area wouldn't have an articulation agreement which honors the credits I take at the community college. It is a different atmosphere in a community college of course, but that doesn't mean I don't have to learn the material and learn it well in order to pass.
I remember in high school when I decided to enter the Practical Nursing program at the vocational school how I received criticism, statements such as "Well, you need to go to a 4 year college, anything less is for people who are stupid." and even now when I tell people I'm an LPN and that I've been at a community college taking classes I'm greeted with a concerned expression, a half smile, and a polite nod. A voice bubble might as well pop up above their head saying, "Well, since you're a failure at life and this is all you have, I'll be happy for you." after all since I'm going to a community college it means I can't handle REAL academics.
It may sound as though I'm jealous of those who get to receive a university education and have a bachelor's degree or above and are the same age as myself. And, yes, at times I am jealous because I would have loved to have had the same experience. But that simply just wasn't my path, one day I will "pull my time" in a four year college, my path will take me there, just not yet.
I believe no matter your credentials, whether you're doctorate degree holding FNP or a certificate holding CNA that you should be incredibly proud. Whether you're bachelor's prepared RN or a diploma holding LPN you should be proud. Because all levels of education should be revered and respected and valued. I don't feel ashamed of not already being a Registered Nurse or a college graduate nor do I have any regret at first becoming a CNA and then becoming an LPN because I still am helping people and I am still living my dream and that dream was to be independent. If you're a BSN or an ADN be PROUD of it no matter what your credentials are because you earned them.
College graduates face really discouraging odds. Many are unemployed, many more are employed in something other than their field of study, and many still are up to their eyeballs in debt. My partner for instance has a bachelor's degree yet works in job making a little over minimum wage. That is why I chose the path I did. When I was 17 and I enrolled in the LPN program, I knew due to my personal and financial circumstances that I couldn't afford to go to college just yet, I needed to be self sufficient and going to a trade school and later to a community college would allow me to do that. It wasn't the right choice for everyone but it was for me, and because of that I can pay for my school one semester at a time while minimizing and most semesters avoiding student loans, not to mention a few years head start on 401k versus my peers and that feels really good.
A dear friend of mine always wanted to be a mechanic, her family, peers, etc were not supportive "only stupid people do something like that" so instead she got 2 bachelor's degrees, is jobless, and owes thousands of dollars in student loans. All this because her dream was too "stupid" in the eyes of her parents and everyone else. Side not, I know many mechanics who make more money than I do and they're all pretty happy. I think the attitude that you go to college to "make a better life for yourself" isn't always accurate. We shouldn't be telling our children that they have to go to college in order to be considered intelligent or successful. We should be telling them that in this world success isn't defined by your credentials or where you went to school or how much money you make, it's defined by getting out of life what you make of it and what you want from it. Do what you love people, whether you're a CNA or a Medical Doctor, do what you love and love what you do and be proud but above all else never assume that someone is stupid simply because their education is different from yours.
Whew... feels good to get that out.
Oh and my partner quickly apologized for what he said. Probably had something to do with the fact I spouted off this little speech in the course of sixty seconds after his comment.
The poster hasn't said that her additional education was useless. She just has pointed out that it hasn't helped her in nursing school, the same classes apparently, that make up a BSN.
He/she said, "I have a useless Bachelors..."
Some classes may be the same, but obviously not all or it wouldn't be a bachelors.
Some classes may be the same, but obviously not all or it wouldn't be a bachelors.
Obviously. I have a previous BS degree. After I got my AS degree in nursing at a CC, I thought that I would complete a BSN but was told by Virginia Commonwealth University not to bother as my BS was 3 classes off of already having a BSN. I was told to look at those classes as pre reqs for a MSN.
Some BS or BA degrees won't even come close to a BSN, but some do. As I have said before, until we collectively decide to differentiate between Diplomas, AS degrees and BSN degrees, we all have to pass the NCLEX as an extry to practice. Until we decide to make this change, it is pointless to play the "my degree can beat up your degree" game.
Obviously. I have a previous BS degree. After I got my AS degree in nursing at a CC, I thought that I would complete a BSN but was told by Virginia Commonwealth University not to bother as my BS was 3 classes off of already having a BSN. I was told to look at those classes as pre reqs for a MSN.
Some BS or BA degrees won't even come close to a BSN, but some do. As I have said before, until we collectively decide to differentiate between Diplomas, AS degrees and BSN degrees, we all have to pass the NCLEX as an extry to practice. Until we decide to make this change, it is pointless to play the "my degree can beat up your degree" game.
That's not the point. Whether or not a BSN is needed as entry to practice is one thing, but it's another to say that having a BSN is useless. It has nothing to do with which degree is better, only that no education is useless or wasted. That was my point.
I never said a BSN was useless. I'd love to have one at some point (maybe) but I can't afford it right now.
And for those of you who think that no education is useless, your glasses are slightly tinted. For all you know (and it may be true, though I won't divulge) I have a degree in pottery. Some things are useless, and we shall agree to disagree on this point if you chose to tell me I'm wrong without knowing a single thing about me or my former education.
It's understandable to wish you had spent less on college, but there's something wrong with thinking that any additional education is useless.
The poster hasn't said that her additional education was useless. She just has pointed out that it hasn't helped her in nursing school, the same classes apparently, that make up a BSN.
OH, I didn't know that they made BSN's take European History! Sorry if I offended anybody. My undergraduate degree was composed of the usual "well-rounded" course work along with a HEAP of classes for my major that I can promise you will NEVER help me as a nurse. So when I apply for my BSN I may in fact find myself in a similar situation as one of the recent PP's who was close or over. But I doubt it. We shall see in about a year.
I get the sense that many of you think the only Bachelor's degrees are BS or BA. For goodness sake, there's a BURP. I still retain the right to claim that MY degree was useless. It is my degree. My experience.
I agree OP! :) I have a useless Bachelors and a heap of debt to go with it.
I am going to push my children VERY hard to attend CC for a few years if they chose the college route. Especially if I'm paying. hehe
My husband teaches at the CC and University here in the hard sciences. By his account, CC is equal to if not harder than University. He teaches the same classes both places.
I often wonder why ANY degrees are offered at the Bachelor's level, at least useful ones. My additional "well rounded" course work has certainly not helped me in nursing school. Philosophy? European History? Please.
I never said a BSN was useless. I'd love to have one at some point (maybe) but I can't afford it right now.
And for those of you who think that no education is useless, your glasses are slightly tinted. For all you know (and it may be true, though I won't divulge) I have a degree in pottery. Some things are useless, and we shall agree to disagree on this point if you chose to tell me I'm wrong without knowing a single thing about me or my former education.
I didn't say YOU said a BSN is useless, that was someone else, but you did say your bachelors is useless, and that's what got me started. In any case, this tangent has become too convoluted for the worth of it.
OH, I didn't know that they made BSN's take European History!
I don't know if BSN's take European history or not but I know that my BS degree included 'Empirical Studies", and 'Statistics" and oddly enough "Computer Programming", among others and they have all proved very useful in nursing.' Astronomy',' US History' and "The History of French Cuisine", not so much.
I don't feel that any education is worthless. But I can understand that for personal reasons, one might feel that way.
OH, I didn't know that they made BSN's take European History!
I don't know if BSN's take European history or not but I know that my BS degree included 'Empirical Studies", and 'Statistics" and oddly enough "Computer Programming", among others and they have all proved very useful in nursing.' Astronomy',' US History' and "The History of French Cuisine", not so much.
I don't feel that any education is worthless. But I can understand that for personal reasons, one might feel that way.
This.
While I do understand the push for a "well rounded education" and all, truth is: Those days are done. Education is becoming utilitarian in style. No more requiring courses like "History of French Cuisine" and such for people that have no use for it. The only good that comes out of it is that the school gets to collect for such classes.
For me, if you truly want to have a "well rounded education" focus, then put some thought into what is required for what. I completely agree with and understand statistics, computer programming and everything else. And I'm sure there are more classes that would fit nursing degrees better than French Cuisine. Want to really "teach" cultural sensitivity instead of just talk about it........require a certain level of a second language (plenty of need for nurses who know Spanish, Sign or w/e).
I think there is such a thing as "wasted" education. Nor because a certain class or specific field of study has no value, but because they don't have global value. "French Cuisine" for a nurse..........wasted education. Same class for.........a business major wanting to go into owning a restaurant.........not a waste. It just requires some thought being put into it by those who create the curriculum.
Good for you...I don't think people even realize how ignorant they sound when they say this...I had a cousin who would speak about how going to community college was waste of money and guess where her son ended up going...the local community college...the only difference was I went for several years, eventually made it to Howard University, graduated, and now I am pursuing my Nursing degree...her son on the on the other hand failed out of school, barely finished when he was let back in, left her in debt, and he went on to join the military...to make matters more ironic my cousin never finished college herself and always harps on how she would never send her kids to an HBCU (her son wouldn't even qualify )...education is education no matter how you get it...unless they are going to sit in the class and take the tests for you what difference does it make if you go to a university, trade/vocational school...glad you are pursuing a higher learner that is all that matters...the rest is irrelevant
99% of the posts are great and offer a lot to think about. But that 1% seems to contain an elitist attitude that is nothing more than humorous.
I think a thread should be started by doctors who say that nurses need more education than simply a BSN. Or by doctors who say that CRNA's need more than a master's. You would then see most of the nurses, ADN's and BSN's alike saying that the doctor has no place telling them to get more education when they already know how to take care of their patients.
A doctor could say things like, "Learning more can only help you take care of your patients and also enrich your life." Well laddy frickin dah.
So what's my point. Life is usually relative to where we currently are and we often judge those we think are beneath us while not liking the same thing done by those we percieve are above us.
Wrong thing to say honey... 
Sorry if I offended anybody. My undergraduate degree was composed of the usual "well-rounded" course work along with a HEAP of classes for my major that I can promise you will NEVER help me as a nurse. So when I apply for my BSN I may in fact find myself in a similar situation as one of the recent PP's who was close or over. But I doubt it. We shall see in about a year.
Wishinonastar, BSN
1 Article; 1,000 Posts
You are hilarious. But I think that it is sad that you feel you have to "call out" anyone. Moving on again.