Does it matter where you got your BSN from?

Published

I'm coming to a junction in the road now where I've almost completed my prereqs at a community college I attend, and need to decide between going to a state college or UC.

A little about me; I'm a 22 year old male living in California and am debating between attending a UC or state college in order to get my BSN. The biggest difference between them for me at the moment is the amount of prereqs the 2 school systems require. It appears to be UC's want more prereqs completed, as well as more advance courses than state colleges do. This would require me to go to my CC for an additional year, as opposed to if I went to a state college.

What do I want for a career goal? I don't know honestly, I picked nursing because I enjoy science a lot, it fascinates me. Nursing seemed like a realistic goal that could be achieved relatively quickly. I enjoy human interactions, but not necessarily in love with the idea of taking care of someone who's in the worst state ever, don't get me wrong, I can do it but I don't think I'll love it. Nursing also seemed like there were MANY MANY different paths I could take once acquired a BSN and gathered some experience.

I defiantly want to try travel nursing once out of college, assuming it's everything its cracked up to be. I eventually would like to see myself in a management position or a teaching position (at a college). I am not afraid to continue my education where necessary in order to achieve my goals.

That's just me in a nutshell, so now I come to ask you with all I have said in mind, does the college make THAT much of a difference in terms of jobs/pay/future advancement? I am aware some careers it can make a difference at the get go, however it tapers off as time goes on.

Should I really just be looking at NCLEX passing rates? The sad part about that is CSUs are mostly 93%+ passing rates, while no UC broke 90% for 2010/2011.

My head is spinning 360 degrees right now; I'm at a point where I feel very lost (our counselors are worthless). Any guidance is appreciated.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

NO.

I never- in 19 years of working as an RN had anybody talk about where they went to school. They graduated, passed boards, end of issue:)

Save your money for a future.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Developmental Disabilites,.

At my hospital, we all talk about our schools. We have lots of students who come in for clinicals and well lets just say that there are some schools that I would not hire a nurse from.

So it all depends on your area.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

"I enjoy human interactions, but not necessarily in love with the idea of taking care of someone who's in the worst state ever, don't get me wrong, I can do it but I don't think I'll love it."

People who don't love it shouldn't be nurses. It's too much intimacy for someone who isn't passionate about providing care, in my humble and probably outnumbered opinion.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
At my hospital, we all talk about our schools. We have lots of students who come in for clinicals and well lets just say that there are some schools that I would not hire a nurse from.

So it all depends on your area.

But that's just your own stereotype about that school based on the students that have come from it. And obviously I wouldn't pick a school that was known for producing incompetent students.

However my real question was would a potential employer see on my resume that I went to UCLA and feel like I was more competent for employment/advancement, as opposed to if I went to CSU Sacramento. While in fact CSUS has higher passing rates for the NCLEX then UCLA does.

EDIT: @ nurseygurlie

I knew someone was going to try and say that. You don't have to LOVE your job to be able to do it competently, but if you plan on staying in the same position for a long time then yes you better love it.

I do not and have NEVER enjoyed doing the same thing for too long, seeing the same walls, the same people. However I do enjoy a challenge, problems, and I do like helping people; probably not enough though to do it all my career. But that's why I picked the medical field, because from what I gathered there are MANY opportunities to change gears and work elsewhere. Even if it requires me doing something I possibly won't love, but not hate, for a little while in order to do something I enjoy, I'll do it.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I advise you to make sure you CAN transfer to a 4-year university. I know Fullerton just stopped accepting transfers due to budget cuts. You either enter as a freshman for your BSN, or you take the RN-BSN track. I would say go with what makes the most sense for you. Is the school close to you? Is it affordable?

Good luck in applying :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in SRNA.

No and no one cares. I work in WA and went to school in NV. I get more questions about gambling when I mention that than I do about the nursing program I completed.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTAC, ICU, ER, Informatics.

In my area, the CC I'm getting my ASN from has a better reputation than a couple of the big name universities' BSN. However, my impression is once you've got experience, it really doesn't matter except to whatever university you apply to for advanced degress.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med/Surg.

It might matter that you end your sentences with a preposition! LOL....

...but seriously - No

at least not unless it's a school with notoriously lousy pass-rates or a school that lost their accreditation for some reason. It would really depend on how nit-pickey the recruiter feels like being that day.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

"I knew someone was going to try and say that. You don't have to LOVE your job to be able to do it competently"

I agree with that. I have no doubt that someone with your focus and planning would be a very competent and clinically skillful nurse.

However, the basis of nursing is caring. It is compassion, communication, and the interactions within a therapeutic relationship are very intimate. If a nurse doesn't love what they do, there is no way to compensate for that within that relationship. The patient can feel it, and I don't think it's fair to them. I've seen how patients respond to people who LOVE nursing care, no matter how bad of shape their patient is in. I've also seen patients who get upset when they can't build that connection with their nurse, or the families who are disappointed that the nurse doesn't seem to have that tenderness or delicacy when dealing with their family member.

I have met plenty of competent and skillful nurses who don't love their jobs. I think that years of nursing can even erode that love. But if you are in the process of considering nursing, and don't get excited about the love and compassion that is such an essential and basic part of it, then in my opinion, you should look at something else in health care. There are so many science based positions that don't require the intimacy that nursing does. Respiratory therapy, physical or occupational therapy, physician's assistant, radiologist, etc. They all develop caring relationships with patients, but on a much less emotionally based level. They still get to teach and spend time with the patient, but they are not responsible for the detailed psychosocial assessment and therapeutic relationship aspect of the patient's care. It's not all giving meds, performing procedures and monitoring labs......

Plenty of competent people that don't love it do it...but they shouldn't.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in CriticalCare.
It might matter that you end your sentences with a preposition! LOL....

...but seriously - No

at least not unless it's a school with notoriously lousy pass-rates or a school that lost their accreditation for some reason. It would really depend on how nit-pickey the recruiter feels like being that day.

good answer.

it *might* matter if you went on to be a CRNA a little bit, and it might matter a little more if you are going to get a doctorate of nursing science, and it *might* matter if you become a research nurse, a little.

otherwise, it is your experience, your credentials (cen, cfrn, ctrn, cpen, ccrn), your references, your presentation, etc

Up Vote Up Vote ×

It will matter most for grad school and if you pursue teaching. As far as employment, unless the school's nursing program has a really bad reputation, a BSN is a BSN as far as most hospitals are concerned.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion