Duke vs. Technical School - on the fence

Hi! I'm not carolinapoo but I wanted to respond since my situation was similar to yours.

I have a bachelor's degree (behavioral science/health policy) and have been seriously thinking that the benefits of obtaining a second bachelor's degree at an accelerated program is kinda pointless. And that a community college/technical college two year program would be just as useful since I already have a bachelor's degree.

1.) I've noticed that the accelerated second bachelor's degree programs are RIDICULOSLY expensive! The cheapest one I've found is about $20,000 and that's just for tuition. And many are $30,000 or even more. If I attended a private catholic university in my area I'd have to take out $40,000 in student loans just for the tuition!

2.) Would we be at a disadvantage if we chose a two year technical/community college program? I don't think soooo. As you've mentioned there are master degree nursing programs that accept people who have any kind of bachelor's degree (and the appropriate pre-reqs) and an RN. I've noticed a few master's programs that accept nurses that have an associates degree and a few years experience.

3.) The ongoing debate about who is more proficient with hands on patient care. The RN with community college background or the RN with the BSN who is supposedly more theoretical. ??? Well, well...let me tell you, after having worked as a patient care tech on a med/surg hospital unit I don't see any bit of difference! I've worked with RN's that went to a two year college who didn't know which end of a bedpan went where! And then there are the ones who think they're exempt from even having to touch a bedpan...the RN's with the two year degree. And then there are the BSNs who will actually help the patient get out of bed, assist them to the bathroom, and OMG touch a bedpan and actually perform some wiping.

From what I've noticed it seems that the RNs who were once nurse aides or patient care techs do a great job with the hands on care.

4.) I'm wondering if the notion that only RN's with bachelor's degrees are promoted or qualified for management duties is true. At my hospital there's an RN who graduated from a community college about three years ago and is already filling in or possibly promoted to a night shift supervisor. Although it appears he just recently completed a BSN completion program...I noticed the "BSN" title after his name on the white coat he wears. I've also noticed job descriptions that accept years of experience in lieu of a BSN.

5.) Sometimes the entire costs of attending a community college program are less than the cost of ONE course at a private college that offers the accelerated program. I've been thinking of moving to CA to be closer to my family. Maybe it's not so bad afterall having to be on a waitlist for entrance to one of the community colleges. By the time I'm admitted I'll be eligible for instate tuition at $20.00 a credit hour. I think an associates program is around 62 credit hours, 62 x $20.00 = $1240 wow! And I already have the basic general requirements like math, english, and psych/soc so it would be even less. And the course load would be lighter because of this. Ah...sounds so enticing, hmm.

6.) O.k. I've just talked myself out of an accelerated second bachelor's program. Why the heck would I want to put myself through that kind of stress?? I'm already paying on a substantial amount of student loan debt from my first degree. I'd have to work extra shifts just to pay off all that debt!

7.) Like you I had my eye on anesthesia school. And I believe there are a few universities (Georgetown and Columbia) that actually have direct-entry master's programs, http://snhs.georgetown.edu/academics/direct_admininfo.html

http://www.nursing.columbia.edu/programs/etp.html

Ok, I can imagine taking out hefty student loans if I got into one of those programs. Maybe I'll apply, ya never know.

8.) Ok, back to getting into anesthesia school, the usual way. Have you read through the nurse anesthesia forums on here? Very informative. The programs are very competitive and nurses that are more than qualified often have trouble getting in. And some of them apply to several programs throughout the country without getting in. I worked with a woman who had applied two consecutive years without luck and finally decided on NP school.

9.) Well this is getting to be a novel. One last thing I'd like to mention. After working in direct patient care, bedside nurse aide type duties, I'm BURNED OUT! Hospitals are moving toward the idea of "customer service". It seems they'll do anything or rather have us do anything to satisfy the customer, oops! I mean patient.:chuckle Often times patients get the idea that they're at a luxury resort and are entitled to pampering, gourmet meals, and the like. For me it's nerve wracking to have to attend to the demands of these kinds of patients when I have others that are truly in need of care. My grandmother was a nurse and tells me about the "good old days" when patients showed the nurses a great deal of respect and followed their prescribed treatment. She's really shocked when I tell her about the patients that rip out their I.V.'s because they want to go for a smoke or the patient that knowingly deficates in her bed (no asking for a bed pan) and snaps at you with "Clean me up!" and "You didn't wipe good enough!".

Ugggh! I'm seriously considering pharmacy school. I'm taking the national pharmacy tech exam in a few months and looking forward to seeing what it's like. Then maybe I'll go for a pharm D degree. I guess I'm just fascinated with medications and their effects. Which is probably why anesthesia interests me so much.

Best of luck to you! And try to take it all one step at a time. It sounds like you're overwhelming yourself.:wink2:

Hi,

Thank you very much for your response. It is comforting to see that someone else has gone through the same exact thought process and came to the same conclusion(s) : ) It is very daunting to have those different paths in front of you and decide which one is going to be the most beneficial.

Funny, you mention the bedpan scenario. One of the RN's where I volunteer does not hold BSN's is high regard. In her experience, she told me that they usually do not expect to do the "dirty work" so if they act that way, she makes them change every bedpan on the floor. I filed that tidbit of info away in my head for future reference..... as a new nurse, always gladly clean the bedpan : )

Yes, I do see that nursing has changed quite a bit. They even have started calling patients, "clients". As far as people behaving in certain ways, during my CNA clinical, I had a gentleman who was ambulatory, defecate while I was performing catheter care. He was perfectly capable of getting up and going to the bathroom, but I guess he felt like I could just take care of it. I could not imagine ever doing that myself, but it takes all kinds.

One point my husband brought up is he wondered if there were three candidates up for a job and one went to a tech school, one went to Duke ABSN, and the other UNC BSN, would that play a role? I was told by my mom, who is a nurse, that it does not matter where you get your degree, all that matters is that you have one and you passed your boards. I hope that truly is the case.

I think I will follow the plan of going to a tech school and getting my ADN and then converting it to a BSN online. That way I will get a good education at a fraction of the price. Plus, I truly am in no hurry as I have two kids.

Thanks again for your post. I really enjoyed and appeciated it : )