Frustrated in BSN program

Nursing Students ADN/BSN

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So I am tired of getting treated like an ignorant, useless nurse because I only have an ADN and denied employment everywhere because I'm not a BSN. I get into a BSN program and start taking EXPENSIVE classes, on my own dime, and spending all my free time on these classes. I haven't learned one single thing in the program besides how to do citations for a paper which helps me 0% in my job. I won't get a raise when I have a BSN either. So what is the point? I want to stop taking these classes after this course, but I want a bachelor's if only for my own pride. However, it is costing me so much money (thousands, every class has hundreds in books and fees and then they want you to buy case studies and other crazy things weekly) and all of my free time. I am so stressed doing these busywork assignments (and that's all they are, they don't teach me anything I don't already know and almost none of it is applicable in the real world because there's no time for me to evaluate patient's emotional roadblocks to learning when I barely have time to take their vitals)and I am so tired that at work daily.. and have no time with friends or family. Any advice? Sorry for the rambling but I am too tired to edit.

Specializes in being a Credible Source.

These threads make me chuckle.

If employers are setting a standard, you can either waste your time on the internet whining about it or you can do what many of us have chosen to do... obtain the credentials that they're looking for.

Your opinions (or mine) really don't matter... the only ones that do are the ones held by the folks making the hiring decisions.

Personally, I'd choose the best graduates out of a solid ADN program over the worst out of a BSN program.

On the other hand, I'd choose the best BSN graduates over the best ADN graduates.

As I said, though: My opinion matters not a whit... only those of the people who set the interviewing/hiring criteria... and if they want BSNs, you ignore their opinions at your own peril.

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I'm not sure why it's acceptable (although really it's only acceptable on this forum) to tell people that their bachelor's degrees are "useless, fluff, a waste of time, etc," but it's just APPALLING ...if...after twisting words, putting them under a microscope, and taking them out of context....someone believes that people with associate's degrees were somehow insulted.

Not to mention everyone who got a BSN was LOST when they got onto the floor.

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Specializes in CRNA, Finally retired.
What school is this, btw?
I don' t even come close to believing a school would substitute 60 credits for a four page essay.
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I don' t even come close to believing a school would substitute 60 credits for a four page essay.

They don't. From my previous post:

From the University of Washington website:

If you are admitted to the MN program, additional requirements you MUST meet before starting the program are:

  • successful completion of one of the following:
    • a baccalaureate nursing degree from an accredited university
    • an associate degree or diploma from an accredited RN program, and a baccalaureate degree in a non-nursing field

The fact that you must have a baccalaureate degree in another field is a tiny little detail you didn't mention.

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Specializes in Critical Care.
I don' t even come close to believing a school would substitute 60 credits for a four page essay.

Again, this is what they require to make up for the difference between an ASN and BSN degree, with the remaining electives that are part of any bachelor's degree being separate.

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Specializes in Oncology.

I took A+P 2, And I took pathophysiology. None of my BSN classes teach anything that I already haven't learned or that isn't related to management and leadership. I do like my job but I'd prefer a hospital job, better pay there and it was my original goal. The fact that you are all being so awful to each other and me makes me sad for us all.

I have 6 "nursing" classes with titles like "gerontologic nursing care" (I worked for a year in a nursing home and I learned that material already in my ADN program with "nursing care of the older adult") and "family nursing" (well I took "nursing care of the adult", pediatrics, mother/baby nursing, etc., so why do I need this AGAIN?) classes and 6 other non-nursing classes (nutrition, which was covered in every class I took and statistics, which I will literally never use as a nurse and, and then some humanities.. I took 2 years of French and one of Spanish, and Human growth.. which I already covered in my ADN, then there's junior level writing classes, which don't really make me a better nurse, either, since I took 2 years of composition already) before I get my BSN. None of them have helped me in my work. I am miserable in school but I want a hospital job. My job now is okay but I studied to be a nurse to work in the hospital. Now I'm shut out because I chose to go to an affordable school versus an expensive one. I took the same test as the BSN nurses and can perform all the same skills. It seems like a huge scam to me. Not that I don't respect the BSN nurses, I do want to have my bachelor's degree, but it's expensive and seems to be not very useful. I guess I will take the winter semester off and then go back and finish. I need a break for holidays because they don't take off for Christmas and I will be going out of town and won't be able to do coursework. I really feel like I'm not learning anything in my BSN courses, though.

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Specializes in Critical Care.
Oh...my...G.E.D! (joke)

I think that ADN graduates learn what their program offers and requires. Since most programs do NOT offer nor require a class devoted to pathophysiology, I think ANYONE who hasn't taken a class on pathophysiology can learn something from it. I also think a master chef can learn something by taking a cooking class.

Separating out pathophysiology is an antiquated way of designing Nursing curriculum, now it's typically integrated into Nursing practice classes. The top ranked Nursing program in the country doesn't have a separate pathophysiology class, does that mean their students are lacking in knowledge of pathophysiology?

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Specializes in Critical Care.
Oh...my...G.E.D! (joke)

You said: "I really don't think that "boatload" of extra college credits which mainly involved reading Homer and sailing made any measurable difference in my Nursing skills. If UW saw any significant difference in my Nursing education and that of a ADN then they'd probably want to see those requirements fulfilled, but as it turns out, they don't."

So, yes, the "electives" in a social work degree and BSN can be the same, but those electives that you say "UW doesn't want to see fulfilled" ARE required to apply to the MSN program! The ONLY difference between a person with an ADN and a person with an ADN and a bachelor's in social work are those "45 useless credits," so how can you say they don't care about those?

That's not even a matter of opinion. It's just a simple fact.

These are a base requirement for any bachelor's degree and thus are required. In terms of their Nursing education however, UW does not see ASN graduates as being significantly lacking, if they did what they require to make up the difference would be more substantial

What's with this creepy obsession? Did someone force you to get a BSN?

My creepy obsession is that we have become a profession divided, and not even for decent reason. We should absolutely identify areas for improvement and act on those, but too often our views of ASN programs are based on astounding ignorance.

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"Clinical applications of anatomy and physiology" sure, it's not called "pathophysiology," but there is a significant period of time dedicated to what's basically the same thing.

Muno, do you actually READ what is said, or are you really that intent on saying the same things over and over?

I'm not really believing what you said in your other thread about "unnecessarily stoking the adn vs bsn debate" because it's quite obvious that's exactly what you intended to do and you're obsessed with the topic.

You say that the "top ranked program in the country" will accept a "4 page homework assignment" and considers it the same as a BSN, but forget to mention that they also REQUIRE a bachelor's degree.

Then, you say the "top ranked program in the country" doesn't have a pathophysiology class, but fail to mention that they have a class called "Clinical applications of anatomy and physiology" which IS pathophysiology!

Again, did someone force you to get a BSN?

Again, did you ever give any advice to the OP?

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Look into University of texas at Arlington's Rn to BSN program online or UTA. Their program is much less expensive. I am in my second class and seems pretty good. Just like any other program papers and discussion board, BUT it is less expensive. Just a thought. I was determined that I would not pursue a BSN since I already have a previous Bachelors in Business, but I don't want to get shut out of jobs seeing as though I need to work a good many more years. Hang in there!

Rosemrn

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Wow, while I am sure the Job Climate and Salary is different here in the Southeastern US, you would be hard pressed to find a hospital unit with more than one BSN/MSN. Of my first 5 years, I spent the majority of my time as Charge Nurse, then when I obtained my BSN two years later, My boss still was an ADN.

Now that I have my MSN FNP, I still work in Acute Care (when pulled from ED working contract as a Staff Nurse) to units where the Unit Manager, Charge Nurse, and most colleagues are ADN-RNs or LPN-LVNs. It's just a non-issue here. The BSN is actually thought of as a bridge to MSN as the pay, as you mentioned, is rarely affected(when it is usually $0.50/hr+).

I can speak for travel experience in NC, SC, GA, FL, TN, TX, AL, LA, KY, MS, OK, VA, and D.C.

When I worked NY, FL, and CA I never got pulled to floor, but there were ample ADNs in Triage, Trauma, ED, and Fast Tracks. Management here did usually have advanced degrees, and found it funny I "staff nursed" with mine- as they obtained their's to enter management and administrative positions.

Living in the Southeast, and NOT getting those job interviews at the hospital. They ARE requesting BSN's, not ADN's 'round these parts!

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Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.
I don' t even come close to believing a school would substitute 60 credits for a four page essay.

*** Nobody made that claim. The claim was that the paper could be substituted for a BSN and that is true as we have seen here. Substuting 60 credits is just something you made up yet you say it as if you are talking about something said previously in the discussion.

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