Frustrated with RN-BSN classes

[microkate]

I just feel like I'm not learning much. Maybe it's because I already have a B.S. (biology), but I was expecting the classes to be focused on improving practice and going deeper into topics that were skimmed over during the ADN program. I would love an in-depth patho or pharmacology class.

Of the 10 courses we have to take, THREE are dedicated to career development, and they're all 4 credit classes. I simply don't understand the reasoning behind having 12 credits entirely devoted to career development. A few classes have been interesting - health assessment, case management, and genetics nursing. Health assessment was the only one where I really felt that I learned anything substantial. Theoretical foundations has been the worst so far. I'm doing great grade-wise (because I can BS with the best of them), but I honestly want to become better at what I do, and I don't see the program as helping me get there. I've gotten much more useful information by seeking out other reading.

I feel that as you advance, the classes should keep challenging you to work to the next level, and it's just not happening.

[applesxoranges, BSN, RN]

I just compared my ADN program to the BSN program and here are the missing classes:

Medical terminology

Bioethics

Chemistry

2 humanities classes

1 Social Science

2 Diversity Classes (1 Western and 1 Non-Western)

A 2nd BSN school

Organic and General Chemistry

Philosophy

Bioethics

Two THS classes and I am not what those are. I am guessing it stands for. It may be humanities elective

Fluff.

[sallyrnrrt, ADN, RN]

trust me Organic Chemistry was not fluff, well maybe brutal

I am of the opinion that nursing education is pretty lame and very deficient in its math, core science, and clinical science requirements.

I think nursing should be a BS-for-entry but it should provide a rigorous science education.

I also think nursing should stop trying to distance itself from medicine but rather integrate itself as a key component of medicine.

I wonder how much time my RT colleagues spend writing papers about the 'theory' of respiratory care and patients' response to mechanical ventilation.

[adnrnstudent, ASN, RN]

I understand your frustration! The patho/phys classes directed towards information that happens in the body or mind is more helpful. I have an associates in Biology a minor in Psychology, and an associates in Nursing. These courses have to be done to move on, and get a BSN. It sucks, who ever made these rules have a different way of thinking. Right now I have taken 90% of the courses it takes to get a BSN. Last course I took I earned a "D" because of my career, responsibilities, and etc... Now, this is the last time I can re take the class. If I do not pass, I am not coming back to the BSN Program. At least with your theory, and foundation you have the motivation to get these classes over with.[/quote']

You have hit on another issue. These useless papers are graded subjectively. You're 90% done and 1 potentially bad professor can hang you. As I have said on multiple threads, the whole way these degrees are awarded must change.

[elkpark]

I think the other benefit of a BSN is that they can expand the community class more and require them to go to the health department for two days.

(This varies. In my (state uni, B&M) BSN completion program, we did weekly, full day clinicals through the health department all semester (14 or 15 clinical days). We had our own assigned prenatal cases that we visited in the community. It was a great experience. We also did a clinical preceptorship for management/leadership.)

[microkate]

I am of the opinion that nursing education is pretty lame and very deficient in its math, core science, and clinical science requirements.

I think nursing should be a BS-for-entry but it should provide a rigorous science education.

I did find that having a science-heavy background (2 semesters each of gen chem, orgo, and biochem, plus a host of bio/micro classes) really helped everything come together when it came to patho and pharmacology. I was seeing an overall picture, rather than trying to memorize everything.

[applewhitern, BSN, RN]

That is the problem~ different schools require different classes. In mine, I had to take 3 research classes (dry as dust, tons of writing), mainly researching stuff someone else has already researched, several more humanities classes (never know when you will need British literature during your work day as a nurse). Fluff, fluff. Absolutely nothing that helped me in my nursing job. I already had to have chemistry to even get in the ADN program. We did a state mental institution clinical during my ADN program.

[applewhitern, BSN, RN]

Oh, might I add that during my ADN program, we had to work at several different doctor's offices. I remember working at an OB/GYN office, among others. I wonder what traditional BSN students think we did all day!

[elkpark]

That is the problem~ different schools require different classes. In mine, I had to take 3 research classes (dry as dust, tons of writing), mainly researching stuff someone else has already researched, several more humanities classes (never know when you will need British literature during your work day as a nurse). Fluff, fluff. Absolutely nothing that helped me in my nursing job. I already had to have chemistry to even get in the ADN program. We did a state mental institution clinical during my ADN program.

A lot of people here are missing the point. The point of BSN completion programs is not to learn a great deal more about nursing; diploma and ADN already provided the nursing education considered (by TPTB in nursing; people are certainly free to disagree with them, but they make the "rules") to be necessary for RN licensure. Completing a BSN is about some more nursing content that has historically not been covered in diploma and ADN programs (typically, community health, leadership/management, and some introductory research content) plus the additional general education necessary to complete a (any) BS degree. No one is arguing that a course in British literature is directly related to your nursing practice. But it is related to completing a baccalaureate degree.

This (the so-called, much-derided "fluff" courses so many people here complain about) is the difference between trade/vocational training and completing a baccalaureate degree. Trade/vocational training is focused exclusively on the necessary training for the specific trade/occupation you are being prepared for; a baccalaureate degree is about becoming a generally educated person.

If people want to pursue advanced courses in biology, chemistry, any of the hard sciences, there is nothing stopping them from doing so. But it's unrealistic to expect a BSN completion program to focus on additional hard sciences that aren't considered a requirement in other basic nursing programs.

[Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN]

I'm working on my RN-BSN now; I have two semesters left. Geriatric Nursing was VERY useful...I looked forward to that class every week, and learned so much actual applicable information. Assessment class was pretty cool too, although my ADN program had a very in-depth assessment class so this was a lot of review. So far the rest of it (theoretical foundations esp.) has only increased my :poop: skills.

[Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN]

Oh, research class. I did appreciate this one.

I do just wish that for a bachelor of SCIENCE degree in nursing, there would be more nursing science involved. Right now I feel like I'm working on a degree in philosophy.

JMO.

[PMFB-RN, RN]

A lot of people here are missing the point. The point of BSN completion programs is not to learn a great deal more about nursing; diploma and ADN already provided the nursing education considered (by TPTB in nursing; people are certainly free to disagree with them, but they make the "rules") to be necessary for RN licensure. Completing a BSN is about some more nursing content that has historically not been covered in diploma and ADN programs (typically, community health, leadership/management, and some introductory research content) plus the additional general education necessary to complete a (any) BS degree. No one is arguing that a course in British literature is directly related to your nursing practice. But it is related to completing a baccalaureate degree.

sciences that aren't considered a requirement in other basic nursing programs.

I don't buy that. If that were true then an ADN plus bachelors degree in anything else would be equivalent to a BSN. However it's not.

According to the associate dean of the community college ADN program who send students to my hospital for preceptorships more than half of their ADN students already have a bachelors or masters degree in something else prior to starting the ADN program. Many in sciences like biology or chemistry.

I am also skeptical that there is more, or much more, community health, leadership/management and introductory research in average current ADN vs BSN programs, though I know that was true in the past.