I just graduated from a very tough ADN program, and the instructors, even at the pinning, were telling us how we need to advance our education. Hogwash!
Surely, I will get nationally certified (CCRN, RNC or something). Surely, I will do continuing education and read nursing magazines and books (I do that now). But I will never go back to school. Not for a BSN, not ever. I have a B.Sc. in Liberal Arts where I specialized in psychology and sociology. In addition, I also took loads of literature and English classes. I think that degree and my ADN make me a very educated person. I will not jump though another educational hoop because academians think I should.
In fact, I've already been hired, and I haven't even passed NCLEX yet--at the hospital and floor that is my very first choice no less! (an ICU step-down cardiology floor at a large county hospital). No one can tell me I need a BSN. What I need is to be a staff nurse until I'm 70. I need to write books about monistic nursing, and I need to learn to paint dog portraits and seascapes really well, so I can supplement my social security income when I leave nursing. But a BSN? Homey don't play that.
Specializes in Gen Surg, Peds, family med, geriatrics.
No one can tell me I need a BSN. What I need is to be a staff nurse until I'm 70. I need to write books about monistic nursing, and I need to learn to paint dog portraits and seascapes really well, so I can supplement my social security income when I leave nursing. But a BSN? Homey don't play that.
The Monist
Well, if you were graduating here in Ontario you would most definately need your BSN to be a nurse. As of (officially) next year all new grad nurses need to have a minimum of a BSN to be able to write their RN exams. (diploma courses are no longer being offered) Having a degree, like any other profession, does indeed open up doors for you. And it's highly conceivable that within the next XXX years the diploma RN may indeed go the way of the dodo.
What I have been told time and time again is that if I do plan to say in nursing more than 10 years, then degrees are the way to go. Is it necessary? Not really. But is it smart? I think so.
With all that said, I have been a nurse for 19 years, am a diploma RN and although I've toyed with the idea on occasion, I have no plans to go back to school for any degree in nursing. My plan is to retire from nursing by the time I'm 45...4 years away...and pursue other interests.
Never say never tho. You're just out of school. Give yourself time to gain experience and figure out where exactly you want to take your career. Who knows, you may end up changing your mind.
Congrats on graduating. I'm hoping you're just blowing off steam! Believe me, sweetie - it is one very rare person who can do staff nursing until they are 70!!! Options come to those with a degree. Good luck and have fun!
I hear what you are saying. I can't predict my future health. But I run at least 4 times a week, I keep my weight down. I take an ASA, MVI, etc. daily. I've seen really sick and weak people in their 60s. But I've also seen nurses working in nursing homes who were >70. ...God willing and the creek don't rise...
As for options, what options? I've looked at all things that people with higher degrees do (teach, manage, consult as lawyers, etc) and I hate all of that. All I've ever wanted to do is staff nursing, and maybe some precepting. That's it. I have no other reason for being a nurse. If one day they desperately need me to be a manager (I'm not holding my breath, mind you) then they're going to have to accept my B.Sc. in Liberal Arts.
I know how you feel. The dean of our nursing program came in a few months ago and stressed that she didn't want us to get ONLY our ADN and not ONLY our BSN, but she wanted each and every one of us to go on to get our masters. Bull pucky! If we all got our masters who would be bedside nurses? I am going to nursing school to be a bedside nurse, not for money or prestige, or the highest degree. Although I probably will finish with a BSN, however, I have no desire what so ever to get a masters.
If a person doesn't have a bachelor's degree; I say get one. I learned a lot in college. But I'm not going to get two! By the way, I applaud your attitude re: bedside nursing.
Your feelings will change I'm sure... I graduated in December and I just registered for classes for my BSN.... I know I don't want to do bedside nursing forever, I'm considering getting into CaseManagement, so I need a BSN.. The thought about going back to school isn't fun.. But MOST BSN programs can be done ONline, which makes it easy..
You know the old saying- Never say Never- you may have to eat those words!! I said the same when I finished my ADN since it was my second associate degree but I have had to eat those words multiple times, went back for BSN, went back for MS (anesthesia), and went back for Doctor of Nursing Science-DNSc. But I am not saying I'm done this time (even though I think I am!) :rotfl:
Some people get great satisfaction out of the status that formal education provides. I say, when will we stop being students and start using what we learned to do what we came here to do? Imagine a person joins the military and stays in tech school for 30 years and then retires from the military--what's the point in joining the military?
Now that you're a Dr. Nurse, what great things will you do?
I can relate to you Monist. I'm a prenursing student, only half-way done, and I am already feeling the beginnings of student burn-out. I can only imagine how burned out you are. You deserve the much needed break and paint, recenter yourself before you lose yourself. I have a feeling I'm going to be feeling and saying the samething you did. However I will take everyone elses advise and not say "never" so I don't jinx myself.LOL
I too said NEVER right after graduating, from LVN school no less. Exactly one year to the date of graduation I went from a total aversion to the idea of school to a major itch to start back. One of the nurses I work with said it is much like childbirth. It takes awhile, but then you forget how painful it was and do it all over again! Congratulations on graduating!
If I never had a degree other than my ADN, I'd agree with you. But I do. So, I have to fight against the futility of earning another BS degree, albeit in nursing. I also have to fight against the knowledge that all the doors that open to me with a BSN are doors I don't want to walk through. Imagine the glory of being 70 years old, fit, and still taking a patient load. Imagine how much respect you'd get, especially if you keep progressing in knowledge and skill. I should be so lucky.
We have a leader in our Nursing program (I guess it's not actually mine anymore is it?). Her claim to fame is that she only has an ADN. Her BS is in something else, her MS is in something other than nursing and her PhD is in Adult Education.
Congratulations!! As far as your attitude not taking you anywhere as someone else posted..hogwash!! Look where it has brought you this far!! You are about to embark on the great adventure of being a nurse. Bedside or any other job description we are all needed and necessary!! You can do great things with the degree you just received...I was at the bedside for several years but now do case management...I am autonomous, work from home and make a very good living..not too shabby for an ADN...you already have more doors waiting to open than you realize..just have to know where to find the key. Be the best you can be, join organizations, meet as many people in the healthcare industry as you can and you will go far. Again, congrats and welcome to nursing!
Well, if you were graduating here in Ontario you would most definately need your BSN to be a nurse. As of (officially) next year all new grad nurses need to have a minimum of a BSN to be able to write their RN exams. (diploma courses are no longer being offered) Having a degree, like any other profession, does indeed open up doors for you. And it's highly conceivable that within the next XXX years the diploma RN may indeed go the way of the dodo.
What I have been told time and time again is that if I do plan to say in nursing more than 10 years, then degrees are the way to go. Is it necessary? Not really. But is it smart? I think so.
With all that said, I have been a nurse for 19 years, am a diploma RN and although I've toyed with the idea on occasion, I have no plans to go back to school for any degree in nursing. My plan is to retire from nursing by the time I'm 45...4 years away...and pursue other interests.
Never say never tho. You're just out of school. Give yourself time to gain experience and figure out where exactly you want to take your career. Who knows, you may end up changing your mind.
Congratulations on your Graduation! :)
If they ever make a BSN the entry level for nursing, it won't affect me, just like it doesn't affect you having a diploma right now.
You say you're going to leave nursing. If it's for health reasons, I understand, but otherwise, what will you ever do that matters as much as helping those who are too sick to help themselves? But maybe it's like a marriage: if it can end in divorce, perhaps it should. Educate me.
laurasc
306 Posts
Well, if you were graduating here in Ontario you would most definately need your BSN to be a nurse. As of (officially) next year all new grad nurses need to have a minimum of a BSN to be able to write their RN exams. (diploma courses are no longer being offered) Having a degree, like any other profession, does indeed open up doors for you. And it's highly conceivable that within the next XXX years the diploma RN may indeed go the way of the dodo.
What I have been told time and time again is that if I do plan to say in nursing more than 10 years, then degrees are the way to go. Is it necessary? Not really. But is it smart? I think so.
With all that said, I have been a nurse for 19 years, am a diploma RN and although I've toyed with the idea on occasion, I have no plans to go back to school for any degree in nursing. My plan is to retire from nursing by the time I'm 45...4 years away...and pursue other interests.
Never say never tho. You're just out of school. Give yourself time to gain experience and figure out where exactly you want to take your career. Who knows, you may end up changing your mind.
Congratulations on your Graduation! :)