I know this an old beast but if I cannot vent and speak my mind freely here (within reason); where else can I?
I am quite annoyed; I have several friends who are in a BSN program and it's evident that their course load is extremely light; it's evident that they are babied and quite frankly... it ANNOYS ME.
I was flat out told by professors that they are here to break us down and build us back up. In fact, one professor told me in private that they strive to make exams are ridiculously hard as possible.
In my theory class we had (at one point of time) the class average was a 50%. It's not because we're not studying; I see how we study... we studied hard... it's THOSE exams.
Then after I find out I get ALL C's ... my friend in (BSN) student tells me how she got 2 B's and an A thanks to receiving (wait for it)... bonus points... (HOLD UP... bonus points? what is this... grammar school?)
We get no bonus points, we get NO rounding of grades. My other BSN friend was surprised to hear that professors don't round. (Seriously? Your professors round? this is a professional school; there's NO rounding).
She was also surprised to here we do 2 care plans the night BEFORE ... they do ONE care plan ... and get an entire WEEK.
The part that truly infuriates me is that she says that her classmates truly believe that ADN's are the equivalent of a CNA.
Don't get me wrong; nothing wrong with being a CNA... it just makes me angry because I've spent nights studying (sleepless nights). I've gone to clinical with 1 - 2 hours of sleep.
BOTH are in 3rd semester and have already taken Medsurg 1 & 2 and pharm... and do NOT know the relationship between Mannitol and HF (why it's Contraindicated) ... okay, I guess I can't knock them for not possessing recall knowledge but for the love of the Big Guy, I don't think it's rocket science.
They can talk to me about theories and Florence nightingale but not how the physician will most likely fix Dig Toxicity and what their nursing responsibilities would be.
They can tell me about Barton but not about WHY we check potassium before administering insulin to our DKA patients.
and THEY are preferred to be hired rather than me?
Well FINE... have at it...
when I graduate and am refused a job (I WILL be working on my BSN prereqs) because I don't already have a BSN ... you will lose someone who will:
NOT be scared to get down and dirty
NOT be scared to defend my patients health
GLADLY learn new thing (otherwise I wouldn't bridge to BSN)
GLADLY do the "lowly" task
GLADLY perform the complicated procedures AFTER I understand the rationale and pathophysiology behind my interventions.
Just to add some wood to the fire; my clinical buddy was doing clinical and she floated to another floor b/c her original floor had too many new grads who were shadowing...
she floated to a floor with students from a BSN program and ALL they did was sit, chat, chew gum, and TEXT...
We get sent HOME for having our phone. We get sent home for having a speck of mud on our shoes.
I'm not sure what exactly the studies say about BSN prepared nurses but I think it's malarkey.
I'm sure it can help with management but honestly; you're going to say my hard work has earned me a CNA position?
