should I leave my BSN program?

HappyNurse2005, RN · Nov 22, 2004

if you are having trouble in school, maybe working while in school might not be the best idea. i would apply to the ADN program (but don't drop what you are in now, in case you dont get accepted into the ADN or there is a waitlist) and just do that and bridge to a BSN program.

good luck!

rose

Ex130Load · Nov 22, 2004

There are different ways to receive an RN license. If a BSN at your private school is important to you, the cheap side of me says to complete any transferable classes (chemistry, psychology, algebra, speech, composition, etc.) at the comm. college. I personally don't perceive any compelling benefits by completing all class work at a private school or for that matter at any four-year institution. Tuition is higher. You ultimately want an RN license, correct? ADN at the comm. college, you are still ultimately going for an RN license.

Among the most important thing to consider for any school is its first time NCLEX pass rate. That's not the end-all to the game though. The first time NCLEX pass rate needs to be set against a school's attrition rate. My class started off day-1 in Foundation and Health Assessment classes with around 112 and graduated 64ish. Most students were lost for academic deficiencies and failed check-offs.

I had a couple of classmates receive LPN licenses after completing their junior year. They made more money than most nursing assistants which could be beneficial. The important thing regarding any job is to have enough time to complete studies. Do you need to work or want to work?

Pathophysiology is one the classes you want to do well in, not necessarily get a great grade in like an A. For nursing and other medical fields, that subject sets the foundation for so much from which you will springboard. Another thought on pathophysiology, can you take it at the comm. college during a summer term and not lose you semester standing?

One person's opinions...

TiffyRN, BSN, PhD · Nov 22, 2004

I don't know what your programs are like in your area. In our area there is little chance you would get right into an ADN program, most have to wait, especially if your grades are not top-notch. That's the advantage of the local BSN programs is that you are almost automatically accepted as long as you keep C or greater in required courses. I wish I had gone that route. I got so many credits in a community college I would have been considered ready for my senior year if I had been in a BSN program (of course they weren't the right kind of courses to transfer )

I like the idea of saving money by doing courses at the local community college. One issue with doing that around this area is that most of those required courses for nursing programs are mostly "weed-out" courses and are EXTREMELY hard to make good grades in. Taking microbiology at the comm. college is way harder than it is at any of the local 4 year schools.

Overall if your schools are like ours I would stick with the BSN program, besides you would have a 4 year degree at the end. Try to talk with recent new nurses in your area about their schooling experiences.

Antikigirl, ASN, RN · Nov 22, 2004

Okay this one got me...go for ADN then LPN..okay that would be a step down (no offence LPN's please) in rank! An ADN is an RN, just the 2 year degree...and plus my wonderful LPN's who work as hard as RN's, do exactly what we do in my facility..are paid nearly half of my rate even though they have been there for over 5-10 years!

Okay with that said, pathophysiology is your foundation..and you need it!!! And with both programs...BSN or ADN...they are fast paced and to not have that under your belt will leave you in the dust frankly (especially ADN from my experience..too fast because you have to cover so much in 2 not 4 years!!!!).

Now, when I went into my ADN, you didn't have to have pathophysiology before entry...that has changed the year I graduated because 3/4ths of the people who failed nursing school were not doing well in it, and got left behind so badly they couldn't recover. They didn't have the foundation that the teachers had to have in place to teach. In fact, my best friend failed nursing school by 0.1% on a midterm because she wasn't getting pathophysiology and despite her studying hard, she didn't have the foundation to make a real educated guess or really think out the answers like those that did. She gave nursing up and will be a CNA and Unit Secretary all her life (she was dismissed with no chance to come back..and she can't afford BSN ). We were heartbroken, but after my stories of woe in nursing...LOL..she feels better..LOL! (no, you can see the little light in her eyes has faded...she was so hopeful, but patho really wasn't her thing...and the teacher she had both times (the only one) wasn't what we say user friendly...so she failed it twice...). NOW it is mandatory to even apply for school, which is I feel the best thing!!!!!!

A wise nursing student told me to take it before nursing school, so I actually delayed one year to get it all in before going to RN school...I AM SO GLAD I DID! That class would have kicked my rear so badly I wouldn't have made it to clinicals or had the brain to keep any RN stuff in there! I also was not working, but chose to stay with my parents till I finished nursing school so I didn't have to work (which thank goodness I had that opportunity...and it wasn't easy, both parents lost their jobs and we stuggled, but me getting my RN was THAT important to all of us..so we did whatever it took so I could focus on that and that alone!).

Good luck with your studies, and no matter what you do, as long as you wish to stick with RN...educate yourself in the mean time by reading some patho books to familarize yourself with the concepts. I had to take what my class gave to me..and basically translate it into something I understood once I went home..that is 4 times the amount of work..but it sooooooooo paid off! I know how I learn so well now, and now it is a piece of cake, and that helped me so much in learning the RN stuff! It is also why most people I know want me to get my BSN and Masters so I can teach!!!!! (ehh naaaa..would love to teach..it is so much fun to teach my way...but I don't have the money or time for the BSN right now...let alone happy enough to get my masters in nursing..LOL! Maybe one day :) ).

Good luck to you, and remember..you are not the only one with difficulty in this area! Ask your teachers about what you should do (we had certain nursing professors that we went to for questions like these..each year a new one that had certain students they oversee and help...check into that!). This is far from a new probelm..they may have advice that will really help you..they really don't want you to leave (I mean lets face it $$$$), so there maybe something more you can do that you may not know about! :)

HarryPotter · Nov 22, 2004

HI, everyone! I'm finishing my first semester in BSN program. The problem is that I had to drop my pathophysiology class since I was not doing very well. That means that I will have to retake it next semester and it puts me a semester behind. My school is private and very expensive. My other optin is that I can go next semester to community college for my ADN and start their program . If I go for ADN I can take an LPN after a year which BSN program doesn't allowed you to take an LPN egzam. So , I can't decide what to do. I want my BSN but working like an LPN does not seem like bad idea to me while I continue my school. Any advices? thank you!
Rasa

Having a BSN will open lots of doors for u. Stick with it.