I have an ADN and am currently working as a Labor and Delivery nurse, which is a job I love. I've worked in a few different fields (telemetry, CCU, dialysis). I've been a nurse since 1998 and love nursing. I have all the the prereqs (chemistry, stats, and so on) completed. Now it's time to go one day a week for three semesters and finish it....it's going to take a lot of paper writing, studying, money ($5,000) and time The school is about 1 1/2 hours from home- My problem: I just am not excited about it at all...I'm not looking forward to finishing this degree. The thought of dedicating a year of my life to doing this depresses me. I don't plan on going any further with education after the BSN - so what's the point...I'll be 40 this year and kind of want to start enjoying my life - I want to take a photography class and a spanish class - I want to start running again. I work full time and in my free time I don't want to listen to hours of lectures on nursing research and data management, professional nursing, advanced comprehensive assessment...(some of the first semester classes.) It's not that I don't think I can do it...I, like many nurses, have high standards for myself when I do take a course and have not made anything below an A in any course...including stats, chemistry, and so on. I just don't know if I want to do it...My question is...is a BSN needed for anything other then furthering your education, for example to MSN, and being able to say, "I have a college degree." Please don't take this the wrong way...I do respect education and how much effort and work it takes...I just don't know if it's for me...
I am looking for opinions and I appreciate the time you took to reply. Even if the shortage got better, which I don't see happening any time soon, it would only mean the nurses with BSN degrees would be the ones moving into management..perhaps...All my nurse managers have all been ADNs....I work in an area where there are just a lot more ADNs then BSNs.....
Yes, same here as far as there being more ADN's. BSN's don't benefit if they choose to remain staff nurses. Your heart may change, but for now I don't see why you'd put yourself though something that has little benefit to you and will probably make you miserable. Maybe in 10 years you'll be more into it, but why swim against the current just for the sake of getting it?
Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
My current nursing instructor is a 62-year-old woman with a M.S.N. She had polio when she was 4 years old, but recovered from it without any disabilities and lived a full life. She became a diploma nurse at age 21.
A few years ago she realized she had to return to school, as her 3-year diploma education was, by her own admission, old-fashioned (she got the diploma 41 years ago). She earned a master's degree, and it ended up being very useful today.
She became sick with a condition called post-polio last year. She is now wheelchair-bound and can no longer work as a critical care nurse. However, her advanced degree enabled her to obtain a teaching position and allowed her to adapt to her disability. You never know what will occur in life. My instructor dearly loved bedside nursing, but disabilities got in the way. Her M.S.N. has opened the doors to opportunities away from the bedside, as she can no longer do bedside nursing.
How about this? Should nursing value a nurse with a BSN more than say a nurse with an ADN and a BS in another field? If the rationale for a BSN is it makes the nurse a more well-rounded thinker, then isn't the BS in another field just as worthy? What really makes one a better nurse? Years in the classroom or years at the bedside?
Pete Fitzpatrick
RN, CCRN, CFRN, EMT-P
(see I can't get a BSN - there's no more room on my badge!)
How about this? Should nursing value a nurse with a BSN more than say a nurse with an ADN and a BS in another field? If the rationale for a BSN is it makes the nurse a more well-rounded thinker, then isn't the BS in another field just as worthy? What really makes one a better nurse? Years in the classroom or years at the bedside?
Pete Fitzpatrick
RN, CCRN, CFRN, EMT-P
(see I can't get a BSN - there's no more room on my badge!)
Pete, many many long threads have debated these issues and there are several opinions on both sides, with each side sometimes getting touchy and defensive.
Experience is a great teacher in nursing regardless of the degree, imo.
I'm in the same boat with you, as far as age and future ambitions. I also believe that education never goes to waste. Its nice to know that I will have more options if I choose to change direction.
I'm in the same boat with you, as far as age and future ambitions. I also believe that education never goes to waste. Its nice to know that I will have more options if I choose to change direction.
Happy Birthday!
GM
I agree! I usually don't participate in these ADN/BSN debates but I do agree, no education is ever wasted (no matter what it is)!! To the OP-my take on the situation is...if you don't want to take the course and the thought depresses you then dont! I mean you are a nurse regardless of those letters after your name! If you want to learn spanish and photography id go for it! If you feel differently in a few years the RN-BSN program isn't going anywhere! Although, I do agree with some of the posters that it does open up more doors for you, so something to think about as well! Sometimes it's easier to do things when we have a specific goal in mind, i.e.-if you had a specific job in mind, one which you will need a BSN, then sometimes it is more motivating to go to school! Good Luck! :wink2: :wink2:
I agree! I usually don't participate in these ADN/BSN debates but I do agree, no education is ever wasted (no matter what it is)!! To the OP-my take on the situation is...if you don't want to take the course and the thought depresses you then dont! I mean you are a nurse regardless of those letters after your name! If you want to learn spanish and photography id go for it! If you feel differently in a few years the RN-BSN program isn't going anywhere! Although, I do agree with some of the posters that it does open up more doors for you, so something to think about as well! Sometimes it's easier to do things when we have a specific goal in mind, i.e.-if you had a specific job in mind, one which you will need a BSN, then sometimes it is more motivating to go to school! Good Luck! :wink2: :wink2:
Specializes in PICU, Nurse Educator, Clinical Research.
I have an ADN and am currently working as a Labor and Delivery nurse, which is a job I love. I've worked in a few different fields (telemetry, CCU, dialysis). I've been a nurse since 1998 and love nursing. I have all the the prereqs (chemistry, stats, and so on) completed. Now it's time to go one day a week for three semesters and finish it....it's going to take a lot of paper writing, studying, money ($5,000) and time The school is about 1 1/2 hours from home- My problem: I just am not excited about it at all...I'm not looking forward to finishing this degree. The thought of dedicating a year of my life to doing this depresses me. I don't plan on going any further with education after the BSN - so what's the point...I'll be 40 this year and kind of want to start enjoying my life - I want to take a photography class and a spanish class - I want to start running again. I work full time and in my free time I don't want to listen to hours of lectures on nursing research and data management, professional nursing, advanced comprehensive assessment...(some of the first semester classes.) It's not that I don't think I can do it...I, like many nurses, have high standards for myself when I do take a course and have not made anything below an A in any course...including stats, chemistry, and so on. I just don't know if I want to do it...My question is...is a BSN needed for anything other then furthering your education, for example to MSN, and being able to say, "I have a college degree." Please don't take this the wrong way...I do respect education and how much effort and work it takes...I just don't know if it's for me...
I'm a brand-new ADN grad...haven't started my RN job yet, but I do have an opinion about the school commute- I had a 100-mile round-trip commute to school for 3 years to get this ADN (program plus prerequisites). Put 24,000 miles on my car, and spent *three entire weeks* sitting in that car. If I go back to school, it'll be in an RN-MSN bridge program, and it *won't* be such a monster of a commute.
After spending all the time driving to and fro, I realize that the *only* reason I was able to get through it was the benefit of the degree (you *do* have a college degree, incidentally...don't shortchange yourself!). In my area, a BSN gets you almost nothing that an ADN won't- like another poster said, ADN's are in management, etc. You can't teach at the college level, and I think CRNA programs require the BSN for entry (no ADN-MSN bridge). I couldn't envision spending the time, money, and mental energy on getting a BSN if it didn't benefit me in some way.
If I were you, I'd do what makes you happy. It's your life, and you're the one who has to live it!
If it depresses you why on earth are you going to do it? To be honest, I'm having a hard time staying enthusiastic enough to finish the ADN program I'm in, and the only reason I am sticking with it is because it is almost over. I certainly won't be back for more (BSN). I would figure you would know as well as anyone that BSN doesn't guarantee you a desireable position. Around here if you are an RN it doesn't matter whether you are an ASN from Excelsior or a BSN graduate from Vanderbilt, you will find someone who wants your labor.
I agree with the previous posters. God knows you're not doing it for the money, right? Where I work we only get $.50 more for having a BSN. If your plans are to stay where you are in your career, who cares whether you're a BSN or an RN? The bottom line is you are a NURSE and are fully qualified to do what you need and want to do. I too would go with the languages and photography
I have an ADN and am currently working as a Labor and Delivery nurse, which is a job I love. I've worked in a few different fields (telemetry, CCU, dialysis). I've been a nurse since 1998 and love nursing. I have all the the prereqs (chemistry, stats, and so on) completed. Now it's time to go one day a week for three semesters and finish it....it's going to take a lot of paper writing, studying, money ($5,000) and time The school is about 1 1/2 hours from home- My problem: I just am not excited about it at all...I'm not looking forward to finishing this degree. The thought of dedicating a year of my life to doing this depresses me. I don't plan on going any further with education after the BSN - so what's the point...I'll be 40 this year and kind of want to start enjoying my life - I want to take a photography class and a spanish class - I want to start running again. I work full time and in my free time I don't want to listen to hours of lectures on nursing research and data management, professional nursing, advanced comprehensive assessment...(some of the first semester classes.) It's not that I don't think I can do it...I, like many nurses, have high standards for myself when I do take a course and have not made anything below an A in any course...including stats, chemistry, and so on. I just don't know if I want to do it...My question is...is a BSN needed for anything other then furthering your education, for example to MSN, and being able to say, "I have a college degree." Please don't take this the wrong way...I do respect education and how much effort and work it takes...I just don't know if it's for me...
How about if you took your Spanish and photography now and if at a later date you feel inclined to go back your employer will cover some of the expense then. Around here knowing spanish is a big plus for a nurse. I am new and am just a landscape designer who is starting prenursing classes May 23rd. I believe it is the only profession with so many options, endless possibilities and the ability to change your job without changing your career. Also the three 12 night shift will work great with our family.
How about if you took your Spanish and photography now and if at a later date you feel inclined to go back your employer will cover some of the expense then. Around here knowing spanish is a big plus for a nurse. I am new and am just a landscape designer who is starting prenursing classes May 23rd. I believe it is the only profession with so many options, endless possibilities and the ability to change your job without changing your career. Also the three 12 night shift will work great with our family.
same here! I love the idea of 3 12 hour shifts!:) oh and the endless possibilities too! :rotfl:
sbic56, BSN, RN
1,437 Posts
Yes, same here as far as there being more ADN's. BSN's don't benefit if they choose to remain staff nurses. Your heart may change, but for now I don't see why you'd put yourself though something that has little benefit to you and will probably make you miserable. Maybe in 10 years you'll be more into it, but why swim against the current just for the sake of getting it?