I am an ADN who has gone back to school to earn my BSN. If you have the opportunity to go to a 4 year school, I would do that. You are young and the world is at your feet. Grab ahold and take off. I think when you look back, you will be glad you decided on the 4 year school. I wish I had taken that road but hind sight is 20/20.
I don't know why we all can't get along. Nursing is famous for "eating their young", stabbing each other in the back, and never banded together. You see firefighters and police officers working together and supporting each other. If a firefighter gets hurt, his co-workers rally together to help. The same thing goes for police officers. What happens when a nurse gets hurt? NOTHING!!!
I understand the nursing shortage all too well. I work short everyday. My original post was related to whether the entry level education for an RN should be a BSN?
I believe some have gotten off the track. This isn't about patient care, it isn't about whether you are an ADN or a diploma nurse, this isn't about whose a better nurse, it's about raising the standard for nurses. It's about wanting the best for our profession. It's about having our voice heard and receiving the respect we deserve.
I work in an emergency room that sees approximately 45,000 patients a year. We are VERY superstitious.
We NEVER say the Q word, Everything DOES happen in 3's, NEVER mention a frequent flier's name because they WILL show up, if someone isn't doing well you put the crash cart outside the door to ward off evil spirits. And yes there is something to be said about a FULL MOON.
I work in an emergency room that sees approximately 45,000 patients a year. We also have a sort of outpatient psych unit attached to the hospital. There have been isolated incidents of violence in the ED. Mostly they are drunk or emotionally disturbed patients. Our security department is very good and is quite helpful with these patients. If the nurse feels threatened or if the patient is verbally abusive, he/she can call a security watch on that patient.
There have been many verbal threats of violence from these patients but no one has actually carried out those threats. Not yet anyways. The problem with that is that we as nurses have become complacent with the fact that nothing has ever happened. Who knows when one day one of them will follow through.
We are required as part of our yearly competencies to attend a "ninja" class. This class originally was called BMT - behavioral modification technique class. They have since renamed it but it remains the same. It is a full day class with lecture about violent patients and then hands on techniques to subdue the patient. The problem with this is that I as a nurse don't necessarily feel I am qualified to "bring someone down" who happens to be having a violent outburst. Although the thought pattern here is to diffuse the situation before it becomes an issue where the patient must be subdued.
I believe that the general public is aware of nurses but not what nurses actually do. People know we exist and that we are there to help but they become acutely aware of our knowledge and skills when they or their family member needs us.
Many people have a "hand-maiden" impression of nurses. This can only be disspelled by education of the public. We as nurses need to band together and educate the public as to the education nurses have and what nursing is all about. Nursing is about more than just bedpans, shots, and getting people undressed.
Nurses have historically stood by and allowed the general public to view them as nothing more than servants to doctors. Let's CHANGE that image!
Yes I honestly believe that by increasing the education requirements respect will follow. Do you think that the general public knows the requiements for other professions such as pharmacists, engineers, architects, and CEO's? The general public has a general idea of the what the requirements for a doctor are because the doctors have allowed that information to be public knowledge. Nurses have not done that. Nurses have not banded together and demanded respect from the general public. The general public doesn't take us seriuosly because nurses don't take themselves seriously.
I agree with essarge that the lNurse Practice Act needs to reflect educational standards and the licensing of nurses should be national as opposed to state regulated.
We as nurses need to join together and be one voice.
I agree with you Nilepoc I probably have opened a can of worms but I believe it is something we as nurses need to look at. If we want to be recognized as a "profession" and not just a "job", we need to follow the ways of other health care professionals and require a minimum standard.
I'm sorry that KellyandtheBoys thought earning a BSN was a waste of time and money. Earning your BSN is not really about patient care it's about advanced/critical thinking, management, and theory. You learned everything you needed to know about patient care in the ADN/Diploma programs. The BSN program is designed to further your education and get you to think. I also agree with you that there are many ADN/Diploma nurses who are excellent.
I know we are in the midst of a nursing shortage but do we want to sacrifice education for bodies?
I went back to school to earn my BSN. We have recently been talking about the future of nursing and where we are headed as a profession. One of the topics that was discussed was BSN prepared nurses vs. ADN prepared nurses.
A question for you is should all registered nurses be BSN prepared?
I'm an RN in Upstate New York.
I am an ADN who has gone back to school to earn my BSN. If you have the opportunity to go to a 4 year school, I would do that. You are young and the world is at your feet. Grab ahold and take off. I think when you look back, you will be glad you decided on the 4 year school. I wish I had taken that road but hind sight is 20/20.
Good luck to you!
I don't know why we all can't get along. Nursing is famous for "eating their young", stabbing each other in the back, and never banded together. You see firefighters and police officers working together and supporting each other. If a firefighter gets hurt, his co-workers rally together to help. The same thing goes for police officers. What happens when a nurse gets hurt? NOTHING!!!
I understand the nursing shortage all too well. I work short everyday. My original post was related to whether the entry level education for an RN should be a BSN?
I believe some have gotten off the track. This isn't about patient care, it isn't about whether you are an ADN or a diploma nurse, this isn't about whose a better nurse, it's about raising the standard for nurses. It's about wanting the best for our profession. It's about having our voice heard and receiving the respect we deserve.
I work in an emergency room that sees approximately 45,000 patients a year. We are VERY superstitious.
We NEVER say the Q word, Everything DOES happen in 3's, NEVER mention a frequent flier's name because they WILL show up, if someone isn't doing well you put the crash cart outside the door to ward off evil spirits. And yes there is something to be said about a FULL MOON.
I work in an emergency room that sees approximately 45,000 patients a year. We also have a sort of outpatient psych unit attached to the hospital. There have been isolated incidents of violence in the ED. Mostly they are drunk or emotionally disturbed patients. Our security department is very good and is quite helpful with these patients. If the nurse feels threatened or if the patient is verbally abusive, he/she can call a security watch on that patient.
There have been many verbal threats of violence from these patients but no one has actually carried out those threats. Not yet anyways. The problem with that is that we as nurses have become complacent with the fact that nothing has ever happened. Who knows when one day one of them will follow through.
We are required as part of our yearly competencies to attend a "ninja" class. This class originally was called BMT - behavioral modification technique class. They have since renamed it but it remains the same. It is a full day class with lecture about violent patients and then hands on techniques to subdue the patient. The problem with this is that I as a nurse don't necessarily feel I am qualified to "bring someone down" who happens to be having a violent outburst. Although the thought pattern here is to diffuse the situation before it becomes an issue where the patient must be subdued.
I believe that the general public is aware of nurses but not what nurses actually do. People know we exist and that we are there to help but they become acutely aware of our knowledge and skills when they or their family member needs us.
Many people have a "hand-maiden" impression of nurses. This can only be disspelled by education of the public. We as nurses need to band together and educate the public as to the education nurses have and what nursing is all about. Nursing is about more than just bedpans, shots, and getting people undressed.
Nurses have historically stood by and allowed the general public to view them as nothing more than servants to doctors. Let's CHANGE that image!
Yes I honestly believe that by increasing the education requirements respect will follow. Do you think that the general public knows the requiements for other professions such as pharmacists, engineers, architects, and CEO's? The general public has a general idea of the what the requirements for a doctor are because the doctors have allowed that information to be public knowledge. Nurses have not done that. Nurses have not banded together and demanded respect from the general public. The general public doesn't take us seriuosly because nurses don't take themselves seriously.
I agree with essarge that the lNurse Practice Act needs to reflect educational standards and the licensing of nurses should be national as opposed to state regulated.
We as nurses need to join together and be one voice.
I agree with you Nilepoc I probably have opened a can of worms but I believe it is something we as nurses need to look at. If we want to be recognized as a "profession" and not just a "job", we need to follow the ways of other health care professionals and require a minimum standard.
I'm sorry that KellyandtheBoys thought earning a BSN was a waste of time and money. Earning your BSN is not really about patient care it's about advanced/critical thinking, management, and theory. You learned everything you needed to know about patient care in the ADN/Diploma programs. The BSN program is designed to further your education and get you to think. I also agree with you that there are many ADN/Diploma nurses who are excellent.
I know we are in the midst of a nursing shortage but do we want to sacrifice education for bodies?
I went back to school to earn my BSN. We have recently been talking about the future of nursing and where we are headed as a profession. One of the topics that was discussed was BSN prepared nurses vs. ADN prepared nurses.
A question for you is should all registered nurses be BSN prepared?
Please let me know what you think.
Thanks.