As I read the various posts- the same theme seems to keep popping up over and over again...
BScN vs. ADN vs. LPN etc etc....
Lets all face it- education does matter- title means something... it does not make us better people- but in the world of nursing- it does mean something. It means you took 4, 3 or 2 years or maybe less.. to study, learn, make sacrifices... To my way of thinking, the more education you can get- the better... the world of nursing is a fast paced place..full of change. We must keep up with these changes.
I understand not everyone can go back to school- but if you can...do it. It gives you choices. I became a RPN- (LVN) in 1985. And always wanted to be a RN. I kidded myself at times, thinking I was almost LIKE A RN. But I was not a RN. I went back for three years- and found out the hard way how much I did not know. Education is worth it.
Now, opportunites and choices are everywhere. I love it.
Who cares how much education that you have or think that you have to have x number years of education to help properly treat patients. There is a shortage out there folks and it isn't going to go away anytime soon. We need all the nurses that we can get to help our patients. Yes, that is who we work for is our patients. As long as I know the nurses that are working next to me are competent in their abilities and skills that is all I need to know. I am busy enough trying to keep on top of my 6 patients that are unstable enough that they should be in CCU. But guess what CCU is capped due to shortage of nurses. I guess my point is instead of repeating these threads of I am better than you because I went to school for x number of years, always seems to increase the animosity among nurses. If you want to go back and get more education that is fine, that is your choice. But remember we are all nurses. LPN, ADN, BSN, PhD, even CNA if you are out there in the trenches you value that you have someone there with a license. This person makes your job easier. Treat them with respect as you would want them to treat you.
Does it matter to you if your DOCTOR decided to become a SURGEON ...... but as long as he was "competent..and lets face it there IS a shortage of doctors".....get real.
I care, who is doing what, with what kind of education and how they are doing it.
It may bug you.....or others........but that is reality folks. Deal with it. A cna is NOT a RN. Bottom line. There is a world of difference and people who don't know or don't care to face it are living in a dream world. JMP
Hi. This is how I see it. I think it is important to have order to reduce chaos. But, as typical for nursing, that is not the case. CNAs, LPNs, APNs, all take exams or boards unique to their education and training. Their state practice acts to my knowledge are pretty specific as to the do's and don'ts pertaining to their title. All RNs, at this point, fall into the same pile. Therefore, I can see how employers or the military justify having an RN with an ADN over a nurse with a BSN. I also see why RNs debate about whose better. I had mentioned on another post about the improbability that state governments would be able to fund separate boards for each type of RN.
The question for me is, should there be rank order in the civilian world for education, pay as well as title? Or, do we need to continue to debate about the merit of having the varied nursing titles with overlapping job descriptions and worker abilities? It wouldn't surprise me to learn that overlapping of duties and education is one of the reasons that condensing nursing titles and education was discussed in the first place.
Mijourney, with all due respect, this frustrates me greatly. I really, really, really, really, REALLY fail to see any RN who has stated, outright, that he/she is "better" soley because of their educational background. In fact, I have seen and been a victim, if you will, of RNs who use that "whose better" agenda in regards to experience alone!
I think RNs who posses a degree simply want to be recognized as different, because, yes, they are more educated. They certainly don't get recognized by employers as there is no difference in pay. So..my question is, what is the incentive? If all RNs are the same, despite educational background, then why have an ADN, BSN, MSN or PhD track at all? Why not just bring back the diploma programs?
(and I say "bring back" because in my state the diploma programs have been eliminated)
Hi Suzy. Like you, I have a BSN. I'm also a diploma nurse. Yes, I'm frustrated about the lack of recognition for my additional education. I've vented this on this bb. When I first came to this bb over one year ago, I even heavily engaged in a debate about the merit of BSN as entry level. However, I've had to pull back a little.
I believe I can assume that at this point, you're a career-oriented nurse. That's great, and that's what nursing needs most I feel. Most nurses, in my view, are not career-oriented if you look at the level of proactivity within our profession for our profession. My statement that you quoted is based on my own experiences as a long time nurse. It could have easily referred to "experience" and/or "education."
Don't lose my point that the other nursing professionals and paraprofessionals have their own unique set of certification or licensing exams and practice acts. Even though there may be some overlap, it's easy to distinguish CNAs, LPNs, APNs among nursing staff and the AHA although the public and other health professionals tend to lump all of us together. In my neck of the woods, it's easy to call an RN and RN because everything IS essentially based on experience alone. What do you suggest can be done to clearly distinguish each type of RN so that those of us who choose to advance our education to the BSN level can get more than a congratulations? My employer feels that tuition reimbursement is adequate for those who go back to school-especially if you're working the same job. What are your thoughts on this?
moonshadeau, ADN, BSN, MSN, RN, APN, NP, CNS
521 Posts
Who cares how much education that you have or think that you have to have x number years of education to help properly treat patients. There is a shortage out there folks and it isn't going to go away anytime soon. We need all the nurses that we can get to help our patients. Yes, that is who we work for is our patients. As long as I know the nurses that are working next to me are competent in their abilities and skills that is all I need to know. I am busy enough trying to keep on top of my 6 patients that are unstable enough that they should be in CCU. But guess what CCU is capped due to shortage of nurses. I guess my point is instead of repeating these threads of I am better than you because I went to school for x number of years, always seems to increase the animosity among nurses. If you want to go back and get more education that is fine, that is your choice. But remember we are all nurses. LPN, ADN, BSN, PhD, even CNA if you are out there in the trenches you value that you have someone there with a license. This person makes your job easier. Treat them with respect as you would want them to treat you.