ADNRN

Have you taken the NCLEX yet? You said you graduated on the 12th of December. Maybe you could concentrate on that. I can imagine this is really disappointing for you, but however slowly it passes, the time will pass. You're going to be able to be a nurse if that's what you want to do. You jJust got to try to hang in there. Maybe this is God's way of steering you into the right path in nursing. I mean, as bad as it is, it could turn out to be a good thing. I am sorry about your misfortune, though. Good luck to you and get well soon.

The dead body no longer requires respect, except out of respect for the family, who are living. Only the living require respect. I've seen nurses all in tears over a dead body that they wouldn't spend ten minutes with while the person was in this world. This sounds cold, but it's really not, if you think about it. Zip the bag, and comfort the family. We have to make a distinction between the living and the dead, or we will never be able to love properly. That's my opinion, anyway.

If you feel like you could make a difference, if that's really your reason for being a nurse, then don't worry about what you read in here. Most nurses I know are happy with their job. I couldn't imagine doing anything else. It consumes me. But I never encourage anyone to be a nurse. It has to be an individual decision. I encouraged one guy and now he's about to graduate and become the worse nurse in the world; I'm sure of it. And frankly, I feel responsible. Good luck in your decision.

Good luck to you. I did the same thing. I worked at a nursing home during AP 1&2 and micro and then on Saturdays during level 1. I didn't work during level 2, but I did an externship during the summer between 2 and 3 in the PACU of our county hospital. Now I have a job as a tech on the cardiac stepdown unit at that same hospital where in addition to CNA stuff, I do phlebotomy and EKGs. That's the floor I want to work on when I graduate, and the manager says she'll hold a position open for me (of course they always have positions open, anyway!). I'll give you some advice, and I normally don't give advice because I think people who give advice are typically moronic, but I'll risk it this time: You're choosing the hard road, you know. It's the best road. It's the narrow gate, but you are putting yourself in probably the hardest area of nursing (CNA in a nursing home). It will definitely help you in school. It will definitely help you get a job after school is done and you're a nurse, but it might break you, too. Just remember that you can only help one patient at a time. And never, ever judge a patient. You will want to, and you will see so many others do it, but if you judge one, you'll eventually judge them all, and then you will burn out on nursing before you realize it. Or worse: you'll end up a mean, self-righteous battle axe who hates patients and everyone else. And you will see enough of that type, believe me you. Ok, I'm sorry to presume to give you advice. I hope it doesn't make you think less of me. But I felt I had to warn you, up front. Don't be afraid to come on here and vent about what you see. I'll definitely be here to read it. Good luck.

Did I not just say a few posts up that we need to drop the ADN BSN garbage? Oh, but why would reality stand in the way of you wagging a finger at me? After all, taking the opportunity to wag a finger at someone feels so much better than self control and reason, doesn't it? It just feels good.

I hear you. Why don't they focus on nursing? Most of the people in our class have never done, in real life, any of the tasks we checked off on.

Not that I would correct you on how I feel, but I pretty much hate nursing school. As I said, I love nursing, and I want to learn the remaining subjects that we are being taught. But I'm sick of the instructors, and I'm sick of the poorly managed ciriculum, and I'm sick of being blamed for being stupid every time the chairperson makes one of the idiot instructors throw out a question because they failed to provide a correct answer in the four choices! I hate nursing school. But it's going to end, and then the real--the good--education will begin: experience, certification and CEUs. That's how I feel about it anyway.

save your apologies. what good are they edited for inappropriate language

Yes ma'am. I'm counting them with you. Thanks for the encouragement.

I've noticed that about advocates for the BSN. They always give the diploma people a pass. Evidently, the conflict between BSN and ADN has nothing to do with one's ability to be a nurse. The conflict must be about something else. Could it be as simple as: "Hey, if I had to go four years, why doesn't he?" Well like I said before, let's skip all the middle steps and just make nursing like law or medicine. A person gets a bachelor's and certain prerequisits and then applies to nursing school and graduates with a masters of applied science in nursing. If we're not going to do that, and if we're going to keep saying that diploma schools are great, then I suggest for the sake of reason and logic that we abandon all this BSN ADN garbage.

Nice. By the way, I've always known that quitting was an option. But thanks for the priceless advice, anyway. I'll make sure to pass it along to the remaining members of my class.

A big WHATEVER to you. I'm glad to see that you've tried so hard to stay away from my posts and yet, bing!. Here you are. I am so sick of this. I exist; therefore I'm a troublemaker. Is it really me that makes your world so hard to live in?

I don't know. I don't know if one needs the other college coursework to be a good nurse or not. Personally, I don't think so. Nursing school is nursing school. But your experience of it and mine are 180 degrees out. So maybe a diploma program over 3 years is not as intense as nursing school + general ed requirements over two years. Again, I don't know. I do know that I have two associate degrees and a bachelor's degree and I slept through getting them compared to what nursing school is like.

RNs on the floor may not need business cards, but I will have some made up just for the times I am out and want to exchange email addresses with someone, or whatever. Or if I write articles or send out queries I may want to attach a business card. That sort of thing

It's interesting to see that a lot of people feel the same way I do. I read a book once called "Intensive Care" by Echo Heron. She went to nursing school in the early 70s and her description sounds exactly like my experience. I suppose it's just the way it has to be. If it were easy, what would happen when we hit the floor? I do think it's easier, or will be easier, to be a nurse than a nursing student. I say that, because I work in a hospital and I see what it is like. If nothing else, at least I'll be able to come home after a shift and just leave work at work. As most of you know, I don't intend to get a BSN, but I will do whatever study I need to for a CCRN, or RNC. But at least that will be on my own schedule. For the record, I love nursing, but I'm hating nursing school. May seems so far away--so far away.

I'd probably like it, too if I were in your school. Is a diploma program even college? Are you sure we're not comparing apples and oranges here?

How nice. He apologizes to Lydia and not me. Oh what am I griping about. If I haven't learned how people are in the world by now, I've got some real growing up to do.

I hate nursing school. Our school has a reputation for being one of the top 100 in the country (whatever that means), and in the area, it is known for being the toughest, but now in the last semester, I just hate it. I want to learn the subjects we are learning, but I'm sick of arrogant instructors, stupid extra projects, and the continous stress of tests--that have to be passed with an 80% or better. I'm all about a C this semester. I couldn't care less what grade I get so long as I pass. I don't care about my GPA, I don't care about anything except passing and finishing this horrible program. We have less than half our original class that started in level one, and people are failing now in level 4. We had 51 now we have 23. I'm doing alright, but I won't be getting an A this semester. All I want is out, an official transcript, and then the place can burn to the ground for all I care. Thanks for letting me vent.

Excellent point. And I have changed my view. I now think that the entire healthcare system is, in theory, there to treat and care for the patient. Everyone is needed. But since I can't delete my original post. I suppose I'll just have to bow out of this string and start a different one.

Whatever. Let's see what the moderators have to say about your personal attacks. I'm out of this string.

Good points. Actually, I don't have a reply because your first paragraph confirms what I'm trying to say, and the examples you give are valid.

I keep getting painted with the brush that I am defensive and angry at those getting advanced degrees. And I know it's futile to try to say that I'm neither defensive nor angry, given that nothing can make a person believe what they don't want to believe. After all, people see what they believe. However, I am biased toward bedside nursing and spiritual development. So, anything that detracts a nurse from direct patient care or spiritual development is something I will argue against. Seeking status within the profession of nursing detracts a nurse from direct patient care and spiritual development. That's what the original post is about.

I do believe that personal empowerment and spiritual empowerment are mutually exclusive. However, that doesn't meant that just because someone is getting a degree means they are seeking "personal" empowerment. It may be as you say that they are trying to learn more in a way that is comfortable for them to learn, so they can provide better care. I agree, at least, to the theoretical possibility. In my experience, however, most people go for advanced degrees with the hope of finally escaping the one thing they hate the most as a nurse--direct patient care. As for parish nursing--I have no opinion, because I don't know what they do. If they provide "spiritual" care for spiritually distressing situations, I suppose that could be interesting. But I have no opinion. I'll just take you at your word.

I'd glady discuss something with you. I just don't know what it is you want to discuss. This is the second time I have mentioned this, and in the future, I'm not going to try to figure out what you mean. But for now I'll give it a shot: You're suggesting that because I don't want to get a BSN or more, that I'm being lazy in my self-preparation to do great things. yes/no? But what do you classify as a great thing? That has to be determined first.

So, what? now I'm a troll? Because I bring up lively topics and respond to those who respond to me? You may want to read back through the posts and see that I have never personally attacked anyone. I'm the one who gets personally attacked.