Joseph Johnson

I received my ADN in '97. It was actually a 3-year-program due to the prereqs. Many of you have made remarks stating that your RN programs were not difficult. Mine was. We started with 80 students and only 40 graduated. I now have three college degrees: two associates and a bachelor's. I went to a private Catholic College for nursing and it was very difficult. My academic history includes A's in calculus and physics, but these areas were a cake walk compared to the intensity of that nursing program. I'm not telling my history to impress anyone. On the contrary, I must have been overtrained! I know that we all have to pass the same licensing test, but I know of very few college-trained RNs who would say it was "not difficult." And yes, I have had LPNs get defensive towards me at work and claim that I treated them "differently" at times because I was the Charge RN. Yet, many of those LPNs who became RNs have received the same "you're pickin on me" attitudes! Unreal. The fact is that RN programs make every effort to teach critical-thinking skills. Most learn them, some don't. And of course I know LPNs that I can't compete with because they are just too damn smart. And I know RNs that make me wonder how in the he'll they passed the NCLEX! Lastly, I feel that nursing is a field that can and will likely suck your emotions dry! I really hate to say that I remain in this field due to inability to match my income with anything else that I could do. I do like the ability to make more money by working extra when I chose to do so. Thanks and good luck to all.