mcorrao77

I don't think that they are requiring that you have a BSN, I think that they 'prefer' it. I think that if you have an AD with experience the hospital will also hire you. If they only hire BSN prepared nurses, they are missing out on all the great ADN nurses! I have an interview for a hospital in Manhattan in April! Good luck with your search!

long term care

I also have a BSN and I highly recommend Kaplan's Qbank. It's a little pricey at $300, but it's well worth it. It keeps track of what questions you answer correctly and incorrectly and gives you a rationale as to why the question is correct. I am a HUGE HUGE HUGE procrastinator. I took my NCLEX-RN Jan 24, 2006 and started studying Jan 2, 2006 -- seriously! I hate to study!! haha! The Qbank gives you 1,000 questions. I also took the Kaplan course after I graduated. Just keep on doing questions and read the rationales!! Good Luck!!

Thanks for the input Marie LPN and Corvette Guy! :)

Okay, this may be a stupid question, but I have to ask. Does a RNFA act in the same role as the scrub or circulating nurse? What is the difference with a RNFA? I thought, I could be way off base, that you had to go for more schooling to be a RNFA. Is that not true?

Thanks for understanding caffeinatedstudent. I actually got my last rotation for my senior clinicals in the OR. Hopefully, it will give me a better understanding of the whole process. I graduate Aug. 12 and counting... Good luck with your nursing classes! :)

I am not saying to take out loans to help your credit. That's ridiculous. What I am saying is that it doesn't hinder your credit rating. And still nobody answers the question as to why does every other major need at least a BS, BA why should nursing be any different? People go back to college all the time. This is my second BS degree. If we want to be looked at as a profession, then it should be BSN only. I'm not saying to get rid of all the ADN programs out there, b/c that's not possible d/t the fact that they supply the majority of nursing students. I feel that there should be at least an attempt to move nursing to BSN while still encorporating the ADN students. And yes, I do think the BSN is better b/c it involves more learning and how can more knowledge hinder someone in their desired profession.

The ADN program does not prepare student nurses better than the BSN level. How can you say having less education would be more beneficial than having more? Every other major in college is a BS or BA. Plain and simple. Why is nursing different? And why do nurses always want someone else to pay for them to go to college? Take out loans, get financial aid, just do it. School loans actually increase your credit rating and the interest rate is so low on them. Times are changing whethere you like it or not. Diploma programs are being phased out, the public wants to be taught in a university. They don't want nursing to be a technical program, they want it to be a profession and you learn a profession in college at universities. You need to have the knowledge base.... you need to have patho I & II, pharm, research classes, leadership classes. Also, my university has a 99% pass rate on NCLEX exams.

EXACTLY!! I am so sick of people saying that the BSN student does not know how to perform nursing skills. I would rather take Patho I & II, pharm, research classes, leadership classes, and a whole other array of classes to have the knowledge base to perform these tasks instead of just doing it. I want to have a understanding of why I'm doing it! BSN graduate in August 2005!!! August 12 to be exact! haha. (and counting)

I don't know what kind of careplan that you are working on, but here is a list of some nursing theorists: Erickson, Tomlin, & Swain: Model & Role Model Newman, M.: Expanding Consciousness Watson, J.: Caring Orem, D.: Self-care Roy, C.: Adaptation Paterson& Zderad: Humanistic Leininger, M.: Sunrise Model Rogers, M.: Homeodynamics Model King, I.: Open Systems Peplau: Interpersonal Neuman, Betty: Systems Model Henderson, V.: Nursing Components Hope this helps! Good Luck!

I totally agree. We are the only profession that has so many entry levels. Why is that? I feel that every other person in the health care setting needs at least a BS, why should the nurse be any different? But, I also understand that with the nursing shortage how can a BSN only status be implemented? I also feel that why should the ADN go on and get a BSN... the pay is relatively the same, there is no incentive. I will be graduating w/ my BSN in August, but I will complete my program in one year. If I didn't find an accelerated program, I would of went to my local community college and gotten my ADN, since I already have a BS in another field. However, I am glad that I am getting my BSN because I do feel the more education you have, the better! And eventually I want to go on and maybe get my NP, I just want to work first and pay off some schools loans and get experience.

Hi! I will be graduating from a BSN program this August and it only took me ONE year to get my BSN (but it was an accelerated program).... much, much cheaper than going to my local community college and less time. Now, I just have to pass my NCLEX, but my school has a 99% pass rate. I do have a question though. I've been looking online at hospitals, mainly in the NY metro area, and I find that the majority want BSN prepaired students. Does anyone know why that is? Why do the major cities only want BSN students over ADN students?

I have a BS in Human Ecology (basically alot of people classes, family classes, and child developmental classes) with a minor in nutrition. I will have my BSN this August!! If anyone has a BS degree already, look into accelerated programs. I was looking into getting my RN at my community college (which has a great program). It would of taken me 2 years for my associate degree. Then I found a SUNY school in NY that has a accelerated program and I will have my BSN in 1 YEAR! Such a difference in time and money spent!

I'm still a nursing student and I went out with a home health nurse last Friday and LOVED IT!!!!! I never thought I would. I graduate in August and I'm going to apply at a hospital that has a home health agency, but first I want to get my med/surg in and gain experience!! I can't wait until I graduate and finally a RN!! The nurse I went out with wonderful!! She had a great bond with her patients and the families. They really looked forward to her visits. I feel I can really give back to my community by becoming a HH nurse!! I can't wait! I'm going out with her again on Thurs and Friday and I'm so excited.

I think for an extra fee you can be registered in both states. But I'm not entirely sure. However, I have several professors that are registered in NY and PA, since I have some clinicals in PA as well. I would check into that. If later down the road you want to change jobs you don't have to worry that you can only stay in NY or visa versa. Hope this helps!

I totally agree with you. From what the other posters wrote, they are very active in patient care. I just didn't see that at the hospital I was in. It seemed to me the nurses were more interested in what was going on in their personal lives than what was happening in the OR at the present moment. The circulating nurse even left serveral times during the procedure. When the scrub nurse asked the circ. nurse for something, sometimes it took a little before the circ. nurse got it to her. It just didn't seem organized and planned ahead. I know you can't plan for everything that might happen in the OR, but to me the nurses weren't too involved with the whole process and justed wanted to know the color of the dress a nurse's daughter is wearing to her prom and things like that. I never heard them mention the patient at all expect when I asked a question. That's why I posted here and wanted to know what other OR nurses did, because I knew that's not only what an OR nurses does.

Thank you so much for your input!! I'm very interested in the OR. I find it fascinating, when I was there yesterday I couldn't get close enough too see what was going on. I'm going to take all of your advice and shadow at several different facilities in the area and back home as well. Thanks again!

HI! I am wondering about the OR. I will be graduating from an accelerated nursing program in NY this August and was EXTREMELY interested in the OR. However, I just had my first real experience in the OR today at clinicals. It seemed to me (I may be totally way off base) that the nurses didn't really DO anything, which upsets me. On the other hand, the nurses were very nice and helpful. The scrub nurse handed the surgeon the instruments and talked to the circulating nurse who handed the scrub nurse instruments. Can someone please explain to me exactly what goes on? I know the definitions of scrub nurse and circulating nurse and I've been on websites as well, but can someone who's actually in the OR explain to me his/her day of work. Thank You so Much! I'm also planning on volunteering in the OR on weekends to find out more about it.

My BSN program is not "a lot of those memorizing facts and spitting them out" schools. I will be prepared for the NCLEX by utilizing my critical thinking skills and my knowledge of nursing by applying it, not spitting back information! Anyone can spit back information.

I agree with you 100%!! My BSN program is exactly like this. When I first applied to nursing school, I was thinking "Great, no papers!!" (Since I hated writing papers in my first college degree experience. (My BSN is my 2nd bachelors degree) But it's all about critical thinking and what you as the nurse can do to increase your understanding of nursing practice. It's definately not about memorizing your notes and "spitting them back out on a test". I totally, 100% agree that my BSN program will make me a better nurse because of this. But for me my program is one year long! Of course, it was a very intensive program, but since I went to a SUNY school, it was so much cheaper than other schools I was looking at. It is an accelerated nursing program and if anyone who has a previous BS degree and wants to get into nursing, I recommend this.

but, if all the nurses started out on the same foot (bsn), then maybe there won't be so much animousity between the two degree levels. we would all be "equal". not saying that we aren't now!! we are, but it would the same education levels across the board.

if nys changes its requirements then the "old" adn would be grandfathered in and any new adn grads will have a period of time to get their bsn. like i said before, i was looking into adn, but for me it didn't make sense to go 2 yrs to get a adn when i could go only 1 year total and have my bsn. i'm not putting down the adn nurse at all. i have friends who are adns. but all the adn that i do talk with wished they went all the way and got their bsn b/c it's so much harder to go back to school and get it. i don't know where you live (if you live in ny or not), but the majority of hospitals in nyc want bsn, it's harder for the adn to get a job in the bigger cities. i just feel, if nursing was at bachelor level it would become more of a profession and not a technical type of job. which as a result, would improve nursing in general. but, that's just my opinion! however, the majority of people that i talked with (adn & bsn) agree with me.

I think the difference with ADN vs. BSN is that if you ever want to further your education and get your Masters it's easier. Plus, many of the hospitals in major cities (New York City, for example) only want BSN grads. Plus you get more money with a BSN degree. Yeah, it might only be a dollar or two more an hour, but over time that adds up to thousands more than an ADN. I would tell anyone to get ther BSN, but that's just me. I fortunately have the opportunity to get my BSN in one year because of a previous BS degree that I have from my first college experience. So for me it didn't make sense to go two years and get my ADN when I can go 1 year and have my BSN. But it's up to the person. I hear pretty soon, New York wants to mandate nursing to BSN degrees only and the new grad ADN will have a period of time to get their BSN, and the "old" ADN will be grandfathered in. I just feel that the majority of health care workers (PT, OT, ect...) have to have at least their Bacherlors, why should the nurse be any different? But again, up to the person, to each his own. I don't think it makes for a better nurse per say, but I feel that I will have more opportunites with my BSN rather than ADN. The BSN degree takes more leadership, research, and communication skills courses than do the ADN. Hope this helps.

I totally agree with you about being a CNA first. I am so glad that I was a CNA for a year before I decided to go back to school to get my BSN. I feel that now I know what's it like from their aspect. AND I will never be one of those nurses that say, "That's what the aid does!" and not help. I think anyone who's remotely interested in nursing should be a CNA first. I also feel more ahead of the game when we started our clinicals. And I also agree on watching your back. If noone wants to help, I go to the next person. I'm 28 yrs old and have the rest of my life with only 1 back. I'll be graduating this August with my BSN and I'm so happy that I went that route and I did it in 1 year with an accelerated program!

I, too, want to work by the bedside. Not all BSNs want management positions. Plus, I don't consider $65,000 to $70,000 "peanuts." In the hospitals where I'm applying that's what the BSN nurse will get paid. Also, I want a family as well. Why can't I? Not everything in life is about work. AND the majority of hospitals I applied to want BSN, bottom line. It's sad that the people you work for don't care about you.