Question for Educators/Program Directors

llg, PhD, RN · May 14, 2005

I ran into that issue at the PhD level. The school I attended already had reached its unofficial "quota" of "home grown" faculty and would not hire any of its own graduates until it had brought in some outside faculty members. We were all told it would be virtually impossible to get a job at the school we were attending. So ... you are wise to consider that possibility. At the better schools, they do try to build a faculty that brings in the best of the various specialties, theories, philosophies, and perspectives found throughout the discipline -- and that means hiring people with a wide variety of backgrounds instead of having a faculty that only represents the ideas and points of view found locally.

However ... a the Master's level ... I think that is much less common. I haven't heard about people running into that problem at that level. If you know the school you want to attend and/or at which you want to teach, I would ask them directly about it. There is nothing inappropriate about asking the question in a polite, straightforward way.

Good luck,

llg

purplemania, BSN, RN · Jun 4, 2005

People change schools for a variety of reasons. The closest graduate school was also the one from which I got my baccalaureate degree. The advantage was I had no problem with transcripts, I understood their philosophy & mission already, knew most of the students and instructors, etc. I see no purpose in intentionally attending a different school, unless there is a course or instructor you want to experience. I was just after that piece of paper, but in the end I am very proud of my school (and myself!) because I received a valuable education from an excellent school.

RNPATL, DNP, RN · Jun 4, 2005

I ran into that issue at the PhD level. The school I attended already had reached its unofficial "quota" of "home grown" faculty and would not hire any of its own graduates until it had brought in some outside faculty members. We were all told it would be virtually impossible to get a job at the school we were attending. So ... you are wise to consider that possibility. At the better schools, they do try to build a faculty that brings in the best of the various specialties, theories, philosophies, and perspectives found throughout the discipline -- and that means hiring people with a wide variety of backgrounds instead of having a faculty that only represents the ideas and points of view found locally.
However ... a the Master's level ... I think that is much less common. I haven't heard about people running into that problem at that level. If you know the school you want to attend and/or at which you want to teach, I would ask them directly about it. There is nothing inappropriate about asking the question in a polite, straightforward way.
Good luck,
llg

Thank you llg ... that was one of my concerns, but given that I am not in a small town and the college I am looking to teach is not where I originally graduated with any of my degrees, I am probably safe. But, your information is well taken. My biggest concern was whether having my undergraduate and graduate degree from the same University would be a problem later on. I appreciate the information.

RNPATL, DNP, RN · Jun 4, 2005

People change schools for a variety of reasons. The closest graduate school was also the one from which I got my baccalaureate degree. The advantage was I had no problem with transcripts, I understood their philosophy & mission already, knew most of the students and instructors, etc. I see no purpose in intentionally attending a different school, unless there is a course or instructor you want to experience. I was just after that piece of paper, but in the end I am very proud of my school (and myself!) because I received a valuable education from an excellent school.

I guess I started questioning this when I atended a graduation this past May and all the faculty members had their degrees from different places. It made me start wondering if there was an "unwritten rule" among faculty that you could not earn your Masters from the same place you recieved your BSN. At this point, I do plan to finish my Masters dgree with the same University I earned my BSN. And, I also agree that once you are familiar with the school, mission and the program, why change! Thanks for the response.

llg, PhD, RN · Jun 4, 2005

I And, I also agree that once you are familiar with the school, mission and the program, why change! Thanks for the response.

It sounds as if you are doing the right thing -- and I wish you the best of luck. ....

But ... there is a legitimate reason to change if you have the opportunity to do so. Getting too comfortable with any given philosophy/mission/perspective of nursing is not a good thing -- particularly for an academic. Different schools really do offer significantly different perspectives of nursing. Being exposed to the variety and breadth of nursing knowledging and perspectives can be a very enriching experience. Always staying within the same culture and the same perspective can limit your understanding and stifle your development.

I went to 3 vastly different schools. It's amazing how different their views of nursing and education were. I am sure that breadth of exposure has helped me to better understand the various aspects of nursing and different sub-sets of people within the profession.

As I said ... you're probably doing the right thing for your situation. But I couldn't resist explaining the rationale for why many people (and schools) to hire people who have had a broad exposure to nursing.

Good luck,

llg

Trauma Columnist · Jun 4, 2005

Linda (llg) I am in the same boat as Patrick (though at this time I don't want to teach). I did my BSN and MSN both from University of Phoenix. I do have a lot of job experience from Nevada to Indiana to Illinois and I have a lot of life experience. Is that helpful or not so important? Thanks.

llg, PhD, RN · Jun 5, 2005

Linda (llg) I am in the same boat as Patrick (though at this time I don't want to teach). I did my BSN and MSN both from University of Phoenix. I do have a lot of job experience from Nevada to Indiana to Illinois and I have a lot of life experience. Is that helpful or not so important? Thanks.

Whether or not experiences are helpful to you or not depends on how you use them. I'm sure that you have learned a lot from your many experiences. But for all of us .... there is always more to learn and things to be gained from further study (both book study and through the analysis of personal experiences).

It's when we say, "I have all I need: I know all there is to know: I have all the answers:" that we get ourselves into trouble.

llg

RNPATL, DNP, RN · Jun 5, 2005

Judi - the reason I asked the question in the first place was because I am discovering that academia is a very strange place. Your degree is your mark and people guage your abilities and potential success based on your education ... I think more than on your experience.

For you, moving into management or becoming a clinical specialist, the fact that you possess a Masters degree is great and provides you with the level of respect that you have earned and deserve. As an educator, I am finding that if you hold a Master's degree from the same University system that you earned your undergraduate degree, people in academia look at you differently. Not sure why that is, but I think llg put it into words. Most academics want their faculty to have a broad and diversified background .... this becomes clearly evident when you have earned your Masters from a different University system then your Bachelors. Not sure that I agree or even understand, but when in Rome ....:)

SarasotaRN2b · Jun 12, 2005

Pat, did you ever think that those people you are talking about weren't able to get into the master's programs in their schools? If you are in a school you like, and it has a good graduate program, I see no reason to continue in the same school. That's my intention.

Kris

RNPATL, DNP, RN · Jun 12, 2005

Pat, did you ever think that those people you are talking about weren't able to get into the master's programs in their schools? If you are in a school you like, and it has a good graduate program, I see no reason to continue in the same school. That's my intention.
Kris

Kris - thanks for the reply. I totally agree with you and do plan to continue on with UoP for my Master's degree. I guess there are a number of reasons. First, I love the 6 week accelerated classes. I really can not imagine returning to traditional 16 week semesters. Second, I love the convenience of online learning. As a single parent, I just simply do not have the option to attend traditional classes. Besides, most of the University's have their graduate programs online now anyway ... so there is really no difference as far as I am concerned. Last, I think the mission and theorists that UoP has as the basis for the graduate program are inline with my own philosophy of nursing .. so for me it really works.

The negative end of continuing on is the cost .... but, when it is all said and done, I will be paying students loans into my retirement anyway .... so do what is convenient. Besides, no GRE requirement for UoP and that is great!

Thanks for your advice.

BeenThereDoneThat74, MSN, RN · Jun 16, 2005

Pat,

I attend the MSN program at the same school I received my BSN from. I tried to escape it (as it is a costly school), and tried a state school for a semester, but I found myself drawn back (I had my ADN before the BSN, so it will be a total of 2 schools when I am done). Another factor (for me anyway) was that there are few schools in my area with a MSN in nursing Ed. As far as the philosophies go, It really didn't sway my opinion. Sure I was familiar with all that, but to me, the MSN is soooo different than the BSN program. The application process was another consideration- no GRE, just a re-application, and I was accepted ratherquickly (I had to reapply b/c I attended another school for a semester, and was out of the school for a total of 1 yr).

In hindsight, although I wanted to save $$, my thought now is "if it ain't broke, don't fix it". BTW I'll be paying off these loans until it's time for my 5 yr old to start college :banghead: