RN to BSN with clinical, practical, science focus?

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I'm wondering if there are RN to BSN programs that have a more practical focus. Something to prepare or enhance ICU, OR, ER nursing. I'm still in school for my ASN but most of the BSN programs I've seen don't look very interesting to me. I actually like Chem, Pharm, Anatomy etc.

I can not describe(in polite conversation) how little interest I have in Nursing Managment or Leadership or Community freakin Wellness.

It makes me angry and sleepy at the same time just typing it.

So.... Anything out there for me?

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Welcome to allnurses!

Entry-level nursing education in the US is set up to produce generalists; that is, you get a casual exposure to a lot of the specialty areas (like ED and ICU), but the focus of the education is on the knowledge and skills that will apply to most all areas. RN-BSN programs are even more specifically tailored to cover only the material that differentiates a BSN education from a diploma or AD nursing education -- it is presumed that you already have all the basic nursing knowledge and skills. All RN-BSN programs focus (pretty much exclusively) on leadership, management, public health (the one clinical area specific to BSN education), etc. Lots of paper-writing.

If you want a BSN, that's what you'll be taking. No way around it. Specialization occurs outside of entry-level nursing education.

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bummer.

oh well, more hoops to jump through...go dog go!

thanks for the reply

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The RN to BSN program my husband is in is just as boring as the ones your talking about, with one exception....

He has to spend 120 hours working (without pay--that part SUX) under an advanced practice nurse. It can be any job setting, ER, ICU, PEDS, whatever floats your boat as long as the nurse you're under has an advanced degree.

If you want to know the name of the program (which is entirely online with the above mentioned exception), PM me and I'll tell you.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Cardiac.
Welcome to allnurses!

Entry-level nursing education in the US is set up to produce generalists; that is, you get a casual exposure to a lot of the specialty areas (like ED and ICU), but the focus of the education is on the knowledge and skills that will apply to most all areas. RN-BSN programs are even more specifically tailored to cover only the material that differentiates a BSN education from a diploma or AD nursing education -- it is presumed that you already have all the basic nursing knowledge and skills. All RN-BSN programs focus (pretty much exclusively) on leadership, management, public health (the one clinical area specific to BSN education), etc. Lots of paper-writing.

If you want a BSN, that's what you'll be taking. No way around it. Specialization occurs outside of entry-level nursing education.

What a shame! I'm sure it matters to the patient that you write good papers on nursing leadership and management. With the general move toward minimum BSN nurses it would be nice if there were programs that concentrated on technical proficiency rather than politics.

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Have you thought about doing RN to MSN??

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What a shame! I'm sure it matters to the patient that you write good papers on nursing leadership and management. With the general move toward minimum BSN nurses it would be nice if there were programs that concentrated on technical proficiency rather than politics.

Entry level BSN programs do concentrate on technical proficiency (along with the rest of a well-rounded, complete nursing education). However, BSN completion programs are designed for people who are already RNs (via an ADN or diploma program), and (presumably) technically proficient, and who only need the additional education to meet the requirements to be awarded the BSN degree.

For example, I originally graduated from a hospital-based diploma program, and returned to school to complete a BSN (only so that I could apply to graduate school! :)) after eight years of practicing as an RN -- a fairly common scenario; most of my classmates in the program had years of clinical experience as RNs. A concentration on "technical proficiency" would have been redundant and unnecessary. The content of the program may have been boring to some (not all!) of us, but it was new content, not stuff we had mastered long ago. What would be the point of that?

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.

Good hospitals have internships and training programs that will train you on the job for ICU, OR and ER. Finding a good hospital with a good orientation is more important than finding an ADN to BSN program for you. Some take new grads and some don't. Don't worry about getting your BSN if your only immediate goal is a speciality. You can always get your BSN later if you change your mind. ADN's can function very well with their education in ICU, OR and ER, as it is.

Saint Petersburg College has an online certificate program that might be a selling point in getting you a job. My hospital actually requires it to work in their ICU as part of their training program, but you don't have to have it to get hired. http://www.spcollege.edu/program/CC-ATC I've taken the ECG and the Progressive Care. I think they also have another class added on to these three that focus on the ER. (I stopped there because I don't work in ICU and went on to get my ADN to BSN, but plan on finishing one of these days).

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