RN to BSN - is it as hard as the RN was?

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Hi, I am currently an ADN student; I will graduate in May. I am thinking of applying to an RN to BSN program for the fall, but I intend to go part-time as I need a paycheck! Are these programs as difficult as the initial RN program?

thanks

Krista

Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.
It's that the stress level of RN-BSN programs is nil compared to ADN programs because you already have RN behind your name.

This is true. I've already survived the NCLEX, I can look for and start working at nursing jobs now instead of waiting until if/when I graduate, and should I fail out or decide to quit the program tomorrow, it doesn't matter: I'm still a RN. :coollook:

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Specializes in Med/Surg.

I hate paper-writing, but research sounds better than these past two hellish semesters! ;-)

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Specializes in ER.

I did my BSN after I got the RN and started working, and I was living right beside the university campus. I found it harder because there didn't seem to be a lot of point to the work...write a paper on empathy and the nursing process...but writing that paper didn't change my actual practice at work. I thought after the first year that it would be better once I got into the second year courses, nope. Once I finished second year I was convinced the program was useless but figured I'd better finish or I'd have wasted all my time, tears and energy spent on the first 2 years. So I went part time for the last 2 years and just did enough to pass the program.

I learned how to do a library search, and I can write a paper about anything. The APA format was second nature, though I'd have to refresh myself now. The statistics class was helpful, as was microbiology, but otherwise nothing. In my program the RNs did clinical only in elective courses, and I already had credits to use as electives when I started. No one at that university has any idea what kind of nurse I am, whether I can think on my feet, or if I have any knowledge of pathology of common diseases.

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Thankfully, I've pretty much covered all the liberal arts stuff in my prior life as an art history major, and the science stuff - chem, micro, etc. - were all prereqs for my ASN, too. So all that is left is the nursing stuff.

Really, my motivation for getting the BSN at this point is to enhance my chances of getting a desirable job - there are a lot of graduates in the area from generic BSN programs, and, well, we all know about the paucity of graduate nurse jobs right now, and the BSN students get hired first. I'm not too worried about my capacity for critical thinking, to be honest. I'll be taking the same NCLEX as the graduate from the private, $35,000 a year college - the grad who clocked in way less clinical time than I did.

So the next decision - online program or traditional? That school-in-jammies thing sounds lovely.

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Specializes in Med/Surg.

I know I want a grad degree, whether it be for CRNA, Nurse Educator, or Practitioner. I just don't really see how paper-writing is gonna show my patients that I care. Maybe if there were clinicals to reflect the material and then a brief reflection paper, but a full on research paper seems like it'll be more beneficial during grad work.

With all of the technological advances, can't I just download the paper or idea form my brain? Aren't we there yet? :-(

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Specializes in Acute Care Psych, DNP Student.
I know I want a grad degree, whether it be for CRNA, Nurse Educator, or Practitioner. I just don't really see how paper-writing is gonna show my patients that I care. Maybe if there were clinicals to reflect the material and then a brief reflection paper, but a full on research paper seems like it'll be more beneficial during grad work.

With all of the technological advances, can't I just download the paper or idea form my brain? Aren't we there yet? :-(

At the risk of sounding like a complete academic nerd, I do think paper writing is beneficial to patient care. It forces us to form complex thoughts about relevant subject material and discuss it in an intelligent way. We learn from having to write papers. It refines us. It has to do with hierarchical thinking and critical thinking. Now APA, that's just of the devil (just kidding).

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I know I want a grad degree, whether it be for CRNA, Nurse Educator, or Practitioner. I just don't really see how paper-writing is gonna show my patients that I care. Maybe if there were clinicals to reflect the material and then a brief reflection paper, but a full on research paper seems like it'll be more beneficial during grad work.

With all of the technological advances, can't I just download the paper or idea form my brain? Aren't we there yet? :-(

I'll risk sounding like a nerd, too! Nurses complain that we know so much, yet don't get the "respect". If we want the respect as a profession, the one great thing we are missing is education requirments like other professions. I mean, how many attorneys, physicians, engineers, and teachers have collegues who earned their degrees without having taken liberal arts courses and other gen ed reqs that teach the critical thinking-type classes? Nursing offers one-year nurse, two-year nurse, four-year nurse, and eight-year nurse (doctorate)...I'm taking advantage of it and I got LPN first, in ADN, and while in ADN, I'm working on pre-reqs for BSN to keep on continuously until I've got my nurse practitioner degree. So, I'm loving it, but to be honest, might be best for the profession if I had to go through all the writing/speech/liberal arts and critical thinking classes before I hit the floor as a nurse!

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Specializes in Med/Surg.
I'll risk sounding like a nerd, too! Nurses complain that we know so much, yet don't get the "respect". If we want the respect as a profession, the one great thing we are missing is education requirments like other professions. I mean, how many attorneys, physicians, engineers, and teachers have collegues who earned their degrees without having taken liberal arts courses and other gen ed reqs that teach the critical thinking-type classes? Nursing offers one-year nurse, two-year nurse, four-year nurse, and eight-year nurse (doctorate)...I'm taking advantage of it and I got LPN first, in ADN, and while in ADN, I'm working on pre-reqs for BSN to keep on continuously until I've got my nurse practitioner degree. So, I'm loving it, but to be honest, might be best for the profession if I had to go through all the writing/speech/liberal arts and critical thinking classes before I hit the floor as a nurse!

I definitely agree you on it being best for the profession (or any profession for that matter), but I'm just being selfish in my complaints LOL. I've done liberal arts since high school being in IB and I'm good at it but it's a pain to do. On the contrary, I do love researching a topic to be more knowledge and infer my own decision if it strikes my interest. But that's for my own pleasure. Not against the model when ascending the nursing degree education ladder, but I'll definitely gripe about it along the way

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I am taking classes now for my BSN, it is not as hard but time management is difficult. I am working 3/12hr shifts a week plus overtime, have two kids, husband, dog and housework. I hate taking classes but have to for future positions in nursing.

I am taking 2 classes a semester and it will take 2 1/2 yrs to finish, I will be glad when it is over.

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