RN-BSN programs-vent

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Specializes in orthopedic/trauma, Informatics, diabetes.

I am praying that not all of them are like the one I am in. I am trying to finish the semester so I can get out!!!!! It is so unorganized, it is not working nurse friendly, inconsistent and they want all the clinical requirements as if we were going into a facility (physical, drug, TB, etc). I am already working and went through all of that. It is a stat school and I have talked to two other state schools who do not have the clinical requirements.

I should have done my research first. The director of the program, the WHOLE RN-BSN program does not even have a MSN, let alone a doctorate. So frustrated.

I am going to try one other state school program that has all doctorate level instructors and does not require the clinical nonsense requirements.

I don't mind doing the work, but it is just awful. Spoke to an instructor today who told me that basically, ADN trained students cannot critically think; that we just do the skills to maintain our pts, just follow directions, and send them on their way with no thought as to what happens to them after they leave. REALLY? And putting the comma or italics properly in APA style is going to fix my ADN problem how?

Thanks for letting me vent.

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Specializes in ICU.

Does this instructor understand that ADN and BSN sit for the same NCLEX-RN test? I think that both have the same critical thinking skills.

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Specializes in Oncology/hematology.

I am an ADN student who is heading to my BSN bridge next fall. I followed a teacher in clinicals this week that was from pain management. He also had a BSN student shadowing him. I ran circles around that student. He couldn't answer questions about pain meds, do math or think on his feet. I walked away from that day knowing that the school I picked for my ADN was, indeed, the right choice.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

As someone who has BTDT in the educational 'ladder' experience, I can assure you that it is just not possible to accurately or objectively judge or assess a program while you are in the midst of it and experiencing it just one piece at a time. It is not until you complete the whole program that you actually have a sense of how everything fits together. It's like hearing your teen say "I don't need to take ____ (required course) because I will never use it in my lifetime".

Likewise, the age-old rivalry between different programs "We're soooo much better than ___". Unless you have actually completed each type of program, it would be difficult to make any sort of accurate assessments. So - this means that I could discuss the merits of LVN, BSN & MSN education because I have 'done' those.... but not any others.

Basic precepts of Critical Thinking - don't confuse opinion with fact & never generalize or make broad assumptions based on an inadequate sample or a single anecdote. Just sayin' . . .

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Specializes in orthopedic/trauma, Informatics, diabetes.
Basic precepts of Critical Thinking - don't confuse opinion with fact & never generalize or make broad assumptions based on an inadequate sample or a single anecdote. Just sayin' .

LOVE it. Should send this to her. I agree that I should not be judging this program from this instructor, the attitude of the administration give the same feeling. I cannot be this stressed out. If a new program is similar, then I know it was me, but I know that I have to try something different.

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Specializes in Medical-Surgical/Float Pool/Stepdown.

OP,

Be careful about the clinical requirements comment. I just finished my RN-BSN and did not have a clinical requirement but when interviewing for my new job about six months ago I learned from my new manager (whom by the way was also completing an RN-BSN program at the time ;-) that all accredited schools will be required to have clinical components after 2014 to be considered valid programs. You always want an accredited program anyways in case you want to move out of your current state but you also want your diploma to be valid as well!

For the life of me I cannot find the emails I had about this topic so I can provide you more conclusive information. I tried to search the CCNE and the AACN websites as well as ANA and when I search the topic all I get are just a bunch of schools...

I really wish I could be more helpful...

Do your homework and go get that degree but make sure it counts!!!

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Specializes in ER.
OP,

Be careful about the clinical requirements comment. I just finished my RN-BSN and did not have a clinical requirement but when interviewing for my new job about six months ago I learned from my new manager (whom by the way was also completing an RN-BSN program at the time ;-) that all accredited schools will be required to have clinical components after 2014 to be considered valid programs. You always want an accredited program anyways in case you want to move out of your current state but you also want your diploma to be valid as well!

For the life of me I cannot find the emails I had about this topic so I can provide you more conclusive information. I tried to search the CCNE and the AACN websites as well as ANA and when I search the topic all I get are just a bunch of schools...

I really wish I could be more helpful...

Do your homework and go get that degree but make sure it counts!!!

I can't find anything on it. Are you certain that this is true or is it one of those rumors like the BSN in 10?

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Specializes in Public Health.

I am confused. Why does a nurse need to have new clinical experiences outside of a post graduate cert or anp program?

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Specializes in ER.

The standards do change in 2013 and are effective in Jan. 2014 but it sounds like the previous visits are still approved till their next visit. Reading the standards (skimming them more like it) I didn't see anything about a change to requiring a clinical component.

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Specializes in ER.

I skimmed the requirements that are changing and I don't see the clinical component. I may be missing it though. However, the old standard programs do not just vanish. It's till their next review.

I think I found the paper. It does not involve clinicals in the traditional sense but the capstone that a lot of programs already use. Also, I kind of question whether it has been implemented yet or if it is a strong suggestion.

http://www.aacn.nche.edu/aacn-publications/white-papers/RN-BSN-White-Paper.pdf

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Specializes in orthopedic/trauma, Informatics, diabetes.

My plan is to call my BON and find out. The program I am leaving is very different than the one I am going in to. I have looked at several. What I don't understand is that both schools are part of the state university system. How can they have different requirements? I know they are both accredited. The only thing I can imagine is that one is set up specifically for distance education and the other is just tacking on an online version of their seated program.

My biggest concern is the faculty. I have never heard of a program at the university level NOT have doctorate level instructors. Clinical instructors, maybe an MSN or advance practice degree, but when the DIRECTOR of the program does not have a Masters in Nursing and another one has NO nursing degree. I wonder. Their 4 year, seated program is very different and had a decent reputation, but I just am getting bad vibes from the online program.

I am not leaving my job anytime soon. It is at a major teaching hospital and I love it there. We can't sell our house because of the market. i am an older student and if I am lucky will be able to work 15 years. I don't even have to have the BSN, just thought I should. It will help me up the clinical ladder.

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Specializes in ER.

Is this is Texas? I'm looking at a distance one there. Unless it's Cali with all of there UC universities. One question is who accredited them? CCNE? NLN? Just the board? I know NLN requires so many master prepared instructors as my school lost their NLN accreditation for three years over it.

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