I have a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism degree, then decided later in life to go back to school to become a Registered Nurse. I took all of my pre-reqs and completed an 18-month Associate of Science in Nursing program at Harcum College, finished with a 3.3 GPA, and passed my NCLEX-RN with 75 questions on my first try.
I was fortunate enough to be working as a Patient Care Associate (PCA) at a magnet hospital and I was able to get a position as an RN immediately. Since I have started working though, the hospital has been breathing down my neck about when I will be going back to school to get my BSN. I was even told in my interview that I was "lucky" because I was the "only nurse who was being interviewed who did not have a bachelor's degree." This was very offensive to me, and I quickly reminded her that I DO have a bachelor's degree, and that it should count for something. Either way, I got the job and it all worked out.
Now that I am actively seeking a program to go back to school for my BSN, I often find that I will need to go back to school for ANOTHER two years (at least!). I feel that, since I have a bachelor's degree and also have an associate's degree, the pressure to obtain a BSN is kind of silly. Some schools even require that I complete MORE pre-reqs before I am even eligible to apply to their program.
I also wish there were more programs for RNs with bachelor's in another field who would like to bridge into an MSN program. I have found a few programs like this at Thomas Jefferson University (which recently closed this program), and Marquette University (in Wisconsin, and I live in NJ!). I also run into issues with the fact that I do not do well in online classes, and would prefer to remain in the classroom setting.
Is anyone else encountering issues like this? I truly believe that a bachelor's in another field, if juxtaposed with an associate's in nursing and a valid nursing license, should qualify for magnet hospitals.
Any thoughts, feedback, or advice would be greatly appreciated!
Krista
**I placed this topic in the "healthcare politics" section because I really do believe that that's exactly what this is... POLITICS. It doesn't matter that I am a hard worker or that I am an exceptional nurse, all that matters to the "magnet hospitals" is that I have my BSN. I just don't think it's fair.
I find it helpful to reframe these kinds of questions. You have a BA in journalism. If someone had an associate's degree in journalism and a BS in something else entirely unrelated to journalism, would you consider that equivalent to your BA in journalism? Why or why not?
This. Perfect.
Just like some of the PP's, I have a B.S. but mine is in Nutrition. I'm about to graduate with a BSN. While I wasn't super delighted with spending another two years to get another bachelor's, I did it anyway. I feel that my previous degree gives me a good background. However, if I had pursued an ADN program, I don't think that my previous b.s. would have provided me the information to satisfy the qualifications of a b.s.n.... at all.
Keep your head down and your bottom up, and go for your BSN or MSN. Best of luck to you!
I agree with you @TwistaKrista! Same situation I am going to encounter in the future and I agree on your exact point of view. I think a bachelors is bachelors, at the end of the day we ALL take the SAME NCLEX. I do think you should just do an ADN to MSN program( which is my plan), that way you can have a higher degree than all those "think they are better than you cause they have a BSN and your BA/BS in another field doesn't mean anything" nurses and you will have exceeded that BSN requirement that the hospital is requesting. Mostly, you'll become more knowledgeable and have a good foundation for moving forward into another field of nursing and receive better pay.
On one hand I agree, because a big part of the argument is that a baccalaureate-prepared nurse is a more all-around educated individual, and has proven their ability to engage in the higher thinking that is college math, history, English, etc.
But on the other hand, does a BSN and journalism classes prepare someone to work as a journalist? Same thing with nursing; your journalism major didn't include the 300- and 400-level nursing classes.
Yes, a BSN and journalism classes would prepare someone to work as a journalist. One does not actually need to take any "journalism classes" in order to be a journalist.
I'm in the same boat. If I combined all my years of schooling, by the end of my BSN that I'm currently working on, I could probably have a medical degree or PhD.
As someone with a BA in another field (English with a philosophy / psychology minor), almost two decades of work experience, who has just finished his first semester of a direct-entry MSN, I feel your pain. I. Feel. Your. Pain. This blinkered opinion, held by unfortunately farfarfar too many nurses, that sitting through nursing research classes, and nursing theory classes, is somehow the ONLY way to develop the critical thinking skills, cultural competency, and well-rounded education that is the entire raison d'etre behind the BSN: it makes me want to laugh and cry at the same time.
Of course your prior BA in journalism should count for something -- it likely equipped you to run circles around recent-grad BSNs in all of the things a BSN is supposed to teach: research, critical thinking, effective written communication. But unfortunately it doesn't count. You have the wrong letters after your name. And what can you do? The world is the way it is. Suck it up and get an MSN.
I had a BSN in something else and did my bridge MSN. Its a lot better option than doing another BSN. My school let students do it part time because many people were working. So look for programs like those. Another classmate of mine had the same situation as you, ADN nurse with bachelors in another field. She went on to get her bridge MSN also. Believe me, having that MSN will give you an edge and will not take much more time than the BSN. I feel that it is a good investment.
I agree that you should go for your MSN since you already have a BA. There are many programs for this, even more if you decide you can do it online. But if you want to go for the BSN, if you change your mind about doing it online, there are so many programs that allow you to get your BSN if you're already a RN. These programs are mostly only 12 months long, and there are a few that are shorter. Uni. at Texas Arlington has an online program for the RN-BSN and it is only about 9 months long and only cost around 9-10k. There are many options for you out there, I think you just need to do more research. Good luck!
I have a non-nursing B.A. and went back to school and went through a 15-month BSN program to obtain my nursing degree. My BSN holds more weight than my BA and was apart of the reason why I was hired at my magnet hospital. The best part is I don't have to go back to school to keep my job and I'm able to climb the clinical ladder easily because I have it.
Yes Marquette has a direct entry RN-NP program and is very expensive, over $1,000 credit so you could be on the hook for $65,000 or more when it is all said and done. Also you have to specialize so they don't offer FNP which can be limiting for getting a job. While you and I might think a BA/BS should be acceptable, it is not for the powers that be that want only the BSN. Both the IOM and magnet status are pushing for the BSN with a goal of 80% BSN RN working by 2020. I don't think that is realistic, but time will tell. I'm hoping to make it to retirement without having to spend one more penny going back to school! WGU university has a reasonable program and it's possible to get your BSN for about $6,000. But then think about what you could do with $6,000 and the thoughts of a couple good vacations or some home remodel/improvement or even just an emergency account sound more desireable than blowing it on more college. I enjoy learning and liked college and like you have taken many liberal arts classes that I thoroughly enjoyed, but I don't want to spend any more money on college. Tuition is just insane! I sleep better at night having money in the bank and knowing that I don't have to rely on credit cards just to get by!
From being a lurker, I have seen lots of people talk about all the fluff work of a BSN (those who are already an RN and doing the bridge), hence why you can do it all Online from anywhere in the country. Is it really that earth shattering ? Ill share a secret that the majority of four year degrees are full of fluff!! Its another hoop to jump through. Hoops do not equivocate to competency.
Also, I see that nurses (non BSN) who have tons of experience often are at odds with traditional BSN nurses that come fresh into jobs with no experience what so ever. BSN's don't have special powers, you both need to pass the NCLEX and thats what really counts at the moment.
There is a clear push for furthering education in the field, which is wonderful! However, I think saying that an RN with a BA,BS versus an RN with a BSN are not at all comparable is silly. At the moment, BSN and RN have the same job and can apply for the same jobs because they require the same license. If BSN had more advanced clinical training I could see an argument, but they don't. Thats where the Masters level and doctoral level programs come in.
* Also if you look into an accelerated program for someone who already has a previous Bachelors, its done in about a year and its basically the NURSING portion of the program. So heres someone with their journalism BA who took a few science courses ( which they may already have from their previous 4 year degree) and just completes the nursing part at an accelerated pace is granted a BSN. So really a RN + BA/BS is very similar to a BSN
LV3677
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This. Perfect.
Just like some of the PP's, I have a B.S. but mine is in Nutrition. I'm about to graduate with a BSN. While I wasn't super delighted with spending another two years to get another bachelor's, I did it anyway. I feel that my previous degree gives me a good background. However, if I had pursued an ADN program, I don't think that my previous b.s. would have provided me the information to satisfy the qualifications of a b.s.n.... at all.
Keep your head down and your bottom up, and go for your BSN or MSN. Best of luck to you!