I am a new RN, graduated from one of the toughest nursing programs in the country.
I was lucky enough to land a job in this economy, even better in the department that I love the most!
Life is great, seriously..What could go wrong?!
Its another day in nursing orientation, a handful of us new nurses listening to lectures, performing skills, participating in work shops. FUN!
One day, for the head to toe assessment, a nursing instructor from a private school sits in with her clinical group to listen to the head to toe lecture.
She starts off by saying..
Congratulations you all have jobs!!!
Its because you all have your bachelors... be sure to tell that to all your friends who have their associates.
I was the only one in the group with an associates in nursing.
So I said, I have an associates, and last I checked I have a job.
I SOOOOOOOOO wanted to go on.
I wanted to ask her, with a genuinely dumb look on my face..
The nurses with their bachelors, do they take a different board exam from those associate nurses?
Wait for a response, then come back with EXACTLYYYYY!
I felt about 2 inches tall, but whatever. The school I went to had 1500 applicants, and I was the lucky person to be included in the 150 to get accepted ...of those 150, i was the lucky 70 to graduate on time (we had 90 something at pinning but we had about a dozen of LPNs and the rest were students who had to repeat a course)
Needless to say, I felt small. Was unable to concentrate, but I reminded myself of the little things..and began to feel better.
No student loans to pay back!! So my first paycheck, Im going to blow it and go shopping!!!
I am only making a whopping...drum roll please...50 cents less per hour than those with a higher degree.
I saved a ton of money by taking the NCLEX once and passing it on the first try, with 75 questions baby!
I am going back for my bachelors, my masters even (i would love to have that clinical instructor work for me one day) this time the place I work for is going to reimburse me for my tuition.
This post is not an invitation to flame and debate some more on why one is "better" than the other
This was an opportunity to share my experience, hopefully lift the spirits of someone who had a similar story.
Not only is the BSN/ADN debate old hat, but it's a part of the stupid ANA type strategy to keep nurses divided and powerless rather than united and powerful. Each type of education has its value and its place. But the folks who like nothing better than to sit on committees to pad their resumes and collect more letters after their names love to play around with this phony debate. It's right up there with other dumb ideas like magnet status and "shared governance", both of which were designed to create an illusion that something constructive was happening and distract nurses from what real power is about. And then we can add to the list a couple of other really bad ideas: The folks who think the masters (!) should be the entry level degree and the people who think nurses ought to bill directly for our services. Let's support, encourage and celebrate all of our fellow nurses and join together to take the power we ought to have in the health care system.
Specializes in M/S, MICU, CVICU, SICU, ER, Trauma, NICU.
You shouldn't feel small.
I don't get that. You have an opportunity to get your BSN.
I tell the same thing to LPNs, CNAs, etc.,
EVERYONE has an opportunity to go further in their education..so what is this thing that differentiates people so much that they are made to feel less than zero?
only in nursing is this a issue. one level of entry for professional practice = no arguments over which is better. anyway don't take it too personal. i agree with another poster that the hospital is probably trying to go magnet. where i work, they will not hire an RN unless there is bsn attached to it. I was surprised but there are other area hospitals doing the same thing which sucks for nurses who have also invested there time and money into a degree just to get turned down. the economy has given the hospitals the upper hand.
First no offense, but I think you totally over reacted just my 2 cents. You are right whether Associates or BSN a nurse is a nurse. And you should be proud that you passed boards and have a job. The instructor probably said that comment very loosely and shouldn't have said it. I agree there should not be competition between the two, its ridiculous. You just have to not care sometimes what people think or say. Speaking up for yourself was all you needed to do. The fact that your are so upset over this makes it seem like you were already insecure about the fact that you didn't have a BSN and then when this instructor said her insensitive comment it made it that much worse.
The instructor although wrong to assume every nurse had her BSN had a valid point behind her comment.
No matter what field you go into a degree always gives you an edge over those who do not have one. That's just the way it is. Just like you said whether you attended a community college or have a degree an RN is an RN, that being said when it comes to hiring someone and a hiring manager is trying to decide between two people solely based on academic achievements all other things being equal the candidate with the degree will most likely get the job, because it sets them apart. Not saying thats how it should be just saying thats how it is. And I think thats what the instructor was trying to say. If someone has the time and resources to get their BSN in addition to their RN License then they should.
Let me make it clear I am not saying a BSN nurse is better then a AD Nurse just because she has a degree.
You also had to mention more than once that you attended a top program, graduated on time, passed the NCLEX the first time, and have no student loans.
Good for you! But does that make you better than other nurses who have student loans or didn't graduate on time......no. You are guilty of the same thing by your comment.
Lastly being a nurse as I am sure you will learn requires tact and grace to ignore all the crap that happens to you or is said to you. You have to put your feelings aside and grow some thicker skin. If you let this one thing totally rock your world then your in for some hard lessons.
Best of luck to you, be proud of your accomplishments. Sorry if my comments came across rude.
chill out. The hospital is probably trying to get magnet status or something. If thats the case then they need a certain percentage of nurses with their bachlors.
btw I didnt have student loans, also blew my first paycheck on shopping AND passed NCLEX on the first try with 75 questions. These arent special characteristics only for associate nurses.
Wow than you have to be rich then,cause the last time I check getting your BSN is much more expensive.
all other things being equal the candidate with the degree will most likely get the job, because it sets them apart. Not saying thats how it should be just saying thats how it is. And I think thats what the instructor was trying to say. If someone has the time and resources to get their BSN in addition to their RN License then they should.
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It totally depends on the hospital. Where I work, and I've said this over and over, the stated policy is BSN required, but our nurse manager likes the ADN's from a particular community college a lot, and 80% of the new grad hires are ADN's. Sure, many go on to get their BSN or MSN . . . but they were hired with the ADN. So, the "higher" degree does not always get you the job.
We have alot in common. I am sick to death of nursing students saying their instructor told them LPN's are being phazed out. I graduated from LPN School in 12/79, been hearing this crapola for 30 years. Or even worse, them saying that LPN'S can only work in LTC. Wrong on both counts. I wonder if these two instructors work together:lol2:.
I wonder if it makes these insensitive, uninformed people, feel more superior? I wouldn't let it bother you. Glad you got your RN. Good luck in your career. Real nurse also/LPN here:nurse:
I'm sorry that you had to put up with the condescending attitude from that particular instructor. FWIW, one of my classmates in my RN to BSN program felt insulted when one of our instructors was talking about entry level programs and abbreviated associate degree as ADN, bachelor's as BSN, and diploma grads as "Dips". The instructor was completely oblivious to how that might have been perceived as insulting by a diploma graduate.
Can't say I blame you for being upset and I don't think you are over-reacting a bit.
Chico David, BSN, RN
624 Posts
Not only is the BSN/ADN debate old hat, but it's a part of the stupid ANA type strategy to keep nurses divided and powerless rather than united and powerful. Each type of education has its value and its place. But the folks who like nothing better than to sit on committees to pad their resumes and collect more letters after their names love to play around with this phony debate. It's right up there with other dumb ideas like magnet status and "shared governance", both of which were designed to create an illusion that something constructive was happening and distract nurses from what real power is about. And then we can add to the list a couple of other really bad ideas: The folks who think the masters (!) should be the entry level degree and the people who think nurses ought to bill directly for our services. Let's support, encourage and celebrate all of our fellow nurses and join together to take the power we ought to have in the health care system.