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.
Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.
only in nursing is this a issue. one level of entry for professional practice = no arguments over which is better.
*** That seems a very high price to pay to me. I prefer to have multiply entry points and if the price of that is that occasionally we have to listen to these arguments then so be it.
Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
good luck getting a job at a academic medical center
I have an ADN and I work at a very well-respected university medical center. And it's even a Magnet (twice!). A good 30% of the nurses in my unit are ADN RNs.
Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.
good luck getting a job at a academic medical center
I work at an academic medical center. We have Magnet (whoop-ti-do). I have a BSN but I didn't when they hired me. We have a 7 month nurse residency for new grads going into speciality units and we don't even hire new grad BSNs into the residency for the SICU, ADN only. The SICU is the feeder unit for the transport service so most of our flight and ground transport nurses are ADNs.
Except for the SICU I can't tell any preference for one degree or another in hiring.
I was told from faculty that was the time the NCLEX started changing things up, the students who took that exam weren't as well prepared.
Can we put the pitch forks down for a moment, and if we dont have anything positive to add then keep our opinions to ourselves? Thanks for going through the trouble of googling, I wish I had just as much free time to browse through someones profile ...not to do any good with it, but to use it 'against them'
OK SO second toughest nursing program in the country, LOL can we move on from that?
We could play a drinking game for everytime I use the word SO and LOL
I will try and cut down (LOL)
Again thanks to those who have similar stories, or words of wisdom ...or just your two cents in general!!
I shared my story with an old classmate, she went through the same thing during clinical last week! So it happens often I guess, I told her the same thing I told myself. We just have to let our work do the talking.
Wikipedia called back, they said they will make a page about it if it'll help my story. LOL (bad habit)
There are lots of good BSN and ADN programs. There are lots of questionable BSN and ADN programs. What I CANNOT stand are these attitudes:
1. ADNs are not good enough.
2. My nursing program is the better than almost everyone else's, but I have nothing to back it up.
3. BSNs are for rich kids and offer nothing extra.
Thanks for going through the trouble of googling, I wish I had just as much free time to browse through someones profile ...not to do any good with it, but to use it 'against them'
I fail to see how checking your claim is an attempt "use it against you." Further, finding the information I did took considerably less time than it took you to write your response to it.
I was told from faculty that was the time the NCLEX started changing things up, the students who took that exam weren't as well prepared.
OK SO second toughest nursing program in the country
The statistics from the link posted (NYS Nursing:Nursing Programs:RN NCLEX Results: 2008-2012) show NCC has average pass rates for a NY state ADN program and slightly below average nationally. They are all taking the same test.
Oh it was written in stone some where sorry, dont have the link to show you.
Again, what does this have to do with the original post? Will you sleep better tonight if I told you Im sorry you were right. NCC is not the best nursing program in the country. Better?
Goodnight
We're going in circles, so I'm not really going to add anything from this point forward. Toodle Loo!
You are very upset that someone would make sweeping claims against all ADNs despite the evidence. I find that upsetting too.
I also find it upsetting that you made sweeping claims without anything to back it up. You don't seem to be able to see the similarity in circumstance...
You made your point, apparently I made someone feel like they were 2 inches tall in a room full of 20 people, by alleging I graduated from the toughest program and for that I apologize.
Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.
I understood that one advantage of getting a BSN was the emphasis on more than just tasks, but communication skills and comprehending what is actually being said by someone, therapeutic listineing or whatever they choose to call it. If that's true, then this never would have been turned into yet another ******* contest. Over and out.
There are lots of good BSN and ADN programs. There are lots of questionable BSN and ADN programs. What I CANNOT stand are these attitudes:
1. ADNs are not good enough.
2. My nursing program is the better than almost everyone else's, but I have nothing to back it up.
3. BSNs are for rich kids and offer nothing extra.
I fail to see how checking your claim is an attempt "use it against you." Further, finding the information I did took considerably less time than it took you to write your response to it.
The statistics from the link posted (NYS Nursing:Nursing Programs:RN NCLEX Results: 2008-2012) show NCC has average pass rates for a NY state ADN program and slightly below average nationally. They are all taking the same test.
Some BSN school are for the rich school,I know a private university that charges 120,000 for four years,however all of the students will get hired within 6 months after graduation,bad economy or not,school has a very good reputation,would I enroll?! No,never for that kind of money,right now I'm starting RN-to BSN program I will be paying around 33,000 for this program and I might do master,that is a whole lot for me but 120,000 is way too much,I how reputable it is,unless it is med school or law school.
Some BSN school are for the rich school,I know a private university that charges 120,000 for four years,however all of the students will get hired within 6 months after graduation,bad economy or not,school has a very good reputation,would I enroll?! No,never for that kind of money,right now I'm starting RN-to BSN program I will be paying around 33,000 for this program and I might do master,that is a whole lot for me but 120,000 is way too much,I how reputable it is,unless it is med school or law school.
Of course there are always some massively overpriced private programs, many of which do NOT even offer the benefits of the school you mentioned (particularly for-profits). Of course, there are also plenty of public BSN programs that cost less than 33,000 for the final two years (you do the first two at CC).
I went to a CC for my prereqs and paid less than $3000 for my AS degrees (NOT in nursing). I'm attending a private (non-profit) BSN program, but I will be debt free on graduation from a baccalaureate education that will cost me less than $20,000 due to:
1. Grants
2. Scholarships
3. Working during school
4. Saving up before school
So I get irritated when people people say stuff like:
Wow than you have to be rich then,cause the last time I check getting your BSN is much more expensive.
In response to someone saying they graduated from BSN programs debt free. I resent the attitude that BSN entry is only for the rich or those who want mountains of debt.
PMFB-RN, RN
5,351 Posts
*** That seems a very high price to pay to me. I prefer to have multiply entry points and if the price of that is that occasionally we have to listen to these arguments then so be it.