VENT: ADN and BSN

Nursing Students ADN/BSN

Published

Well i just really needed to get something off my chest. I recently graduated from an ADN program in June and in July passed my boards. its a great accomplishment for me and its honestly still so surreal. So the next thing to do would be to find a job. I live in nyc and its been horrible out here. All you hear is sorry we accept only BSN grads and honestly its really discouraging. I understand BSN grads take more classes than we do but please tell me what does that really mean. Do we not all take the same boards? Or does the computer know who did their ADN and who did their BSN? its kind of a shame because there are so many bright new grads out there that want to make a difference in this world but yet they are rejected. Ok all my frustration started when My friends and I were taking our Kaplan review course. The whole class was full of BSN grads and we were the only ADN grads in there. Ok so we were the outcasts no problem in that we dealt with it. So the instructor would take us through 75 questions each day and honestly not many of the BSN grads knew much. I mean im not saying all BSN grads are like that it but they went to such a great school. The questions we heard coming out of their mouths was dreadful. For example a girl asked Why do you use carbon dioxide during a laparoscopic procedure And the list goes on. Ok i know your supposed to learn these things in nursing school and honestly they are basic things. So explain to me shouldnt a BSN grad know more than an ADN grad? I just think its kind of unfair for us to be rejected due to our degree. I apologize if my post offended anyone but i just needed to get this out there and make people realize something .Ok fine they got a higher degree than us but that doesnt make them a better nurse than us. There is such a shortage and so many people that need to be taken care of that employers are nit picking about that. Im proud of my degree and a hospital that wouldnt accept me because of it isnt for me. All i can say is their loss.

Thanks for listening and sorry if i offended anyone. feel free to leave any comments

Specializes in Transplant/Surgical ICU.

Sandwitch883,

Although I agree that a good discussion gives "food for thought" as you stated in your earlier post, I also believe that it is not productive when people start insulting each other, hence many of those posts have been shut down by mods in the past.

"Also, we are all entitled to our own opinion and the right to express it. I may not agree with someone but agree with their right to state their belief"--Was this a comment directed towards my post??

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pediatrics (Burn ICU, CVICU).

nevermind

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med/Surg,OR.

as an adn for the past 13+ years, i'm sorry that you are having such a hard time. and not to start a controversy, but, one of the best nurses i learned from as a student was an lpn.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.
To the OP: I had to delete my previous post because I took your comments as an insult, but I understand you are frustrated and need a job and it is not a 'BSN vs ADN' thing but more of 'I need a job. I am also qualified, hire me'

But please remember that the BSN student in your review class has the right to ask questions, regardless of whether you think they are stupid or not. She payed for the class. And I honestly don't think that her question should be sparking feelings of whether BSN grads are better than ADN grads! And if it does you should be thinking hard as to why your mind even went there.

Finally, good luck in your search!

I agree. I've refrained from posting because I realize the op is just venting frustration.

It's not fair to judge the BSN by the questions they ask in a review class. After all how many of us ADNs pass NCLEX by getting 100% of the questions corrrect......read the NCLEX forum to find out how many of us ADNas and BSNs struggle with the basics of nursing....and yes NCLEX is basic nursing.

Some people are smarter than others, some schools programs are better than others, but it's not very self-actualizing to belittle another's degree to make one feel better about their own.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Labor & Delivery.
Sandwitch883,

Although I agree that a good discussion gives "food for thought" as you stated in your earlier post, I also believe that it is not productive when people start insulting each other, hence many of those posts have been shut down by mods in the past.

"Also, we are all entitled to our own opinion and the right to express it. I may not agree with someone but agree with their right to state their belief"--Was this a comment directed towards my post??

This was not directed at any particular poster or comment. Just a general statement. Thats why I read and post at this forum. I like to read others thoughts and opinions. I'm rarley offended by them just not always in agreement. I was referencing the fact that many people state that they read something on a post and find it offensive. I'm very much for the freedom of speech and the right of all individuals to have different thoughts and opinions.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
To the OP: I had to delete my previous post because I took your comments as an insult, but I understand you are frustrated and need a job and it is not a 'BSN vs ADN' thing but more of 'I need a job. I am also qualified, hire me'

But please remember that the BSN student in your review class has the right to ask questions, regardless of whether you think they are stupid or not. She payed for the class. And I honestly don't think that her question should be sparking feelings of whether BSN grads are better than ADN grads! And if it does you should be thinking hard as to why your mind even went there.

Finally, good luck in your search!

I don't think anyone should feel superior based on education level just as most of us on our floor feel insulted when ICU nurses think they are "better" and think it is OK to be rude to floor nurses. It is a bit off topic but just illustrating the point of focusing on the benefits that both degrees can serve. In some ways it might have been faster to have just gone BSN right away but I think I have learned so much more along the way taking the ladder approach. Everyone has different reasons for pursuing the end goal of taking care of patients. I have no regrets. But I do see value in pursuing higher learning. I think nurses should always be continuing on with upgrading and education since we can never learn enough.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in psych. rehab nursing, float pool.

First off I am not an RN. When I first graduated I put in my application to about every place in my area which was available. At the hospitals I applied there was a 1st, 2nd, 3rd choice. I ended up with my third choice ( it was a good hospital just father away from home ). At that time , and I believe it still holds true today. Anyone who has no experience will have to sell themselves to potential employers, they also need to look outside of the first choices. Sometimes while we hope for what we dream of ,we might have to settle for somewhere that will us to gain some experience to put on our resume for the time we reapplying to our dream job.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I have followed this thread for a while now. I was an ADN nurse who went back for a BSN. I have never regretted either of these choices.

The ADN taught me how to study for facts. The BSN taught me how to think through problems from a different perspective.

Don't spend time pointing fingers about how much it seems a potential nurse from a specific type of program may or may not know. The thinking process is different. Not better or worse, just different.

Additionally, many students have difficult times with testing. While some have test anxiety others just are fearful that all the time and energy may not have given them the specifics they need.

Many good nurses did not pass their tests the first time. It does not mean they will not be good nurses. It means there are problems they need to identify and fix before attempting the test again. Sometimes it is just thinking "too much" other times it is lack of basic knowledge. Be glad that people are asking the questions. It might remind you of a factoid that will make the difference for someone else in the review class.

Remember the fact that there is no such thing as a stupid question. Usually there are others, not as willing to ask the same thing, but want the question answered.

Focus on what got you interested in nursing rather than bumming about the differences.

Best of luck to of you taking the exam.:up:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Rehab/Post Acute.

This has been a really interesting discussion. I will graduate in May from an RN program (community college). I already have a B.A. (history and sec.ed), and am a few credits short of a masters degree-- I was a high school teacher before staying home with my kids for the past 5 years. I do worry about finding a job (philadelphia area). I know of two hospital systems who will not hire RN grads. One of my instructors said that if I can prove that I'm enrolled in a BSN program, and already have the BA, that I shouldn't have too much trouble finding a position-- we'll see, though. I already know where I'm going to finish my BSN, and am filling out the application as we speak, so I can enroll as soon as I graduate in May. There aren't too many classes that I haven't taken, and am told I'll finish the BSN within a year. I would have gone into a BSN program originally, but they were too expensive. I've just finished paying my student loans for graduate school, and couldn't take on more right now. My husband was able to pay for the community college out of pocket. Hopefully I'll luck out and get a job next summer. I'm not picky at all as to where I work, and I want the night shift. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Location, location, location.

I'm now a GN, waiting to take boards. Have the LPN license. I got hired on at a small CAH as the informatics nurse in a job advertised as "BSN preferred." Why? I had a license, period, I have a strong systems background, and I was the ONLY applicant with a license.

I'm going on for the BSN. I want the expanded opportunities it affords, just as the RN opened doors.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

this isn't just nursing you guys, this is the trend of the job market today in general.

i was an administrative assistant for many years then *poof* all the jobs that i wanted and was qualified for were suddenly requiring a bachelors. now, trust me, there is nothing about being an admin that requires a college degree and even more insulting was that they didn't care what your degree was in! it could be fine arts and that would have satisfied the requirement.

so i went and got a ba in english. went back to work. got promoted. even did some work that was relevant to my degree (editing) and then decided i wanted to do nursing. this time, i didn't mess around, i went right for the bsn.

the hard truth is that in all careers the trend is toward more education. if you don't want education to limit your career choices, then you should get as much education as you can.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment