What can I do with my BSN that Assoc. RN's can't?

bsnecu99 · Jul 11, 2004

In all their writings, my BON refers to RNs as "professional" nurses and LPNs as "technical" nurses.
However, my point was not to try and start a debate on whether or not LPNs are professionals.
My point was in how the DON is trying to pull one over on the public, and how she is implying by her actions that being "just" a licensed practical nurse is apparently not good enough in her eyes.
I am incredulous as to why the LPNs working for her do not feel that by changing their titles, the DON is in fact, insulting.
Here's an example to illustrate my point-
How would you feel about it if an RN's boss told her "If pts and families incorrectly refer to you as a nurse practitioner, don't correct them. It will make you and us look like a bigger deal in their eyes. In fact, let me give you this badge with a misleading title on it, so that they will assume you are more than just an RN."
????
See my point?

What point? The only thing a patient's family wants a nurse to do is wipe the patient's bottom anyway. Or boost them in bed/Get them a pain pill/

Fill the water jug/Crank up or down the head of bed. All which can be done by staff other than nurses. They don't care! They don't give two toots what you call yourself, actually. Yes, yes, I am not starting an argument about whether a LPN is professional, I am just showing how stupid the entire argument sounds. Our BON licenses anybody. Teens with 10 weeks of night school are called "certified med techs," what point?

kids · Jul 11, 2004

just a reminder, the question raised by the title of the thred is: "what can i do with my bsn that assoc. rn's can't?". lets keep all discussion respectful and on topic.

thank you

zenman · Jul 12, 2004

Posted by bsnecu99: Well, I believe there will come a time when EVERY nurse will be required to have a PhD to provide even minimal incontinent care.

No, we just need the BSN as entry level so that we will be on par with other professions and eliminate the infighting...I mean some of the infighting...among nurses.

TexasPoodleMix · Jul 12, 2004

All of this talk about making Bsn standard makes me uneasy. I want to start an ADN program in F05 and of course in time get a BSN after I have worked for a year or two. I already have a BS and an MA and simply don't have the $$ for the tuition or commute for a BSN at this time. There are some great ADN programs around here and I know many people who have graduated from them and gainfully employed , etc. (I am in the houston area, btw) ... soooooo my worry is... in the next 2-3 yrs will bsn be standard ???

I would like to work in LTC someday.

All_Smiles_RN · Jul 12, 2004

No, we just need the BSN as entry level so that we will be on par with other professions and eliminate the infighting...I mean some of the infighting...among nurses.

Why do we have to be on par with other professions? Nursing is its own profession. I don't see the need to be part of the stereotypical ideal of what a professional "is". All nurses are professionals. Period.

...Jennifer...

Hellllllo Nurse, BSN, RN · Jul 12, 2004

All of this talk about making Bsn standard makes me uneasy. I want to start an ADN program in F05 and of course in time get a BSN after I have worked for a year or two. I already have a BS and an MA and simply don't have the $$ for the tuition or commute for a BSN at this time. There are some great ADN programs around here and I know many people who have graduated from them and gainfully employed , etc. (I am in the houston area, btw) ... soooooo my worry is... in the next 2-3 yrs will bsn be standard ???
I would like to work in LTC someday.

Not to worry, this debate has been going on for decades. In fact, North Dakota, for many years, would only allow BSN RNs to be licensed in their state. N.D. recently recinded this law, and ADNs can now be licensed RNS there. New York State, on the other hand, wants to mandate that all new grads in their state must be BSNs to sit for RN boards, but will "grandfather" in current ADNs and ADNs form other states.

There has been talk of eliminating LPNs altogether for 50 years. Some areas are utilizing LPNs less, other areas are using them more than ever.

This whole debate is almost as old as Florence Nightingale.

TexasPoodleMix · Jul 12, 2004

Thanks, helllo nurse.

At the moment, I just want to work as a nurse. I have already (what I feel) wasted my time pursuing other fields because of what others in my life wanted me to do or advised me to do, and I always wanted to do nursing. However, I CONSTANTLY heard "You will hate it" "you will not be able to handle it" etc. etc. or "how do you want to bathe old men" etc. etc and I just didn't pursue it. Don't know why , I guess I didn't feel like listening to the static. So now after 7 yrs of schooling and HATING counseling/psychology I am finally pursuing what I have always "felt" was right for me, for a whole plethora of reasons. I will just **croak** if I get my ADN and they say "Oh , you have to have a BSN in the state of TX to be a nurse now, surprise!" uuugh...

Thanks though, your post eased my mind somewhat !

nursemike, ASN, RN · Jul 13, 2004

just a reminder, the question raised by the title of the thred is: "what can i do with my bsn that assoc. rn's can't?". lets keep all discussion respectful and on topic.
thank you

very good point--is that how you get to be a moderator?

a diploma nurse i work with was rather offended, recently, to learn that she can't be the official preceptor for our new gn's, so that's one potential "benefit" of a bsn, even though nobody--including the offended nurse--actually wants to be a preceptor.

in response to the op, i don't think many of my classmates in adn school are laughing at you--many of us fully intend to continue, though some, like me, will go at our own pace. but it seems clear from many of these posts that adn's won't accept being looked down on. on the other hand, i think the few who dismiss the value of a bsn are mistaken.

i'm guessing, here, but it seems likely to me that all novice nurses are novices, and all expert nurses are experts. but in that broad area between novice and expert, the additional education could make you a better nurse than you would otherwise be (and might help you become an expert sooner).

zenman · Jul 13, 2004

Posted by jenniferhelene: Why do we have to be on par with other professions? Nursing is its own profession. I don't see the need to be part of the stereotypical ideal of what a professional "is". All nurses are professionals. Period.

I'll tell you why...everyone else laughs at you and we need to be looked upon by the world as professionals. Nursing is a demanding profession where we take care of the complex human body. If most other professions require a four year degree and their work is not as complicated...something is wrong with this picture. "Professional" PTs supervise 2 yr. PT assistants.

"Professional" OTs supervise 2 yr OT assistants. Our work, which deals with the entire patient, can be done by 2 yr grads. My wife, a school teacher, just suggested that perhaps we should have 2 year grads teaching in the public schools! They could probably perform most of the "skills" that other teachers could.

Quickbeam, BSN, RN · Jul 13, 2004

I visited a family member in a hspital that did not allow the staff to ID themselves professionally (their badges daid "nursing" no RN, LPN, etc) at all unless you asked directly.

I think that is terribly wrong. Just my opinion.

LadyBugRN · Jul 13, 2004

I just graduated with my BSN this spring. I'm working as a PCA2/Graduate Nurse at a local hospital until I take my boards... I am taking my HESI tomorrow at the college I graduated from. This is an 'exit' type of exam that we have to pass before taking our boards. I'm feeling down about not being able to pass and have this huge fear that I am not going to pass my boards!
Amidst my fear, I am questioning taking a role as an RN on floor nursing. It seems like most of the RN's on my floor have an associates degree, and I am questioning if I should be doing something different since I have my bachelor's? The pay is the same for an Assoc. or BSN, which doesn't make any sense to me. Just wondering what else is available that I might not be looking for, or what your opinions are!?
Another BSN student who just graduated as well was speaking with me, and said she wonders if the Assoc. degree RN's laugh thinking that we have wasted our time getting our BSN when we get the same pay/same responsibilities. Is this a big issue?
Thanks!
Miranda

Congratulations. You have completed your BSN. Do not worry about what others will be thinking or saying about you about you, those people have nothing better to do but distract you (they are losers!). Get experienced as a floor nurse. Be good at it and do not have a negative attitude. I work with many nurses who hate their jobs but who are still working as a nurse (that's their problem). Be successful. Learn as much as you can. Don't let anybody push you. Have confidence be proficient as you start your career. Do not associate yourself with nurses who hate their job but still hanging on. Associate with nurses with positive attitude. Be a leader and not a follower. Respect people around you and they will respect you. Nurses who will not respect you do not respect themselves. Focus your energy on your patients. They need you. Be a good nurse. With your BSN, and your experience as a floor nurse, you can further yourself by applying to management positions in the future. If you do well, your employment evaluation will be good on your resume.

Be organized. That comes from experience. It may take time but being organized is important now and and in your future = you will be able to manage your assignments smoothly. Always ask questions when you are not sure. Best wishes and good luck to you. BE PROUD THAT YOU ARE A NURSE!!!

RN4NICU, LPN, LVN · Jul 13, 2004

I visited a family member in a hspital that did not allow the staff to ID themselves professionally (their badges daid "nursing" no RN, LPN, etc) at all unless you asked directly.
I think that is terribly wrong. Just my opinion.

I agree - I would not want to be a patient in a hospital that would conceal the credentials of the staff. That sounds scary, in addition to just plain wrong. Makes you wonder how bad the ratios were there. :uhoh3: